• The all new 2012 F30 3 series revealed, mild update - Pictures and video of 335i, 328i, and the Active Hybrid 3

                    
      		   
      Published on 10-14-2011 06:41 PM
      51 Comments Comments
      Well here it is, the new 2012 4 door F30 3 series. Not really all that much different externally with BMW playing it extremely safe. The styling envelope is not being pushed with the 3 taking cues from the F10 5 series for the headlights and the rear taillight design being as benign as possible. The interior is also a very minor update on the E90 with the BMW switchgear and gear lever that we have all grown accustomed to.

      The car is larger with 3.7 inches of length added versus the previous model as well as a 2.0 inch longer wheelbase. This allows legroom to increase for the rear seat passengers by almost an inch. BMW claims the increase in size will not add weight with the F30 supposedly weighing 80 pounds less than the E90. That is something we will have to see when the curb weight tests come around for the new car.

      The motor will be familiar except for the 328i which gets the new N20 4 cylinder. The 335 has the same N55 single turbo direct injected 6 cylinder. A hybrid model is also available. Overall, BMW played it extremely conservative with the new 3 and the good news is E90's will not look dated. Average people will likely have trouble even noticing the new changes.























































      This article was originally published in forum thread: Here it is, The all new 3-Series started by Sorena View original post
      Comments 37 Comments
      1. M3_WC's Avatar
        M3_WC - 10-14-2011, 06:50 PM
        Live pics of the M-sport.

        Looks good, except for the M-sport interior.


        Click here to enlarge
        Click here to enlarge


        The M-sport steering wheel and color matched trim is complete failure. Oh and I won't get started on the pop-up navi that is fixed.

        Click here to enlarge
      1. Sticky's Avatar
        Sticky - 10-14-2011, 06:56 PM
        Anyone else underwhelmed?
      1. M3_WC's Avatar
        M3_WC - 10-14-2011, 07:01 PM
        Click here to enlarge Originally Posted by Sticky Click here to enlarge
        Anyone else underwhelmed?
        For sure.

        Almost like a LCI refresh, rather than a completely new car.
      1. leo985i's Avatar
        leo985i - 10-14-2011, 07:46 PM
        The interior looks a lot better than the current models. I'm really not liking the hood pointing downwards way too much though. Everything else looks fine. I'm glad my E90 wont be looking too outdated next to an F30.
      1. Sticky's Avatar
        Sticky - 10-14-2011, 07:49 PM
        I think my E92 will look better side by side. Hoping the new coupe or 4 series or whatever they decide to call it is a bit different than this.
      1. leo985i's Avatar
        leo985i - 10-14-2011, 08:09 PM
        It will be hard to top the look of the e92 m3.
      1. Sorena's Avatar
        Sorena - 10-15-2011, 01:50 AM
        can i say i like the steering wheel? it's 458'ish.



        Click here to enlarge Originally Posted by andrew20195 Click here to enlarge
        What kind of front suspension setup are they using if not MacPherson struts?
        I double checked. They still use McPherson struts in front but for an unknown reason they changed the name and called it Double-pivot front axle.
      1. DarkPhantom's Avatar
        DarkPhantom - 10-15-2011, 02:03 AM
        I don't know about the styling...will wait for it to grow on me. I JUST grew on the LCI E90...hopefully the coupe will do the new design some justice.

        As for the interior...eh, not sure what to think.

        That steering wheel is screaming awkward to me but at the same time concept-ish.
      1. bigup's Avatar
        bigup - 10-15-2011, 03:26 AM
        After a few beers, it looks like the nose has been stepped on.

