[rocketman]

Originally Posted by rubber_ducky

Side skirts are interesting.

So glad the mustache is gone.

+1 on the mustache comment... thats one thing i dont like about my e90.... the only thing

[Tag]

I don't understand how anyone can trash the tail lights or the car in general. It's covered up for a reason! So if you can't see it how can you trash it? The lights have bubble wrap and black tape all around them. All the new features are camouflaged so it tricks your eyes or covers up the refresh.

Also they always put wimpy wheels on them and use ugly or bland colors as not to draw attention. Wait until you see the final product before you judge the car.

[E90330iS]

I bet the facelift will look nicer than our current model, or it will grow on you over time. Don't be so subjective guys. I know it doesn't feel good if you just ordered your car but that's the truth.

[weingarm]

I found these two photos some time ago, and I wonder if they reflect what is being covered up by that big black section on the trunk-lid.

Either way, BMW has taken such a great amount of effort to cover the trunk-lid area of the tail light that I would bet you that the final product with look DISTINCTLY different from what exists on the E90 2006-2008 models.

[selman]

I guess that will be look like a lexus's behind.

[delrosa81]

The rear lamps are LEDs man! I wonder if our existing E90s can fit the LEDs rear lamps? Hmmm......Love the LEDs man!

[TimJ]

Originally Posted by E90330iS

I bet the facelift will look nicer than our current model, or it will grow on you over time. Don't be so subjective guys. I know it doesn't feel good if you just ordered your car but that's the truth.

+1

[Slke46]

Makes a car look so much newer...

[mapezzul]

Originally Posted by weingarm

I found these two photos some time ago, and I wonder if they reflect what is being covered up by that big black section on the trunk-lid.

Either way, BMW has taken such a great amount of effort to cover the trunk-lid area of the tail light that I would bet you that the final product with look DISTINCTLY different from what exists on the E90 2006-2008 models.

Those pictures are ancient and are what the original E90 lights were going to look like. There was one major issue, the Audi facelift of the 2004.5 had the same exact look (like Honda copied as well), so since the A4 was in production and the E90 was not BMW scrapped it and redesigned the rear light to the current cluster.

Gabe explains the LCI changes very well today at Bimmerfile.com and details some conflicting issues our sources have been providing as well as other sites.

[FrankiE90]

even the antenna fin is smaller up top.
looks like E90 went on a diet and got leaner.
f'n smaller ass too. can't wait to see it in person and mod'd.

[chaz58]

apparently BMW has not decided on the timing yet. There are rumors that BMW will wait until march (and then possibly sell it as a 2010 model).

I don't think anyone knows the timing yet. A bigger question for me would be the pricing as the dollar has continued to fall dramatically since BMW's last price change on the 3 series.

Unless the grills and tail lights are that important to you, you are probably going to save some $$$ getting an '08

Originally Posted by Tango45

Ahh, but my questions remain...when will announce the 2009 along with all the specs and pretty pictures and when will they be ready to order? I don't want to pull the trigger on ordering a e90 335i until I know what's coming out for the next MY...which will drive whether I order an '08 or '09.

Of course any dealer's answer is "2009 3-series will be no different than 2008 and you can't order it until the 12th of Never. Can I interest you on a great 2008 I have available here in the lot?"

[InfamousM3]

there were actual pics from a german magazine showing the LED tails.. they kinda look like the X5. Does anyone have that image?? ive been trying to search for it but cant seem to find it.

[mapezzul]

Originally Posted by infamous335i

there were actual pics from a german magazine showing the LED tails.. they kinda look like the X5. Does anyone have that image?? ive been trying to search for it but cant seem to find it.

They have the design of the X6... and the new LED tech in them.

[jorgex]

Originally Posted by infamous335i

there were actual pics from a german magazine showing the LED tails.. they kinda look like the X5. Does anyone have that image?? ive been trying to search for it but cant seem to find it.

These ones?

[altecsonyc]

Originally Posted by LI E90

I would bet that 90% of the population will barely recognize the facelift because it is so mild

If you look closely and compare the shape of the car from rear view, you notice there are significant changes. The current e90 is more oval, and the facelifted has more lines (it is rather more rectangular than oval)

[Nic320si]

Originally Posted by jdink

I see two different tail pipes.... does that mean one is the 335 and one is the 328? i.e. the dual split tails are gone on the 335??! sad...

There is 3 styles in the shots. 335 (one round in each side), 6-cylinder cars (dual-round together) and 4-cylinder models both petrol and diesel (oval), same as now.

[x5love]

Originally Posted by weingarm

I found these two photos some time ago, and I wonder if they reflect what is being covered up by that big black section on the trunk-lid.

Either way, BMW has taken such a great amount of effort to cover the trunk-lid area of the tail light that I would bet you that the final product with look DISTINCTLY different from what exists on the E90 2006-2008 models.

They did away with this design because they didn't want it to look too similar to the facelifted A4.

[TimJ]

Originally Posted by jorgex

These ones?

Taillights like that would be awesome... just what I was hoping the facelift would do to them. I won't believe it until I see it though. Hopefully they would fit on an 06-08 e90.

[Imola.ZHP]

lol

I could swear I posted in one of these many threads a long time ago that I would almost bet $$ we'd see a white stripe through the taillights, well, at least on european cars, hopefully we'll get it too and not the amber stripe like we did on the e46. Not that it wouldn't be easy to change, like I did on my e46, but it would be more expensive being that they are LED's...

[MikeMidd]

Love the full kidney grill, looks good - way better than the 'stache. Hate the hood, though - the gap above the grill looks huge, and the ridges in the hood coming behind the BMW emblem ruin the clean lines of the front of the car.

Taillights are improved, it appears - but the problem overall is still that awkward shape.

[to_riffic]

Originally Posted by wj4

Hate how bulky the side mirrors are.

+1

[R12ax7]

Originally Posted by chaz58

apparently BMW has not decided on the timing yet. There are rumors that BMW will wait until march (and then possibly sell it as a 2010 model).

I don't think anyone knows the timing yet. A bigger question for me would be the pricing as the dollar has continued to fall dramatically since BMW's last price change on the 3 series.

Unless the grills and tail lights are that important to you, you are probably going to save some $$$ getting an '08

Originally Posted by Tango45

Ahh, but my questions remain...when will announce the 2009 along with all the specs and pretty pictures and when will they be ready to order? I don't want to pull the trigger on ordering a e90 335i until I know what's coming out for the next MY...which will drive whether I order an '08 or '09.

Of course any dealer's answer is "2009 3-series will be no different than 2008 and you can't order it until the 12th of Never. Can I interest you on a great 2008 I have available here in the lot?"

I was honestly considering cancelling my order (which should be here in about 3 weeks) and waiting for this facelift (and the new I-drive) but then I started thinking about BMW's history on this sort of thing.

I think Tango is right, we will be lucky to see this facelift as a 2009.5 or 2010 model here in the US; I dont think there's a chance we will be able to order one of these by the fourth quarter of 2008. I'm thinking they will start taking orders in the beginning of 2009, of course, as Chaz said, only after exhausting every possible way to sell you a 2008.

Once I think it through in that context, I will be halfway through my lease by the time the facelift hits the US and by then hopefully they will have a ZHP or some sort of performance suspension for the xi (I know, unlikely, but I can still hope). Also, as someone earlier said, 90% of the general public will have no idea it has been facelifted, then again, these same people might not see the difference between an e46 and e90.

What do we think the chance is that those rear LEDs will fit an 08 e90?