Got a Brand New G20 Loaner- Some thoughts

Littlebear · 07-19-2019, 03:40 PM

Hello BMW Experts!

BMW did the same "aero-mod" to the E30 grill to get that big gas mileage improvement, way back when.
They obviously can't figure out how to get decent fuel economy with the G20, so BMW go back to 80's tech (but it looks worse now). Whoo Hoo!

Murf

upsidedownfunnel · 07-19-2019, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BMWILUVU

Is this really an improvement?

First 3 series that definitely looks better with chrome. It's just too much black smushed onto the front.

Maybe they'll do something about it with the LCI.

Fuller · 07-19-2019, 08:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BMWILUVU

Is this really an improvement?

The problem with the blacked out grill is it looks too much like a kia.

Wires · 07-20-2019, 09:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by upsidedownfunnel

I personally like it. I saw an M340i the other day, and other than the strange grille pattern, I thought it looked like a nice modern interpretation of a 3 series. It's not the prettiest 3 series, but it's definitely not the worst either.

I think as we see more of these G20s driving around, our F30s are going to start looking really old. The F30 didn't look that much more modern than the E90, but the E90 started looking old fairly quickly. BMW always seems to do an "evolution/revolution" approach to styling (E36/E46, E90/F30) so that every other generation is a fairly big jump in styling. When the E90 came out, the E46 (though still one of my favorite 3 series) started looking really old.

I'd have to agree. If you scroll to the start of the f30 forum, you'll find A LOT of posts saying how gawd-awful fugly the F30 platform is (I was one of them). After getting a 340 with M-sport, I love the look, and when I see my E90 style driving around, it looks "bubbly and old" to me.

adhrp · 07-20-2019, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wires

I'd have to agree. If you scroll to the start of the f30 forum, you'll find A LOT of posts saying how gawd-awful fugly the F30 platform is (I was one of them). After getting a 340 with M-sport, I love the look, and when I see my E90 style driving around, it looks "bubbly and old" to me.

As a first-time BMW owner, I am one of the exceptions to this. As a general observer, I never liked the E90s I saw driving around. Then one day I saw the F30 and I thought that it was a very nice looking BMW so I went a little closer to take a better look and realized that it was a new model of the 3 series. That's when I decided to go get one for myself. Still love the F30 design and still dislike the E90 design.

stein_325i · 07-20-2019, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fuller

Quote:

Originally Posted by BMWILUVU

Is this really an improvement?

The problem with the blacked out grill is it looks too much like a kia.

I find that the all black grills that connect w/ headlights give off a thicker appearance due to the entire grill and surround being one color, rather than two separate ones.

Littlebear · 08-15-2019, 12:15 PM

meanwhile...
In the August Motor Trend, the G20 was wupped by the Telsla, Genesis G70, and Alfa.

Murf

Mr Podman · 08-15-2019, 05:33 PM

As noted by several others, the grill is a mess.

Also, very sad to see the dashboard.
It looks like something General Motors would do.

Sportstick · 08-15-2019, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr Podman

As noted by several others, the grill is a mess.

+1

There is no good version.

Hope the 4 GC can be modified before launch if at all common.

stein_325i · 08-15-2019, 05:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sportstick

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr Podman

As noted by several others, the grill is a mess.

+1

There is no good version.

Hope the 4 GC can be modified before launch if at all common.

If you think G20 is bad, just wait for the G22 4 series grill, its gonna be big and tall!!

Nucker007 · 08-15-2019, 10:33 PM

I can live with the rear, even though it looks like a Lexus, it still looks nice. But the grille is just hideous, I'm sure it'll start to grow on us a bit eventually but it's hard to imagine liking it. I'm still not sure what they were thinking here, I'd bet good money that the LCI will have a much better grille.

Fuller · 08-16-2019, 02:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joshuastein55

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fuller

Quote:

Originally Posted by BMWILUVU

Is this really an improvement?

The problem with the blacked out grill is it looks too much like a kia.

I find that the all black grills that connect w/ headlights give off a thicker appearance due to the entire grill and surround being one color, rather than two separate ones.

Yeah it does enhance that 3D sort of aspect of the grill. It's funny how I don't like it blacked out in the 330i, but I like it in the m340. Maybe it has to do with the pattern of the m340i grill. It effectively breaks up the monotony of the blacked out look.

Desertnate · 08-16-2019, 08:59 AM

On the G20, I think the standard front is pretty ugly (and white does not do it any favors) but I don't mind the M Sport at all.

I drove a M340 at the M Town Tour event and with the M Sports gray or black grill trim I thought it looked pretty good. It looks much better in person than in photos IMO.

