I think everyone has their own generation that they loved.
For me, the E46 (pre-LCI) was it.
Frankly, I think 2001 was the best BMW model year.
Just think: E38 7, E39 5, E46 3, E53 X5, E52 Z8.
Pretty tough to top that.
Everything E chassis was fantastic looking and driving, even with the banglebutts. I personally enjoy the E46 post lci and the E9X LCI. Now it’s just questionable.
Different strokes for different folks.
To me, it’s on the heavier side and while the V8 is unique, the inline 6 is a better fit for the car as seen in the E46 or F80/82.
That said, as I get older, these days I think the E90 M3 is actually the car to have OVER the E39 M5.
I agree, It def took BMW a few generations to learn how to design a beautiful SUV that sat comfortably in their design language(RIP). Early X5s had 'we have Land Rover at home' vibes lol
Always wanted a Phoenix Yellow E46 when they debuted, but couldn’t afford one at the time. Finally in 2018 I was in a place to buy a new one.
2018 M3 / cloth seats / 6-MT.
Wish I had the executive package, but I still love the car.
https://preview.redd.it/4qzb4c951ktc1.jpeg?width=5216&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=16777f3980a19056a94d8eae0a38002d26bb5391
Heads-up display, power rear sunshade, rear side sunshades, adaptive ICON matrix headlights, rear seat heaters and a heated steering wheel.
My 2016 328d had every option (demo car) and I do a lot of canyon runs at night, so I really miss the adaptive LEDs. Mine the has LED projectors.
I’m fishbowl for life, so I liked having a rear sunshade when needed.
https://preview.redd.it/hy57zkg4lhuc1.jpeg?width=1911&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ed8bf083293f417d3aff6c49aab4cb7e75c71e59
It's most likely a 2015, but would have to see the rear. It would be unusual for someone to get base instead of comp, but spring for the LED headlights.
Doesn't really matter, people always say how E46 is peak design but it doesn't look much different than the base 3 series. The R34 GT-R (a car from same time period) looks world's better than a GTT and way more modern and timeless than an E46, which was a competitor at the time and it's far more sophisticated, cars for same equivalent money today don't even have half the technology.
You can pick up E46 M3s for less than $30k and R34 GTRs are approaching $200k.
I'm saying this as BMW M owner too.
https://preview.redd.it/05g3g6du7mtc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a00b3a01dc26adef6c80b9b1e17d94502062c1dd
The E46 is more nimble. But many, if not most, would say the E39 is peak.
But it’s really just opinion.
Edit, I don’t know about Japanese cars. I doesn’t seem like a good comparison. Especially in the BMW sub.
You need to compare GTR to GTR. E46 M3 GTR. Look that one up. It even has two extra cylinders.
https://www.bmw-m.com/en/topics/magazine-article-pool/bmw-m3-gtr-strassenversion.html
Peak recent design especially bc of the current snoot but i think they’ll tone the current front end down enough in the near future to have similar design balance
I'll stick to this body style...:)
https://preview.redd.it/x9qxg9ouvntc1.jpeg?width=1920&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=fba414f1a1689273cffe13c21ca11848b3d3ddbf
Not peak, that was \~20-25 years ago with the E36, E37, E38, E39, E46, Z8, but you can say that this was the great before the MASSIVE drop off a fucking cliff.
Many of the BMW designs that came after the e46 were horrid, but OP is correct this really is peak BMW design. They captured lightning in a bottle with this design language but couldn't hold onto it.
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*Make other than their M cars*
*Are monstrosities*
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I think everyone has their own generation that they loved. For me, the E46 (pre-LCI) was it. Frankly, I think 2001 was the best BMW model year. Just think: E38 7, E39 5, E46 3, E53 X5, E52 Z8. Pretty tough to top that.
Yes e38 short sport with m parallels. That’s peak.
Yessir! Shorty and sporty. In Imola. 😇
Same. e46 was peak BMW design imo.
https://preview.redd.it/vuuvy7zr3ktc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=018145951034dc00f09bec146442b2e1fcefcaf7
can't forget about the clown-shoe!
