[US///M3]

All the wheels offered in the F30 are boring, nothing like the 162's introduced with the E90.

[mapezzul]

Originally Posted by Nomad81

IDK, but it could also be that the Audi's design was approved before the latest regulations kicked in.

FYI, the latest rules require 3 inches of clearance between the bonnet/hood of a car and the engine, hence the bulbous front-ends of pretty much every new BMW.

Audi can not get a 5 star ENCAP IIRC.

Also- in the EU BMW uses pyrotechnics at the hood hinges to elevate the rear of the hood, if the hood line was not as it is, disconnected from the bumper the hood would bind and not elevate. The reason for the bumper protrusion and height us for the hip impact where much if the force is incurred on the initial pedestrian hit.

In the US it is less if a concern but in Europe people walk more often and cross walks do not always have lights, can be on blind corners etc.

Peugeot and Alfa seem to have similar hood lines on newer models, not just BMW. Merc's new B is also pedestrian friendly with a newer look nose.

As other EU brands start introducing new models and caring about the regs, you'll see more fronts with similar proportions.

[Redm3]

The front has lost me....may be time to try being a Jag owner

[sieben1973]

Is it just me, or it the 3 series starting to look like a car and not a machine
(i dont like it, i want my old E90 back)

[7or8]

Originally Posted by US///M3

All the wheels offered in the F30 are boring, nothing like the 162's introduced with the E90.

Yeah, the 162's are great! I think i'm gonna get a set of those if I buy an F30. Be cool to see someone photoshop some 162's on the f30..

[e90im]

Maybe BMW will delete hood line on F32...

[PAMidge]

I'm actually surprised that I like the havana color. It's not bad! Would never get it though

[accel]

exteriour design wise:

delta1 = abs(e90preLCI-e90LCI);
delta2 = abs(e90LCI-f30);

delta1 ~ delta2

[valeram]

IMHO, the Euro front height code/standard (safety for pedestrians) mess up the looks of it. They look the same as the new Volvo.

[M ETT]

I like the liquid blue.
I'll have a Liquid blue M-Sport + the girl in the H&M ad plz...

[Hedges]

Looks bland!

[ybbiz34]

I've reserved judgment for a while, hoping the new design would grow on me, but the front end looks pretty bad.

I hate the loss of the mesh in the lower portion of the front fascia. The random plastic pieces down there are just plain Audi-like and ugly.

[Chu2k]

Originally Posted by BenTrovato

The front is growing on me! Not that the rear looks bad, but I think the e90 LCI rear looks sharper.

yeahh! that rear is FANTASTIC!

The base model in Liquid Blue looks simply HIDEOUS! Terrible terrible. Definitely darker colors are the right ones for this car...

[vanosracing]

The new 3 looks good. If you remove the Audi logo you have a VW Jetta.

[EuroB6]

the base model looks really bad. Almost Honda Accord-like. That front lower lip is just not working for me.

[Bimmerforlife]

The hardest part I'm having is the spot between the headlights and the grill and the other is the square hood. The rear I think looks good.

I never liked the E90 06-08 with the mustache grill but when the 09 LCi came out I didn't like the V lines on the hood but I loved the kidney grill redesign. The V hoodlines don't bother me much anymore and I really love the kidney grill on my 2011 E90.

As someone mentioned above...if you own a E90 yrs 09 to 11 I'm just not sure it warrants upgrading to the F30 based on this new design. I really wanted this thing to wow me and say, man I want to get this to replace me E90. When it's time for an upgrade I may just be looking towards the 5 series model.

[pogodog]

Is it just me or does the side window glass seem really tall or out of proportion to the body sheetmetal. I like the rear of the car and I think you'll have to see the car in person to decide on the front end. I am disappointed in general as other than the front and rear ends the car seems pretty close to the exisiting 7 year old model. Interior is interesting but again must sit in it to make a final judgement. I'm lowering my expectations as the new F30 with the N20 engine will be my wife's econo box if it gets approx. 36mpg on the highway.

[BMW335icDDS]

Really not growing on me. Looks worse with more time.

And the front hood line looks like a scar plastic surgeons get without good primary closure. Nasty scar.

[Penso di no]

Originally Posted by TX78666

Either Audi is exempt from pedestrian safety requirements, or someone owes me a grand, because their hood line doesn't look like azzzzz.

Are you serious? The Audi grill is awful (and has been for years now).

[Robert]

The front grill is clearly a design pattern inherited from the i8 concept. Except the idea is better executed on the i8. Don't be too surprised to see more of this family resemblance in future BMW models.

[dmboone25]

They should call this old man blue...or AARP blue...or wrinkled ball blue...

Doesn't do that front end any favors...

[SCOTT26]

In modern cars the front end - The nose cone is constructed of thermoplastic, with the bonnet area in either steel or aluminium.
In an impact the regular point of impact is tested and found to be in the direct area of the nose which disintegrates on impact allowing physical damage to the person to be not as severe as say the days of the typical BMW grille attached to the bonnet.

All BMW models except for the higher X vehicles* will now receive the same mediums in front impact protection.
There will never be a grille attached to a bonnet again, so do not get your expectations high.

X3 and X5 have higher front ends and a lower impact point.