09 Aug 2004 | Scorchedwings said...

I'm going to need more info, you're saying that you don't like this? What do you not like about it? (i think it's wonderful)

09 Aug 2004 | JF said...

IMHO, too many lines, creases, angles, competing shapes. I like the simpler cleaner look of Audi. That's all.

09 Aug 2004 | Mike said...

I don't really like the new 3 sedan, nor the new 5-series either. I do like the new 4 (or 3, depending on with whom you speak) coupe which I wrote extensively about on my weblog the other day.

The brakelights look super ugly I don't understand why everything on a car now has to be so "different from the previous version" even when the previous version was great and well-loved.

From these pictures, it really looks as though it has a longer wheelbase and body than the previous E46-bodied 3, which is hinting to make it look a little too much like the new 5. The goal for purchasing a 5 over a 3 is to have a larger car, and have it look different than the smaller version. Now that Chris Bangle and BMW AG is blending the lines between the 3 & 5, I wouldn't be surprised if there was some backlash from new 5 owners who say the new 3 looks just like their 5.

09 Aug 2004 | Benjy said...

In general, I've liked the pre-Bengal designs over the "flame serface" designs he's created for the more recent models. Overall, the new 3 could be worse. But I don't like the crease under the door handles at all. The front bumper is kind of interesting, however...

09 Aug 2004 | Ed F. said...

"IMHO, too many lines, creases, angles, competing shapes. I like the simpler cleaner look of Audi. That's all."

me too. gimme an A8 any day.

09 Aug 2004 | Charbel said...

The new 4 door 3 series looks really ugly, and the back lights make it look like an Infiniti...Audi still has the better cleaner design...

09 Aug 2004 | ar said...

It's a lot more aggressive than the current guppy-bodied 3 however, it's waaay overdone... On another note, I ran into the new Volvo S40 in person and I think it's going to be my next car.

09 Aug 2004 | Benjy said...

I ran into the new Volvo S40 in person and I think it's going to be my next car

I'd been wanting a 3-series since I graduated college and was hoping to be able to afford one for my next car... until I saw the S40 at this year's Chicago Auto Show. Now I'm thinking that's my next car, too.

09 Aug 2004 | David said...

The styling looks like it has been influenced by the Japanese styling

09 Aug 2004 | Jonathan M. Hollin said...

I think BMW have really lost the plot in recent years - ever since Chris Bangle got a hold of the design department.

There's the abysmal 7-Series, with its "stuck on as an afterthought" boot (trunk); the 5-Series (wtf did they think they were doing when they signed off those headlights?) and now the 3-Series - BMW's most popular car. Each and every one an aesthetic failure in my mind (I know it's subjective).

Then there's the ridiculous iDrive - with 700 controllable options you can take your eyes off the road to play with!

I agree with everyone who listed the Audi range as a credible alternative. Let's not forget Volvo, Saab, Mercedes, Lexus, et al.

BMW has to do something about flame-surfacing, they have to do something about iDrive and they certainly have sort out all the computer glitches - and soon. Otherwise they are not going to be able to claim to offer "the ultimate driving machine" for much longer.

For the record, I'm not a BMW-basher - I'm the happy owner of an E36 3-Series. I am, however, at loss to understand the company's current direction. I hope it's just a blip!

09 Aug 2004 | Tiffany Brown said...

You know, from that angle, it reminds me of the Jaguar S-Type.

It looks like an American design (and American car design IMO has sucked for the last decade or so) ... not at all what I'd expect from BMW.

09 Aug 2004 | ek said...

I agree with everyone who listed the Audi range as a credible alternative. Let's not forget Volvo, Saab, Mercedes, Lexus, et al.

Out of curiosity (there is absolutely no wise ass subtext intended here), what do you mean by "a credible alternative?"

Do you mean in terms of price, performance, content or something else?

09 Aug 2004 | pb said...

While I like the Audi stylings better I would say they are a bit pedestrian compared to the BMWs. I give BMW/Bangle a bit of credit for tyring to mix it up. Although I think overall the 7, 5 and now 3 leave a bit to be desired. I've come around on the 7 and think it mostly looks pretty tough. But not so on the 5. The 3 is an improvement over the 5, imo. The side crease is a bit much as are the tear-drop head lights and trunk-lid lines.

How are people taking to the new A6? I haven't gotten over the grill yet.

New A6

09 Aug 2004 | ek said...

Hey, btw, latest word is that BMW has nixed the odd=sedan, even=coupe number scheme idea.

At least for now, the 6 will remain the 6, but the M3 coupe will retain its current name (as opposed to being called the M4) and the various variants of the 1-series will be named the 1 [insert body style here].

Apparently, the BMW marketing folks thought it would be 1) too expensive to try to build up awareness and brand equity around the "4" moniker and 2) thought it would be silly to try, given how passionately many people feel about the existing M3 badge.

10 Aug 2004 | One of several Steves said...

Wow, that's news, ek. That must have just happened, because they've already been investing quite a bit in getting the 1/2/3/4/5/6/7 in the news.

To the point at hand: I've been one of those few who actually likes what BMW has been doing with their design the past few years. This is the car that has finally caused me to go "what the hell are they doing"?

If ever there were a car less in need of a design update, it's the current 3 Series. It's one of the most perfect, gorgeous cars on the road, and it looks as fresh today as it did when that design debuted in 1999. The back end is completely ruined, and those tail lights are awful. The front end, at least based on this image is way too chunky and destroys the grace and elegance of the current version. From a straight profile, the character line on the doors looks OK, but from other angles it looks too extreme.

