1coupe trounces 3coupe in styling, yes?

gimme135 · 11-02-2007, 02:50 AM

A few years back (or was it just last year?), I was waiting with some excitement and much dread for the official styling release of the new 3-series coupe. The 3sedan was already out, and I was terribly disappointed. It didn't seem like an improvement from the previous. I was ready to buy, and wanted only the coupe. Then the coupe, while having a smoothened rear from that ugliness of the sedan, seemed bloated in every other way. It grew longer, wider, more mongrel, less distinctive. Less BMW in essence. My heart sank.

In a quick glance, at a distance, or from an odd angle, the 3coupe looked like an old HOnda Accord! They all looked alike, all these sports coupes! No way was I gonna lay down big bucks for THAT! It's almost as ugly as the 6coupe! Ewww!

So much a year can make.

Now my heart is fluttering again because we have the 1coupe coming. I think it is ABSOLUTELY the correct styling evolution of the E46. Taller, rounder, stubbier, rear tail lip, super-short overhangs, horizontal-stepped tail lights, round nose, etc. The E92 doesn't come close, in styling, in my opinion.

I think the E82 trounces every other BMW in the line-up -- in styling. There. I said it. I feel better. :headbang:

Robert · 11-02-2007, 03:16 AM

I am getting a 1 but I politely disagree.

Looks: S5 > 335i > 135i

Dr. No · 11-02-2007, 03:57 AM

I prefer the front of the 3 coupe but don't like the the back. The back of the 1 coupe looks much better.

n54_335 · 11-02-2007, 04:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by robert

I am getting a 1 but I politely disagree.

Looks: S5 > 335i > 135i

I leaning towards that as well,

S5(A5) > 335i > or = 135i

but to me the 135i might be as good in styling for its type of car as the 335i, cannt say until ive seen it in person. It might just be 135i > 335i for me, but not as of yet.

ichiban · 11-02-2007, 04:29 AM

somehow, the image of the accord coupe is stuck in my mind now, i do see some resemblance. ><

LazyT · 11-02-2007, 05:35 AM

I disagree. I like the styling of each but I can't stand the looks of the 335i Sedan. I prefer the 335i Coupe's rear end to the 135i's. Unlike the fugly 335i Sedan, the front end of each looks really nice. And I slightly prefer the look of the 135i's sideview to the 335i Coupe's.

ppDoc · 11-02-2007, 06:29 AM

all the new 3 series look remarkably the same. the 3's looks like elephants in the street

Technic · 11-02-2007, 07:31 AM

The only thing that I really like about the 135i is its interior layout, simply better by much than any 3 Series, IMO. The exterior is an aquired taste that never gets you to ask for seconds, as all the new wave BMWs, although it should look decent with 19" wheels and tinted windows.

I'm definitely ready for the post-Bangle BMW styling generation. This one is simply a total miss for me, so serious that I don't feel any urge as generations before to get a new BMW (5 new BMW's in 14 years) any time soon...

gbent · 11-02-2007, 07:36 AM

I think they both have some good angles, & some not so good.

IMHO, none of the Bangle era designs have been very successful overall. The cars all have styling cues that are forced & gimmicky. This is one of the areas that Audi has BMW beat by a mile in. Their design is very natural & flowing, without any of the harsh edges that BMW seems to be stuck on.:iono:

1ster · 11-02-2007, 08:55 AM

I am obviously in the minority here, but I think the 135i is a much better design than the 335i Coupe.

135i = taut, compact, expressive, kinetic, athletic, and purposeful

335i = anodyne, soft, expressionless, overlong, and diluted

Neither is a thing of great beauty, but the 135i looks great.

BForbes · 11-02-2007, 09:04 AM

I havent seen the 1 in person but I'm going to say that that the 3 has a nicer exterior design.

LeifW · 11-02-2007, 09:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by robert

I am getting a 1 but I politely disagree.

Looks: S5 > 335i > 135i

+1

Leif W.

