Official: BMW E90/E91 Facelift Thread

[EnI]

Originally Posted by Mr. Mercedes

But there is a difference between stylistic harmony and one sausage different lengths. BMW's and MB's are instantly recognisable as Beemers and Benzes. But there is enough differentiation between model lines. With Audi's some would be hard pressed distinguishing between the A4, A6. and A8 and now even the Q5 and Q7.

Exactly.

But as Bangle once said: "Differentiating the front & rear is an easy job. The more challenging is to different the side panel styling."

But I agree we'll se more unification in BMW design - not due some shift in design philosophy but due cost-cutting: same components = cheaper components. That will be more evident in interior design than in exterior one though.

But expect all future BMWs to have door handles located on shoulder line / crease - as it was always the case in BMW (ex some current models).

Some traditional design features are coming back: like reintroducing L-shaped rearlights, sharky nose, driver oriented cockpit, quad gauges.

BMW design is very iconic: it features many fixed design elements like eg. typical greenhouse vs wheelbase proportion & position, sporty-elegant stance, extremely short front overhang, aggressive sharky nose, quad headlight projectors, L-shaped rearlights, driver oriented cockpit, quad gauges, Hoffmeister kink in C-pillar, and of course most iconic twin-kidney grille.

Neither MB nor Audi feature so many fixed iconic design elements. In this respect BMW are much more identical to Porsche. Imagine Porsche shifting to rectangular headlights - from circular / oval ones: OK it happened with 914 & 924, and the result was a disaster (incl the sales).

So ... BMW are very inflexible in their design. Moving away from some design cues with current generation proved to be a failure -thus some traditional design trademarks are coming back. It was not the avant-garde flame-surfacing styling that alienated some BMW customers, nor was the iDrive: it was a fact some models missed sporty-elegance stance, driver-oriented cockpit & others design trademarks.

So, future BMWs will be more traditional: featuring more traditional BMW design trademarks (incl. sporty-elegante stance), yet retaining the modern styling inside (T-layout) & outside (flame surfacing).

[Centurion]

The new front end is very attractive.

[klier]

The car has a HDD of 80 gig.....isn't that more than the 7er?

[SDNR]

Originally Posted by Mr. Mercedes

But there is a difference between stylistic harmony and one sausage different lengths. BMW's and MB's are instantly recognisable as Beemers and Benzes. But there is enough differentiation between model lines. With Audi's some would be hard pressed distinguishing between the A4, A6. and A8 and now even the Q5 and Q7.

Oh give me a break ....some people wouldn't know their a**** from there elbow either

....the Merc C class has not always been so vastly different from its larger siblings -- there are people who even mistake Lexus's (Lexi) for Mercs too .

[Tarek]

Originally Posted by SDNR

there are people who even mistake Lexus's (Lexi) for Mercs too .

Well those are grandpas and grandmas Rob

Anyway i don't like the front bumper at all it's smiling at me,but i seriously digg the rear lights so sporty and will look gorgeous at night,me like for sure

[bmwownage]

So there is no mechanical update (apart from new engines) with this facelift? eg no suspension/steering update?

[Jimmern]

Originally Posted by bmwownage

So there is no mechanical update (apart from new engines) with this facelift? eg no suspension/steering update?

The widened track of the new BMW 3 Series especially contributes to
its powerful appearance. Depending on the model, the track of the rear axle
has been widened by up to 24 millimetres by means of a new wheel carrier

and other modified details.

[Pekka]

Hey you guys. Something special for you - AFAIK the 1st pictures of an undisguised M-version of the facelifted E90.







Had to put a huge watermark on 'em since I don't want that someone sells them (I didn't sell them ... they're a gift for GCZ).

[SDNR]

Great spotting Pekka. It looks very good.

[dr Dunkel]

Is'nt the black part of the rear bumper a bit narrower on this version?

Great spotting Pekka!