E90 at LA Auto show (well...)

[Kaz]

...sorta.

A friend and I made a last-minute trip to the auto show last night. We knew there really wasn't going to be anything special, but he had to go for 'work' purposes anyhow.

But as always for me, there was something interesting out in the parking lot...

Now, we know what the car on the right is.

[BlackChrome]

I can't see it clearly but was here a badge on the e90?

[Patrick330i]

I appreciate the side-by-side pic. Thanks. :thumbup: I still think the E46 looks better, but that's just me.

[Kaz]

Sorry, it was the junk lighting in the structure and the junk image editor I'm trying out.

No badge. Tape everywhere. Type32s with blank centercaps. It was a US-spec car (no rear fogs, US MPH/KPH speedo) with xenons, AT, iDrive, wood, black interior and Orient, or slightly lighter blue. It has E39-style rear window shades built into the doors, which is nice. It also had a power rear sunshade.

My friend and I were in line looking for a space, and we see 3 people get out of this car. He notices it's a E90, so we both look over as I drive sloooowly past it. I find a space a litttle ways up, and we spent about 5 minutes poking around it. I noticed that there happened to be a E46 sitting next to it, so we stepped back to do some comparos, and I took this shot.

Side-by-side like this, the E90 doesn't look appreciably bigger. Though I think it makes the E46 look a little dated, sorta the way a E36 looks dated next to a E46.

[dallasfan824]

...sorta.

A friend and I made a last-minute trip to the auto show last night. We knew there really wasn't going to be anything special, but he had to go for 'work' purposes anyhow.

But as always for me, there was something interesting out in the parking lot...

Now, we know what the car on the right is.

I was at the LA Auto show today and asked the BMW rep if there was info on the E90 and he said "What is an E90?" I said "the new 3 series" and he said, "oh, I have never heard it called that"

LOL

[RichReg]

:thumbup: Very nice catch Kaz!......
Boy did you get lucky;; I work not too far from BMWNA in N.J. and I've never gotten a glimpse of any camoflaged cars or prototypes. :cry:

While it may not look the size of an E39, I can definitely see the increase in width and the higher and somewhat larger trunk vs the E46. Thanks for the comparo.

R.R.

[solsurfr]

Though I think it makes the E46 look a little dated, sorta the way a E36 looks dated next to a E46.
Darn, I was hoping this statement wouldn't surface but it is inevitable, I guess. :(

[The Roadstergal]

The E90 looks... blurry. Camera phone?

One of my beefs about the E46 is how the back of the trunk swallows the whole butt-end. Same with the E90?

[vehigal]

Darn, I was hoping this statement wouldn't surface but it is inevitable, I guess. :(


I think the E46 makes the E90 look too trendy, too bulgy, and characterless.
The E46 is and will remain a classic. :)

[xspeedy]

I think the E46 makes the E90 look too trendy, too bulgy, and characterless.
The E46 is and will remain a classic. :)

I'm sure that's what people said about the e36 when the e46 was released.

[SONET]

Wow, nice catch! :thumbup:

I would have been tempted to accidentally unpeel some of the tape. :eek:

--SONET

[gojira-san]

The one on the left is a new Kia, correct?

:rofl:

[psychrunner]

The one on the left is a new Kia, correct?

:rofl:

I can guarantee it won't drive or handle like a Kia. Its a new design, right. What were we expecting? The engineers have had to do something over the past seven (?) years.

[doeboy]

I would have been tempted to accidentally unpeel some of the tape. :eek:


:rofl:

[Fifty_Cent]

I dont know why, but it reminds me of a MERC E-class.

[vehigal]

I'm sure that's what people said about the e36 when the e46 was released.

Let's put it this way. Does the E90 look like a classic German car? :)

Notwithstanding, I'm sure the E90 will offer compelling driving characteristics. In fact, they must be superior to the competition, because the looks of the E90 sure ain't gonna attract buyers on their own.

