2012 BMW 3 Series Unveiled

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Bogie 19th

Bogie 19th

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What are your thoughts?

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More Photos:

http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2012-bmw-3-series/

Article:

http://www.autoblog.com/2011/10/14/2012-bmw-3-series-unveiled/#continued

Love it love it. Headlights seem a bit different though..not sure what I think about them yet.
 
Well, looks like BMW's gone down the route of making cars for executives only. Why oh why? Because it's a money earner, that's why!

...Sadly.

The back end is kinda cool though.
 
Aggressive-looking and sharp. There's a bit of unorthodox in the styling cues, but then again it's BMW, they've been very unorthodox since Chris began penning Bimmer's with his flame surfacing and "Bangle Butt" cues.

Which I'll miss. Dearly.
 
I love the design. The interior is also a nice cut between the F10, F20 and the F13. Overall, it's a neat looking package!

Another thing that stunned me the most is its weight.

"The F30 3er is about 80 plus pounds lighter than the old car"

I have to say that is very impressive for a car that has grown a bit and added more stuff into the interior. However, the steering is powered by electrically assisted rack and pinion, in keeping with the EfficientDynamics theme of most BMWs nowadays.

Some other stuff to mention:

  • Six speed manual transmission or, optionally, the eight speed automatic
  • Comfort, Sport, Sport +, and ECOPRO driving mode settings like in the 1 Series.
  • BMW’s modified MacPherson strut suspension in front (called a Double-pivot front axle) and a five link rear suspension.
  • Brakes are floating caliper all around for the 328i and four-pot fixed calipers front and floating calipers rear for the 335i.
  • The M Sport package (which will come soon) will include a lowered suspension (not quite slammed, just a silly 10mm lower), firmer suspension and dampers.
  • Auto Start-Stop will be included on the new 3 Series sedan regardless of which transmission is chosen.
  • Coolant pump, electronically controlled oil pump, and the electromechanical steering system contribute to reduced fuel consumption.
  • The air conditioning compressor sits behind a magnetic clutch to reduce power loss.
  • Use of air-curtain aero for the front wheels and significant underbody aero work to help reduce lift, drag, and also NVH.
  • Gained a couple of inches in wheelbase and length, as well as having a wider track.
  • All engines will be on turbo.

The 3 Series will be offered in 3 different trims which are The Sport Line, Luxury Line and Modern Line.

[Source of informations are from BMWBLOG]

So, the M-Sport package is this!

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Makes it look a whole lot better! :drool:

Now for some comparisons to the E90.

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And a picture to tell apart the F30 to the current facelifted C-Class. Don't care about the interior, the F30's look waay better!

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[Pictures source from BMWBLOG]
 
Now that I see all that, all I can think is...

...mmmmm, tasty!
 
Not sure about that front end - it's just a bit too busy with lines and curves. The E90 was crisp and clean and simple. The proportions (when looking at the profile) of the front end also just don't quite gel for me.

Its a pity that all 3 German manufacturers have made the baby (A4, 3, C) a clone of the middle (A6, 5, E) and the middle a clone of the big daddy (A8, 7, S). It's all become quite boring.
 
Wow...great picture post Invincible! That clearly shows a much more aggressive...even sinister look to the new 3 series. Wow, that must be the best looking 3 series to date. Love the optional 8 speed.
 
Mike Rotch
Its a pity that all 3 German manufacturers have made the baby (A4, 3, C) a clone of the middle (A6, 5, E) and the middle a clone of the big daddy (A8, 7, S). It's all become quite boring.
Click to expand...

And we're nearing to see the demise of the 7 Series, A8 and S Class...

Soldier 95B
Wow...great picture post Invincible! That clearly shows a much more aggressive...even sinister look to the new 3 series. Wow, that must be the best looking 3 series to date. Love the optional 8 speed.
Click to expand...

Thanks mate, but more thanks to BMWBLOG and Horatiu for the pictures. The looks of the car is an individual question though, but that 8-Speed tranny is surely among the strongest part of the car.... 👍
 
InvincibleM5
And we're nearing to see the demise of the 7 Series, A8 and S Class...
Click to expand...

I dont think so; as long as there are footballers, CEO's and government officials willing to buy them, they will keep on making them.
 
A good look at how the M Sport package looks like...

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Absolute beauty. I love it!

Equipped with Star-Spoke Style 403 M and Alpinweiss colour. We also have Melbourne Red as a colour option too!
 
I dig the interior. The front of the car looks... crazy. Insane. It's not that ugly but it's just kinda odd. The rear looks nice enough though.

Is it just me or do I seem to prefer Bangle's designs instead?
 
mikuru
I dig the interior. The front of the car looks... crazy. Insane. It's not that ugly but it's just kinda odd. The rear looks nice enough though.

Is it just me or do I seem to prefer Bangle's designs instead?
Click to expand...

Yeah, the front of the car is the most drastic changes of all. But it's fine to me though. I actually like it... You're not the only one who prefer Bangle's design but from then and now, BMW's design has always been the case of love it, or hate it.
 
