E92 3 Series Coupe VS F32 4 Series Coupe - Which styling do you prefer?

We've spied most of the 2014 F32 4 series coupe exposed as BMW was loading a per-production model onto a truck. It is now time to put the E92 3 series coupe up against it successor the F32 4 series coupe. Based on the above picture which BMW would you drive home?

If you're confused about the 4 series naming it is alright, but where have you been for the last 6 months? BMW will no longer be making a 3 series coupe, remaining the E92 successor, chassis code F32 to a 4 series. This allows them to take the 4 series up market in terms of pricing while leaving their bread and butter, the 3 series sedan alone.

Flip over to the F30/F31/F32/F33 forum thread on the F32 for more details.

Complete F32 4 Series Coupe Gallery

Too soon to tell. I'll wait until we can get a full, 360 degree view. A large part of the character of a car is the way the nose and tail look and we still haven't seen those yet.

From what we can see at this point, I'm not a big fan of the front fender vent. The rocker panel looks pretty plain and kind of slab-like. The roofline, particularly near the rear window and the Hofmeister kink is much more streamlined and has more of a fastback look.

Originally Posted by SD Z4MR

From what we can see at this point, I'm not a big fan of the front fender vent. The rocker panel looks pretty plain and kind of slab-like. The roofline, particularly near the rear window and the Hofmeister kink is much more streamlined and has more of a fastback look.

Great summation! The front fender vent is horrible and looks event worse and cheap in the up close picture. I like the rocker panel but agree they are plain. Describing the rear window as fastback is dead on, great description!

Tim

Originally Posted by tim330i

We've spied most of the 2014 F32 4 series coupe exposed as BMW was loading a per-production model onto a truck. It is now time to put the E92 3 series coupe up against it successor the F32 4 series coupe. Based on the above picture which BMW would you drive home?

If you're confused about the 4 series naming it is alright, but where have you been for the last 6 months? BMW will no longer be making a 3 series coupe, remaining the E92 successor, chassis code F32 to a 4 series. This allows them to take the 4 series up market in terms of pricing while leaving their bread and butter, the 3 series sedan alone.

Flip over to the F30/F31/F32/F33 forum thread on the F32 for more details.

Complete F32 4 Series Coupe Gallery

In other words, they're doing with the E92 the same thing they did with the 5 coupe, they call it a 6 series and charge more. Brilliant.

I can't vote until I see more pics. The fender scoop* could work, or just look like an affectation so long eschewed by BMW.

* It looked good on my '66 Mustang, but that had three strakes on it and looked sharp.

I like it, looks like a smaller 6 series! The dealer had a new M6 on the showroom I was drooling over this morning while getting an oil change. I think I will be getting an F32 when I'm ready for a new car :-)

Originally Posted by tim330i

Great summation! The front fender vent is horrible and looks event worse and cheap in the up close picture. I like the rocker panel but agree they are plain. Describing the rear window as fastback is dead on, great description!

Tim

Aw com'on.

That air vent looks good. Also, the new coupe looks longer and sleeker but not an overweight pig like the 6-series coupe.

I like what I see. But I'm not shelling out any more money until my 2011 335is becomes antiquated.

Too soon to vote. My choice will be completely dependent upon what they do with the front end. If they keep the ugly-as-sin unibrow look that the F30 has, then the E92 is the easy winner. If they realize how badly they screwed up the F30 and make adjustments for the F32, then it could have potential.

Too big. E92 was perfect on terms of size.

Originally Posted by Fravel

Too soon to vote. My choice will be completely dependent upon what they do with the front end. If they keep the ugly-as-sin unibrow look that the F30 has, then the E92 is the easy winner. If they realize how badly they screwed up the F30 and make adjustments for the F32, then it could have potential.

I hate to disappoint but the F32 will have a front end similar to the F30. The front grills will be wider and flatter with the headlight shaped tighten. Make no mistake the headlights will connect to the grills in a similar fashion to how the styling was done on the F30. It really grows on you, I think it looks fantastic on the F30 3 series now!

Tim

I also don't like how it looks like a mini 6. The 6's character is completely different from the 3's. The 6 a big oversight boat. This will just be a smaller overweight boat.

I thought this would happen soon enough, but not as the 4 series. It's really hard improve
on an awesome design. Not too many differences from this view. I guess that's why the 911 lived for so many years.

IIRC, the new coupe won't have the NA six, but a turbo 4 as the base engine. I don't do turbos and I don't do fours.

Originally Posted by Lufthansa

IIRC, the new coupe won't have the NA six, but a turbo 4 as the base engine. I don't do turbos and I don't do fours.