[Blax]

No matter how hard you pray, the e46 will look dated to you by Christmas.

[TD]

No matter how hard you pray, the e46 will look dated to you by Christmas.
Some people care about having the "latest", as if the latest is inherently better (or, in many people's eyes, "cooler"). If you are one of them (and you own an E46), well, start saving your pennies and get on the list.

But I don't get it. If you've been satisfied with your car, why should you suddenly become dissatisfied just because a newer model came out? Unless you're simply a pawn in our corporate, commercialist society. Although I assume many BMW owners are just that.

[ObD]

No matter how hard you pray, the e46 will look dated to you by Christmas.

:stupid:

[allaboutme]

You're right. The e46 looks dated compared to the e90. I still think the e46 looks gorgeous though, but looking at my car I can see how the angles make it look dated. Old lambos look especially old since those angles don't age as well as curves.

[JonathanIT]

No matter how hard you pray, the e46 will look dated to you by Christmas.
Make that Christmas 2004... :eek:

Let's just deal with it people... no matter how hard you fight it, the e90 is fresher, newer, and more contemporary. Because of this, it is very exciting to a lot of people... especially those lucky ones in the market for a new car in this segment. Is it a nice looking car? Yes, IMHO! Is it better loooking than the e46? well, that's subjective. Does it make the e46 less better looking? Certainly not!

Here's how I look at it (from a personal point of view since I am partial to ragtops):

First attached pic below: e30, a nice looking car! Looked good when it came out; still does.
Second attached pic below: e36, a nice looking car! Looked good when it came out; still does.
Third attached pic below: e46, a nice looking car! Looked good when it came out; still does. :D

Though I have yet to see it in person... I would bet anything that the e90 convertible is a nice looking car and always will be.

Just my $.02 (of course this whole post was just an excuse to post a picture of my car.) :bigpimp:

--J.

[Patrick330i]

I must be resistant to change. :p

[solsurfr]

Make that Christmas 2004... :eek:

Let's just deal with it people... no matter how hard you fight it, the e90 is fresher, newer, and more contemporary. Because of this, it is very exciting to a lot of people... especially those lucky ones in the market for a new car in this segment. Is it a nice looking car? Yes, IMHO! Is it better loooking than the e46? well, that's subjective. Does it make the e46 less better looking? Certainly not!

Here's how I look at it (from a personal point of view since I am partial to ragtops):

First attached pic below: e30, a nice looking car! Looked good when it came out; still does.
Second attached pic below: e36, a nice looking car! Looked good when it came out; still does.
Third attached pic below: e46, a nice looking car! Looked good when it came out; still does. :D

Though I have yet to see it in person... I would bet anything that the e90 convertible is a nice looking car and always will be.

Just my $.02 (of course this whole post was just an excuse to post a picture of my car.) :bigpimp:

--J.
Can't argue this but for those of us who just bought a new E46, I can't help but look over my shoulder at the E90. A part of me thinks I should've waited but I am happy with my '04 E46. I guess I am hoping it would have a little more shelf life since only owning the car for 12 months now. I guess the postive is that we new E46 owners can sit back and see how the E90 unfolds. By the time I'm ready to buy again, I'll be in the same boat with the E90. No big deal though.

[philippek]

If you've been satisfied with your car, why should you suddenly become dissatisfied just because a newer model came out? Unless you're simply a pawn in our corporate, commercialist society.

Do you still wear bell bottoms?

[Rowag]

Can't argue this but for those of us who just bought a new E46, I can't help but look over my shoulder at the E90. A part of me thinks I should've waited but I am happy with my '04 E46. I guess I am hoping it would have a little more shelf life since only owning the car for 12 months now. I guess the postive is that we new E46 owners can sit back and see how the E90 unfolds. By the time I'm ready to buy again, I'll be in the same boat with the E90. No big deal though.
Exactly my viewpoint. Taking delivery of my '05 330ci ZHP in 2 weeks, and think the timing will be perfect. Fortunately the E46 coupes will still have another year or so before the E90 coupes are out. Give those a year or two for the kinks to get worked out and for the style to grow on me, and I'll see if I'm ready to "move on" to the E90.

