[Mad Monkey]

Mod Note : Team-BHP's Review of the 2012 BMW 3-Series has been uploaded at this link. Please continue the discussion on the review thread. Thanks!

2012 F30 BMW 3 Series caught at the Mumbai port:

[GTO]

Thanks for sharing Monkey!

Only a matter of time before launch and honestly, about time! The current 3 is getting waaaaay too long in the tooth. The entry-level sedan is very important; not only from the volumes point of view, but also because it's the first experience to the brand for a majority.

Very happy to see cleaner lines...I've always found the face of the current 3 to be ugly. Love the mini-5 rear end too.

Bring it on, BMW. And offer a 6-speed manual as an option for those of us who'd buy a BMW for the driving pleasure.

[Akshay1234]

Thanks for that, looks like the official unveiling will be in a month or so then.

The looks are starting to grow on me, but there are only 2 things I really don't like on this car - the squared off angel eyes, and that exhaust pipe. Also this seems to be the luxury line, I do hope BMW gives us an option of all 3 lines.

Great that BMW is launching stuff here pretty soon too.

Its supposed to be a huge upgrade compared to the E90, lets see we might just upgrade after a year or so if a more powerful diesel is launched in this.

[clevermax]

Wow! still waiting to see that DRLs shining.. heard that they've got some kind of a pattern or effect when they glow.
EDIT: From the videos, there's nothing like what I expect... just a pair of round white lights in each cluster.

[himavanth_m]

Love the new DRL's and this scoop confirms that the new BMW 3 is around the corner. I hope they launch the 3 in next 3 to 4 months.
Looks like the tyres on this are India specific with a higher profile tyres compared to the one's shown in test drives from abroad which had very very low profile.

[S350L-E240]

Told everyone here launch is coming soon, and like Most new BMWs this too will be a segment leader and offer un paralled choice in the segment in months to come and not just the launch editions,

Some notes,

No manual,
Also the tyres will ride on lower size rims and you can upgrade them at cost, but its one thing where BMW India will always prefer stick to high profile atleast in mass models to get a good ride balance for those who seek 'comfort' in these driver oriented cars, but the rim in that car is 17 inch, and I quite like it, I seriously wish they get better rims as most cars have a bad stock rim.

320d will once again be the highest selling model, expect it to be only wafer thin marginally more expensive so anyone being fooled by a dealer to push the E90 please know this is not going to be out of the world expensive and will follow the trend just like the F10 5 did,

Regards,

P.S While the rear looks nice and is like the 5 one big problem I have is that the brake lights have bulbs instead of Leds :( big goof up by BMW and as of now you cannot get LEDs even as an option on the F30

[swiftnfurious]

Thanks for the scoop! Somehow I feel that the round angel lights were better. Aren't we supposed to all the 3 trims in India?

Between, could anyone tell me which is the car on the left side in this pic [some x40d?] ? There is a brake light on the trunk lid too. Looks like the same model is in the front row as well [2 white ones]

[S350L-E240]

Originally Posted by swiftnfurious

Thanks for the scoop! Somehow I feel that the round angel lights were better. Aren't we supposed to all the 3 trims in India?

Between, could anyone tell me which is the car on the left side in this pic [some x40d?] ? There is a brake light on the trunk lid too. Looks like the same model is in the front row as well [2 white ones]

Hello

Those are the BMW 640d coupes
Regards,

[suhaas307]

You know what I really like about the new F30 3-Series?

The way the headlights flow into the grille. That grille looks like a nice chunk of polished metal, and not an (now) ordinary pair of kidney-shaped rings, as it is in other Bimmers. And the idea behind the design of the grille + headlights harks back to the days when BMW used to make the wonderful E21 and E30 generations of the 3-Series, whose headlights seemed to be embedded into a vast black grille that completes the fascia of the car.

The current 3er is quite handsome in its own right. And although I really love the current E90 - 3er, this one has taken the looks department a step further. It still manages to retain it's compact-sedan character while looking grown-up. That rear-end is nearly indistinguishable from the F10 5-Series!

Hope BMW has retained the phenomenal handling characteristics of the car. It would be a shame if they have lightened the steering a tad too much, in the quest to find a balance between easy city and highway driving. Making it light is alright, but making it so light that it loses its feel would be utter blasphemy.

BMW is one of the last proper sporting-sedans today. Let's hope it retains its genes!

By the way, great scoop Mad Monkey! *thumbs up*

[Enigmatic]

Great to see BMW bringing the new 3 to India so soon . Shows how serious they are about the Indian market . Smart Move .

The round Crona Rings do look better than these rectangular ones , however given time these might settle in just well ...

[PPS]

Nice catch! Will the Corporate Edition be launched as well or will it be launched a few months after the official launch?

What is written there?? Sport? Is that the name of the variant or is it something else?

[S350L-E240]

Hello,

Sport is the model trim, basically like how Mercedes has always had 3 trims in their E and C classes like Avantgarge, elegance and classic,

BMW is following in the same steps adding Sport, Modern and Luxury,

A nice move, gives consumers a closer taste of how they would like their car to be, but what's amazing about the F30 is the M sport model, has a beautiful steering wheel and some other fine details,

Originally Posted by PPS

Nice catch! Will the Corporate Edition be launched as well or will it be launched a few months after the official launch?

What is written there?? Sport? Is that the name of the variant or is it something else?

Attachment 879246

[911987]

@PPS,
The badge says Luxury.
@S350L-E240,
Waiting for you to turn the next page and take the story forward,thanks again for all the info you have provided to date.When will we get to see the M sports model?
Presume the pictured car is the display car for the launch and CKD kits are on the way or will follow shortly.

[mustangboss302]

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[Berry]

I am surprised why didn't they show it's teaser at the Auto Expo, I was expecting it to be shown and launched there.

Also did you see the other variants in the yard ? Sport, Modern and Luxury ?