F30 3-Series- Officially Unveiled!

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It's odd how trim levels have so much affect on cars in that sector though. I think that in any trim level other than S-Line, the A4 looks incredibly dull and under-wheeled.

Then you have the C-Class, which I reckon looks like a much bigger, more expensive car in luxury trims and a smaller, cheaper one in sport trims with the large star on the grille and bigger wheels.

The F30 is the same - in sport trim above it definitely looks smaller but at the same time, a bit more "cheap" compared to the variant in the comparisons with smaller wheels and more chrome. The E90 was the same, and essentially it's a pretty similar design.
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I like simple styling. I don't like the look of tons of lines all over the place, or vary rarely do I like it. Its why I can't stand 90% BMWs that have come out in the last decade. They are all over styled it feels like they are trying to hard to look 'different' then everyone else. Should be more focused on making the car look good, but that's just me. Audi has a simple design that I love.

My sisters boyfriend has a 2011 black A4 that he lowered a little bit and tinted and it looks amazing. Nothing else externally, internally hes done a bit and keeps it registered in Florida because it won't pass smog here in Cali. Then I look at the 3 series sedan and its just so.. bleh... I love the Coupe, especially in M3 trim. Looks fantastic, simple and luxurious looking yet at the same time is aggressive and sexy. This is just... messy looking. They merged these two cars together...

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I'm sure its a great car to drive and is decently equipped, but for what you pay... I feel like you can do so much better in every conceivable way somewhere else.
 
My own money would be on the C-Class if I'm honest. I like the styling the most, Mercedes is now building them properly, they ride better than the BMWs or Audis and in reality you'll notice very little difference in "handling" between the BMW and the Merc.

That said, if Alfa Romeo get their act together then the German makes can take a running jump as far as I care.
 
Compared to the last 3 series it actually does look better.
 
Zenith013
^^ Good photo comparisons. Thanks.

It looks really good and aggressive from some angles and just plain poorly styled from others (see front view).
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Dan_
Compared to the last 3 series it actually does look better.
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If you're looking at those comparison photos, it makes the new one look smaller. It is not, the new one is larger in each dimension. I agree though, it does look better than the previous version (which isn't saying just a ton).
 
In the end though, I think it will sell very well here once it reaches the showroom. Take a look at the F10 5 Series, after a lot of criticism for its design etc. it actually sells pretty well in Malaysia and I'm seeing a lot of them, almost been able to see them every single day. I'm expecting the same for the F30 too...

I'm not sure what's wrong with the Audi A4 here. It's design is not what I'd call, very bad considering it does look a little bit bland but it doesn't sell that good - perhaps because of the price because it is the most expensive among the three. The new facelifted C-Class has just arrived and I'd love to see how well the car is.
 
Will it stop getting bigger already? 3-Series, not 3.5 series, BMW.
 
A 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!
 
If it weren't for the lights connected to the grill there, I would have a very hard time distinguishing it from a 5 series.

That profile of the car looks a lot better than the one in red though.
 
Something that got me thinking: If BMW is actually sticking the turbo-l6 only in one model in the entire 3 series range and the new M3 is supposedly getting a turbo'd V6, does that conjecture of facts lead to the death of the famous BMW inline six in a mid-term plot?

If they are indeed developing a new twin-turbo V6 for the next M3, it is likely for them to put a detuned or rather naturally aspirated V6 on the 335i in the near future. It would be illogical to develop a whole new engine to just one high end model.

Does this make any sense or am I just being a bit conspirationist?
 
Sorry for the number of pictures in this thread :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 F30 definitely has a lower bonnet, and the front looks MILES better. From the side, there isn't much difference, as they both have fairly generic side profiles. The F30 does seem shorter than the A4 though. Moving inside, personally the F30 wins again. Interior much cleaner, and I personally prefer it. From the rear, I expect the F30 will look better too. Never been a fan of the new A4's rear, mainly because of the tail-lights.
 
I don't like the look of the steering wheel. Looks big. [/nitpicking]

Really has grown on me. Although I think it's because I've been staring at dat ass! the whole time I look at it. Really has a nice looking rear end. I didn't like the front end very much, until today. I think it looks really aggressive, and that's something I like.
 
There hasn't been a car I've liked this much in a very, very long time.

I have to have one.

Eventually. :D
 
I do love the F30,.... but the face-lifted E90 M-sport, with the right options IS one is (IMHO) one of the best BMW's ever. I hope the F30 grows on me like the E90 did.
 
MatskiMonk
I do love the F30,.... but the face-lifted E90 M-sport, with the right options IS one is (IMHO) one of the best BMW's ever. I hope the F30 grows on me like the E90 did.
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I'd agree with you on that. One of my favourite BMWs was the E90 320si (the WTCC homologation model). Cracking looking car, but the very last of the E90s with the more creased bonnet and smaller tail lights was possibly even better. Especially in the metallic grey pewter-like colour that makes the paintwork look like liquid metal.

Regarding F30 vs. A4, it's a toughie. The A4 is a vastly cleaner design but perhaps a little dull as a result. I still prefer the Merc C-Class, and the Alfa 159 blows them all completely away. It's just a shame the Alfa is also a generation behind in terms of talent.
 
The front looks horrendous and overdone imo. The rear, I like. And of course the sports model looks better. Nissan as we all know is using that principle, presumably, to win support for its jocular Juke by showcasing a GTR-esque in the near-future. The new 5-series has grown on me, but that's about it. I much prefer Bangle's designs.
 
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]
 
homeforsummer
1910s are back in fashion, yo.
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Aye mate! :lol:

So, back on topic. 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...

EDIT:

So seems like they've already got the manual on...

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[Image courtesy of BMWBLOG]
 
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I spent a lot of time looking at the F30 for my next company car... I could have got a very nicely specced 320i sport or 320ED.

It looked really good in the magazines - much better than an A4. And I also thought it looked great in the showroom.... very sharp. Plus the driving position was excellent and interior very nice - though the dash screen looks silly if you don't spend £2k on sat nav.

I almost ordered one.

But before I could get a test drive I saw one on the road in traffic... and it went almost un-noticed. It just had zero presence. At first I thought it might just be colour sensitive, but I've seen a few now, in various colours, and they just look so bland on the road. Maybe the MSport package will help.

Anyhow, went a bit leftfield and ordered a DS5 rather than the more obvious German stuff.
 
I agree with you on the road presence Stotty. I've seen quite a few brown 'Modern Line' F30's and they just look so dull. The M-Sport however looks completely different, especially with those lovely wheels.

I'm not sure about the shape of the F30 though. In the flesh the rear just looks so much higher than the bonnet and it just looks weird IMO. Everything else looks better in the flesh, but the shape looks better in the pictures. I prefer the E90 in terms of shape, everything just seems... Right on that car, it's almost perfectly proportioned if you ask me.
 

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