That mouth on the BMW 4 series
Discussion
It's a complete fallacy that design is subjective. It is not. Taste is subjective, and beauty is subjective, but anyone who has studied design knows that it is quite objective.
BMW have lost the plot. I accept that the UK isn't a significant market any more, and that big grills symbolise expense to the Chinese buyers, and so we're struck with them, but there is absolutely no way on earth I can ever accept that they are good design.
BMW have lost the plot. I accept that the UK isn't a significant market any more, and that big grills symbolise expense to the Chinese buyers, and so we're struck with them, but there is absolutely no way on earth I can ever accept that they are good design.
I really don't get the hate - the only thing I can fathom is it's unexpected so people don't react well. But that's their problem, literally.
Audi have had bonnet-to-floor grilles for 15 years and nobody ever whinged. They also appear to be getting wider by the year but I haven't seen a meme yet where there are no headlights on the front of a 2030 A5...
4 series new nose looks the business and dated the old model overnight IMO - and I say that as one of the biggest F32/3/6 fans ever.
Audi have had bonnet-to-floor grilles for 15 years and nobody ever whinged. They also appear to be getting wider by the year but I haven't seen a meme yet where there are no headlights on the front of a 2030 A5...
4 series new nose looks the business and dated the old model overnight IMO - and I say that as one of the biggest F32/3/6 fans ever.
BMW have so many identifiable design trademarks that pretty much every other brand would sell their granny for, and yet they are spunking that away with this tripe.
It might be easy to jump on the ‘not liking BMW design at the moment’ bandwagon, but it’s a pretty big wagon.
I think any warming to the design is because you are seeing more of them on the road. It’s familiarity, that’s all. Same thing happened with the E60, which wasn’t actually that crazy a design, even back then.
Plus, I don’t even think the grille is the worst feature. It’s bad, horrid in fact, but the laziness of that 4 Series and the absolute munter of the M4 CSL should be illegal.
In a way I think they should have made a sub brand like Cupra or DS so they could experiment with this design but still offer the same cars with more traditional styling.
Maybe ‘Glas’ branded 4-Series
It might be easy to jump on the ‘not liking BMW design at the moment’ bandwagon, but it’s a pretty big wagon.
I think any warming to the design is because you are seeing more of them on the road. It’s familiarity, that’s all. Same thing happened with the E60, which wasn’t actually that crazy a design, even back then.
Plus, I don’t even think the grille is the worst feature. It’s bad, horrid in fact, but the laziness of that 4 Series and the absolute munter of the M4 CSL should be illegal.
In a way I think they should have made a sub brand like Cupra or DS so they could experiment with this design but still offer the same cars with more traditional styling.
Maybe ‘Glas’ branded 4-Series
It is also colour dependent. It doesn't look quite as hideous with the car in black. Any other colour it just looks gross (all IMHO of course).
I saw a brand new M4 (going very slowly) on a track day yesterday.
It was in what I would call German Racing Green, which was a great colour.
But the gob on it makes me think of a marauding fish every time I see one.
I saw a brand new M4 (going very slowly) on a track day yesterday.
It was in what I would call German Racing Green, which was a great colour.
But the gob on it makes me think of a marauding fish every time I see one.
QBee said:
It is also colour dependent. It doesn't look quite as hideous with the car in black..
Isn't that a bit like saying it would also look better in the dark?I spent time in an M3 LCI yesterday. Love the interior; just can't get on with the front end.
In the days of ridiculous car prices and excellent residuals, it's interesting to see values of them seems to be on the slide, with a year old example 20% less than new.
mersontheperson said:
I like the 2 series the best to look at out of those 4. I wasn't expecting that to be fair! Weirdly I like the front grills on the current M4, but I don't like them on the current 4 series though.
I just admit the new G-series front is growing on me and makes my F36 seem rather dated, especially in that line up above. It does look a lot better in darker colours and also with a number plate on.
Although I do keep on checking bmwblog and other news sites for rumours on what the 4 LCI will look like, ie will they scrap this design or not. The last thing I’d want is a car which was only in production for a couple of years because it was considered ugly.
Although I do keep on checking bmwblog and other news sites for rumours on what the 4 LCI will look like, ie will they scrap this design or not. The last thing I’d want is a car which was only in production for a couple of years because it was considered ugly.
ukpolak said:
Although I do keep on checking bmwblog and other news sites for rumours on what the 4 LCI will look like, ie will they scrap this design or not. The last thing I’d want is a car which was only in production for a couple of years because it was considered ugly.
Isn’t this the perfect recipe for a future classic and enhanced long term residual value? It might be cerb4.5lee said:
I like the 2 series the best to look at out of those 4. I wasn't expecting that to be fair!
Weirdly I like the front grills on the current M4, but I don't like them on the current 4 series though.
The 2 series is massively colour sensitive in my opinion. In purple it actually looks OK if a fit fat, but in fist grey it looks absolutely gash. I don’t like them in black either because what little design details there get lost. As far as designs go, it’s very simplistic with lots of very flat surfaces which I don’t think do it any favours especially when they get hidden or lost.Weirdly I like the front grills on the current M4, but I don't like them on the current 4 series though.
I’m no fan of the current grilles, but if I’m honest it’s the rest of the 4 series that I struggle with; it just looks so bloody big and heavy. There is way too much metal of over the rear wheels and it looks very slab sided. It reminds me of an A5, which is a not a good thing.
People often mention Audi’s big grilles; yes they’re huge but they seem more cohesive and flow into the design better. The BMW ones seem like a bit of an afterthought.
Gassing Station | BMW General | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff