G82 and E46 side by side

[Kevin2772]

I think they look far better in person then any pictures you have seen online. The front isnt pretty though, its brutal. As far as the driver feedback above, doesnt seem like much of a surprise. I felt the same way about the last generation M3/4 cars. Just too numb.

[lemoose]

A bit different price range and utility, though.

I seem to remember a time back when auto journalists would draw comparisons between the m3 and the 996 GT3.

[JustAWhisper]

I saw an M4 in person this past weekend. It is quite large, but it's not bad looking per se. The front grille is obnoxious but will likely have aftermarket options to fix very soon, much like how the Porsche community fixed the 996 911 with aftermarket headlights.

Questionable styling choices aside, ever expanding size is just a reality of the car market. The number of people who actually care about keeping cars small and lightweight is very small. The "OK Boomer" tweet is quite dumb, as most new M3/M4 buyers continue to be older men who like the idea of being fast drivers but in reality have little or no performance driving experience and will likely never get any. The car needs to only feel more sporty than a non-performance oriented model, and be able to claim better performance numbers than the outgoing model. The new M3/M4 accomplishes both of those goals easily. The styling issue is just BMW is trying to gain more market share in China, which has completely different preferences. BMW is counting on new buyers in China more than making up for any Western buyers who are alienated. BMW may backpedal at some point and redesign the front fascia to be more traditional in the mid-cycle update, but they'll have to take a serious sales hit.

While it is easy to blame BMW for all of this, it's not the only company that's making these kind of choices. The 992 Porsche posted above is actually massive compared to older 911's and is very cushy (except for GT3 models). They're more committed to traditional styling, but the character of the cars have completely changed. Ultimately, they're all companies trying to make money, and they are going where the money is. We're actually pretty fortunate, as BMW recognizes there is a small audience of buyers who want a small high performance car kind of like the older ones, and that's why the M2 exists. I'm half-expecting BMW to ruin the new one, but the current one is at least quite good for what it is. Audi's and Mercedes' competing small performance cars are half-hearted attempts at best. No one wants to spend a bunch of money developing a car that won't sell in large numbers.

[Xmetal]

This shit is just gargantuan. For comparison’s sake, the e46 m3 is 177”, an e70 x5 is 191”, g82 is 189”.

My e53 X5 is just 184" - this G82 is larger than my old X5! This puts into perspective on how far the 3/4 series has grown over the years

[jbfrancis3]

No disagreement with any of the negative reactions and comments around size. Though the camera angle is a bit distorting. G82 factory height listed at 54.8in and the E46 at 54in. The E46 is lowered but I found the picture to give the appearance of a much greater height delta.

[Icecream]

I saw an M4 in person this past weekend. It is quite large, but it's not bad looking per se. The front grille is obnoxious but will likely have aftermarket options to fix very soon, much like how the Porsche community fixed the 996 911 with aftermarket headlights.

Questionable styling choices aside, ever expanding size is just a reality of the car market. The number of people who actually care about keeping cars small and lightweight is very small. The "OK Boomer" tweet is quite dumb, as most new M3/M4 buyers continue to be older men who like the idea of being fast drivers but in reality have little or no performance driving experience and will likely never get any. The car needs to only feel more sporty than a non-performance oriented model, and be able to claim better performance numbers than the outgoing model. The new M3/M4 accomplishes both of those goals easily. The styling issue is just BMW is trying to gain more market share in China, which has completely different preferences. BMW is counting on new buyers in China more than making up for any Western buyers who are alienated. BMW may backpedal at some point and redesign the front fascia to be more traditional in the mid-cycle update, but they'll have to take a serious sales hit.

While it is easy to blame BMW for all of this, it's not the only company that's making these kind of choices. The 992 Porsche posted above is actually massive compared to older 911's and is very cushy (except for GT3 models). They're more committed to traditional styling, but the character of the cars have completely changed. Ultimately, they're all companies trying to make money, and they are going where the money is. We're actually pretty fortunate, as BMW recognizes there is a small audience of buyers who want a small high performance car kind of like the older ones, and that's why the M2 exists. I'm half-expecting BMW to ruin the new one, but the current one is at least quite good for what it is. Audi's and Mercedes' competing small performance cars are half-hearted attempts at best. No one wants to spend a bunch of money developing a car that won't sell in large numbers.

The first part, catering to China, is probably correct and why their cars look like junk. Even then, pretty sure Chinese people don't find the 911 repulsive soo, you can have your cake and eat it too.
Not buying the second part. The GT350 did well, the GT3 does well, the base 911's do well, the 911R is unobtainable and they all look better than anything BMW puts out. They have a million shit models that people buy in droves, they certainly have the cash flow to design a 911 competitor (that would also be profitable) but they won't probably because the CEO would rather see an extra $10 bonus for not making such a car.

[oceansize]

E46 M3
Wheelbase: 107 in
Length: 177 in
Width: 70 in
Height 54 in
Weight: 3300 lbs to 3450 lbs

G82 M4
Wheel Base: 112.5 in
Length: 188.7 in
Width: 74.3 in
Height: 54.8 in
Weight: 3913 lbs

[jbfrancis3]

E39 M5
Wheelbase: 111.4 in
Length: 188.3 in
Width: 70.9 in
Height 55.6 in
Weight: 3,957 lbs

[kaiv]

I still don't get why the 3 series became the 5 series.

This has been kinda true since the E90.

It makes me wonder what the point of the 5 series is. Are there people out there who look at a G80 and think "nope, not big enough" ?!

[01SG]

I thought it looked even worse in person. They could have made it work as a homage to the classics, if they kept the grille narrow. As is, it's simply obscene looking in its breadth.

I stopped caring when they ditched the naturally aspirated motor anyway. Looks like the weight savings of the f80 went out the window as well.

[yhp2009]

This has been kinda true since the E90.

It makes me wonder what the point of the 5 series is. Are there people out there who look at a G80 and think "nope, not big enough" ?!

BMW should go one step further and launch the 6 series to really dial it in

[02_lsb]

Aesthetics aside, This car is just illogical to me. Manual transmission was on the chopping block for the g80 platform, steering is electric, so if most buyers are opting for an automatic... get an Alfa Romeo Quadrofoglio if your heart desires internal combustion and questionable quality or consider a Tesla Model S which is better in every way. This car makes no sense in 2021.

[lemoose]

to jump back in on beating a dead horse- its not just the size of the grills. its the geometry of them too. theyre too angular. It looks like a huge grill with a split down the middle (it very well may be actually). they couldve definitely sculpted them better- even given the preposterous surface area. and no hoffmeister kink anymore (m4)? what the hell drove that decision? the design language is generic all around- it looks like a hyundai genesis coupe. I'm tired of people saying it looks better in person. They look just as horrible as you'd expect unless you have no spatial visualization ability. You know what car never looked bad in any angle?

[Arith2]

What drove the decision was to kill tradition. Literally. It's this "progressive" crap all these companies are all doing. They aren't ran by people know or care about cars. BMW is just another luxury brand that sources half the parts from Taiwan and China. That's why there's a major shortage of new cars. The seats are super comfortable at least.

[Jimbo's M]

Literally. It's this "progressive" crap all these companies are all doing.

Simple, If you ain't "woke", you're canceled.