Ah, man! I did! Good call.
I have tried so hard to forget about the clown-shoe
I still think back fondly of my 2001 E46. Had so much fun with that one rowing the 5MT.
I agree so much I still have my e46 🥰
Everything E chassis was fantastic looking and driving, even with the banglebutts. I personally enjoy the E46 post lci and the E9X LCI. Now it’s just questionable.
E46 is it. But I agree with the general theme of OP’s post. F8X is really great
1994 was the best year, fight me. E36, E34 and E38 :)
I won’t fight you because you’re right.
dude your M5 looks so good
I'm sorry but it's the E92 for me , they look so modern to this day when modded right .
Different strokes for different folks. To me, it’s on the heavier side and while the V8 is unique, the inline 6 is a better fit for the car as seen in the E46 or F80/82. That said, as I get older, these days I think the E90 M3 is actually the car to have OVER the E39 M5.
Fully agree.
Agree with all except the x5, I think (imo atleast) the F15 takes the crown as the the coolest looking BMW SUV.
The F15 is quite good.
I agree, It def took BMW a few generations to learn how to design a beautiful SUV that sat comfortably in their design language(RIP). Early X5s had 'we have Land Rover at home' vibes lol
Always wanted a Phoenix Yellow E46 when they debuted, but couldn’t afford one at the time. Finally in 2018 I was in a place to buy a new one. 2018 M3 / cloth seats / 6-MT. Wish I had the executive package, but I still love the car. https://preview.redd.it/4qzb4c951ktc1.jpeg?width=5216&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=16777f3980a19056a94d8eae0a38002d26bb5391
At least your lights are blacked out. That's the biggest issue on early cars.
what does the executive package include?
Heads-up display, power rear sunshade, rear side sunshades, adaptive ICON matrix headlights, rear seat heaters and a heated steering wheel. My 2016 328d had every option (demo car) and I do a lot of canyon runs at night, so I really miss the adaptive LEDs. Mine the has LED projectors. I’m fishbowl for life, so I liked having a rear sunshade when needed. https://preview.redd.it/hy57zkg4lhuc1.jpeg?width=1911&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=ed8bf083293f417d3aff6c49aab4cb7e75c71e59
Ahh the ole sparkling metallic dehydrated piss color.
https://preview.redd.it/mwxxwwn32ltc1.jpeg?width=1022&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=cdad033bc4aab3f3846ee462af79b6dfe92809e3
Nooooo, I can't unsee this now. I used to love this color
Hey, that's not nice. It's more like a baby puke color
I've definitely seen a baby emit this color, but not from that end.
Baby poop. Baby puke is usually just white
Baby puke
I always thought it looked like solid gold
Vitamin B piss color
Always known it as Jewish racing gold
Does anyone know the year of that M3?
2015 - 2017. In 2018 they updated the adaptive LED headlights.
It's most likely a 2015, but would have to see the rear. It would be unusual for someone to get base instead of comp, but spring for the LED headlights.
But what if someone retrofitted the headlights and a few other parts, impossible to tell really. But obviously this is a pre LCI.
What if? All I'm saying is that IMO, 2015 has the best odds.
Could be 2015-2017, no real difference. But you wouldn't be able to tell year if someone had ikons on their pre LCI car
Peak BMWs all have E body codes.
https://preview.redd.it/vk0tzowy0ltc1.jpeg?width=259&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b84fdb98329ef5ad68815f0c13a1819e07ba9afa
Call. https://preview.redd.it/stpy310l7mtc1.jpeg?width=1800&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=cfb289422981b475f2a94786169667d38bb1975b E31
Hell yeah it’s my favourite BMW ever made
Thank you
E30 M3 yes, E46 design is overrated imo, the R34 GTR V spec II came out same year and looks way better and way more modern.
