F30 Spotted in CA Desert

The front looks terrible to me. It's too busy. I think the MSport looks great but something about this shape that turns me off. The side and back look great though:

Jeremy, a reader of BMWBLOG, spotted the new 2012 BMW 3 Series in La Quinta, California. The 328i model sports the Alpine White paint and the U.S. license plate mounting base that had many fans worried. It remains unknown if the removable mountain base will come standard or will be installed by request.
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cool, thats a sports line(with 17") and halogens, just like mine

[QUOTE=TJPark01;6538545]The front looks terrible to me. It's too busy. I think the MSport looks great but something about this shape that turns me off. The side and back look great though:



I'm with you. I was going to wait to reserve judgement until I saw one in person, but those photos do nothing to enhance my opinion. I was thinking about upgrading my E93 but may wait for the "Acura TL" nosejob that's probably already in the works.

P.S. Anyone know what's with the license plate mounts on the front bumper? Is that optional???

I like it and see nothing offensive about the nose, although I admit the hood seam above the roundel is unfortunate. But I am an E60 guy thinking about my next car - no doubt, that F30 looks big compared to the E90. I'd kind of like to see an F30 next to a same-color E60 to see if they don't look to be about the same size.

Originally Posted by WJGreer

I like it and see nothing offensive about the nose, although I admit the hood seam above the roundel is unfortunate. But I am an E60 guy thinking about my next car - no doubt, that F30 looks big compared to the E90. I'd kind of like to see an F30 next to a same-color E60 to see if they don't look to be about the same size.

For better or for worse depending on who you're asking. I think this car is closer to the E39 in size than a E60. It's clear the F10 has more of a luxury tilt than a sporting one, minus the M5. The F30 will undoubtedly lean towards putting the sport back in Sport Sedan. (of course there will be those E21/E30/E36/E46 owners that will disparage the F30's massive size, complexity,turbo charging).

Originally Posted by TJPark01

For better or for worse depending on who you're asking. I think this car is closer to the E39 in size than a E60. It's clear the F10 has more of a luxury tilt than a sporting one, minus the M5. The F30 will undoubtedly lean towards putting the sport back in Sport Sedan. (of course there will be those E21/E30/E36/E46 owners that will disparage the F30's massive size, complexity,turbo charging).

Agree, I might be the "for better" guy. Comparing the size, and frankly the price, between the F30 and the F10, I might like the F30 better.

Hopefully that license plate holder is factory or dealer option. I don't have to have a front plate in Georgia and would hate to have to put something there just to cover up the hideous bumper.

Originally Posted by WJGreer

Agree, I might be the "for better" guy. Comparing the size, and frankly the price, between the F30 and the F10, I might like the F30 better.

I had a E39 530i and really loved that car. I currently have a F10 535i and also love the car. I think my expectations were such that I knew what i was getting at the time. I have to get rid of a gas guzzling old car that I have been keeping around and the F20 328i seems like a compelling choice, although I think I might go for the coupe this time even if they call it a 4 series, which is kinda lame.

Originally Posted by johnc_22

Hopefully that license plate holder is factory or dealer option. I don't have to have a front plate in Georgia and would hate to have to put something there just to cover up the hideous bumper.

The conversation would look like this:
Me: If you put that license plate holder on the car I won't take delivery of the vehicle.

Originally Posted by johnc_22

Hopefully that license plate holder is factory or dealer option. I don't have to have a front plate in Georgia and would hate to have to put something there just to cover up the hideous bumper.

From the hole spacing in that picture, that looks to me like the Euro license plate mounting setup.

Originally Posted by TJPark01

The conversation would look like this:
Me: If you put that license plate holder on the car I won't take delivery of the vehicle.

same

Originally Posted by TJPark01

The conversation would look like this:
Me: If you put that license plate holder on the car I won't take delivery of the vehicle.

A few decades back in Detroit the dealers used to drill holes in the trunk lid to mount their dealer emblem. Guaranteed to rust within a few years. I would tell my sales guy "If you drill holes in my car and/or affix a dealer emblem I will not take delivery of the car. If you put a dealer license plate frame on the car I will have you remove it before I drive off the lot."

Never had a problem.

Originally Posted by SD 335is

A few decades back in Detroit the dealers used to drill holes in the trunk lid to mount their dealer emblem. Guaranteed to rust within a few years. I would tell my sales guy "If you drill holes in my car and/or affix a dealer emblem I will not take delivery of the car. If you put a dealer license plate frame on the car I will have you remove it before I drive off the lot."

Never had a problem.

3M tape is so much better and reversible. In fact, if I were to buy another car in the aftermkt and I saw that the guy didn't drill holes I would assume that he probably took care of the car and genuinely cared about it's appearance.