As for the interio, I was pretty neutral. The only thing I didn't like was the electronic guages. They look nice visually, but when driving the car I found it really hard to see see the speedo and tach needles at a fast glance. They blended into the guages too much.

visionaut · 08-16-2019, 10:05 AM

I also recently had a G20 loaner. I could get with the front kidney (over time), but I can’t un-see the debacle of what they did to the ‘Hofmeister kink’ at the rear side glass. That chrome banana attached to the C-pillar is appalling, and so non-Bimmer...

cfm56d7b · 08-16-2019, 11:00 AM

After driving G20 330i loaner for a week, I came to the conclusion that at least in the 4 cylinder version G20 doesn't generate enough ownership excitement. There were so many other departures from the norm that I was happy to get my 2017 BMW 440i GC back. Among idiosyncrasies noted: side door compartments are too narrow to be useful (did designers try to use it?), the same applies to the storage compartment in front of the gear shift, suspension behaved in a jittery, busy manner as if the shocks / springs could not react quickly enough to road imperfections, and many others.

Gbtr6 · 08-16-2019, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BMWILUVU

Is this really an improvement?

If you paint the grille red... LIPS!

Perry

F30MR · 08-16-2019, 02:49 PM

For reference here's an alpine white G20 I had recently as a loaner

stein_325i · 08-16-2019, 03:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by F30MR

For reference here's an alpine white G20 I had recently as a loaner

Yeah, sport-line doesn't look good in white, I will say however, I have seen a blue and also a black luxury-line model and they actually look quite good.

natesi · 08-17-2019, 12:09 PM

I attended the BMW Ultimate Driving Experience last weekend -- and got to thrash a M340i in an autocross course -- then got to take the 330i M-sport out on two 15 minute test drives.

I thought the 330i made significantly more power than my 328i -- and the shifting seemed better in every way, to me. I took a 430i Gran Coupe for a spin, as a comparison (with the same engine and transmission in the new 330i), and the engine and trans felt just like my 328i -- not nearly as much pep and more lethargic shifting. So I think they somehow tuned the engine / trans combo differently in the 330i -- which makes sense, I guess. I think they did a good job. If I were to buy a G20 I'm not sure I'd even feel the need to move up to the M340i, to be honest.

My ABSOLUTE favorite feature on the new 330i is that the seats go LOWER than in the F30. I sit fairly upright and the F30 seats are a hair too high for me (sometimes I have to duck to see around the rear-view mirror).

The three main things I didn't like were:

The M-sport suspension was WAY too firm, for daily use, for me. Yes, it made the car fun -- but my head kept bouncing off the relatively hard headrest. Unlike my F30 though, the suspension wasn't as brittle when going over certain road imperfections, like recessed man hole covers, etc.
The matte silver trim, on the dashboard, is too bright -- as it bounced the sun right into my eyes. Yes, it looks good, but I'd rather not have my eyes damaged or need to put prescription eye wear on, every time I drive the car.
The car had a rattle, which is the #1 complaint about the F30 I currently own. Can BMW build a 3 series that isn't a rattle trap?

Gbtr6 · 08-19-2019, 04:00 PM

Brought my 328i in because the rear door rain rails/gasket leaked. Looked forward to a nice BMW loaner, maybe a newer one. Got a brand new... Nissan Rogue. Ugh, and a stripper too. And this was a warranty job. Thought for sure I'd get a Bimmer.

Perry

EDWYER · 08-19-2019, 05:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BMWILUVU

Is this really an improvement?

No.

Fuller · 08-19-2019, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gbtr6

Brought my 328i in because the rear door rain rails/gasket leaked. Looked forward to a nice BMW loaner, maybe a newer one. Got a brand new... Nissan Rogue. Ugh, and a stripper too. And this was a warranty job. Thought for sure I'd get a Bimmer.

Perry

They could have at least lent you a maxima.

