3-series Compact

What does everyone think of the Compact?
I think the styling is somewhat of a miss for the boys from Bavaria.

cheers
jay

the lights at the front AND back look wrong... at the back its sort of like a Lexus IS200 gone wrong..

I couldnt find a pic of a standard one anywhere so this is a Hartge special but the lights are unchanged

Remember, BMW is trying to differentiate their cars. You can't say all BMWs look alike anymore.

I was never a fan of those ricey clear & metallic tail lights. It just makes the IS200 and 3 series Compact fugly and tacky.

As for the front, it takes alot getting used to. I initially didn't like it either. It reminds me of the VW Polo or Lupo (can't remember which). Nothing exciting, and not worthy of the BMW badge.

I kinda like the boot, though some may think of it as a 3 series Coupe with the end chopped off. It does end abruptly. As long as the back is concaved in like the normal 3s, I like it. The shape of the rear lights are appropriate IMHO. I don't know if having L-shaped rear lights would have worked.

In general, if you're into hatches (which I'm not), then I think you'll like it.

it's ugly.



but don't get me wrong, I am obsessed w/ BMWs. Such as the M3. But the compact? uh. I might actually (this is bad of me to SAY!) rather have a Mercedes-Benz C-Class Coupe!!!!

Remember, BMW is trying to differentiate their cars. You can't say all BMWs look alike anymore.
Yeah, theyre trying to differentiate their product from the rest of the market. So generally they go for the same kind of look across their range. I dont know what they were thinking when they drew up this ugly thing..

And eeeeewwwwww.. the C-class coupé??? yuk.. much as i dont like the new beemer i *hate* the C-Coupé..

speaking of the M3, did they eventually build any E36 Compact M3's? I read an article about it what must have been 3-4 years ago that said it would come out in certain european markets.. does anyone have a clue?

cheers
jay