Spy Shots: BMW 3-Series facelift
For those fond of delving deep into E90 minutiae, these are the best shots yet showing off the subtle changes coming to the BMW 3-series. For the rest of us, the tweaks are largely inconsequential. World Car Fans has unearthed some of the clearest shots yet, and the change that most people will notice are the taillamps, which look to get a slightly different shape. It even appears that the cutlines between the taillamp pieces on the trunklid won't line up with the rest of the cluster mounted in the quarter panel - asymmetry. The mirrors look to gain large repeaters for the blinkers, possibly just a camouflage ruse, and minor updates likely go on inside and underhood, too. Also likely to be quite noticeable once the wraps come off is a reshaped front fascia, which appears to place foglamps next to the license plate. Overall, a mild refreshing until a new 3-series can be whipped up. In the meantime, the new 7 will set the template for BMWs to come. [Source: World Car Fans]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Androu 10:33AM (5/31/2008)
Wow that is a whole lot better than the current 3series.
Props to bmw.
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Rick 10:51AM (5/31/2008)
Just tell me they cleaned up the Bangle Blunder.
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Beastage 11:10AM (5/31/2008)
Too much Bangle bashing... proof is that BMW is selling more than ever.
I think he can get some credit for what he did.
Rick 4:30PM (5/31/2008)
The proof is people are choosing content over image, where they would normally choose image over content.
Credit? Sure, he gets to burn in hell first for his crimes.
madgamer 11:07AM (5/31/2008)
The less Hyunda-like the tail lights, the better.
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3seriesisking 2:29PM (5/31/2008)
Please don't confuse the situation. Hyundai took the BMW design in more than one situation, not the other way around.
ambientFLIER 6:57PM (5/31/2008)
I don't care who used what first...the current tails on the 3 sedan are horrible.
User 2:51AM (6/01/2008)
I agree that the lights are the weakest part of the 3 series. I love it anyways, though.
BTW, there are aftermarket 3 series sedan lights that look absolutely awesome. Also, when they're smoked on a white 3 they look good.
RPM 9:33AM (6/02/2008)
I agree with ambientFLIER. The current tail lights should look more like this: http://rpmauto.blogspot.com/2008/05/bmw-3-series-update.html
Quattrofan 11:18AM (5/31/2008)
Wow, check out the size of those dead bugs.
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rljones 11:38AM (5/31/2008)
From what I could see the pictures, the tail light clusters do line up. They used silver tape on the trunk lid cluster to make it look like they don't. Very clever.
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Greg 11:51AM (5/31/2008)
That hole next to the license plate is not for a fog lamp. It's probably the night vision camera, BMW's default placement.
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iCameiSawiConquered 12:01PM (5/31/2008)
I am very happy the old kidney grille with the 6-series style "raised eyebrow" or whatever you would want to call it is being phased out. It was the most hideous part of the E90 generation, and although the taillights still suck, changing the grille is a good move. When I got my 335 coupe I was very happy the grille was normal! It's time for the sedan cousin to get the same treatment!
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Toy Yoda 4:32PM (5/31/2008)
I thought the raised eyebrow was on the 5 series. I have a 6 series. The eyebrows are straight and rather boring looking when viewed out of context.
iCameiSawiConquered 4:38PM (5/31/2008)
I'm not talking about the headlamps if that's what you're referring too...I don't know exactly how to call it...it's the raised chrome strip on the hood from the kidney grilles... it's on the 6 series and the e90.
Yago Bal 12:20PM (5/31/2008)
"The mirrors look to gain large repeaters for the blinkers, possibly just a camouflage ruse"
I see the real "blinker" quite clearly on the side panel.
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Vik 7:46PM (5/31/2008)
Dan Roth says "It even appears that the cutlines between the taillamp pieces on the trunklid won't line up with the rest of the cluster mounted in the quarter panel - asymmetry."
Did you even look at the pics, Dan? That's silver tape, just like the black tape around the edges of the taillamps. And since when have taillamps been symmetrical about the trunklid, anyway?
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Westside T.O. 10:16PM (5/31/2008)
Look again: http://img.worldcarfans.com/US/2008/5/29/9080529.005/9080529.005.Mini5L.jpg
They DID use silver tape, but if you look closely, they still don't appear to line-up by a couple of inches or so.
M 1:33PM (5/31/2008)
Uh . . . and this is a LOT different from the current design? Ho hum. Wake me when BMW comes up with a new look.
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Izzy 1:34PM (5/31/2008)
I love how BMW is eliminating the dreaded orange markers across their entire lineup (in the headlight) which USDM models in the past have always carried. The small reflector they're using is awesome, as it's easily paintable to match the EDM, ADM markets. Hey BMW, how bout some power folding mirrors across the board in the antiquated US as well... ;-)
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