2018 BMW M4 and 4 Series LCI Officially Revealed

[RobC2]

M4 looks great. Not many changes to M3, which is fine with me. I was originally going to wait until MY18, but glad that I have the car now instead of later. New headlights look cool, but I like mine as well. Black 666 wheels would be too much on my black car.

[CanAutM3]

Originally Posted by SickFinga

You are wrong about E36 and somewhere correct about the E30

In the E30 case, it's hard to provide an NA-spec example since we got limited models. We can look at the ECE models though. First E30 facelift happened in 1985 and you are correct, that included an engine update from 2.3l to 2.5l. Then there was a major facelift in 1987 which did not include any engine improvements.

The NA-spec E36 example is completely wrong. E36 was introduced with an M50 engine, which was replaced by M50TU in 1993. There was a minor facelift in 1994. Then there was another engine upgrade in 1996, but facelift happened in 1997.

For the US E36 M3 it was
1. 1995 model intro with a 3.0l engine
2. 1996 engine upgrade to 3.2l
3. 1997 facelift

So in reality, nothing has changed.

You're zeroing on one aspect of my post. Look at the broader picture: there are often new engines that are tied with LCI.

Now, specifically regarding the M3, there is a reason I had "LCI" in quotation for my comments on the M3 (there was no talk of LCI in those days). Further, the US is not the center of the world. IIRC, when the 3.2 was introduced in late 1995 in Europe, the E36 M3 also received revised lights (clear lenses), new wheels and a new transmission option. To me that certainly qualifies as an "LCI" in today's standard.

[YMB-M3-J2]

Can someone render a CP YMB F80 with black 666 wheels and new headlights? That will be my new order.

[starbai]

Not much of an update on the M3 huh? Just new headlights it seems? I dont quite understand how the 4 series gets the new gauges etc but M's that cost more dont. Oh wells.

[3M TAPE]

I just love the LCI 2.0 headlights, what do you pre-lci-civic M3 owners think??
Please chime in!!

[3M TAPE]

Originally Posted by RobC2

M4 looks great. Not many changes to M3, which is fine with me. I was originally going to wait until MY18, but glad that I have the car now instead of later. New headlights look cool, but I like mine as well. Black 666 wheels would be too much on my black car.

It's ok, you will be fine

[Jtjjen]

So is Smoked Topaz a new standard color?

[Robby29]

Still prefer the pre LCI LED headlights but the rear LED are NICCCEEE!!

[dinonz]

Originally Posted by 3M TAPE

I just love the LCI 2.0 headlights, what do you pre-lci-civic M3 owners think??
Please chime in!!

I think you're just trying to stir shit to be honest

[ginginha]

Originally Posted by Laserdude

Ok I see thanks for the clarification I went back and watched the video and saw the m3. Feel bad for whoever bought the original LCI m3 now that this is out

No reason to feel bad for all of us. I picked up my car 16 months ago and had a lot of enjoyment over that time. Wouldn't trade it for a new set of headlights.

[Draper]

Originally Posted by CanAutM3

Not sure what you mean by this. But if you look at BMW history, many new engine introductions coincided with an LCI. When new platforms are introduced, the engine is often carried over from the previous platform and engines are then upgraded at LCI. Just look at the 3-series since the E36.

Note that even the E30 and E36 M3s got upgraded engines at their "LCI".

That being said, the 4-series already received its new engines when the 3-series got its LCI and new engines.

I'm sure he was referring to the F8x since this is an M forum.

Most of us couldn't care less what the new 420i has for an engine.

[JoeyBananas]

look at the bright side, the headlights and taillights can be retrofitted. The residuals will probably be horrendous the first few months

[SickFinga]

Originally Posted by CanAutM3

You're zeroing on one aspect of my post.

I'm zeroing in on E30 and E36 because you brought them up as an example.

Originally Posted by CanAutM3

Look at the broader picture: there are often new engines that are tied with LCI.

There was never a consistency there. For example, 6cyl E34 had 2 engine updates (M20->M50->M50TU) and only M50TU coincided with a facelift. E34 M5 had two engines, two transmissions and none of those changes happened at the same time.

Originally Posted by CanAutM3

Now, specifically regarding the M3, there is a reason I had "LCI" in quotation for my comments on the M3 (there was no talk of LCI in those days).

LCI is a fairly new term, but it simply means facelift. And yes, there were talks about face lifts.

Originally Posted by CanAutM3

Further, the US is not the center of the world. IIRC, when the 3.2 was introduced in late 1995 in Europe, the E36 M3 also received revised lights (clear lenses), new wheels and a new transmission option. To me that certainly qualifies as an "LCI" in today's standard.

No, it clearly does not qualify as an LCI, exactly cause of today's standards.
LCI term was introduced with the E9x I believe, now lets look at the E90 changes

2006 - 330i introduced with an N52 engine
2007 - 335i replaces the 330i with the N54 engine
2009 - LCI
2011 - N54 engine

It is pretty clear that LCI has nothing to do with the engines. Facelift/LCI happens to the entire model range at the same time, engine updates happen at different times for different engines. There was never a case when a series was facelifted and the entire engine range was updated as well.

Now back to the E36. Since US is not the center of the world, lets talk ECE.

E36 325i/328i

09/1990 - SOP with an M50 engine
09/1992 - M50TU engine
09/1993 - facelift, redesigned bumper, new headlights
02/1995 - 328i SOP with an M52 engine
09/1996 - facelift, new grill, new side markers


E36 M3

09/1992 - SOP with a 3.0l engine
09/1993 - new headlights
10/1995 - 3.2l engine, 6spd and yes, clear corners
09/1996 - facelift, new grill, new side markers


Clear corners are not part of a facelift. Clear corners were only available on cars with the M Sport package(hence why the M3 gets them), Comfort package and Exclusive edition. They were not implement across the entire model range.

[ssuene93]

Although the standard LED light looks very nice, but my original LCI headlight looks good a well.

I don't feel bad at all for missing the LED.

[mkoesel]

Originally Posted by Draper

I'm sure he was referring to the F8x since this is an M forum.

Most of us couldn't care less what the new 420i has for an engine.

It's true this is the F8x forum, but the topic actually covers both the M4 and 4 Series. Now, there is a similar thread in the F3x forum too, though it only has a handful of posts.

About new engines and LCIs, you needn't reach back far. The F30 LCI ushered in both the new B58 and B48 (technically the B46) while bumping the 335i to the 340i and 328i to the 330i. Though, in the US, the latter was delayed for almost a year. So new engines are indeed sometimes part of the package. However, with the 4 Series having already gotten those, it's no surprise there were no further changes (at least to the gasoline engine lineup anyway, which is all we get on this continent).

[raysspl]

Damn! LCI lookin' real good!!!

[ItsAllFairGame]

Black 666m option will be clean.

[E92murdered]

Originally Posted by JoeyBananas

look at the bright side, the headlights and taillights can be retrofitted. The residuals will probably be horrendous the first few months

Very true, looks like the only difference for m4 correct?

[F80NJM3]

[Blindside_137]

Originally Posted by F80NJM3

Your lights are better. I prefer how OSS follows the bumper line next to the grille. Much meaner look

[Mikster]

What the deuce?
What happened to the flared rear fenders on this new M3?
Is it an illusion....are they really gone?!


Mik

[SakhirM4]

Originally Posted by Mikster

What the deuce?
What happened to the flared rear fenders on this new M3?
Is it an illusion....are they really gone?!


Mik

Looks like nothing has changed .....