Propagator · 11-02-2007, 09:33 AM

If you like those headlamps, then may I suggest,

:biggrin: I keeed, I keeed

Imola.ZHP · 11-02-2007, 09:34 AM

Nope...

M3 Sedan > M3 Coupe > 3 Coupe > 135i > 3 Sedan

But that 3 Sedan will catch up some when its face lifted in 2009, especially if they change the rearend...

On some forum (probably e90post), they showed the ORIGINAL design for the 3 sedan rear, ITS HOT! But they changed it because they were scared it looked too much like the A4 rear. Thats sad that they compromized the orignal design of the car...

TheoIam · 11-02-2007, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by robert

I am getting a 1 but I politely disagree.

Looks: S5 > 335i > 135i

Ahh this better be true because

55K > 45K > 35K :wink:

TheoIam · 11-02-2007, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Technic

The only thing that I really like about the 135i is its interior layout, simply better by much than any 3 Series, IMO. The exterior is an aquired taste that never gets you to ask for seconds, as all the new wave BMWs, although it should look decent with 19" wheels and tinted windows.

I'm definitely ready for the post-Bangle BMW styling generation. This one is simply a total miss for me, so serious that I don't feel any urge as generations before to get a new BMW (5 new BMW's in 14 years) any time soon...

I feel the same way Technic. This will be my fourth from the same dealer and they always ask me when I come in, whats your next one going to be. Until the one came along the answer was always "None of them". :frown:

Khobin~ · 11-02-2007, 10:52 AM

Personnally I like the look of the 1-series, in pictures, better then the 335 so far...it might be different once they're side-by-side in a showroom...

But with that said, I'm not overly big on the "M" package of the 135...it looks ok, but it looks overdone to me (the front bumper).

I do think the tii concept looks a lot better in that sense... the cf and stripes at first poped at me in a bad way, then a good way...now a bad way again...but I like the small changes they did the body

adc · 11-02-2007, 03:17 PM

The short answer? Absolutely not.

IMO the 1 series front is one of the worst designs in recent BMW memory, vying with the 6 series for 1st place.

That said, I'll probably buy one anyway, I've never bought a BMW because of its looks. (Good looks helped, but was not the main consideration).

~AJ · 11-02-2007, 07:33 PM

I'll probably buy a 135i. At it's price point, no other 2 door competes.

That said, I don't think it looks as attractive as the 3 coupe.

The 1 series has that tall, high hood height look that is so trendy right now.

Templedogg · 11-02-2007, 08:39 PM

I love the more square smaller look of the 135 over the 335. That is why I still like the original M3 the best. Smally, boxy, big fenders. The 135 will about the same size as that car. The 3-series has just grown too much for me.

Technic · 11-02-2007, 09:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AJ~

I'll probably buy a 135i. At it's price point, no other 2 door competes.

That said, I don't think it looks as attractive as the 3 coupe.

The 1 series has that tall, high hood height look that is so trendy right now.

That's not a "trendy" look, that's European pedestrian regulations, unfortunately... we are not going back to the sloping, sharp, low hoods. :frown:

icedragon · 11-02-2007, 09:51 PM

I test drove the new 3er coupe and it is so bloated. I felt like I was driving a boat. Unfortunately, BMW had to make the 3er coupe design longer to accommodate the new folding hard roof for the 3er cabrio. So then they ended up with an elongated 3er coupe and an elongated 3er cabrio, just for the sake of a folding hard roof. IMO, BMW should not be sacrificing design dimensions for the sake of something like a folding hard roof!

