[Quasimodem]

Originally Posted by ciomas

GOD it looks boring!!! my hunch is it will joint the current 5 in its lack of sculptural excitment ...

Give BMW designers credit, they put a lot of time and hard work into making it look boring. If they made it look really really good, who would buy the M3? Sure maybe a few people who are interested in the performance advantage, but lets face it, the M3 MUST look better than the plain old 3 series, hence the plain old 3 series must look ummmm "plain". So if you wanted a really good looking 3 series without dishing out for the M3, keep some mod money put aside (oh and the M-sport package is a pretty weak attempt squeeze some more cash out of the majority who have to suffer with "plan" looking 3 series)

So, please, look on this car as one on a line of cars which are altogether designed to maximize your money drain. If you think about it, the plainness of this car is really quite beautiful and there was probably a lot of hard work put into not making it look too good. Now if that causes sales losses to other makers like Audi, then it's a damn shame....

[Quasimodem]

Originally Posted by docjay

the driver is damn GOOOOOOOOD!!!!

Maybe, maybe he is just driving with an unlimited tire budget.

[wahoo]

Talked to Sales Associate today and sd it looks like a mini 5. Not shocking.

[thetedderbear]

Does anyone know if the 335d will be available at launch?
My dad really likes the current one, and I'd like to get him into a new F30 335d(a huge improvement over his Lexus RX hybrid!), if it will be out soon enough.

[and 1]

just looked at the post comparing the render to the spy shots...didn't notice the test car had its pipes on the passenger side. bmwtf?

[Jason]

Originally Posted by and 1

just looked at the post comparing the render to the spy shots...didn't notice the test car had its pipes on the passenger side. bmwtf?

The image was flipped for comparison purposes.

[-=Hot|Ice=-]

Originally Posted by badsha

What is so bad about a electrical steering, can someone explain whi it is bad to have??

There is absolutely no feeling through the wheel. It's numb and you really don't know what the car is doing until it's getting a little late.

[-=Hot|Ice=-]

Originally Posted by Mark

Even under all the camo, you can tell the styling is going to be something really special. I honestly can't wait

Essentially, it's going to be a smaller version of the 5 series just like the 5 is a smaller version of the 7. How is it going to be a special?

[R12ax7]

The return of sparkling graphite?

[skiernan36]

Originally Posted by gunnerxq

Why won't it be a 325i and a 330i first? The names were around for years so why would they stop using them?

335 was originally used in the late 1930s. So it's been around for awhile too

[bmrm396]

interesting to note that this is the same car in both sets of photos (old and new) so they are clearly tweaking something ... they removed some more camo covering from below (maybe cooling issues) and then took the car back out the next week to test whatever else they were fixing

[bavarian19]

nice!

[Mark]

Originally Posted by -=Hot|Ice=-

Essentially, it's going to be a smaller version of the 5 series just like the 5 is a smaller version of the 7. How is it going to be a special?

Well from a styling standpoint, if you honestly believe the F10 to be a smaller version of the F01, then you are right the 3 will look the same to the two of them.

To my eye, there are significant styling differences between the F10 5-Series and the F01 7-Series.

As for the F30, I think the most noticable difference will be the new headlamp shape with the new rounded-square angel eyes, the more flowing shark nose and of course the deeper character lines cutting into the more sculted wheel arches. Its going to make the E90 look like a very squarish fridge of a car IMO.

[XC]

Originally Posted by Dimitris

the proportions are not good as seen from the spy shots...

I reckon it's just because it will have a similar nose as to the z4.

[RR80]

The car look great inside out! can't wait til Oct to see it in public!

[RR80]

Originally Posted by R12ax7

The return of sparkling graphite?

SE is great!

[Firthy247]

Sorry that should have said delivery date of Dec 9th

[Firthy247]

Sorry that should have said a delivery date of Dec 9th

[Tallest]

Ah, the gddamn nurburgring.


I think James May from Top Gear nailed it on the head when he said testing on the Nürburgring is a curse on car's suspension. It will handle at limit but for every day driving it will be too harsh. I've put up for 5 years with overly crashy suspension on E90 and if this new car (which does look good in camo already) has the same poor ride, I'll have no choice but either go into 5 series which is smoother or try out the Mercedes cars instead.

ok nurburgring it for those obsessed with the lap times, but test it after that on the beat up roads of major cities. Or at least offer it with magnetic dampers or something.

[Taipei-TT]

research...different strokes for different folks I guess!

I find the OEM suspension on my 2011 E92 to be a little squishy!

Not discounting your comments about your suspension...but pointing out...what a job for an engineer...to design a suspension that will satisfy such a HUGE spectrum of owners who buy 3 series with all kinds of different needs and desires!

[MrHarris]

Originally Posted by Dimitris

the proportions are not good as seen from the spy shots...

Look how much the nose slants! I hope my e92 won't look too outdated when these roll out

[JasonCSU]

Originally Posted by gunnerxq

Why won't it be a 325i and a 330i first? The names were around for years so why would they stop using them?

The 330i name was used because it was still designating the 3.0 liter naturally aspirated engine that the car had. The 325i name was misleading because it was really a 2.8 liter engine if I recall. When the N54 twin turbo engine came out (and the N55 subsequently) the 335i name was used to signify the power increase like a larger 3.5 liter naturally aspirated engine would have. This is misleading though because the turbo engines are still 3.0 liters in size. 330tt and 330t would have been appropriate names, but probably would have confused people. Even the 328i name is misleading, as the car has a 3.0 liter engine as well.