Pictures of the E90 from Spain

[juansego]

Hi, this very afternoon I took this pictures (only 330i and 320d) in a place whose website is www.cac.es (it's worth a visit ;). The cars are there for the press launch.

http://img134.exs.cx/img134/4734/dsc006776yx.jpg

http://img134.exs.cx/img134/43/dsc006789dk.jpg

http://img134.exs.cx/img134/3760/dsc006806yd.jpg

http://img134.exs.cx/img134/5624/dsc006818ah.jpg

http://img52.exs.cx/img52/413/dsc006823pc.jpg

http://img105.exs.cx/img105/8056/dsc006980si.jpg

[Alex Baumann]

Hola Juan !

Great pictures as usual. Thanks for sharing.

[juansego]

more pictures

http://img103.exs.cx/img103/3995/dsc006979ij.jpg

http://img103.exs.cx/img103/5885/dsc006968qs.jpg

http://img103.exs.cx/img103/2164/dsc006957fx.jpg

http://img103.exs.cx/img103/3347/dsc006935yb.jpg

http://img103.exs.cx/img103/7310/dsc006926pb.jpg

http://img103.exs.cx/img103/3332/dsc006919kd.jpg

[juansego]

the last ones, enjoy, hasta pronto :)

http://img103.exs.cx/img103/417/dsc006900oh.jpg

http://img103.exs.cx/img103/4884/dsc006898as.jpg

http://img52.exs.cx/img52/9407/dsc006886mj.jpg

http://img108.exs.cx/img108/5719/dsc006870dv.jpg

http://img52.exs.cx/img52/6466/dsc006860tj.jpg

http://img52.exs.cx/img52/3148/dsc006859uv.jpg

[Double Vanos]

GREAT PICS! I think the E90 is starting to grow on me! :eek:

[vehigal]

Thanks for sharing!
I suspect we might see a review in tomorrow's Times.

Home page:
http://driving.timesonline.co.uk/section/0,,12389,00.html

Edit: Just checked: next week only. Other car news sites also say next week.

[pony_trekker]

I think it looks sweet.

[breytonX5]

GREAT PICS! I think the E90 is starting to grow on me! :eek:
Me too. Can't wait to see it in the flesh.

[Moderato]

Great pictures! :thumbup:

The E90 is looking really good. I think I *might* trade in the 04 330 on an E90 M3, but only time will tell....... :)

[Shamrock]

Looks nice.

Needs a sports facia on the front (the existing is conservative). And the US version will have the orange eyeliner around the headlights (yuck!)

[philippek]

Lust, thy name is E90.

[NetEngWiz]

Great pictures. I'm liking it :thumbup:

[Warot]

[QUOTE

http://img134.exs.cx/img134/5624/dsc006818ah.jpg

http://img52.exs.cx/img52/413/dsc006823pc.jpg

QUOTE]

the first color with the second rim... now that's a good combo imo.

[PhilH]

Back end looks unexpectedly nice in this pic...

http://img103.exs.cx/img103/7310/dsc006926pb.jpg

[xspeedy]

Back end looks unexpectantly nice in this pic...

http://img103.exs.cx/img103/7310/dsc006926pb.jpg


Do you think that is the grey or the silver?

[PhilH]

Do you think that is the grey or the silver?

Colors:
A22 Sparkling Graphite Metallic
A34 Arctic Metallic
A35 Monaco Blue Metallic
300 Alpine White
354 Titanium Silver
438 Electric Red
475 Black Sapphire
668 Jet Black
My guess is the Monaco Blue. :dunno: Kind of looks like Steel Blue to me too, but that wouldn't be likely.

[Chris90]

Hmm, it doesn't do a thing for me in those pics.

[sunilsf]

me either... seems to be more of an art project than an extension of the heritage.

[juansego]

My guess is the Monaco Blue. :dunno: Kind of looks like Steel Blue to me too, but that wouldn't be likely.

Hi, I'd say that it's Arctic, and the darker one is sparkling Garphite, at least that's my impression after seeing them in the flesh. My favourite one is Monaco Blue, unfortunately I didn't see any. By the way, only five metallic colours available in Spain until September.

Maybe I'll return today maybe I'll see more, this parking lot looks like the place they use to have the cars until the journalists take them for the test.

I'm glad you like the pictures, I was lucky to get them, when I was leaving the lot a security guard appeared :rolleyes:

Bye, adiós :)

[Patrick330i]

Juan, gracias para tomar tantos fotos, man. :thumbup: Eh, todavia creo que prefiero el E46. :angel: Vas a pasar al launch? Thanks, again!