11-02-2007, 02:50 AM	#1
gimme135 Remember 37 Rep 115 Posts Drives: Join Date: Oct 2007 iTrader: (0)	1coupe trounces 3coupe in styling, yes? A few years back (or was it just last year?), I was waiting with some excitement and much dread for the official styling release of the new 3-series coupe. The 3sedan was already out, and I was terribly disappointed. It didn't seem like an improvement from the previous. I was ready to buy, and wanted only the coupe. Then the coupe, while having a smoothened rear from that ugliness of the sedan, seemed bloated in every other way. It grew longer, wider, more mongrel, less distinctive. Less BMW in essence. My heart sank. In a quick glance, at a distance, or from an odd angle, the 3coupe looked like an old HOnda Accord! They all looked alike, all these sports coupes! No way was I gonna lay down big bucks for THAT! It's almost as ugly as the 6coupe! Ewww! So much a year can make. Now my heart is fluttering again because we have the 1coupe coming. I think it is ABSOLUTELY the correct styling evolution of the E46. Taller, rounder, stubbier, rear tail lip, super-short overhangs, horizontal-stepped tail lights, round nose, etc. The E92 doesn't come close, in styling, in my opinion. I think the E82 trounces every other BMW in the line-up -- in styling. There. I said it. I feel better. :headbang:
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11-02-2007, 03:16 AM	#2
Robert Major General 414 Rep 6,968 Posts Drives: 135i -> is350 -> Tesla M3 perf Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Socal iTrader: (1)	I am getting a 1 but I politely disagree. Looks: S5 > 335i > 135i __________________ - There's nothing in my pocket other than knives and lint
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11-02-2007, 03:57 AM	#3
Dr. No Private 0 Rep 90 Posts Drives: 2007 BMW 135i (E82) Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Madrid, Spain iTrader: (0)	I prefer the front of the 3 coupe but don't like the the back. The back of the 1 coupe looks much better.
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11-02-2007, 04:29 AM	#5
ichiban Colonel 94 Rep 2,012 Posts Drives: 08 135i Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Bay Area, CA iTrader: (2)	somehow, the image of the accord coupe is stuck in my mind now, i do see some resemblance. ><
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11-02-2007, 05:35 AM	#6
LazyT Private 2 Rep 70 Posts Drives: 335i Coupe Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: GA iTrader: (0)	I disagree. I like the styling of each but I can't stand the looks of the 335i Sedan. I prefer the 335i Coupe's rear end to the 135i's. Unlike the fugly 335i Sedan, the front end of each looks really nice. And I slightly prefer the look of the 135i's sideview to the 335i Coupe's.
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11-02-2007, 06:29 AM	#7
ppDoc Second Lieutenant 71 Rep 296 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: FL, USA iTrader: (0)	all the new 3 series look remarkably the same. the 3's looks like elephants in the street
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11-02-2007, 07:31 AM	#8
Technic Lieutenant General 2283 Rep 12,999 Posts Drives: 2021 i3S, 2024 i4 M50 Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Florida iTrader: (18)	The only thing that I really like about the 135i is its interior layout, simply better by much than any 3 Series, IMO. The exterior is an aquired taste that never gets you to ask for seconds, as all the new wave BMWs, although it should look decent with 19" wheels and tinted windows. I'm definitely ready for the post-Bangle BMW styling generation. This one is simply a total miss for me, so serious that I don't feel any urge as generations before to get a new BMW (5 new BMW's in 14 years) any time soon...
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11-02-2007, 07:36 AM	#9
gbent First Lieutenant 10 Rep 312 Posts Drives: Join Date: Sep 2007 iTrader: (0)	I think they both have some good angles, & some not so good. IMHO, none of the Bangle era designs have been very successful overall. The cars all have styling cues that are forced & gimmicky. This is one of the areas that Audi has BMW beat by a mile in. Their design is very natural & flowing, without any of the harsh edges that BMW seems to be stuck on.:iono:
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11-02-2007, 08:55 AM	#10