Correct, just like the F30 3 series sedan there is no NA engine option. The base 428i will be powered by the N20 4 cylinder turbo. If you haven't driven one I suggest you give it a try, it handily out drives and out performs the N52. The big brother 440i will be powered by a new inline 6 single turbo based on BMWs latest EfficentDynamics engine family. Expect a power bump over the F30 N55 engine.

Tim

I like it so far. Was expecting to get the turbo M3 replacement when its released in coupe form.

I love both

Will buy the new 4 if I win a lottery

I had suggested to Tim that he place this poll here as it was originally placed in the F30 section where everyone voted for the new body style. I thought we would be less biased and I guess I was correct. At this point, the votes are 5 to 2 in favor of the F32.

I would also like to see the whole car with a view of the front and rear before final judgement, but IMO, this car looks sleak and may incorporate the extended front bumper better than the F30. But, I also hate the unibrow headlamps.

I like the profile, look forward to the m4-I'll be buying one
as long as the front end isn't too similar to the new design.

I have to laugh every time I see someone say that they hate the way the headlights touch the grilles on the F30. It just makes me think of little kids who won't eat their meals because the meat/potatoes/vegetables are touching each other. What a bunch of fussy eaters! To think that someone wouldn't buy a BMW because of this is even more laughable. What are you gonna do, buy an Audi or some other, lesser car?

P.S. I didn't like the look of the Z4 when it was first released but that wasn't the only reason I wouldn't have bought one at the time. The look grew on me but when I had a chance to buy my Z4 M Roadster looks definitely weren't the first consideration. I'll be doing ED on an M4 in a few years no matter how it looks.

Originally Posted by SD Z4MR

I have to laugh every time I see someone say that they hate the way the headlights touch the grilles on the F30. It just makes me think of little kids who won't eat their meals because the meat/potatoes/vegetables are touching each other. What a bunch of fussy eaters! To think that someone wouldn't buy a BMW because of this is even more laughable. What are you gonna do, buy an Audi or some other, lesser car?

P.S. I didn't like the look of the Z4 when it was first released but that wasn't the only reason I wouldn't have bought one at the time. The look grew on me but when I had a chance to buy my Z4 M Roadster looks definitely weren't the first consideration. I'll be doing ED on an M4 in a few years no matter how it looks.

Now, who is being silly?

Originally Posted by beden1

Now, who is being silly?

Who mentioned silly and what does this have to do with being silly? You'd seriously not buy an M4 because of how it looks, regardless of the performance?

I know a woman who has a serious thing for the color purple and a few years ago during the minivan craze she bought a purple minivan only because she really liked the shade of purple that was offered on that model. Manufacturer, reliability, warranty, nothing else mattered, she just really liked that purple. Now that's silly.

Originally Posted by SD Z4MR

Who mentioned silly and what does this have to do with being silly? You'd seriously not buy an M4 because of how it looks, regardless of the performance?

I know a woman who has a serious thing for the color purple and a few years ago during the minivan craze she bought a purple minivan only because she really liked the shade of purple that was offered on that model. Manufacturer, reliability, warranty, nothing else mattered, she just really liked that purple. Now that's silly.

No, I would certainly not buy a car if I did not like the way it looks. I think most people would not. There are always other cars available from which to choose, especially now that BMW has become a softer performer. Consumers are what drives designs, features and performance. If people don't like what they see, then manufacturers are forced to offer what they do want to buy.

I also would not buy a car that I liked the way it looks but does not perform very well.

Originally Posted by SD Z4MR

Who mentioned silly and what does this have to do with being silly? You'd seriously not buy an M4 because of how it looks, regardless of the performance?

I know a woman who has a serious thing for the color purple and a few years ago during the minivan craze she bought a purple minivan only because she really liked the shade of purple that was offered on that model. Manufacturer, reliability, warranty, nothing else mattered, she just really liked that purple. Now that's silly.

I was looking at your signature picture. How are you able to race your Z4 convertible without a frame mounted roll bar?

Originally Posted by beden1

No, I would certainly not buy a car if I did not like the way it looks. I think most people would not.

I'm certainly not "most people" and I'm quite proud of that! Looks just aren't at the top of my list for a car. However, if the Pontiac Aztek outperformed a BMW I'm not saying that I'd buy it based solely on it's performance because looks do play some part. I'd at least have to be able to look at it every day without cringing!

If a BMW M4 disappoints solely in the looks department that wouldn't be enough reason for me not to buy it. It will still be a BMW and it will be an ///M car and it will still be highly desirable for a lot of people, but probably not "most people". I have faith that it will outperform every other 3 Series M car that came before it. However, I still reserve the right to make a final decision.

Originally Posted by beden1

I also would not buy a car that I liked the way it looks but does not perform very well.

That's a given! Kind of like the purple minivan! There's a lot of cars that meet this criteria.