[Fifty_Cent]

Juan, gracias para tomar tantos fotos, man. :thumbup: Eh, todavia creo que prefiero el E46. :angel: Vas a pasar al launch? Thanks, again!
Wow that is definitely an improvememnt over the last photos. Real life shots are nicer than the official ones, for some reason.

The rear looks kinda nice, not like the official photos.

[juansego]

Juan, gracias para tomar tantos fotos, man. :thumbup: Eh, todavia creo que prefiero el E46. :angel: Vas a pasar al launch? Thanks, again!


De nada Patrick330i, you're welcome. I´ll try to see more cars and stuff starting tomorrow (job permitting), I assume the journalists will be there and maybe more cars, who knows.

Saludos, bye :)

[Sean]

Thanks for sharing. :thumbup:

I'm sad to say that I don't foresee me purchasing an E90. :tsk: I think I'll hold out for a few more years and pick up a E39 M5.


:thumbup:

[Sean]

me either... seems to be more of an art project than an extension of the heritage.


Well, Bangle was quoted in the WSJ that they want to design "Art on Wheels"



:eeps:

[xspeedy]

From all the virtual images online (at the UK site), the white looks surprisingly good since there is no black triim. Would be nice to see a real pic of this.

[KoenG]

My guess is the Monaco Blue. :dunno: Kind of looks like Steel Blue to me too, but that wouldn't be likely.

This is Arctic, no doubt. The Monaco blue is really dark. I ordered this colour on my E90 previous week, I'am glad I did since it looks a bit special. Not blue, not grey and not silver. It's a blend of those, depending on the light that shines on it.

[brybarrett]

The sides and the back look good but the kidney's have a very cheap looking feel to them.

[Fifty_Cent]

The sides and the back look good but the kidney's have a very cheap looking feel to them.Well, you kould say the front looks abit "busy" or kinda cheap looking, but, I wouldnt say it is ugly.

On the other hand, its looks are pretty calm and classic compared with the other "monsters" we saw (5, 7, series)

In a couple of years when I will be looking for a new car, this will be on the top of my list!
I cant wait to test drive the new inline 6 as well. It is a shame that 320i will be a re-chipped E46 318i though....


Anyone knows if there will be a 2.2L 6 cylinder engine?
Restrictive laws over here have cars over 2250cc severely penalised .....8.06 cy pounds per cc........so, for a 2.5l 323i I will have to pay.......20.150 cyprus pounds...that is /0.44 (CYP/$) =45795 $ tax only!


Well done BMW on this one. And thanks for not spoiling the 3 series(like you did with the 5 and 7)

[juansego]

Well, you kould say the front looks abit "busy" or kinda cheap looking, but, I wouldnt say it is ugly.

On the other hand, its looks are pretty calm and classic compared with the other "monsters" we saw (5, 7, series)

In a couple of years when I will be looking for a new car, this will be on the top of my list!
I cant wait to test drive the new inline 6 as well. It is a shame that 320i will be a re-chipped E46 318i though....


Anyone knows if there will be a 2.2L 6 cylinder engine?
Restrictive laws over here have cars over 2250cc severely penalised .....8.06 cy pounds per cc........so, for a 2.5l 323i I will have to pay.......20.150 cyprus pounds...that is /0.44 (CYP/$) =45795 $ tax only!


Well done BMW on this one. And thanks for not spoiling the 3 series(like you did with the 5 and 7)

Hi, I'm afraid there won't be a 2.2 l., a dealer here in Valencia showed me yesterday the official info about the E90, it says the production of the 323i will start in September, orders can be placed from June, first deliveries in October. Sorry.

And yes, after seeing it live I agree with you, it looks calm and classic.

Bye

[Moderato]

The sides and the back look good but the kidney's have a very cheap looking feel to them.


That's one thing I'm a little unsure of too. The kidney grills are actually (U-U) shaped and there is a strip of crome on the hood that makes them look complete, but they are actually not. That's one thing about the E46, is I love the way the kidney grills are built into the hood. I'll wait untill I see the car in person to decide. I remember when the E60 pics came out I thought the car looked too weird, but then when I saw it in person and sat in it I changed my mind and now I like the car a lot. I hope the same is true for the E60. If you don't need NAV I'm not so sure the LCD screen in the middle is really needed for anything, OTOH without the screen in the middle the inside of the car looks too plain for me.

[andy_thomas]

In a couple of years when I will be looking for a new car, this will be on the top of my list!
I cant wait to test drive the new inline 6 as well. It is a shame that 320i will be a re-chipped E46 318i though....

Why? It keeps the cost and emissions down, and the badge accurate :).

