RICHBOY

You might be over stating in my opinion! It's nice but come on it ain't all you and a lot of other's are making it out to be!

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Bruce

Thanks

Just_me

the 1er looks good, and yes my mother is buying one. Enuff said!

Beemer B773ER

Each to his/her own...

I think the facelift looks ok. I quite liked the cartoon-ish face of the original 1er coz it made the car look so cute (therefore attempting to appeal to the young female buyer I guess) ... but I also have to say that it is time for a change, so the facelift is a welcomed one.

Although the car still has that cutesy look to it coz of the big glaring eyes, the reshaped mouth actually gives it a more executive look, especially coz of the Z4-like lights in the mouth.

Really cool that the facelift also has CELIS LED's at the back... will make for some great viewing when stuck in traffic behind one of these new 1er's.

Seems like there has been no styling change between the 3dr and 5dr models besides the obvious door number. Am I correct, or are there other things that seperate the 3dr from the 5dr ?

Nikos120i

I agree with BeemerBoi.

Look at this picture...



I think the headlights have gotten smaller. In any case...the biggest improvement resides in the engine compartment...and the 2.0 170hp puts the 1er at the top of the hatchback category as far as naturally aspirated engines are concerned!

Beemer B773ER

Question for Eni...

You said in the facelift 5er thread that BMW put that chrome stripe on the 5er because the American market sees 'shiny as expensive'. But why have BMW put a chrome strip on the 1er when that car isn't going to the US market ?

I'm guessing just to create a 'family' look?

Is it just my eyes or have the lights been moved closer to the grille? Even the lights and the grille seem to have been widened... or is just coz of the angle of the pics?

Just one other quick thing... THANK YOU BMW for getting rid of those tacky add-on mouldings on the front of the car!!

RICHBOY

Well if momzz is buying one it must be the hottest thing since sliced bread!

Harry Plopper

Yes, family look is important. Therefore CELIS LED corona rings, and rear CELIS LED strips across entire BMW model line.

Regarding the chrome: a need for chrome on premium cars is not exclusive to US customers. Still they are a bit more interested in the shiny things. But they are definitely not alone! BMW wanted to emphasize the sportiness of their cars with the design - therefore the lack of chrome (except on top-end models). But the customers wanted it back. And they got it. Like they got other improvements inside the cabin, under the hood, and under the skin.

Btw, the headlight cluster design is the same, yet the grille is wider & a bit differently shaped. Also a different inner layout of headlight cluster (incl. different projectors) makes you think the entire cluster design is different.

Yes, with the facelifts the quality & ergonomic issues have been addressed, and BMW designer put more effort to smoothen out the details. This is also the goal for the future: more attention to details! Still modern / futuristic, fresh, daring & dynamic designs, yet with more refined (better integrated) details. With even more emphasize on production / tooling problems. Mind that recent BMW designs have been very complex, and sometimes final execution was a pure production / engineering issue (eg. problems in tooling design). Sometimes it's hard to produce very detailed & high-quality complex (interior & exterior!) designs. Perhaps BMW purchasing officials have been to quickly satisfied with the executed solutions suppliers had offered. Design can work brilliantly on a paper, or in a clay model - yet when it comes to production & tooling the much important details can be lost, and the initial design can be flawed, or even ruined.

Mind that perfect quality & execution usually also depends on part suppliers, and tooling designers!

Harry Plopper

Guys, please stay on topic, and try not to tease other members with your comments!

Thanks.

Beemer B773ER

Oh oks.. well now it makes a bit more sense. The lack of chrome on the first generation of Bangle BMW's was something I noticed instantly, and something I supported, especially as you said, because BMW were trying to convey an image of sportiness rather than luxury.... But now chrome is back.
But I guess, if the customer wants it, you should do your best to give it.



I'll just repost a question I asked in an earlier post that went unanswered:

Seems like there has been no styling change between the 3dr and 5dr models besides the obvious door number. Am I correct, or are there other design elements that seperate the 3dr from the 5dr ?

Curb Zone