Official NAIAS F30 Photo/Info Thread

Who's going to the North American International Auto Show in Detroit for the official US unveiling of the new F30? The Press Preview is January 9-10, Industry Preview is January 11-12, Charity Preview is January 13, and the Public Show is January 14-22.

BMW is on the Press Conference Schedule for 11:40 AM - 12:05 PM ET on January 9. Official website: http://www.naias.com/

Please post your photos, information, and comments from the NAIAS in this thread.

I'm heading for Detroit on Saturday, January 14, with family stuff on Sunday. I'll probably be at the show on Monday, January 16. I'll probably be late to the party, but I'll be taking pictures and posting them ASAP.

Bimmerfest Coverage of the Detroit Auto Show NAIAS -> http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=592814

Bimmerfest Detroit Auto Show NAIAS Photo Gallery -> http://www.bimmerfest.com/bmw-photos...IAS-Auto-Show/

hmmm.....it comes to Chicago in February, but Detroit is only a short train ride from Chicago. I'll have to think about that. It would be kinda cool to be there for the U.S. debut. I'm glad you posted this.

can we assume the car will be certified by this point? my car is done with production tomorrow and just going to wait at the port till the ecar and emissions and epa stuff is done

I'll be at Industry Days on the 11th (@ noon when the show opens).

Usually those days aren't as crowded so if there's anything particular you want please let me know.

We will be there on January 9th for the press day and unveiling of the F30. Lots of content to come as it happens!

I'll be attending. I don't know the specific date yet.

I hope Paula Patton is there to show off the BMW i8


(video from LA Auto Show)

I'll be driving in from Cleveland on the 17th. Question for you guys: The F30 is going to be in Detroit, but not at the Cleveland show a month later, forcing me to drive 3 hours to see it. One of the CAs at a Cleveland dealer says it WON'T be at the Cleveland show. Any ideas why? The only thing I can figure is that obviously BMW is an official sponsor for the Detroit show, but maybe only local dealerships at Cleveland. Yes? No?

Originally Posted by CE750Jockey

I'll be driving in from Cleveland on the 17th. Question for you guys: The F30 is going to be in Detroit, but not at the Cleveland show a month later, forcing me to drive 3 hours to see it. One of the CAs at a Cleveland dealer says it WON'T be at the Cleveland show. Any ideas why? The only thing I can figure is that obviously BMW is an official sponsor for the Detroit show, but maybe only local dealerships at Cleveland. Yes? No?

At the LA Auto Show BMW showed the i8 and i3, the M5, and a Frozen Silver E92 M3 (but no F30 of course) which leads me to believe that BMW NA was the official exhibitor. At the San Diego Auto Show, none of these were there so it was just cars from local dealers.

I think that Cleveland has the same status as San Diego in the national auto shows. They're just not top tier! I would think that if local dealers have F30s they would have them at the show, but they may only have the initial three that they will be allocated, two 328i in the Modern and Luxury Lines, and a 335i in the Sport Line, and those may already be sold.

I got some pics of the 3. I'm too lazy to post them but I can Zip them up and shoot them over to someone if they want.

Originally Posted by LS2 MN6

I got some pics of the 3. I'm too lazy to post them but I can Zip them up and shoot them over to someone if they want.

We got a ton but I'd like to see what you got. Please email them to me at tim@Bimmerfest.com.

Thanks,
Tim

I'll see if I can, I just Zipped them up (14 pictures) and the zip is 64 MB. I might have to shrink them from 4-5 MB a file...

EDIT: I uploaded them to Picasa.

https://picasaweb.google.com/1106248...eat=directlink

I just got back from the NAIAS a little while ago. I'll put my pictures up on Picasa and post the link tonight or tomorrow. Edit: Ok, here's the link to the Picasa album: https://picasaweb.google.com/Tom.Fot...eat=directlink.

Some things I noticed looking at the new F30:

• There is no way to replace the front side reflectors with body color/smoke/clear reflectors because they are behind a sealed fender well and there's no easy way to get to them.
• The tray that goes on top of the drink holders in the center console stores in the glovebox in a mesh net on the top of the glove box. There is a velcro strap to hold it in place and to open the mesh net. It's in the shadow in this picture but it was hard to light it.
  
• The front and rear brakes are much better looking than the E90. As an added bonus the brake bleeder vavle is on the front of the brakes and very easy to get to.
  
• The trunk floor of the 328i and 335i are identical with the compartment possibly a little smaller than on the E90 328i and much larger than the E90 335i
  
• There are two bag hooks on either side of the trunk near the hinge. There's also a larger compartment with a mesh net that pulls down flush with the floor if you don't need to use the net. There's a smaller one on the right side that operates the same way. There's also an elastic band on the wheel well hump probably that would probably hold a liter of oil.
  
• The front end is beautiful! The hood line is not distracting and looks fine in person. Same with the headlights extending to the grille. The grille and the whole front end is much more three-dimensional.
  
• The iDrive screen does not look out of place at all, especially when you look at similar three-dimensional designs used by other manufacturers. The area behind the screen isn't as much as a dust collector as I had originally though. A swipe with a feather duster will easily clean behind it.
  
• What is a dust collector is the upward facing screen of the HUD. It was looking pretty bad on the third public day of the show. This will probably have to be cleaned regularly with a microfiber cloth at least as often as you clean your windshield.
  

Oh, the Estoril Blue II on the 335i with the M Sport Package is gorgeous!



[/IMG]

There was lots and lots of interest in this 335i with the M Sport Package. Everybody loved the color. There was also a 335is Convertible in Le Mans Blue to the right of the F30 and everyone loved that too, probably mostly because it was a convertible. It was a very popular for posed pictures. I doubt that most people knew they were looking at two different generations of the 3 Series.

For anyone that is still planning to go, there is an Owner's Lounge at the BMW display. Just show your key or BMW CCA membership card (I showed my BMW Welt Premium Lounge card) for admittance. A nice, relatively quiet place to relax with free soda (or pop as it's called in Detroit) and water.

Tom, I'm pissed off. Why do they not mark things like this, the Owner's Lounge, more prominently? I'm here right this minute and just read your post. It's almost 3:00 and it doesn't open until 4:00 and I have to head back to Chicago in a few minutes. I was here all afternoon yesterday, but I hadn't read your post. I saw the room but had no idea it was for us and all they have is this dinky little sign and not one product "specialist" mentioned it to me. People are numb nuts.

Originally Posted by tturedraider

Tom, I'm pissed off. Why do they not mark things like this, the Owner's Lounge, more prominently? I'm here right this minute and just read your post. It's almost 3:00 and it doesn't open until 4:00 and I have to head back to Chicago in a few minutes. I was here all afternoon yesterday, but I hadn't read your post. I saw the room but had no idea it was for us and all they have is this dinky little sign and not one product "specialist" mentioned it to me. People are numb nuts.

Bummer! I apologize for not mentioning that it opened at 4:00 PM. I also should have posted the pictures a day earlier.

I got to the show about 10:30 AM. I went over to that desk to ask a question and noticed the lounge and was told it didn't open 'til 4:00 PM. I decided to leave for lunch, ate a Coney at American Coney Island, took the People Mover to the Ren Cen, walked around and took pictures, then back to Cobo Center, walked around the show some more, and I still had to wait 1/2 hour for the lounge to open. I was the first one that day in though!

Sorry that you missed it!

Originally Posted by SD 335is

For anyone that is still planning to go, there is an Owner's Lounge at the BMW display. Just show your key or BMW CCA membership card (I showed my BMW Welt Premium Lounge card) for admittance. A nice, relatively quiet place to relax with free soda (or pop as it's called in Detroit) and water.

That's good to know. I will be there tonight and will take advantage of the lounge. I'll see if I can get some good pictures as well and post them here soon.

I was at the NAIAS tonight but apparently the hours for the lounge are very limited. I was there at 7:45 and it was already closed after only opening at 4pm. Kind of disappointing.