[KoenG]

Why? It keeps the cost and emissions down, and the badge accurate :).

Are you kidding? BMW grew big on their smooth I-6 engines. The 320i is an icon since it was rather accessible for the middle class. Now they offer a rather uncultivated and harsh I-4 which, at least for me, reduces the appeal of the 320i dramatically. I could better buy an Opel Vextra 3.2 for the same money now.

Besides offering an I-4 instead of an I-6 doesn't reduce the emissions and fuel consumption. Strange discussions that we have here, for some it's never enough and others tend to praise BMW for offering less... :yikes:

[andy_thomas]

Are you kidding? BMW grew big on their smooth I-6 engines. The 320i is an icon since it was rather accessible for the middle class. Now they offer a rather uncultivated and harsh I-4 which, at least for me, reduces the appeal of the 320i dramatically. I could better buy an Opel Vextra 3.2 for the same money now.

Besides offering an I-4 instead of an I-6 doesn't reduce the emissions and fuel consumption. Strange discussions that we have here, for some it's never enough and others tend to praise BMW for offering less... :yikes:
No, I'm not kidding at all. And have you driven a car with the Valvetronic engine? It certainly sounds like you haven't. Exactly what makes it "uncultivated and harsh"?

The 320i is a four-potter now, not a six (although its torque figures are practically identical to the outgoing 2.2). It is also pretty much the same price as the outgoing 318i, adjusted for equipment levels. How are we getting "less", exactly?

[juansego]

Are you kidding? BMW grew big on their smooth I-6 engines. The 320i is an icon since it was rather accessible for the middle class. Now they offer a rather uncultivated and harsh I-4 which, at least for me, reduces the appeal of the 320i dramatically. I could better buy an Opel Vextra 3.2 for the same money now.

Besides offering an I-4 instead of an I-6 doesn't reduce the emissions and fuel consumption. Strange discussions that we have here, for some it's never enough and others tend to praise BMW for offering less... :yikes:

I was thinking the same until a local dealer showed me last Saturday the official info about the 323i, it will be available in September, orders can be placed from June. It will be more expensive than the 320i, that's for sure, but for example here in Spain the difference will be around 2,500 €, pretty reasonable in my opinion. I'd rather have the 323i with a 6 in-line and less options than a loaded 320i, besides it has some standard features the 320i can't have (ESP with new functions, twin exhaust), plus bigger wheels, etc. Definitely I'm going to wait for it.

Think about it ;)

[andy_thomas]

I was thinking the same until a local dealer showed me last Saturday the official info about the 323i, it will be available in September, orders can be placed from June. It will be more expensive than the 320i, that's for sure, but for example here in Spain the difference will be around 2,500 €, pretty reasonable in my opinion.
That seems reasonable. The difference between the E46 318i (four-cyl) and 320i (six-cyl) is/was around £1,500 in the UK. But drive the 320i as a company car, and the tax bill is pretty bad (the 320i, 325i and 330i all have broadly the same emissions, upon which our company car taxes are based,so there is no tax advantage to having the smallest 'six'.)

[e46shift]

i thought it was a 5 series at first glance. which is the whole same sausage different length i thought bangle was trying to get away from.
this angle reminds me of an evo
http://www.mitsubishicars.com/images/2005/evo/photos/large_3_ex.jpg http://img105.exs.cx/img105/8056/dsc006980si.jpg

[juansego]

That seems reasonable. The difference between the E46 318i (four-cyl) and 320i (six-cyl) is/was around £1,500 in the UK. But drive the 320i as a company car, and the tax bill is pretty bad (the 320i, 325i and 330i all have broadly the same emissions, upon which our company car taxes are based,so there is no tax advantage to having the smallest 'six'.)

So I assume from what you're saying that in the UK there's specific taxation on company cars depending on their emissions, interesting. Is it a part of the income tax or an individual tax?

I work in the Spanish IRS, so to speak, that's why I'm interested in tax stuff :)

[andy_thomas]

So I assume from what you're saying that in the UK there's specific taxation on company cars depending on their emissions, interesting. Is it a part of the income tax or an individual tax?

Spot on. g/km figures for C02 are used - which broadly reflect that car's fuel economy, and favour lighter cars (so an Elise makes a really good company car - relatively affordable, and very low emissions). Diesels have the lowest C02 emissions, but older diesels not fitted a particle filter (and which belch out more muck) are hit with a surcharge which mostly wipes out that advantage.

How does it work? A taxpayer pays his top rate of tax on the benefit-in-kind (a way of describing the company car in terms of taxable income). The emissions figure determines what proportion of the car's list price is taxable.