Sorry for the double post, sorry for the number of pictures in this thread and sorry for giving out too much information :lol:

A new comparison with the Audi A4 B8.

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So my conclusion is... Or more to my opinion is that the 3 Series looks so much better.

[Pictures courtesy of BMWBLOG]
 
The M series is good, but the regular 3 series is so boring looking its like the designers asked a panel of dentists and general practice doctors what they wanted, they sure as hell didn't ask a driving enthusiast.

Audi was leading the pack in good looking cars, but it seems they are going the boring/let's make all of our cars look exactly alike route also.

Maybe Volvo, of all people, will throw something new and awesome out there.
 
M Sport Package is all win. Wow, that is nice. I love how they blended the chrome in the grill with the headlight like that btw, nice touch. It's kinda like they exposed the grill, showed a little up skirt.
 
I love it, the only downside for me is that the back end is a bit bland compared to the front. The interior is stunning though, I love those matt surfaces and the splashes of colour, be it wood or otherwise, look fantastic as they've not been overdone and appear to be of a high quality.

If only I could afford one!
 
Moglet
I love it, the only downside for me is that the back end is a bit bland compared to the front. The interior is stunning though, I love those matt surfaces and the splashes of colour, be it wood or otherwise, look fantastic as they've not been overdone and appear to be of a high quality.

If only I could afford one!
Click to expand...

You disliking the rear and loving the front? I'm loving the rear and (somewhat) disliking the front.

I guess we're opposites of some sort. :lol:
 
You know what guys, the only thing that I would say.. I dislike the most is the small splitter in the lower middle of the front bumper. Looks like a rip off of an Audi!
 
Now is the time where people speculate hard on the upcoming BMW M3. A couple of first renderings are in the internet and I'd just post the two that I like.

The first one seems to resemble a lot to the recently launched M5. I mean, if you look at it, you would've known it straight away. I would expect the front end to look about 90% similar to that but the rear is going to be different for sure because this one doesn't even resemble the current M-Sport package.

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Now this one seems to have a lot of lines and cues from the current generation E90/E92 M3 and the M5. From this angle though, to me the rear looks very nice with this configuration that I'd say I don't want it to be changed but as I said up there, could be some tweaks to it.

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[Pictures are courtesy of F30 Post and BMWBLOG]
 
Look at dat grey ass. The front looks like it has been punched, kinda awkward.

I liek the blue one though 👍
 
I really really like the new 3 series, but I hate the idea that it won't have the coupe anymore.. =( (Coupe = 4 series, so it'll be more premium blabla)
 
Looks good as the M3 version. Could honestly care less for the standard models. Depends what's under the bonnet of the M3 though really. I'm pretty cross with BMW ever since they added a twin turbo charged V8 to the M5. I loved the V10 in the older model. Really wish that would come back. I'd really love to see the M3 go back to the I6. I've driven both E90 and E46 M3 and the E46 is so much more enjoyable to drive IMO. And it sounds better. Just my 2¢
 
Eventhough the premiere of the M3 is supposed to take place somewhere in 2013, there has been quite a lot of rumours regarding to its engine. Obviously, the current V8 is going to be dropped due to a now tighter EU regulations so they have all gone with a small + turbo engine to make it powerful. Talking turbo, it seems like BMW could go for a Tri-turbo engine or a Twin-turbo engine. It could be an Inline-6 or a V6.

However, recently BMWBLOG with its trusty source claimed the M3 might be powered by a Twin-Turbo V6 which should produce around 450HP and a heck of a lot of torque like its big brother, M5. The issue is though, the rumoured Tri-Turbo Inline-6 is supposed to be larger in size compared to the V6, thus the claim of having a V6 in the M3. Let's we all take this as a grain of salt though...
 
It would be nice to see a tri or quad turbo v6 for Europe... However North America needs the V8. We crave the power. I've always had a liking for BMWs, I just try to supress my feelings. I like the new 3 Series.
 
If there's one thing we know for sure, it's that the M3 is getting turbo-charged. Everything else is just guess-work

As for how it looks, I'd expect essentially the front end from the first rendering, and most of the rest from the 2nd. Hope we see those wheels from the M5 on it though.
 
I like the design of the new 3er a lot. Much better than the old 3er sedan, I think. I've never been a big fan of the E90, and to me, it was the 3er coupe, the E92, that was the saving grace of the whole range. I still think of it as one of the most beautiful recent designs, really, and the M3 is drop-dead gorgeous.

So, really, it'll depend on what they do with the coupe, but as far as sedan vs. sedan goes, F30 all the way 👍

On the engine in the upcoming M3, I don't really mind it if BMW goes for a turbocharged one. The V8 in the M3 is great, no questions asked, but given how good and efficient current turbochargers are, I guess it only makes sense. They can fullfil emission laws much easier, get better MPG, more torgue and all of that without sacrificing much of the sharp response. But, whether it's NA or turbocharged, I'm sure it'll be the new yardstick in its class, either way. Much like every other M3 before.
 

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