'08 vs. '09 Taillights Poll

[mPlasticDesign]

So as most here already know, after a whole year of M3 production the lights(front and rear) are getting "updated." Just curious which you prefer and why? There are people actually willing to wait and even pay more for the '09 lights and seems to me that it is really not a huge improvement. In fact, I prefer the '08 lights and rear plate surround.

New on the left with Old on the right:

[bmstyle71]

pics?

[booforty]

Prefer the new but hey the blacklines are still cool

[J08M3]

no preference here. either one is fine.

[Reedomn]

As much as it pains me since i just wrote the check out 5 months ago, I do like the new tailights...however I never noticed the plate surround which I do not like better...also, did they do anything to cover the exposed mufflers?, doesn't look like it.

[Mr.AK]

I just thank GOD everyday that the coupe is not affected! New.

[Sedan_Clan]

Originally Posted by ///Metak

So as most here already know, after a whole year of M3 production the lights(front and rear) are getting "updated." Just curious which you prefer and why? There are people actually willing to wait and even pay more for the '09 lights and seems to me that it is really not a huge improvement. In fact, I prefer the '08 lights and rear plate surround.

New on the left with Old on the right:
Attachment 188210

Your comment in bold is a bit misleading. That older rear end has been in production since 2006, so the update came 3 years later (...just like the updated front end on non-M3 sedans).

As far as preference, I like them both.........but I'd rather have the '09 LED's. The '08 lights aren't a deal breaker though. I'll just transplant my Blacklines from my 330i.

[mPlasticDesign]

Originally Posted by Sedan_Clan

Your comment in bold is a bit misleading. That older rear end has been in production since 2006, so the update came 3 years later (...just like the updated front end on non-M3 sedans).

As far as preference, I like them both.........but I'd rather have the '09 LED's. The '08 lights aren't a deal breaker though. I'll just transplant my Blacklines from my 330i.

True, but if you look at the E46 M3's they did not follow the non M facelift schedule. The E46 M3's headlights hardly changed at all, while the non M changed drastically.

[ColoCane]

No offense to the sedan drivers, but I've never liked the '08 lights (or '06 for that matter... when that design came out). One of the items that has kept me from looking at the sedans. I think the '09 sedan tail lights are a great improvement, more akin to the coupe/vert tail lights. All personal preference... IMHO.

[Sedan_Clan]

Originally Posted by ///Metak

True, but if you look at the E46 M3's they did not follow the non M facelift schedule. The E46 M3's headlights hardly changed at all, while the non M changed drastically.

That was a different ///M! There was no sedan ///M back then (..obviously!), and it wouldn't make sense to upgrade the rear of the normal 3-series sedan, yet fail to upgrade the ///M3. Additionally, the non-M cars from the E46 models received their front end changes toward the end of that MY lifeline (..04 or 05). The E46 ///M3 didn't receive a front end facelift, but it did receive the rear end update at the same time as the non-M3 coupe (..2003.5).

My point.....this update makes perfect sense, just as it did with the E46 coupe.

[414AW]

I get my 08' E90 M3 this friday. As far as the update and not waiting for the 09. I could careless bout the taillight and headlight update. It's not like they totally changed it to look like the coupe. I have no regrets...its an M for crying out loud. Another note on the 09's...they changed the iDrive...who knows how that will go.

[mPlasticDesign]

I think alot of times people automatically assume that different is better. The sedan was already different from the non-M models because of the coupe front end. Maybe some LED upgrades without actually changing the sheetmetal(trunklid) to coincide with the '09 non-M facelift would appeal to me more. The '09 lights just don't do much for me. The plate surround is too square, the lines of the trunk lid don't flow as nicely anymore. JMHO

[mkoesel]

Indifferent.

[Kadarin]

I'm not a big fan of either one, but I do have a slight preference for the new design.

[MJC///M3]

Originally Posted by Kadarin

I'm not a big fan of either one, but I do have a slight preference for the new design.

Same for me

[McLuVan]

people wait for the 09' because it's going to have a better resale value
but the 08's look better
I would wait for an 09' unless i can get a good deal on an 08'
which is highly possible now a days