I'll withhold full judgement until I see it in person, since I initially disliked the Z4 until I saw one on the road and thought it looked like a completely different car than it did in pictures, but so far this one pretty much sucks.

I guess that means I'm that much more likely to go for the Infiniti G35 when it comes time to get a new car.

10 Aug 2004 | pb said...

The current 3 definitely is handsome but clearly doesn't fit in to the 5/7 direction.

The Z4 is marginally more attractive than the Z3. My sister has a Z3 and it's pretty much unsellable.

The M Coupe was a screw-up.

The new 6 is pretty nice.

I'm *un*surprised to see so few 5s on the road (even in the BMW-crazy Bay Area).

10 Aug 2004 | Jonathan M. Hollin said...

"what do you mean by "a credible alternative?"

It's kind of undefinable! :-(

I chose a BMW 3-Series (E36) a few years ago because it had certain qualities that made it "special". When I bought it, the other cars in its class and price range were:

Mercedes C Class - It was rubbish back then and "felt" like an old man's car. Virtually everything (air con, CD player, alloys, etc) was a cost option. Clunky transmission (I always choose manual).
Audi A4 - Too expensive, running costs too high. Best quality interior around. Bland design. Front wheel drive!
Lexus IS 200(?) - Looked like any other mass-produced Japanese car. Great to drive though and the most well-equipped of them all.

And then there was the 3-Series - great looking, sublime chassis, superb engine, quick transmission, very well equipped. Very driver focused.

I choose the 3 and am still driving it today (5 years later).

Today the landscape is a little different:

Mercedes C-Class - looks great, well-equipped (but expensive), good handling.
Audi A4 - looks great, fantastic to drive (the Quattro model), excellent transmission, most well equipped car in its class. Still quite thirsty though and expensive to run.
Lexus - IS 200 is virtually unchanged as far as I know.

And the BMW 3-series - probably still fantastic to drive (great transmissions, chassis, engine, etc...) but looks bad now. Looks Japanese. No longer looks aggressive / powerful. Just looks like an unremarkable saloon with weird lights!

As you can see, I'm not using "credible alternative" to describe the actual drive quality (I think BMW still takes some beating). I'm talking about that "something" that makes a car special...

To me the BMW (3, 5, 7) is no longer special - although I'd still donate organs to get my hands on an E46 M3!!! :-)

10 Aug 2004 | JF said...

I've seen a bunch of new 5s on the road here in Chicago. It's growing on me too. The 6, however, is stunning.

10 Aug 2004 | One of several Steves said...

Have you seen the 6 cabriolet with the top up, Jason? Simply the best soft top I have ever seen. Almost indistinguishable from the coupe; they even maintained the rear "fins" that allow the rear window to be recessed in behind the roof line as it meets the trunk.

As for the 5 Series, there is definitely no shortage of them here around the LA area.

10 Aug 2004 | Don Schenck said...

Take the 3 Series and strip out all the BLOAT and it'd be a great car.

On second thought, a Buick Regal without all the bloat would be great.

10 Aug 2004 | Michael Spina said...

"On second thought, a Buick Regal without all the bloat would be great."

Um...no.

I appreciate what the new Bangle models are doing. Throwing out the old stodgy, conservative look. And they seem to have gotten most of it right. But it's usually one or two lines for me that completely blow it. Like the trunk lid/panel line on the 5 series, or the diagonal on the Z4. In the 3 I think it's the horizontal crease along the doors, but I'll have to sleep on it.

Overall, I think the proportions are good. Just too many...details.

11 Aug 2004 | Michael B said...

Audi? BMW? Come on Jason. You live in Chicago. Have you looked at the new Lawton models? The high speed MEP series has very clean lines.

12 Aug 2004 | Don Schenck said...

I'll keep my 2,195-pound, mid-engine, 60-0-in-99-feet Spyder, thankyewverymuch. More fun than any of the behemeths mentioned above.

:-)

12 Aug 2004 | Don Schenck said...

P.S. But I must admit, the BMW would be nice for cruising into the Country Club.

12 Aug 2004 | JF said...

Seems like that high door crease is getting popular.

12 Aug 2004 | Don Schenck said...

Wow! That AMG is so gorgeous, I've made it my computer desktop.

12 Aug 2004 | One of several Steves said...

Mercedes seems to be borrowing a lot from BMW with the new CLS.

Although, I hope they "junk up" the interior a touch compared to what it looked like in the show car at the LA Auto Show this year. It was gorgeous off-white leather - and every single person I heard comment on it said it was so gorgeous they'd be afraid to ever actually sit in the car.

23 Aug 2004 | DDD said...

I like the 3 series front and lateral line more than the 5 or 7's. while the 5 series bottom is better, this new 3 looks poor and lacks personality, like the old nissan primera; i just wonder for how long can bmw get along with it, overstretching a great brand until is gets hot but not (yet) breaking it. the 1 sereis' rear is an 147 alfa in disguise (sham shame on you chris!) but at least is cool. why didn't they work a bit on the x3's back (quite strong and futuristic) and simply put it on the 3 sedan? i think bangle simply has too many ideas and he can't help himself blending them into a final design cocktail badly shaken or there's a strange decision process in munchen with a totally tastleess guy opting for the worse picture in the catalogue.

30 Jan 2005 | compatelius said...

bocigalingus must be something funny.