Example: The 320d and 320i have almost identical purchase prices at around £23k. A middle-income taxpayer, who pays a top marginal rate of 22% tax, will pay 22% tax on 16% of the diesel's price, or 22% tax on 28% of the petrol car's price. (That's ~£810 a year for the 320d, and ~£1,420 for the 320i.)

[Alstoy]

This is Arctic, no doubt. The Monaco blue is really dark. I ordered this colour on my E90 previous week, I'am glad I did since it looks a bit special. Not blue, not grey and not silver. It's a blend of those, depending on the light that shines on it.

Very nice choice. I am leaning towards this colour too. What was the interior combo? I am thinking of black with aluminium trim-what do you think?

[juansego]

Spot on. g/km figures for C02 are used - which broadly reflect that car's fuel economy, and favour lighter cars (so an Elise makes a really good company car - relatively affordable, and very low emissions). Diesels have the lowest C02 emissions, but older diesels not fitted a particle filter (and which belch out more muck) are hit with a surcharge which mostly wipes out that advantage.

How does it work? A taxpayer pays his top rate of tax on the benefit-in-kind (a way of describing the company car in terms of taxable income). The emissions figure determines what proportion of the car's list price is taxable.

Example: The 320d and 320i have almost identical purchase prices at around £23k. A middle-income taxpayer, who pays a top marginal rate of 22% tax, will pay 22% tax on 16% of the diesel's price, or 22% tax on 28% of the petrol car's price. (That's ~£810 a year for the 320d, and ~£1,420 for the 320i.)


1,420 pounds for the 320i :tsk: , my dear :rolleyes:

Thanks for the answer, gracias :)

[JPinTO]

Well, Bangle was quoted in the WSJ that they want to design "Art on Wheels"

:eeps:

I think they forgot the leading F in "art on Wheels"

[KoenG]

No, I'm not kidding at all. And have you driven a car with the Valvetronic engine? It certainly sounds like you haven't. Exactly what makes it "uncultivated and harsh"?

The 320i is a four-potter now, not a six (although its torque figures are practically identical to the outgoing 2.2). It is also pretty much the same price as the outgoing 318i, adjusted for equipment levels. How are we getting "less", exactly?

Andy, the 120i uses the same engine and I remember only to have read reviews where the engine has received critique and the press was left surprisingly unimpressed with the 2.0i (for example: Auto Motor und Sport from Germany, Top Gear from UK, Autobild from Germany, Automagazine from Belgium). Meaning that not much is happening underneath 3500rpm and above that, it makes a sound that impossible can be called "sweet", and don't expect much boost either. The consumption seems to be rather moderate but only at constant regimes, like on highways, not for stop and go traffic. When you can opt for an A4/VW Passat with 2.0 FSi Turbo for a comparable price, you'll get the better engine, no doubt. But I've never driven a 120i, only the 120d (which was not very cultivated either, but it was strong).

At least the sound of the I-6 makes it special compared to competitive offerings. When the 323i is an alternative at a bearable cost, it's clearly better than the 2.2i since it will have a bit more grunt at low rpm.

[andy_thomas]

Andy, the 120i uses the same engine and I remember only to have read reviews where the engine has received critique and the press was left surprisingly unimpressed with the 2.0i (for example: Auto Motor und Sport from Germany, Top Gear from UK, Autobild from Germany, Automagazine from Belgium).
I read those also. It compares poorly to the similar N42Bxx engine in the 3er, which had great reviews when it came out. I can only surmise that (a) BMW will restore the tuning of engine & exhaust differently for the 3er, or with the new N46B20-OL (which is the code for the new engine in 150 bhp trim) they have somehow managed to bugger it up.

I agree with you on the VW engine - I haven't tried it yet, but everyone agrees it's a cracker. And at that price...

[KoenG]

Very nice choice. I am leaning towards this colour too. What was the interior combo? I am thinking of black with aluminium trim-what do you think?

Interior is black with "Titan Matt" inlay, the seats are sport seats. I would have gone for the alu inlay but then, the sport steering wheel has no finishing in Alu. With Titan, the steering wheel has a matching inlay. I'am only afraid that this Titan could look and feel a beet "cheap".

[Alstoy]

Interior is black with "Titan Matt" inlay, the seats are sport seats. I would have gone for the alu inlay but then, the sport steering wheel has no finishing in Alu. With Titan, the steering wheel has a matching inlay. I'am only afraid that this Titan could look and feel a beet "cheap".