1ster Large Member 164 Rep 937 Posts Drives: Join Date: Aug 2007 iTrader: (0)	I am obviously in the minority here, but I think the 135i is a much better design than the 335i Coupe. 135i = taut, compact, expressive, kinetic, athletic, and purposeful 335i = anodyne, soft, expressionless, overlong, and diluted Neither is a thing of great beauty, but the 135i looks great.
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11-02-2007, 09:04 AM	#11
BForbes Moderator 559 Rep 4,240 Posts Drives: BSM 135i/AW E90 M3 Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Orlando, FL iTrader: (0)	I havent seen the 1 in person but I'm going to say that that the 3 has a nicer exterior design. __________________ - 04 Honda S2000(gone)
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11-02-2007, 09:33 AM	#13
Propagator Captain 14 Rep 808 Posts Drives: 2011 328i LMB 6MT Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: CA iTrader: (0)	If you like those headlamps, then may I suggest, :biggrin: I keeed, I keeed
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11-02-2007, 09:34 AM	#14
Imola.ZHP Colonel 129 Rep 2,218 Posts Drives: 2014 BMW i3 BEV EE Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mud Island, TN iTrader: (0)	Nope... M3 Sedan > M3 Coupe > 3 Coupe > 135i > 3 Sedan But that 3 Sedan will catch up some when its face lifted in 2009, especially if they change the rearend... On some forum (probably e90post), they showed the ORIGINAL design for the 3 sedan rear, ITS HOT! But they changed it because they were scared it looked too much like the A4 rear. Thats sad that they compromized the orignal design of the car... __________________ - 2014 CPO i01 BEV Electronaut Edition Capparis White Tera World, '17- - 2015 CPO i01 BEV Laurel Grey Tera World, '17- - 2015 i01 REx Laurel Grey Tera World, '15-'17 - 2003 CPO 330i ZHP Imola Red Build 03/03/03, '06-'15
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11-02-2007, 10:52 AM	#17
Khobin~ First Lieutenant 14 Rep 312 Posts Drives: Join Date: Aug 2007 iTrader: (0)	Personnally I like the look of the 1-series, in pictures, better then the 335 so far...it might be different once they're side-by-side in a showroom... But with that said, I'm not overly big on the "M" package of the 135...it looks ok, but it looks overdone to me (the front bumper). I do think the tii concept looks a lot better in that sense... the cf and stripes at first poped at me in a bad way, then a good way...now a bad way again...but I like the small changes they did the body
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11-02-2007, 03:17 PM	#18
adc Major General 2750 Rep 6,759 Posts Drives: 2018 F80 M3 ED Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: MD/DC iTrader: (12)	The short answer? Absolutely not. IMO the 1 series front is one of the worst designs in recent BMW memory, vying with the 6 series for 1st place. That said, I'll probably buy one anyway, I've never bought a BMW because of its looks. (Good looks helped, but was not the main consideration). __________________ 2018 F80 Santorini 2019 Z4 3.0i 2022 X2 M35i
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11-02-2007, 07:33 PM	#19
~AJ Private First Class 3 Rep 184 Posts Drives: None Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: OC iTrader: (0)	I'll probably buy a 135i. At it's price point, no other 2 door competes. That said, I don't think it looks as attractive as the 3 coupe. The 1 series has that tall, high hood height look that is so trendy right now.
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11-02-2007, 08:39 PM	#20
Templedogg Captain 49 Rep 799 Posts Drives: 135i, Trailblazer SS, 1934 PU Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Lake Stevens, WA iTrader: (1)	I love the more square smaller look of the 135 over the 335. That is why I still like the original M3 the best. Smally, boxy, big fenders. The 135 will about the same size as that car. The 3-series has just grown too much for me.
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11-02-2007, 09:51 PM	#22
icedragon guardian of ice and snow 67 Rep 424 Posts Drives: 128i, 325i Join Date: May 2005 Location: Toronto iTrader: (0) Garage List 06 325xi [0.00]	I test drove the new 3er coupe and it is so bloated. I felt like I was driving a boat. Unfortunately, BMW had to make the 3er coupe design longer to accommodate the new folding hard roof for the 3er cabrio. So then they ended up with an elongated 3er coupe and an elongated 3er cabrio, just for the sake of a folding hard roof. IMO, BMW should not be sacrificing design dimensions for the sake of something like a folding hard roof!
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