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      01-17-2012, 05:11 PM   #1
lbjgh
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front of X3 worse design element

... the relatively "long" front end on the X3 is my least favourite design element of the X3 especially in profile but then I started looking at the hood design and I've come to the conclusion that it's beautiful!

I donno why I didn't notice before. (borrowed pic)

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      01-18-2012, 07:09 AM   #2
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      01-18-2012, 10:47 AM   #3
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For me, the worst design element is the c (or is it D) pillar. It just doesn't flow with the rest of the vehicle's designs. I love the hood and the look of the front. I also like the rear of the vehicle.
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      01-18-2012, 11:49 AM   #4
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Headlights for me... Just doesn't match any other bmw's.
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      01-18-2012, 12:22 PM   #5
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OP,

the pic flatters the car. X3 is an ugly car IMO but I like it very much. X5 is far more handsome and a shame BMW just didn't make a smaller version.
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      01-18-2012, 12:44 PM   #6
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+1 to ant man.
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      01-18-2012, 01:45 PM   #7
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She's a beauty!

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Originally Posted by laimbeer View Post
You can borrow pics of my X3 anytime.
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      01-18-2012, 02:55 PM   #8
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I think the car is beautiful from behind and at angle angle from behind. Side profile is good but as you start to angle towards the front it is the worst angle (but not bad). Straight on is good.
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      01-18-2012, 03:00 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bluedevils View Post
For me, the worst design element is the c (or is it D) pillar. It just doesn't flow with the rest of the vehicle's designs. I love the hood and the look of the front. I also like the rear of the vehicle.
Totally agree with you.
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      01-18-2012, 03:04 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ant Man View Post
OP,

the pic flatters the car. X3 is an ugly car IMO but I like it very much. X5 is far more handsome and a shame BMW just didn't make a smaller version.
Yeah, IMO ( Its sad we have to say IMO, its almost like we are afraid of getting sued for having an opinion... Watch out, our coffee is hot! Everything here shoudl be assumed to be IMO and we need an acronym or flag for when we say something factual instead) the new X3 kept the worst design element of the old X3, that is the silly ramp up of the window line behind the rear doors.
The X5 has a flat window line and it makes the car look a lot better.
The rest of the design has grown on me.

I think (Speculating here in case there are any hot beverage litigators reading) they made the X3 not as attractive on purpose so that it did not steal away sales from the X5.
As their pinnacle vehicle in the SUV range, they need to maintain its desirablility on a number of fronts - namely quality, attractiveness, size, technology and fiscal exclusivity (ie the opposite of affordability).
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      01-18-2012, 03:06 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bluedevils View Post
For me, the worst design element is the c (or is it D) pillar. It just doesn't flow with the rest of the vehicle's designs. I love the hood and the look of the front. I also like the rear of the vehicle.
your right. the rear from the side looks wierd. I think they should have shortened the height over the driver and made the front windows a little smaller and raked the roof from the lowered driver area towards the back. They should also rake the front grills backwards more. They are too perpindcular. I thiink that's why I like the looks of the 2-door X4. it flows much better. I can't wait to see that one.
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      01-19-2012, 08:06 AM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dr Stig 2 View Post
Yeah, IMO ( Its sad we have to say IMO, its almost like we are afraid of getting sued for having an opinion... Watch out, our coffee is hot! Everything here shoudl be assumed to be IMO and we need an acronym or flag for when we say something factual instead) the new X3 kept the worst design element of the old X3, that is the silly ramp up of the window line behind the rear doors.
The X5 has a flat window line and it makes the car look a lot better.
The rest of the design has grown on me.

I think (Speculating here in case there are any hot beverage litigators reading) they made the X3 not as attractive on purpose so that it did not steal away sales from the X5.
As their pinnacle vehicle in the SUV range, they need to maintain its desirablility on a number of fronts - namely quality, attractiveness, size, technology and fiscal exclusivity (ie the opposite of affordability).
Good point. One could argue that BMW Marketing ensured that specific aspects such as quality and looks would be of a certain level / appearance so as not to take away sales from X5. This would certainly make sense if there was more profit margin in it than the X3.

