[ab3]

What really ticks me off is that BMW will go through the trouble of developing a separate chassis for country like China but then only offers a limited choice of engines in the US for their cars when they have already been developed and are sold in Europe...yes I understand they have to do new emissions testing and such but it would definitely be worth the cost to offer a few more of the engines they sell overseas, even if not all of them

[mapezzul]

Originally Posted by lux

According to Jason, the new interior will take cues from the current x3 (minus the integrated nav screen).

Much of the architecture of the F30 is shared between the X3 and new 1 Series. Just like the F01, F10 and F07 share much of the same. There are many hidden components that are shared with other manufacturers as well. The goal is to keep things consistent and to reach higher economies of scale for parts to make things cheaper.

The one difference will be that the F30 will have Brembo brakes on all four corners (new plant is set to start production soon)

[ORIGIN M.]

I don't like NAVI above the belt line of the dash. The x3's design is much better IMO.

[TK-421]

It's about damn time they made the steering wheel and dash match the leather interior color. I can't stand how you can have full tan leather but an ugly black wheel and dash. I always loved how my uncle's 997TT's interior was like that.

[ORIGIN M.]

Very similar to the F20 dash.

[bimmerJP]

so odd...
thank you for not bringing this to the US.

[adamm3k]

Has that outlined hoff kink always been there like the 7? First time to it is evident.

[EdM5]

Sick shots

[lawgone]

Originally Posted by blipit

It just seems weird to make it look like a pop-up when it is not.

+1.
I can see it now.
Passenger: "Is that a pop up display?"
Me: "No."
Passenger: "Are you sure?"
Me: "Yes."
Passenger: "Oh." [pauses] "Well it looks like it fli..."
Me: "I know. It doesn't."

[JulieDriving]

Originally Posted by lawgone

+1.
I can see it now.
Passenger: "Is that a pop up display?"
Me: "No."
Passenger: "Are you sure?"
Me: "Yes."
Passenger: "Oh." [pauses] "Well it looks like it fli..."
Me: "I know. It doesn't."

LOL. I wish the nav/ iDrive was integrated into the dash like the X3...

[tlav17]

what's the point of the long wheelbase for china only? more leg room for people that are smaller than the people in the U.S. and europe. am i missing something?

and why did the key need to be made bigger. I don't want to be carrying an even bulkier key in my pocket. as technology improves, things like that should get smaller, not bigger. in my opinion, the key fob now is the perfect size

[Eric500]

I don't like the empty space under the dash, it reminds me of a civic or some other economy car, I want a full dash BMW!

[Kayani_1]

I am overall liking the interior. The NAV screen looks good to me.....as it seems very much like the one I have seen in person on a new 6er. I think only the screen size is smaller. In person it looks great and the height seems very much aligned with the windshield so that the driver can do a quick glance without moving his/her eye sight lower and away from the road.

I am not liking any of the new steering wheel designs from 7er to this new 3er. The older 3 spoke M-style steering wheels looked more classy.

[V_therussian]

Long wheelbase 3 series? Seriously???

[xujintao888]

Originally Posted by tlav17

what's the point of the long wheelbase for china only? more leg room for people that are smaller than the people in the U.S. and europe. am i missing something?

and why did the key need to be made bigger. I don't want to be carrying an even bulkier key in my pocket. as technology improves, things like that should get smaller, not bigger. in my opinion, the key fob now is the perfect size

i wonder if you know many people buy a BMW 3 will cost they two year's salary even more in china.do you know how much one 325i in china?50000-60000EUR.so almost one family one car.they are not bimmers，but need a BMW.the back site is needed often.
but there are a lot of bimmers in china.if the new 3 more longer.they just buy imported cars,but more expensive.
i am sorry that my english is poor.

[IancoleTX]

I think the interior looks great so far

[M5007]

Can anyone explain why the Chinese market NEEDs a long base and more leg room? Average heights in China don't require more leg room. US market needs it but doesn't get it.

Only plausible thought is they will have a chauffeur to drive them around town.

[laperacfo]

Originally Posted by ACSE90

Can anyone explain why the Chinese market NEEDs a long base and more leg room? Average heights in China don't require more leg room. US market needs it but doesn't get it.

Only plausible thought is they will have a chauffeur to drive them around town.

Do you know how rich people in China are now? Audi has a long wheelbase A6 just for China. BMW has the 5 series long wheelbase for China. These are purposely made just for the Chinese market. They want to be driven by chauffeurs. It's all image. They more flashier the more money they have. And cars in China are very expensive. Most of the X3s and X5s are shipped to the Chinese market. They are buying cars like crazy.

You have teenagers that are only 18-23 years of age driving super cars. They can afford it. The days of the people in China riding bikes are long gone. Take a trip to China and see for yourself how expensive everything is there.

[Imola.ZHP]

I don't like the "free-standing" navi screen, are they trying to make it look like a thin LCD TV or something? I don't get their logic, without any cover, how is a convertible M3 driver (who paid a ton of money for their car) going to be able to ever see the display?

They wont...

WTF BMW?

[darksilkx1]

Looking more and more likely like my next car will be an Audi. Never thought I'd hear myself say this either. Waited for the F25 X3 and was quite disappointed with its styling. My next hope was the F30 now I'm less sure with each new pic. I don't know why all new BMW's have looks that "have to grow on you".

[tony20009]

I guess it's nifty, but that black panel thing sounds like so much technology that's just making the car more expensive, but not functionally any better...

And pardon me for having to ask this, but doesn't one know the car is on because the tach isn't at zero? Is the addition of a start/stop indicator a suggestion that they are going to remove the tachometer? Otherwise, though, it seems still like something I'd just as soon not have to pay for...

The two features I mention, given their "ooh, ahh" quality, are just fine for a 7er or even a 5er, maybe, but for a practical daily driver like the 3er? Why? I don't see how BMW will become the #1 selling German car marker as per the target noted earlier this/last month if they keep putting in features that bump the cost while adding no real value...I mean come on, a start/stop indicator so one can see the engine is on? Maybe for an electric car??? Are all the new 3ers going to be hybrids or something?

[tony20009]

Originally Posted by laperacfo

Do you know how rich people in China are now? Audi has a long wheelbase A6 just for China. BMW has the 5 series long wheelbase for China. These are purposely made just for the Chinese market. They want to be driven by chauffeurs. It's all image. They more flashier the more money they have. And cars in China are very expensive. Most of the X3s and X5s are shipped to the Chinese market. They are buying cars like crazy.

You have teenagers that are only 18-23 years of age driving super cars. They can afford it. The days of the people in China riding bikes are long gone. Take a trip to China and see for yourself how expensive everything is there.

Some of that is a bit overstated...but directionally it's so...all the same, 56% of the population in China are illiterate. That said, the law of big numbers is very definitely in play in China...it's like that when there are 1.3 billion people in the country. So you don't need a big percentage of the population to be wealthy enough to buy BMWs.

The thing is, and this is scientific by no means, the last time I was there (Shenzhen in 2010 for about six months), Audis and Buicks seemed far more popular than BMWs. Also, unlike India, I didn't really notice so many folks being chauffeured. Perhaps, it's different in the Northern cities.