The new M235i revealed (in another thread)...open discussion on design

[the1andonly]

The new 235i was revealed in another thread thats locked down from comments, so I wanted to start an open discussion.

I greatly prefer the E82 design...the lines on the 235i just don't look right...front/headlights look over designed...the hood has an awkward shape...and the fenders seem to have lost their aggressive flare...maybe its the color, maybe the wheels, i dunno...not a fan

http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=841176

[Sylon]

There is a discussion thread, in the forum dedicated to the car. Go there and talk about it.


http://www.2addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=841137

[Bimmer-Bob]

I think it's worthwhile to have a separate, less-heavily trafficked discussion here among us E82 folk. In fact, I thought I posted in the other thread already, didn't realize it was locked.

Anyway, there's no doubt that this M235i is more elegant a design than our E82. But it's also - I don't know - less distinctive? Too big? I sort of feel like BMW is going the Audi route, where all of their cars look basically the same, but slightly different sizes and proportions for different applications. Someone in the other thread said that it looks like an E92 with some F30 bits slapped on, and I can't say that I disagree.

I have a feeling this car is going to sell like mad, though, assuming BMW doesn't go too nuts with the pricing. Which is good for BMW, but not so cool if you want a unique car.

Also, dammit, I'll say it again - it looks big! And heavy and disconnected (thinking about electric steering here). I guess I'll reserve final judgement until I see some production pics.

Am I smoking crack or what?

[631twentyeighteye]

Yeah it looks like a camry with a BMW front end bolted on. very meh. It's missing some wide aggressive fenders too.

[cooler2442]

Car looks amazing. Way more aggressive and sporty looking than our cars.

[1speedbike]

It looks like a squished new 3-series. Idk. I like some things. The bug-eyes are gone, which is awesome, but the new lights look too similar to the new 3-series lights. The hood is rounded like the 3-series. If you look at the butt, the tail lights emulates the new 3 as well. I don't think that wrap-around styling looks that great. They also decided to keep the awful sheet metal "flame surfacing" on the sides/doors that make the car look pot-bellied. Why couldn't they change that? The grilles also look kinda feminine, like a girl's slanty eyes with mascara on. I hated the bug eyes and our big gaudy grilles (they look much better shadowline), so I'm glad they changed them, but in doing so the car just looks more generic as mentioned. And god damn I hate that pot-belly.

Other than that, the front bumper looks good. I honestly never liked the stock M-sport bumper on a 1-seres. It didn't look good to me on this car, though I do see the M3 inspiration in it. This one looks like a cross between that and the 1M bumper, which I didn't like too much either, but it doesn't look bad at all. Very aggressive without overdoing it. The aero tii bumper is still my favorite, though. The interior looks nicer, but I know they could have done more to make it look better. It mostly looks the same with a few tweaks. My girlfriend's Accord has a nicer looking interior than the current car and the new one (not as ergonomic, though and no wood, but it honestly looks classier).

Finally, that back view... those wheels are so skinny. They also look very recessed in the wheel wells. It doesn't look aggressive at all, when the rest of the car looks much more aggressive than the current 1 series stock. I know they might not be production wheels. When the hell is BMW going to put real fat wheels on a car with 300 ft lbs? If they stick us with shitty offsets and tiny wheel wells again, I'm not going to be a happy camper. However, the dual single-exhausts a la 335i look absolutely great. Under the camo it doesn't look like there's a diffuser, it's just body metal, but I hope that's not the case.

I know this all seems critical, but I'm just nit-picking. I'm sure the car will be great. If it's anything like the current 135i + PPK + cosmetics, it will already be a winner. However, if they really tweaked some things it could have been (could still be!) a grand-slam for BMW.

[KellyK]

im just glad it didn't get the weird hatchy front end. its pretty! love it in red too. excited to see the m2

[Greenkirby21]

it looks big

but i think thats just the pictures because the other 2 series spyshots don't make it seem so big.

other then that, I am really excited for the M235i . Just need pricing before I place order!

[Jewbacca]

I like it! It's not as pretty as the new audi a3, BUT it's a rwd coupe and most importantly, it will have a BMW inline 6!

[zamboni]

Looks like a baby 6 series to me.

[strati1]

The headlights and hood are hard to swallow, hopefully darker colors tones down the awkward hood lines. (awkward IMHO, no need for flaming)

[Sylon]

I think this car looks great, and the M2, if they make it, will look incredible.

[PeteA]

Love it. Looks like a smaller E92 3 series. I'll pick one up for sure, but I don't think I could part with my 135i either. M2 for me for sure.

[AJx]

Not thrilled...

Uninspiring interior, odd shaped body, generic overall look... Yeah, if this was supposed to pull me in to buying a 2 series, then it failed miserably. I won't even compare it to the 1 series... Quite frankly, the car in those pictures looks boring.

Yawn.

[cat-like]

Hmmm....I'll reserve overall judgement until I see more.

My knee jerk initial impression is that it is starting to look more like other models. One of the attractions for me with the 1 series, was it's distinctive look, love it or hate it.

[angler]

I like the sides and back, seems to flow well. What I have a hard time with is the front end and the wheels. Not feeling it. It s also hard to have final judgment on it till me see better pics from all angles. I come from a e92 and as much as I loved my car there were some angles looking at the car that I didn't like as well. Still glad I picked up my 135i msport 6 weeks ago!

[Iron Man]

Originally Posted by Bimmer-Bob

Also, dammit, I'll say it again - it looks big!

Am I smoking crack or what?

+1. Maybe it is just the lighting/photo effect, but it looks big to me as well.

[Qunadry]

It looks like the 2007 335i coupe I owned before my 135i. Good looking, but the 135i is a better size and looks more like a BMW should in my humble opinion. The biggest problem I would have with the entire 2 series line and all future BMW's is the electric assist power steering. Hope my 135i does not become too expensive to maintain once it is out of warranty.

[MteK]

I went from my 335 to the 135 primarily because I felt that's the appropriate size for a sports car and the performance aspects of going smaller / lighter, not for looks. My 335 felt like driving a 5 series after trading in my e46.

I actually think the e90/92 design looks better then the e82 design, although the e82 has a way of looking just bad ass when done right. It's definitely a love/hate thing.

The F30 was a step in the wrong direction. I have absolutely no desire to ever get into that series. Plus it's a boat. Might as well get an f10 as they look better anyways.

The 2 series now blends the things I like about the 1 and brings in the looks. I bet the enthusiast crowd will all gravitate away from the barge series over to the 2.

And when the m2 comes out..

The next car to look at will be the x4.

[135Pats]

It looks a bit bloated in the rear, but the headlights and general front fascia is light years ahead of our cars. Just ditching our ugly headlights does wonders. Who knows if it drives well though..

[135iMike]

Baby 3 series. Much less personality than our current gen. We'll see; spy shots never tell the whole story.

Edit: That said, it's still sexxxxxy! Bring it on!

[ilikebmxbikes]

Originally Posted by PeteA

Love it. Looks like a smaller E92 3 series. I'll pick one up for sure, but I don't think I could part with my 135i either. M2 for me for sure.

+1 - very much like a baby e92.

I personally really like the car and after seeing it will consider an M2 with an M4 when they drop.

I am really excited about m2/m4 because unlike the 1M, we will be able to get them in individual colors.