E90 at LA Auto show (well...)

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

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

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.

Originally Posted by Kaz

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 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?

Originally Posted by solsurfr

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.

Originally Posted by vehigal

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.

Originally Posted by 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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

Make that Christmas 2004...

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.

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.)

--J.

I must be resistant to change.

Originally Posted by JonathanIT

Make that Christmas 2004...

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.

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.)

--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.

Originally Posted by solsurfr

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.

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