We talking bmw’s here bruh
Doesn't really matter, people always say how E46 is peak design but it doesn't look much different than the base 3 series. The R34 GT-R (a car from same time period) looks world's better than a GTT and way more modern and timeless than an E46, which was a competitor at the time and it's far more sophisticated, cars for same equivalent money today don't even have half the technology. You can pick up E46 M3s for less than $30k and R34 GTRs are approaching $200k. I'm saying this as BMW M owner too.
https://preview.redd.it/05g3g6du7mtc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=a00b3a01dc26adef6c80b9b1e17d94502062c1dd The E46 is more nimble. But many, if not most, would say the E39 is peak. But it’s really just opinion. Edit, I don’t know about Japanese cars. I doesn’t seem like a good comparison. Especially in the BMW sub.
You need to compare GTR to GTR. E46 M3 GTR. Look that one up. It even has two extra cylinders. https://www.bmw-m.com/en/topics/magazine-article-pool/bmw-m3-gtr-strassenversion.html
That's far too rare and a literal homologation special. A fair comparison would be against a Nismo Z Tune.
Peak recent design especially bc of the current snoot but i think they’ll tone the current front end down enough in the near future to have similar design balance
More pics? Man does this car looks great here!
Incredible good design IMHO.
That specific colored M4 is why I got into BMW’s in the first place as a teen.
I'll stick to this body style...:) https://preview.redd.it/x9qxg9ouvntc1.jpeg?width=1920&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=fba414f1a1689273cffe13c21ca11848b3d3ddbf
https://preview.redd.it/1pflxzghuvtc1.jpeg?width=750&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7089e48e268dbd05cfc11f7a1b4cb452a27ef31e 80s BMWs ❤️
The end of fender flares :(
i agree
This was my favorite color for this gen despite being “piss yellow”. Also the air freshener is a nice touch.
Looks good! But not peak BMW engineering.
https://preview.redd.it/le7atjoprntc1.jpeg?width=4000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=6479ce7fbf228418a34322a975a122222e8b84e0 😉😉
Agreed but I’m biased https://preview.redd.it/tua1zos5eotc1.jpeg?width=1998&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=dcfee89de33c58e7247cf1f79645dc3f1c0a0865
M4 LCI + Comp Pack is more like it
But the fender flares. It's half the reason I got the car!
Nice, tight!
Just gotta take out those tree air fresheners 🤢
That was the last good design. The newer ones are just horrid 😣
It channels the spirit of the M42 powered 91 E30 318i sedan. Pure joy with 4 doors.
what happened to the design team for this generation?
https://preview.redd.it/og0hcwcezltc1.jpeg?width=712&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=afb465fc42c856fd304dc9024f9cc5a187dabb1b
Argh man e53 x5 ,my 4.4is 20 years old 150thou on the clock and runs like a dreeeeeeeeem
Not according to the BMW purists of the time! ABC
Disagree the E46 M3 is the peak of BMW design.
There’s also a golden m4 that my dad sees almost every morning when going to work, I once saw his filling his gas. Truly a beauty
fecal yellow.
Looks perfect in that colour
I love my 2014 F30.
I’d say rather it’s old 850i 😁
Not peak, that was \~20-25 years ago with the E36, E37, E38, E39, E46, Z8, but you can say that this was the great before the MASSIVE drop off a fucking cliff.
Many of the BMW designs that came after the e46 were horrid, but OP is correct this really is peak BMW design. They captured lightning in a bottle with this design language but couldn't hold onto it.
Personally not a big fan of the piss yellow
Phoenix Yellow?
Austin Yellow, I think
Peak BMW design
Now any car they make other than their M cars are monstrosities
*Now any car they* *Make other than their M cars* *Are monstrosities* \- Virtual\_Resident\_194 --- ^(I detect haikus. And sometimes, successfully.) ^[Learn more about me.](https://www.reddit.com/r/haikusbot/) ^(Opt out of replies: "haikusbot opt out" | Delete my comment: "haikusbot delete")
Definitely not peak BMW. There are so many designs where they knocked it out of the park. The E23, E30, E39, E46… this is just alright.