However, I recall reading an article about Aston Martin's new baby car, Cygnet or something? There was much more profit in the car (rebadged Toyota) than there was in the DBS & DB9.....extraordinary.
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      01-19-2012, 04:15 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ant Man View Post
Good point. One could argue that BMW Marketing ensured that specific aspects such as quality and looks would be of a certain level / appearance so as not to take away sales from X5. This would certainly make sense if there was more profit margin in it than the X3.

However, I recall reading an article about Aston Martin's new baby car, Cygnet or something? There was much more profit in the car (rebadged Toyota) than there was in the DBS & DB9.....extraordinary.
Interesting comments.

For me, I actually prefer the front end look of the X3 because I think it looks far more aggressive than the current model X5 - which I think is due to the headlight design alone. I'm not a fan of the more circular headlights on the X5 but was more privy to a few models prior where the lights were more square and aggressive such as the F25 X3.

The only part where I feel the X5 trumps the X3 is the rear and it's simply physical size that does it. The rear stance on the X5 is as tough as any SUV on the market and it's complimented by it's enormous rear tread.

Still - comparing the current X3 to the previous generation - it's chalk and cheese in the design stakes IMO.
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      01-19-2012, 06:04 PM   #14
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The X5 looks much better than the X3 IMO, particularly in AW M Sport but the new Cayenne easily looks better than both of them in the flesh. An Aston Martin DB9 looks infinitely better than an X3 but it doesn't have much practical value for me. Ultimately you don't buy cars purely on looks and that is particularly true for cars like the X3
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      01-19-2012, 07:37 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sfax View Post
An Aston Martin DB9 looks infinitely better than an X3 but it doesn't have much practical value for me. Ultimately you don't buy cars purely on looks and that is particularly true for cars like the X3
Hopefully this comment will never see the light of day on the Aston Marton forum, or we might suffer the same fate of the poster who dared to suggest he was hedging between a KIA and a BMW SUV.
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      01-19-2012, 10:08 PM   #16
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haha, but I've drank the Kool-Aid. I'm now a fan-boy ... in a good way.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Dr Stig 2 View Post
Hopefully this comment will never
see the light of day on the Aston Marton forum, or we might suffer the same fate of the poster who dared to suggest he was hedging between a KIA and a BMW SUV.
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      01-19-2012, 11:47 PM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dr Stig 2 View Post
Hopefully this comment will never see the light of day on the Aston Marton forum, or we might suffer the same fate of the poster who dared to suggest he was hedging between a KIA and a BMW SUV.
Now's probably not the right time to bring up that I compared a Great Wall 4x2 to the X3......

















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      01-20-2012, 07:20 PM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sfax View Post
The X5 looks much better than the X3 IMO, particularly in AW M Sport but the new Cayenne easily looks better than both of them in the flesh. An Aston Martin DB9 looks infinitely better than an X3 but it doesn't have much practical value for me. Ultimately you don't buy cars purely on looks and that is particularly true for cars like the X3
I'll certainly be buying the X3 for practicality rather than looks I will even take it off-road and get it covered in mud. In fact, I'm going to like it more once it's covered in mud and earned my respect. I had a go in a new X5 recently and loved being able to see over hedges, it made making progress fun but also safe.

My M3 is a pain to own because of the expense (servicing, road tax, fuel, etc) and also I can't stand to see it dirty but on the flip side it really is awesome to drive.

Last edited by Ant Man; 01-22-2012 at 03:37 PM..
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      01-22-2012, 08:08 AM   #19
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I will say this, in pics the x3 looks ok, but in person it really does look amazing. I think the x5 looks better in pics but a little boring in person
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      01-23-2012, 03:14 PM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by GuitarDTO View Post
I will say this, in pics the x3 looks ok, but in person it really does look amazing. I think the x5 looks better in pics but a little boring in person
I totally agree with this statement. I looked at about 10 SUV's this summer trying to deiced what I was going to buy. I almost crossed the X3 off the list before I even scheduled a test drive based on the Photo's on BMW's website. I read some nice reviews so I decided to check it out and I was very pleased with the looks when I saw it in person.
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