Again a nice choice. Looks like almost identical to what I will be ordering. Why no steering inlay with the Alu vs. Titan? A friend has a 7 with a "midnight blue" exterior. I love that colour. I asked my SA, & he indicated that the Monoco blue was not as a deep blue as the midnight blue. This is a deal killer for me. How different, if at all, are the two colours. What do you think? When are you expecting delivery? Love to see some pictures.

[KoenG]

Again a nice choice. Looks like almost identical to what I will be ordering. Why no steering inlay with the Alu vs. Titan? A friend has a 7 with a "midnight blue" exterior. I love that colour. I asked my SA, & he indicated that the Monoco blue was not as a deep blue as the midnight blue. This is a deal killer for me. How different, if at all, are the two colours. What do you think? When are you expecting delivery? Love to see some pictures.

I would probably prefer the midnight blue, but I didn't actually see the Monaco Blue in real life (or any other color). The Alu inlay is not an option for the sport steering wheel, I don't have it in my current e46 either. BMW did add it as an "add on" I believe. The delivery is for late March or early April. The lease company will inform me one to two weeks before the delivery...

[hrvojee]

That's me behind the stearing whell!

[Alstoy]

That's me behind the stearing whell!

You rock man!! What colour is that? When can we expect more pics? :thumbup:

[hrvojee]

You rock man!! What colour is that? When can we expect more pics? :thumbup:
It's I think Monaco Blue

[Alstoy]

It's I think Monaco Blue

What's your take on the BM? Is it as dark as Orient blue (almost black)? My other choice is sparkling graphite. Thanks again.

[dojobi]

Looks nice.

Needs a sports facia on the front (the existing is conservative). And the US version will have the orange eyeliner around the headlights (yuck!)

I've been wondering about this for a bit actually. Why do the US models have the ugly orange band around the headlights (or orange corner lights on older models)? I mean, the white ones still flash orange?! When I lived in the US last year I also noticed that some cars use the brake lights as indicators on the back (Corvettes I remember do this) - so red is fine on the back, which to me means that the colour of the indicator doesn't matter.

Cheers,
Michael

[juansego]

I've been wondering about this for a bit actually. Why do the US models have the ugly orange band around the headlights (or orange corner lights on older models)? I mean, the white ones still flash orange?! When I lived in the US last year I also noticed that some cars use the brake lights as indicators on the back (Corvettes I remember do this) - so red is fine on the back, which to me means that the colour of the indicator doesn't matter.

Cheers,
Michael

Yes, the white indicators flash orange, it's the law, at least in Spain (and the rest of Europe I think).

Bye ;)

[numbersguy]

I've been wondering about this for a bit actually. Why do the US models have the ugly orange band around the headlights (or orange corner lights on older models)?

Cars sold in the US must conform to national safety standards promulgated by the US Department of Transportation. The decision makers at DOT hate automobiles. The better a car looks the more they hate it. A car that is as safe and well engineered as a BMW cannont be kept out of the country but they can give it a little whack with the ugly stick before they let it in.

Illegal clear lenses go unnoticed by the highway patrol and state troopers in most states because their job really is public safety and they have better things to do than enforcing spiteful federal regulations.

[Blax]

You'll notice that US regulations stipulate that there has to be a certain area of orange reflective material at the front of the car on each side, which most manufacturers these days put in the light assembly.

Keep this in mind when you are out on the road or in a parking lot and notice how different foreign manufacturers comply with this law; from some cars which seamlessly integrate the reflector deep into the light assembly (http://automobiles.honda.com/images/banners/2005/civic_sedan/exterior_gallery/large13.jpg) so well that you can hardly see it, through to some that just tack a reflector anywhere on the front side of the car (http://automobiles.honda.com/images/banners/2005/element/exterior_gallery/large10.jpg).

[Example cars are a Honda Civic and Honda Element]

[dojobi]

You'll notice that US regulations stipulate that there has to be a certain area of orange reflective material at the front of the car on each side, which most manufacturers these days put in the light assembly.

Keep this in mind when you are out on the road or in a parking lot and notice how different foreign manufacturers comply with this law; from some cars which seamlessly integrate the reflector deep into the light assembly (http://automobiles.honda.com/images/banners/2005/civic_sedan/exterior_gallery/large13.jpg) so well that you can hardly see it, through to some that just tack a reflector anywhere on the front side of the car (http://automobiles.honda.com/images/banners/2005/element/exterior_gallery/large10.jpg).

[Example cars are a Honda Civic and Honda Element]

Cool, thanks for the info guys. So it's all about having reflectors. It's a shame as it really ruins the look of the car.

BTW I liked your reason numbersguy :)

Also, sorry for the late reply - I didn't realise I had auto notification off.