[Goneinsixtyseconds]

Someone hit on this in another post, that they thought the problem with the grilles was that they're too high, not too big.

They're right. There are plenty of bigger grilles out there that don't look awful.

I drove a couple of hundred miles yesterday and looked at the grilles of all the cars and every single one, without exception, had the grille below the level of the headlights. There must be a design reason/rule for that, it can't be coincidence.

The only cars I saw with them above the level of the headlights were a couple of BMW's, and they really stood out. Not the biggest grilles out there, but 100% the only ones set in that position. And in my opinion, and it seems the opinion of every other car designer, is that is what makes them look so ugly.

Looking at some of the other BIG grilles out there, it seems you can get away with pretty much anything as long as it is set lower than the lights.

[stevei]

The fact that they intrude into the bonnet makes them look pug ugly.
The new 3 is a nice car but the grill makes the front look abysmal.

[Lincoln61]

You have probably hit the nail on the head with that observation. I have been noticing cars with bigger grills, but couldn't quite put my finger on why the new BMW grills looked so out of place.

[Armaan]

Only have to look at the big Audi SUVs and see that they have a much bigger grille than the BMWs, yet the positioning makes it seem 'part' of the front bumper rather than sticking out above the headlights.

Good observation and spot on!

[SkyJawa]

Do a photoshop comparison!

[Ashway]

Not an expert but I’d have thought that with most petrol diesel cars running turbos now bigger grills are needed to facilitate cooling. Contrast that with the electric cars e.g. Tesla that don’t have grills and by comparison look awful in my opinions

[Watsey]

You may have a point Goneinsixtyseconds but I think it goes further than that.

To my eye the new grilles just don't look part of the car - large surrounds, standing proud of the front of the car, differential but not complimentary finishes and, yes, oversized.

Looks like someone has been to a different manufacturer's parts bin and picked out something 'for effect'.

[JustChris]

Yes some truth to this. There's too much change going on for consumers:-

- Change in size (huge)
- Change in position (higher)
- Change in shape (trapeze)
- Change in colour (cerium grey if you're an M performance fan)
- Change is design slats to stars (M performance again)

Any one of the above is acceptable step change in a model or LCI intro but ALL of them together leaves us where we are today.

[335d Touring Xdrive]

On the plus side though, you won't get as many stone chips on the front...
But you might find that it works like a cheese grator if you hit a dear on a country lane.

[JustChris]

Found, missing 7 series LCI grilles.

[RobUK]

You know I read this and thought "Nah, there's cars out there that break this rule like Rolls and Betleys etc..." but when I checked some pictures... you're right.

On the Roller the bezel extends above the lights but the grille aperture doesn't, and it's only the Bentley Mulsanne that has a grill openeing noticeably above headlight level, all the others are about level - even the Bentayga.

[RobUK]

Originally Posted by 335d Touring Xdrive

On the plus side though, you won't get as many stone chips on the front...

But more damage to your radiator?

[TodmordenLad]

Spot on, MB.
We can debate the influence of Chinese vs N American vs European market tastes on BMW latest design language till we're blue in the face but the bottom line for me is the fact that the prettiest cars in the BMW range are those with the least hideous grilles, and vice versa.
If it ain't pretty and it doesn't drive well, I ain't buying one, plain and simple

[SkyJawa]

My crude attempt

[MashinBenzin]

Good observation!

I do think that they all look better in the metal than in pictures.

[Russbmw]

Yeah, I'd agree with that too actually.

The thing with other brands (thinking Audi here) is that the grille isn't made a feature in itself.

[Goneinsixtyseconds]

Originally Posted by Watsey

You may have a point Goneinsixtyseconds but I think it goes further than that.

To my eye the new grilles just don't look part of the car - large surrounds, standing proud of the front of the car, differential but not complimentary finishes and, yes, oversized.

Looks like someone has been to a different manufacturer's parts bin and picked out something 'for effect'.

I see what you're saying, but not sure I agree. There are some pretty hideous grilles on other cars too, but because of where they're positioned, it doesn't make the whole car look ugly.

It seems the position of BMW's just makes the whole thing look a mess. I think the reason they don't look part of the car, as other bad grilles still do, is entirely down to its positioning.

I went on a long drive yesterday, looked at every single car, thousands of them, and not one stood out the way the BMW ones do, even when it was a big and complicated design.

[Goneinsixtyseconds]

Originally Posted by MashinBenzin

Good observation!

I do think that they all look better in the metal than in pictures.

Not sure about that, they look slightly better in the flesh, but on my travels yesterday I saw a 3 series with the full black grille and a new 7 series and both still really stood out and didn't look great.

Shame, with the 7 series for example, every other view is great, especially the rear quarter and side view when you're overtaking. When they're coming in the opposite direction it's a different story.

[Goneinsixtyseconds]

Originally Posted by JustChris

Yes some truth to this. There's too much change going on for consumers:-

- Change in size (huge)
- Change in position (higher)
- Change in shape (trapeze)
- Change in colour (cerium grey if you're an M performance fan)
- Change is design slats to stars (M performance again)

Any one of the above is acceptable step change in a model or LCI intro but ALL of them together leaves us where we are today.

I agree, but as I'm making clear, ha ha, I don't think the higher one is ok even on its own. No other manufacturer is doing it, there has to be a good design reason.

[Lincoln61]

Im still confused about what grills are going on what car. The nasty ones without slats seem to be only on M perf variants. I have seen some pics of new 3ers with a huge grill like the 4.

Is there a chance that the new 4 will have 2 different front ends?

[Goneinsixtyseconds]

Originally Posted by SkyJawa

My crude attempt

I think that looks better, can you do it to the 7 series?

[RobUK]

Is that what you were after?