Official pics: 2009 E90 M3 sedan facelift (w/ new idrive) + Le Mans Blue E92

[Bimmer707]

It looks mean and beautiful!

[southlight]

Some CGI pics from the German website ('build your own'):

Space Grey



Le Mans Blue



Interlagos Blue


Alpine White



Best regards, south

[mkoesel]

Thanks for the pics south. I must say Interlagos looks much nicer to me in those pics, but of course these are just synthesized models and do not show the real life look of the colors particularly well. In fact, at least on my monitor, Interlagos is looking a lot like Montego here and Lemans looks more toward Monaco. I will need to do a side-by-side of Interlagos and Lemans with a Montego 335i thrown in for good measure. I am still leaning toward Interlagos, but having seen Lemans in person while in Europe I really did like that color also.

[southlight]

Originally Posted by mkoesel

Thanks for the pics south. I must say Interlagos looks much nicer to me in those pics, but of course these are just synthesized models and do not show the real life look of the colors particularly well. In fact, at least on my monitor, Interlagos is looking a lot like Montego here and Lemans looks more toward Monaco. I will need to do a side-by-side of Interlagos and Lemans with a Montego 335i thrown in for good measure. I am still leaning toward Interlagos, but having seen Lemans in person while in Europe I really did like that color also.

If you like the purple hue of Montego Blue then you'll also like Interlagos. Le Mans is the right choice in case you don't want any purple hue. Both are very nice colors and it's not that easy to decide between. More so in the US without all the M Sport 320i/d being around painted Le Mans.


Best regards, south

[Reincarnated]

/thread

[southlight]

Originally Posted by Reincarnated

/thread

Best regards, south

[mkoesel]

Originally Posted by southlight

If you like the purple hue of Montego Blue then you'll also like Interlagos. Le Mans is the right choice when you don't want any purple hue. Both are very nice colors and it's not that easy to decide between. More so in the US without all the M Sport 320i/d being around painted Le Mans.

Yeah, roughly speaking, Interlagos seems to be Montego with evern more purple added, while Le Mans is Montego with basically all the purple removed.

I like that Interlagos is an M exclusive but as you say that is true for Le Mans too in the US. Of course, that will change when BMW releases a 335i ZHP with the engine from the 740i and a Le Mans blue color option. Ok, that is pure speculation from me, but it sounds reasonable, no?

The addition of Le Mans has really thrown me a curveball here. At least they didn't add Imola Red. If they did that I think my head would explode trying to decide.

[BMWDEMON]

I really am not sold on the new update...I like it how it is...probably gonna still shoot for an 08' at reduced cost pretty soon.

M

[TLud]

Interlagos is a very interesting and complex color. Although it is noticeably darker and deeper than Le Mans Blue in most lighting situations, it is also a much "louder" color, especially in broad daylight. IB ranges from a very dark blue at night to a very vibrant violet-blue in direct light. LMB is a much more standard, true blue. It also changes from dark to light (almost approaching an electric blue), depending on the lighting, but it never really loses that standard blue look.

Personally, I really like the agressive look that IB gives the M3, and I actually like the purplish hue. That said, I don't think you can go wrong with either.

[southlight]

Originally Posted by mkoesel

The addition of Le Mans has really thrown me a curveball here. At least they didn't add Imola Red. If they did that I think my head would explode trying to decide.

Honestly I'm glad that Le Mans wasn't available when I had to decide. That being said I'm perfectly happy with IB right now. It really grew on me...


Best regards, south

[GuyOh]

sooo the new e90 M3s loses the m3 lip spoiler on the trunk?

[mkoesel]

Originally Posted by GuyOh

sooo the new e90 M3s loses the m3 lip spoiler on the trunk?

Wow, no. Guys, how do you get this far with such questions?

No, really though, honestly, check out the order guide from MY08. Its an option, and remains an option for MY09.

[Big Windy]

i like those new CGI pics...thanks south. looks like the sedan is wearing GP Thunders or something. +1 for Le Mans blue. I was surprised that some compared it to Monaco. I think of Monaco is a deep navy blue. Le Mans is a sparkling blue that really pops in the sun. IB looks so purple on my screen compared to Le Mans.

[mkoesel]

Originally Posted by Big Windy

I was surprised that some compared it to Monaco. I think of Monaco is a deep navy blue.

That was me. What I mean is, I've seen pics of a Monaco 335i taken from an online configurator (not sure which one) that looked a lot like the Le Mans does here in south's pics. But having see Le Mans in person, its really much, much brighter than that. Monaco also looks much brighter in person than you'd think it would too, but its still a deep blue.

[knifegun]

Rear tail lights are cool. I have an 08 and I don't really care. I put Blacklines on my SSII which I think gives the back end a different look that I like. Having the I-Drive user interface would be great but I hate the actual new I-Drive button interface. I like the simplicity of a single stainless steel wheel. Very class. Also notice that the CD prev and next buttons have been moved below the row of programmable buttons. I think the prev/next buttons look out of place. Almost like a last minute decision.

Overall, the 09 M3 is an improvement but in my opinion, pretty minor.

Of all improvements, I would say that the fully integrated iPhone is the best improvement

[ZoinksM3]

It it me, or goes the rear look like an angry dude?

[Big Windy]

Originally Posted by ZoinksM3

It it me, or goes the rear look like an angry dude?

Attachment 175753

it is just you.

on another note, i want to this thread to rant against bmw. it is august 9th and there is still nothing from BMW NA. what are they honestly doing? did they already write the press release but are holding it for some reason? or do they legitimately not have this information? has BMW seriously not decided whether regular 3 series coupes will get the new i-drive? why have BMW UK and AG released statements about i-drive in all M cars for 2009 and BMW NA has said nothing? if anyone could give me a real answer to any of these questions, I would really appreciate it. The more and more that I think about this, the more angry I get at BMWNA. The whole "they are waiting to get their 08 inventory off the lot" argument only went so far. we are less than a month away from 09 builds and it is completely and utterly unsatisfactory that consumers are still in the dark. where is the ordering guide? where are the prices? BMW, if you are listening, you need to get your act together quick. /rant

thanks for listening.

[TLud]

It's pretty funny how BMWNA still has the 2008 model up under the "build your own" feature on the website. At this point, one no longer has a realistic chance of building their own '08 in real life.

[lizak187]

Not a fan of the new i drive knob ...or the LeMans Blue but its an ///M so i guess im forced to like it.

[Big Windy]

Back to the initial idrive argument. Just got this bad news from my CA:

"I just played with the new idrive, WOW!!! We were told that all new 3 series will get these in 09. The sedans first, with a delay on the coupes at the end of 2009. This includes the m3 coupes and sedans"

I would normally never trust a CA (I am a see it in writing kind of guy), but this is really bad news. If BMW is attempting to pull this idrive retrofit for the coupe as a MY2009.5 modification, I am going to be incredibly angry. Their press releases are so misleading and I am just fed up. I am hoping that this is not the case and that this CA is wrong. But the fact that the BMWNA was just there teaching them about the new stuff and giving all the information is not a good sign.

[knifegun]

Originally Posted by lizak187

Not a fan of the new i drive knob ...or the LeMans Blue but its an ///M so i guess im forced to like it.

I agree. The iDrive screen looks cool but the iDrive knob looks bsy and like a shortened keyboard. They should have just put a small blackberry like keboard and a mouse stick for navigation.

[TwistaStick]

New pics of Idrive in Coupe and Sedan in the new M3 catalogue. You can get a better view at http://www.bmw.com/com/en/newvehicle...roduction.html and click on the "Interactive Flash Catalogue".