Filed under: Spy Photos, Sedans/Saloons, BMW
Spied: BMW M3 Sedan facelift... already?
When the BMW M3 sedan made its debut, we knew based on its two door counterpart,'s performance that it would be fast. But this is one bit of ground we didn't anticipate the V8 super-sedan would cover quite so quickly: Barely on the market already, the M3 Sedan is getting a facelift.
The revisions, of course, will be minor, but spy shots like the one above suggest that, in addition to the new tail lights being fitted to the regular four-door 3-Series, the M3 Sedan is expected to get some new LEDs up front. Other minor changes will be made to the rear, including a modified rear bumper and diffuser, along with a few updates to the interior. We won't be complaining, just as long as it's as fast as the existing model.
[Source: M3Post.com]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
icu812ru469 9:07AM (5/20/2008)
Unlike Ferrari and Lamborghini which are for the uber-rich and gas prices don't matter to those people, the M3 and the likes are for the moderate rich and gas prices does affect decisions. So, if you don't make more frequent changes to attract those that may be taken aback by current designs, then you might see these middle road performance vehilces sitting for a while on lots... enjoying the sun to themselves.
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Richard 9:31AM (5/20/2008)
An interesting perspective.
But, don't you think that constant year-to-year changes drive accelerated devaluation of the vehicle?
Bah 12:41PM (5/20/2008)
As a middle class car owner, this constant redesigning of everything is extremely tiring. As BMW tweaks and changes their looks at increasingly short intervals, I find the older designs looking better and better. The last several redesigns and facelifts have only left me thinking "why? the last one looked better". At this point, an E30 or E36 has become my favorite 3 series look - nothing fancy, just give me something that looks like a car. Something with good space and good visibility with solid handling. I would much rather that a company put its time and money into refining the engineering of an existing car than simply make the next new fad that has no parts in common with the previous one. Reinventing the wheel each time like that takes alot of effort and doesn't provide as much in the way of results for people who care about more than just impressing their neighbors.
Arsenal 1:12PM (5/20/2008)
How do minor changes to the interior and exterior of a BMW M3 tie to the impact moderately rich people are feeling around gas prices?
If they had made some change to increase fuel economy I might buy this argument.
If you has said "the moderately rich like to see consistent tweaks to inspire them to part with their money" I might buy this argument.
It might even work if you had said "BMW needs to improve the aesthetics of their cars to the point that the moderately rich will overcome their gas price issues and buy the car because it's so beautiful."
But "the moderately rich care about higher gas prices, BMW needs to tweak the way cars look to sell them" doesn't work. We're talking about an M3. An M3 shopper who's concerned about gas prices rapidly stops being an M3 shopper and no amount of visual tweaks will change that.
M 12:29AM (5/21/2008)
@Bah
Well said! especially:
"I would much rather that a company put its time and money into refining the engineering of an existing car than simply make the next new fad that has no parts in common with the previous one. Reinventing the wheel each time like that takes alot of effort and doesn't provide as much in the way of results for people who care about more than just impressing their neighbors. "
It should be about REFINING what BMW was so proud of 3 years ago, not completely redoing it to say hey look, it's new. This goes for what's under the hood and chassis as well (not just pretty tailights)
Richard 9:09AM (5/20/2008)
Um...isn't this more of a buttlift than a facelift?
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Maestro1 9:27AM (5/20/2008)
HAHA that's what I was thinking too!
Mobius_1 9:39AM (5/20/2008)
The current 3 series sedans don't look that good from the back (the coupes are much nicer) and overall doesn't exactly look that special
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Rick 11:27AM (5/20/2008)
The Bangleized rear never looked good. Go back to the design from 5 or 6 years ago and stop with the creative reinterpretation already.
3seriesisking 10:54AM (5/20/2008)
Agreed. I really don't like those current taillights. I can't wait to see what they come up with to replace them as anything will certainly prove to be better.
fer 11:06AM (5/20/2008)
whoever has money to buy an m3 wont be too concerned about gas price
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BMWdownshift 11:16AM (5/20/2008)
Great another mod to make mine look older.
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MBS 4:34PM (5/20/2008)
It's not bangelized; it's von-hooydonked...
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Pips 6:03PM (5/20/2008)
the current 3 series sedan tail lamp cluster look cheaply done combined with poor overall shape. it is about time to step up and replace these piece of crap.....
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Xcountryflyer 7:18PM (5/20/2008)
Perhaps its just to further differentiate the M3 sedan from the more pedestrian brethren.
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Mi key 9:53PM (5/20/2008)
The current design design had been around since 2005-2006 so it due for a MMC lift and since the M3 sedan came at the end of the 2008 it will have a short shelf life. Kinda of making it a instant collectible to anyone that may like the current look. I believe the changes will effect either 2009 or 2010 model yrs.
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