Will the new generation of M vehicles make the F8x M3/M4 look outdated?

[shortseller]

For those of us planning to keep our F8Xs well into the G generation Ms hitting the streets, do you think we will look kind of out of place? In my eyes, the F generation Ms really dated the E generation when they hit the streets. The new M5 looks somewhat tamer in body style as compared to our F80s. Any thoughts?

[paliknight]

Just like the M5 transition, I doubt it will to be honest.

[CanAutM3]

The M5 has always been “tamer” than the M3 in the “looks” department. The M3 (except for the E36), has always had a more aggressive body with prominent fender flares front and rear. So it is not surprising that F90 M5 looks “tamer” than the F8X.

However, for sure, when the next gen M3/4 will hit the road, they will make the current F8X look “dated”. That does not mean “classics” don’t look good. I still very much enjoy the sight of previous gen M3s, be it an E30, E46 or E9X.

[cotmfk]

Originally Posted by CanAutM3

The M5 has always been “tamer” than the M3 in the “looks” department. The M3 (except for the E36), has always had a more aggressive body with prominent fender flares front and rear. So it is not surprising that F90 M5 looks “tamer” than the F8X.

However, for sure, when the next gen M3/4 will hit the road, they will make the current F8X look “dated”. That does not mean “classics” don’t look good. I still very much enjoy the sight of previous gen M3s, be it an E30, E46 or E9X.

Agree!

And actually - at first - I thought the E92 looked better than the F8x. It took a bit for the F8x to grow on me. Now they both look good. I'd love to be in the position of owning both!

[Never Convicted]

The Board will split when the G's are introduced. There will be one camp that says the new engine sounds like crap, that it's gotten too large, that the design is fugly, that it's an example of BMW turning away from the purists in favor of the know-nothing yuppies. And nobody would be so stupid as to buy a first year model.

Others will race to be the first one to get it. It will outperforn the FX in every way. The tech will be a shiny new toy. It will warn you if your right rear tire is .5 lbs underinflated, so you don't embarrass yourself coming out of a C&C. It will have a passenger ejector seat.

Yes. It will make the F8X look dated.

[NickyC]

If the new M4 doesn't come with a manual, it will be dated and obsolete in my eyes!

6-speed cartel foreva!

We're still several years away from the next M4 though right?

[JuanK20]

The E46 M3 still has road presence and turns heads imo. I think the F80 will have the same effect 10 years down the line.

[Aubie4Pres]

I suspect so. However, I'm not clear if it will be more subdued jump like E46-E90 or significant like the E90-F80. My guess is more subdued.

[shortseller]

Originally Posted by cotmfk

Agree!

And actually - at first - I thought the E92 looked better than the F8x. It took a bit for the F8x to grow on me. Now they both look good. I'd love to be in the position of owning both!

I came from an E92 335i in black as well and loved the lines. But when I first saw my F80 in the the delivery showroom it impressed me as much more aggressive, albeit in M guise. I think the F80 is one beautiful auto and just can’t see it ever surpassed in its beauty, but then again I’m sure that’s what we all say till the day of reckoning, the new M3 comes out. Still hoping I’m wrong.

[tropicalypso]

I don't about you all, but I love every M3 that's been rolled off the factory line.

E30, E36, E46, E90, F80... all classics, all timeless.

[JibSTir13]

It will likely make the F8X look outdated (every new gen M3 does this to its predecessor).

But that does not mean the F8X will no longer be attractive. IMO M cars tend to hold their aesthetic appeal significantly better than their standard series counterpart.

Maybe its because the ones I see are well maintained, or perhaps the aggressive styling helps the vehicle age, or there could be a psychological factor at play because our brain knows it's an M car.

I think it is a mix of all these reasons and then some.

[Clark_Kent]

It's hard to say and I personally will reserve judgment until the G-generation M cars are released and season a bit. While history has always indicated the new generation dating the old, we're assuming BMW "gets it right" aesthetically. Candidly, I don't have that much faith in this brand or any other to pull that off in perpetuity irrespective of their track record.

[DBACE]

OP, we have not even left the F8x and simple Life Cycle Impulses have made the car look dated. I waited to purchase my F80, because of the first LCI that came with the Rear LED's and the internal lighting mod around the center stack. The incandescent rear lighting looked dated to me and I was having no part of it.

THe follow on LCI's with upgraded iDrive and ICON headlights have made the previous version look dated.

It will be very disappointing if the next generation comes out and does not make the previous look dated.

[SpaceCowboy]

Originally Posted by DBACE

It will be very disappointing if the next generation comes out and does not make the previous look dated.

This is exactly what I was thinking.

The only downside in my opinion is that every new generation seems to be more "bloated" than the last. My F80 seems to be at least the same size as the E39 M5. It makes me wonder how long it will be before we see an M2 that has four doors. Maybe it will be an M1 and the 2 door will remain the M2?

[SMGCFP]

The new model should make the F8x look outdated. The engineers and designers at BMW (and every other manufacturer) are paid big money to make a car that will sell. R&D is one of the reasons these cars sell for so much money. I'm sure the new M3/4 will go faster, have similar or lower weight, be technologically current, and won't have a comp pack until 2021 or 2022. Car & Driver/Motor Trend/Etc will tell us it's the best M car yet and we'll all buy it. Same as always.

[BzsBimmer]

I think every other generation, not exactly the next. E9x still looks the part but imho the e46 looks dated. E46 is still a great car, don’t get me wrong.

[THEROK]

The F8X is the best looking M car ever made in my eyes. Streets ahead. The rear end of both the M4 and M3 GOAT hof of car design. The E9X the weakest. E46 M3, my first M car, looks amazing in CSL/Vorsteiner form. Lowered on 19" BBS LMs... stuff dreams are made of.

And I am no BMW fan boy. At all.

[marvinp]

Originally Posted by Never Convicted

It will warn you if your right rear tire is .5 lbs underinflated, so you don't embarrass yourself coming out of a C&C.

[jdarwin]

https://www.motor1.com/news/242223/n...m3-spy-photos/

Doesn't look like a dramatic departure from the current model (looks wise).

[shortseller]

Originally Posted by jdarwin

https://www.motor1.com/news/242223/n...m3-spy-photos/

Doesn't look like a dramatic departure from the current model (looks wise).

Hard to tell...but if they go towards the shark look, I know what I’ll think of the F80 design.

[Brasko]

I think the biggest change that will make the current vehicles look out dated is the change in badge placement on the rear of BMW vehicles. In the near future you will be able to tell all pre 2020 model year vs. after the 2020 model year.

[shortseller]

Originally Posted by Never Convicted

The Board will split when the G's are introduced. There will be one camp that says the new engine sounds like crap, that it's gotten too large, that the design is fugly, that it's an example of BMW turning away from the purists in favor of the know-nothing yuppies. And nobody would be so stupid as to buy a first year model.

Others will race to be the first one to get it. It will outperforn the FX in every way. The tech will be a shiny new toy. It will warn you if your right rear tire is .5 lbs underinflated, so you don't embarrass yourself coming out of a C&C. It will have a passenger ejector seat.

Yes. It will make the F8X look dated.

Agreed with all the silliness we say and go through. But will “dated” look better, I think only time will tell.