[cwsqbm]

No matter how hard you pray, the e46 will look dated to you by Christmas.

Dated is in the eye of the beholder. Most older BMW designs don't look dated, just not current, and I think the E46 will hold up as well. We'll see if the newer Bangled designs hold up as well as E30's.

Disclaimer: I own a car older than me.

[Kaz]

Dated is in the eye of the beholder. Most older BMW designs don't look dated, just not current, and I think the E46 will hold up as well. We'll see if the newer Bangled designs hold up as well as E30's.

Disclaimer: I own a car older than me.

Exactly. Now, I never said I liked the E90's looks bettter, because I don't. I just said the E46 looks dated compared to it. I think I'll always feel that the E46 looks better than the E90, just like how I feel the E30 is tbe best-looking 3er out of all of them (FWIW I like the E36 the least. I didn't like it in 92, I don't like it now.)

[operknockity]

Exactly. Now, I never said I liked the E90's looks bettter, because I don't. I just said the E46 looks dated compared to it. I think I'll always feel that the E46 looks better than the E90, just like how I feel the E30 is tbe best-looking 3er out of all of them (FWIW I like the E36 the least. I didn't like it in 92, I don't like it now.)
:stupid: on the first point... Being newer or looking more contemporary does not mean it looks better. Just different. My initial reaction to the E90 is to recoil in horror, though not as much horror as with the new 5/6/7 series designs, but I will withhold final judgement until I can see them up close and personal.

On the second point, I think the E46 is the best looking of the 3 series, followed very closely by the E30, with the E36 a very distant third.

[car_for_mom]

Ah, each Bimmer in its time (and yes, I also include the fruits of Mr. Bangle) has its own beauty and/or distinctiveness.

Now, I have come over to The Dark Side in that I actually have grown to like the 745 (especially with 22" rims). However, the 740 has a classic beauty that endures! :thumbup:

True, a 740 parked next to a 745 would illustrate the (depending upon one's viewpoint) evolution (or devolution) of BMW styling.

I enjoy seeing older Bimmers when they're parked next to my 2003 325i: the old 325i, 318, 328, 525, 2002, 740, 750, the original 6, the occasional 850. Is one more classic/beautiful than the other? The standard Information Technnology (I'm a DBA) answer: It Depends.

It will be fascinating to see, in 5-10 years, how the neue Bimmers stack up. As long as the driving dynamics remain, I think I'll love pretty much any kind of BMW.

I sat in many a car at the 2005 LA Auto Show, and I have to say that nothing really grabbed me. I was chagrined that there were Corvettes displayed without real transmissions :p ; the well-made and feature-laden Japanese cars didn't move me.

My pulse quickened, naturally, at the Ferrari display...($800.00 for an oil change! Auuuugh! :yikes: :p :bling: )

[missing23]

Why do 'spy' pics always seem to be taken with crappy low res cameras?!

:eek: :D

[doeboy]

Why do 'spy' pics always seem to be taken with crappy low res cameras?!

:eek: :D

:rofl:

[Kaz]

Why do 'spy' pics always seem to be taken with crappy low res cameras?!

:eek: :D

In this case it's the crappy, low-res photographer.

There is a side shot of the front clip that actually came out quite well.

[Andre Yew]

I saw a white E90 at a distance today in Santa Barbara at the off-ramp for southbound 101 at Carrillo. Much to my chagrin, I thought it was some kind of Korean car, until I saw black tape over where the trunk roundel would be, and noticed the squinty rear lights. Traffic was pretty heavy, so I lost it. To make up for it, I then saw an Aston Martin DB9. :yummy:

--Andre