        Agree about the E92 M3 probably being one of the best looking Bimmers ever!
      1. Sticky's Avatar
        Sticky - 10-15-2011, 08:50 AM
        The more I look at this the more I think BMW could use a little Bangle.
      1. Sorena's Avatar
        Sorena - 10-15-2011, 10:24 AM
        Click here to enlarge Originally Posted by Sorena Click here to enlarge
        I double checked. They still use McPherson struts in front but for an unknown reason they changed the name and called it Double-pivot front axle.
        i triple checked, the McPherson is gone. It's not a name change, they use the new double wishbone which replaced the McPherson Strut in F10 5er as well. Hope it's not gonna give a boat-like handling to F30.
      1. black bnr32's Avatar
        black bnr32 - 10-15-2011, 12:34 PM
        Click here to enlarge Originally Posted by Sorena Click here to enlarge
        Guess why i haven't posted a pic of side angle because it's awfully ugly from that angle. .
        strongly disagree. side profile looks good, especially the roofline.

        i don't like how the headlights meet the kidneys.
      1. klipseracer's Avatar
        klipseracer - 10-15-2011, 08:12 PM
        Sometimes no change is good. I remember I used to love and own the 2nd generation eclipse body styling... Then they went to the 2000+ grand am look with the pentagon headlights. Looked like ass ever since. I'm glad when cars don't change too much to be honest. Not when there is a good thing going anyways.
      1. M3_WC's Avatar
        M3_WC - 10-16-2011, 01:16 AM
        Can't get over how much the navi screen looks like an after thought.

        Looks like they designed the entire interior and remembered, "Oh f*ck we forgot about the navigation screen!"
      1. Scourge82's Avatar
        Scourge82 - 10-16-2011, 06:14 AM
        Makes me glad I have an E92. It looks so much better than the F30.

        Click here to enlarge Originally Posted by M3_WC Click here to enlarge
        Looks like they designed the entire interior and remembered, "Oh f*ck we forgot about the navigation screen!"
        I don't know, It looks like it might slide up fro the dash. I'm digging the heads up display for the driver. I want to know what the Sports Line specs are though.
      1. Itsbrokeagain's Avatar
        Itsbrokeagain - 10-16-2011, 08:21 AM
        The steering wheel is very reminiscent of the Mtech 2 wheel that they made for us older BMWs. I kinda like it.
      1. Remonster's Avatar
        Remonster - 10-16-2011, 10:45 PM
        This isn't very conservative, maybe it's a little less of a change than E46>E90 was but I think it looks perfect (except maybe that connection between headlight and kidneys, but it's minor).The only thing that could stop me from getting an M Sport 335i after my lease is up would be my ability to afford an F30 (or F80 or whatever) M3.
      1. Sticky's Avatar
        Sticky - 10-16-2011, 11:04 PM
        Click here to enlarge Originally Posted by Remonster Click here to enlarge
        This isn't very conservative, maybe it's a little less of a change than E46>E90 was but I think it looks perfect (except maybe that connection between headlight and kidneys, but it's minor).The only thing that could stop me from getting an M Sport 335i after my lease is up would be my ability to afford an F30 (or F80 or whatever) M3.
        Personally, it is way way too mild. Audi is pulling away in the styling department while BMW is stagnant.
      1. Yukohama's Avatar
        Yukohama - 10-17-2011, 01:36 AM
        Looks better with the m-sport package imo, i still like the e9x LCI better though
      1. Remonster's Avatar
        Remonster - 10-17-2011, 07:40 PM
        Click here to enlarge Originally Posted by Sticky Click here to enlarge
        Personally, it is way way too mild. Audi is pulling away in the styling department while BMW is stagnant.
        AUDI? Their cars have looked the same since the B7 A4... I like them, but they change WAY less than BMWs have in the same time frame and considering you've been criticizing BMW for going back ot the same sausage, different lengths philosophy I think you need to go to Audi's website and look at all their models. Spoiler alert, they're all the same.

        With that said, there's nothing wrong with a strong family resemblance. Personally, I'd rather be able to buy a BMW and just decide how much of a BMW I need (1 series, 3 series, 5 series) without having to sacrifice on features or styling on the smaller models. Why should I get $#@!tier leather and have to give up on the options a 7 series has just because I want a smaller, nimbler car?
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