May14
Previously, we’ve brought you photos of BMW’s facelifted 3-Series wagon, but today our spies delivered some up close and personal images of the 3-Series sedan. Judging by these photos, it looks like the sedan might see a pretty major revision to its taillight design.
On close inspection, it appears the taillights will get a “notched” appearance that effectively deletes one quarter of the previous design. As is easily seen, the front fascia will be slightly re-designed with a new bumper, modified fog lights, a new and sculpted hood, and new grille. The unpopular chrome “eyebrows” above the grille are now gone.
The update will also bring the launch of the twin-turbocharged 335i Wagon. Although the wagon is the only body style BMW doesn’t offer the M3 package on, it appears as though those craving cargo room and performance won’t have to wait much longer.
May 14th, 2008
The taillight notch returns! Finally! The taillights were the worst part of the 3 sedan. With these taillights and the lack of “eyebrows” this thing will be as hot as the coupe.
It should have just looked that way from the start. Now they just need to add the dual clutch transmissions across the line.
The edging on the front and hood in the small pictures looked like BMW was getting their design on and going somewhere.
Too bad it’s really just tape on the car in the full size pictures.
Well….lets get excited about a tail light design.
Still looks like a bloated angry fat guy. Bring back the classic BMW lines from the pre-Bangle days.
I’m glad they’re keeping the unique shape of the headlights. I like the sedan’s better than the coupe’s.
Thank heaven for the return of the E46 tail-light notch!!!!
Really kicking myself for not taking a picture of one of these I saw last week driving around town (greenville, just outside from the Spartanburg BMW plant.) It was obvious that it was different than the current version. Most notable were the taillights which were significantly darker.
Craziest part was that it wasn’t camoflaged at all!!
Hmm, hope those weird “warts” underneath the corners of the grille are fake, otherwise that bumper is going to look really funny, and not in a good way.
The other changes are positive though. Hope they do the same with the wagon, especially the tail lights. A 335i wagon would be a great sleeper-car.
why not to strech a coupe? this is still ugly.
Yup, this is STILL ugly, ‘BlackX’, not becoming of a $50k car.
The full, unnotched, pinched style taillights look horrible … and this new notched, cut, unfinished, unflowing, disjointed design is just as horrible.
This car seriously looks sad for any company. Fortunately for BMW, many buyers, as evidenced by Focus sales, are willing to forego good looks for supposed reputation. Fools.
Does anyone has any idea when those “cat eye” lights are going to disappear? It was bad idea when it was fresh, now it’s like sushi on sale. In corporate world the more you screw up the farther you go - Bungle learned it long time ago.
New taillights on the 3 sedan cannot arrive fast enough. Loyal BMW owner, would never ever buy the current sedan for 1 reason: the hideous ass end, especially the hyundai-esque taillights. Replace those puppies with all LED taillights and turn signals.
I still thing the car is ugly as sin and for the looks alone I would take an A4 over it or even an IS350… even though every college aged girl in the world has the latter of the two.
Damn, BMW is so clever. Who would’ve guessed it was a BMW with all badges covered by tape? ILMAO
SD650.. you make an interesting point.. why is it so important to have LED tails and turn signals? I thought the benefit of LED brake lights was that they lit more instantaneously than regular incandescent lights.. but it seems that BMW has backed away from LED brake lights (on the new 5-series in particular) and is only using them for turn signals!
zoomzoom, the inconsistency w/ bmw is killin me. the 2004 3-series coupes received LED taillight with amber LED turnsignals…what i think bmw, you and me can agree is a superior technology and looks great. then the new 3 coupe arrives (which i love) and has halogen bulb taillights and amber halogen rear turn signals.
the refreshed 5 you are speaking of boggles me just as much. they have their trademark fantastic looking LED tubes running through the taillights, with red (why not amber??) LED turn signals, and 1970s halogen bulbs behind it all for braking.
currently, the 6-series is the only one that has it right, LED tubes, LED brake lights and amber LED turn signals (front and back).
furthest from cool…3-sedan, X5 and presumably X6 with halogen brake lights and red halogen rear turn signals.
lights on a vehicle are a huge selling point for me, obviously!
c’mon BMW, wake up!! put your great taillights on ALL of your vehicles!!
“c’mon BMW, wake up!! put your great taillights on ALL of your vehicles” by !SD650..
Couldn’t agree more. What going on with BMW. And also Audi.
t-ak, this is very true. A3/A4/A5/Q7…yuck, A6/A8 =
why do the Audi mid-size sedans use $5 taillights, while the Passat gets all LED, something seems assbackwards.
and while we’re at it, porsche too…new cayenne has ****ty red turn signals just like the X5.
as much as i hate to say it, cadillac has got it going on in the taillight department, use those LEDs…looks great! Infiniti too!
Agreed, the taillights are what needed the most change. They’re so ugly, I know a lot of potential buyers who switched to a C Class sport even if it handles worse.
yeaa i called that ****, the current taillights look like they got ripped off a korean hatchback