Why the New BMW M3 HAS to Be Ugly

With the unveiling of the new BMW 2 Series, I have completely lost my confidence in Bimmer to make a good looking car. Along with the controversial changes to the M3 and M4, and speculation of what the X8 SUV could look like, it's gonna be a while till they make a good looking car. But why? What's motivated the german automaker to change their formula so boldly?

HERE IN MY GARAGE…
Curious what we use in the shop on a daily basis? Check it out below. And if you purchase these tools from these links, you’re helping support Donut. We appreciate it!

Milwaukee - 48-22-0125G - 25 ft. Magnetic Tape Measure - 2-Pack

Milwaukee 48-59-1880 M18 REDLITHIUM HIGH OUTPUT XC 8 Ah Lithium-Ion Battery and M18 /M12 Charger Kit

Milwaukee Angle Grinding 2781-22 M18 Fuel 4-1/2"/5" Slide, Kit

Milwaukee 2735-20 18V Li-Ion Flashlight

Milwaukee 2557-20 M12 Fuel 3/8" Ratchet

Milwaukee 48-11-1880 M18 REDLITHIUM HIGH OUTPUT 18v 8.0 Ah Lithium-Ion Battery Pack

Milwaukee 2125-21XC M12 LED Underhood Light Kit

Milwaukee M18 FUEL 3/8" Compact Impact Wrench with Friction Ring

Adenna Dark Light 9 mil Nitrile Powder Free Exam Gloves (Black), Large - Box of 100 (DLG676)

Scott Shop Towels Original (75143), Blue, 55 Sheets / Standard Roll, 30 Rolls / Case (10 Bundles of 3 Rolls), 1,650 Towels / Case

Zep Cherry Bomb Industrial Pumice Hand Cleaner - 48 Ounce (Case of 4) ZUCBHC48CA

AIDEA Microfiber Cleaning Cloths-100PK

Barrow 52 in. Brown Large Rectangle Wood Coffee Table with Lift Top

Barrow 52 in. Brown Large Rectangle Wood Coffee Table with Lift Top

New to the Channel?

We upload almost every day, subscribe so you don't miss out!

Click here for more info on joining the Donut Underground!

Shop Donut Merch:

Donut Media is at the center of digital media for the next generation of automotive and motorsports enthusiasts. We are drivers, drifters, and car enthusiasts who love to tell stories.

[joelenglish]

I think the Funniest part about this is that I remember a meme a few years ago of bmw grills and how they keep getting bigger and bigger, and the final one was a very over exaggerated grill, and it litterally looks like this lol

[aumpauskar]

Nolan: Has BMW Lost Their Minds?
Me: No, but they sure lost their kidneys.

[BCVlogs]

“It has SEVEN radiators” *every mechanic immediately hates this car*

[flexinclouds]

When the car is shown with the bumper off, you can clearly see the horizontal bumper beam blocking off the middle of the radiators anyway.. So there really isn't any reason the grille couldnt have been broken up in the same place. Theoretically the air hitting that middle spot in the grille is really just hitting the bumper beam.

[californiacastle]

I would say the dual round headlights has also been a part of their design for a long time.

[sniperlif]

The idea of the larger grill being functional is wrecked by the fact that the center of the grill (crash bar) is a solid, there is no airflow. It is 4 separate grills making 2 in appearance. When you paint that to match, you realize that the grill is no bigger (if not only slightly bigger) than any previous models.
I also believe that it not having the exterior trim around the grill makes it stand out more, it almost looks like it is floating. I struggle to think of a BMW that did not have an outer plate whether it be painted/chrome/black.
They could have just painted the crash bar to match the car and it would bring back what past generations looked like.

[a-dino]

What I think invalidates the aerodynamic argument, is that the grill has a quite large beam running through the centre of it for the license plate and parking sensors. You can even see it in some of the shots in this video. This means that BMW could have very easily split the grill up into a top and bottom part, like on it's older models, while making both a little bit larger(instead of almost grotesquely larger) to meet the necessary airflow.

[jonnyharris]

The grill has a dual function - the placement helps the rad to evacuate air more quickly and the aesthetics help me evacuate my bowels more frequently

[BigStreams_]

I’m actually impressed with how you summed that up. It crosses into 2 planes and so it just feels off. That’s clever and seems correct to me

[carllinden]

7:50 Keeping the grille above the crash structure is certainly one thing. I was positive you were reading my mind up until this, but the only lines I see being crossed are literally the lines! They're horizontal! Instead of the vertical lines in the grilles of all other BMWs. These are the two defining design principals being broken.

[camogap]

Those aren't kidneys anymore, those are freaking lungs

[aspookyfox]

Even their EVs have the kidney grill. I don’t know if this is a forgivable offense.

[yinbaro]

I would absolutely LOVE a video about design language and what are the different visual stamps of different brands

[felipeopinion]

Need bigger grills for cooling

Also: goes and sticks a number plate across it :/

[bryanmckeithen]

I've been saying that it was the fact it crossed the bumper line that makes it look weird ever since I noticed that fact. I'm so glad that there's finally a popular video stating this fact. Thank you Donut!
Edit: This is one of my most liked comments ever, thank you Donut community, you all help make this channel such a chill place and a haven from the toxicity of too many other channels.

[Jess-orwe]

It's also the fact that they've changed the slats within the grill to go horizontally instead of vertically (vertical grill slats are also part of their design language).

[mavisky]

Nolan was halfway there, the issue is partially that the grille extends below the crash structure, but it's also that the top of the nostrils extend above the inner corners of the headlights by and protrude well in front of them. This really emphasizes the "pig nose" aesthetic" of this design feature. If the were on the same plane as the headlights fore and aft, and sat level or below the inner corner of the headlights, the atrocity would be reduced.

[Xpertgamingtech]

Well, the f90 M5 does fine without an ugly grill and it produces much more horses. The only reason for it would be just styling...



or the lack of it I should say...

[selfdriven]

Even as a hardcore BMW fanboy I can't get myself to like these grills. The 2 new M's are great cars and it is great that they come as manuals but I still think the grills would stop me from buying them.

[Roblockhead]

Nolan would be the cool teacher who gets called by his last name without the Mr think about it - "Sup Sykes? Take the Imperial out this weekend?" So cool.