07-19-2019, 03:40 PM	#23
Littlebear Banned 3510 Rep 2,044 Posts Drives: ...the Mods crazy. Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: Not here, apparently.... iTrader: (2)	Hello BMW Experts! BMW did the same "aero-mod" to the E30 grill to get that big gas mileage improvement, way back when. They obviously can't figure out how to get decent fuel economy with the G20, so BMW go back to 80's tech (but it looks worse now). Whoo Hoo! Murf Last edited by Littlebear; 10-30-2021 at 06:02 AM..
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08-15-2019, 12:15 PM	#29
Littlebear Banned 3510 Rep 2,044 Posts Drives: ...the Mods crazy. Join Date: Oct 2017 Location: Not here, apparently.... iTrader: (2)	meanwhile... In the August Motor Trend, the G20 was wupped by the Telsla, Genesis G70, and Alfa. Murf
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08-15-2019, 05:33 PM	#30
Mr Podman Banned 221 Rep 529 Posts Drives: 3 Series GT Stage 0.5 Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: North America iTrader: (0)	As noted by several others, the grill is a mess. Also, very sad to see the dashboard. It looks like something General Motors would do.
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08-15-2019, 10:33 PM	#33
Nucker007 New Member 2 Rep 16 Posts Drives: 2015 428i Gran Coupe Join Date: Aug 2019 Location: Vancouver iTrader: (0)	I can live with the rear, even though it looks like a Lexus, it still looks nice. But the grille is just hideous, I'm sure it'll start to grow on us a bit eventually but it's hard to imagine liking it. I'm still not sure what they were thinking here, I'd bet good money that the LCI will have a much better grille.
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08-16-2019, 08:59 AM	#35
Desertnate Captain 391 Rep 849 Posts Drives: BMW 435i Join Date: Jul 2019 Location: Swansea, IL iTrader: (0) Garage List 2016 BMW 435i [0.00]	On the G20, I think the standard front is pretty ugly (and white does not do it any favors) but I don't mind the M Sport at all. I drove a M340 at the M Town Tour event and with the M Sports gray or black grill trim I thought it looked pretty good. It looks much better in person than in photos IMO. As for the interio, I was pretty neutral. The only thing I didn't like was the electronic guages. They look nice visually, but when driving the car I found it really hard to see see the speedo and tach needles at a fast glance. They blended into the guages too much.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-16-2019, 10:05 AM	#36
visionaut Captain 1303 Rep 873 Posts Drives: 2016 435iX GC & 1976 2002 Join Date: Aug 2018 Location: Mile High City, CO iTrader: (0)	I also recently had a G20 loaner. I could get with the front kidney (over time), but I can’t un-see the debacle of what they did to the ‘Hofmeister kink’ at the rear side glass. That chrome banana attached to the C-pillar is appalling, and so non-Bimmer...
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08-16-2019, 11:00 AM	#37
cfm56d7b Lieutenant General 5876 Rep 10,249 Posts Drives: 2017 440i Gran Coupe & 2015 X5 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Orange County, CA iTrader: (2)	After driving G20 330i loaner for a week, I came to the conclusion that at least in the 4 cylinder version G20 doesn't generate enough ownership excitement. There were so many other departures from the norm that I was happy to get my 2017 BMW 440i GC back. Among idiosyncrasies noted: side door compartments are too narrow to be useful (did designers try to use it?), the same applies to the storage compartment in front of the gear shift, suspension behaved in a jittery, busy manner as if the shocks / springs could not react quickly enough to road imperfections, and many others.
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08-16-2019, 02:49 PM	#39
F30MR Enlisted Member 3 Rep 32 Posts Drives: BMW 328i X-Drive Join Date: Mar 2019 Location: Minnesota iTrader: (0)	For reference here's an alpine white G20 I had recently as a loaner Attached Images
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08-17-2019, 12:09 PM	#41
natesi Lieutenant 204 Rep 499 Posts Drives: F30 Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: PNW iTrader: (0)	I attended the BMW Ultimate Driving Experience last weekend -- and got to thrash a M340i in an autocross course -- then got to take the 330i M-sport out on two 15 minute test drives. I thought the 330i made significantly more power than my 328i -- and the shifting seemed better in every way, to me. I took a 430i Gran Coupe for a spin, as a comparison (with the same engine and transmission in the new 330i), and the engine and trans felt just like my 328i -- not nearly as much pep and more lethargic shifting. So I think they somehow tuned the engine / trans combo differently in the 330i -- which makes sense, I guess. I think they did a good job. If I were to buy a G20 I'm not sure I'd even feel the need to move up to the M340i, to be honest. My ABSOLUTE favorite feature on the new 330i is that the seats go LOWER than in the F30. I sit fairly upright and the F30 seats are a hair too high for me (sometimes I have to duck to see around the rear-view mirror). The three main things I didn't like were: The M-sport suspension was WAY too firm, for daily use, for me. Yes, it made the car fun -- but my head kept bouncing off the relatively hard headrest. Unlike my F30 though, the suspension wasn't as brittle when going over certain road imperfections, like recessed man hole covers, etc. The matte silver trim, on the dashboard, is too bright -- as it bounced the sun right into my eyes. Yes, it looks good, but I'd rather not have my eyes damaged or need to put prescription eye wear on, every time I drive the car. The car had a rattle, which is the #1 complaint about the F30 I currently own. Can BMW build a 3 series that isn't a rattle trap?
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08-19-2019, 04:00 PM	#42
Gbtr6 Private First Class 58 Rep 166 Posts Drives: 2015 328i XDrive Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: Titletown, Wi The ONLY one iTrader: (0)	Brought my 328i in because the rear door rain rails/gasket leaked. Looked forward to a nice BMW loaner, maybe a newer one. Got a brand new... Nissan Rogue. Ugh, and a stripper too. And this was a warranty job. Thought for sure I'd get a Bimmer. Perry __________________ 2015 328i X-Drive, M-Sport, Cold Weather Pkg, Lighting Pkg, Premium Pkg, Harman Kardon, Black Grilles, Hands-Free, M-Perfomance side sills, X-Drive floor liners.
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