"face lifted" ... ?

[CLEANM3whipz]

What do ppl mean when they say "face lifted" on certain E46's? Sorry I never really got it haha.

[CVGTURBO86]

basically if you do anything to the looks to any car, that is basically a "facelift"

[bmw3er]

A lot of car makers, BMW included, do mid-life re-styles for their cars. A typical BMW life span is 7 years, so expect some changes about halfway through that. The E65 7 series got a pretty good facelift a few years back, as well did the X5.

Another example is what Ferrari occasionally does. When the 550 Maranello was becoming dated and older, they facelifted it mid-run and created the 575M. It got more HP, new front bumper, new headlights, etc. To the potential buyers, it was a "new" car before the 599 was ready for production.

[98silver328i]

A lot of car makers, BMW included, do mid-life re-styles for their cars. A typical BMW life span is 7 years, so expect some changes about halfway through that. The E65 7 series got a pretty good facelift a few years back, as well did the X5.

The E46 got a pretty decent facelift.

[bmw3er]

The E46 got a pretty decent facelift.

The E46 kinda just evolved throughout its lifespan, with the first 3 years being filled with the most changes.

[palomino]

A lot of car makers, BMW included, do mid-life re-styles for their cars. A typical BMW life span is 7 years, so expect some changes about halfway through that. The E65 7 series got a pretty good facelift a few years back, as well did the X5.

Another example is what Ferrari occasionally does. When the 550 Maranello was becoming dated and older, they facelifted it mid-run and created the 575M. It got more HP, new front bumper, new headlights, etc. To the potential buyers, it was a "new" car before the 599 was ready for production.

agreed.

for example, the e46 sedan came to the states starting with model year 1999. for model year 2002, BMW changed the front & rear ends a little bit, but the great majority of the car remained unchanged. That minor change in appearance is called the "facelift".

the first pic is the prefacelift sedan, the second is the facelifted sedan.

[CVGTURBO86]

The E46 kinda just evolved throughout its lifespan, with the first 3 years being filled with the most changes.

yeah that is what i was gonna say...it seemed that the E46 got a facelift just about every other year

[LinearX]

The E60's facelift is so minor, I can't even tell what they've changed in pictures.

[CLEANM3whipz]

Oh now I get it lol thanks for the replies haha.

[Stück]

Face lifts are the process of making an existing and visually pleasing model more and more grotesques with each and every change I'm not a fan of the e46's evolution over its many face lifts.

[speedwaypinoy]

the e36 recieved a facelift as well right? was it just the grills?

[bmw3er]

The E60's facelift is so minor, I can't even tell what they've changed in pictures.

You had to know what you were looking for, then spot the differences.

Here is the original 745i


Here is the facelifted 750i


They redesigned the headlights and front bumper, as well as the trunk lid.

[98silver328i]

the e36 recieved a facelift as well right? was it just the grills?

Different kidney grills and a different nose panel.

[palomino]

the e36 recieved a facelift as well right? was it just the grills?

pretty much.

You had to know what you were looking for, then spot the differences.

Here is the original 745i
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...45i-Silver.jpg

Here is the facelifted 750i
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...50i-Silver.jpg

They redesigned the headlights and front bumper, as well as the trunk lid.

the 7 is e65 and e66, not e60

[Critter7r]

the e36 recieved a facelift as well right? was it just the grills?

The E36 evolved, more than it was 'facelifted'. The original had unpainted grey front and rear bumpers, then in '93, they painted the top half of the bumpers, and in '94, painted the whole bumper. Then yes, in '95 the hood, grilles and grille panel were changed to give a 'face lift'. I think in '94 they changed just the grilles slightly, but no sheet metal.

[Landerholm]

Thats not quite right...

[CLEANM3whipz]

The E36 evolved, more than it was 'facelifted'. The original had unpainted grey front and rear bumpers, then in '93, they painted the top half of the bumpers, and in '94, painted the whole bumper. Then yes, in '95 the hood, grilles and grille panel were changed to give a 'face lift'. I think in '94 they changed just the grilles slightly, but no sheet metal.

97+ was when the nose panel changed

[adamnur]

The E36 evolved, more than it was 'facelifted'. The original had unpainted grey front and rear bumpers, then in '93, they painted the top half of the bumpers, and in '94, painted the whole bumper. Then yes, in '95 the hood, grilles and grille panel were changed to give a 'face lift'. I think in '94 they changed just the grilles slightly, but no sheet metal.

In 94-95, they still had the bottom half grey. I believe they were fully painted in 96 (in the US. In Canada, the 328s in 96 still had the grey). In 97, the nosepanel/kidney grilles were changed. 96 and earlier were the same nosepanel/grilles.

[CLEANM3whipz]

In 94-95, they still had the bottom half grey. I believe they were fully painted in 96 (in the US. In Canada, the 328s in 96 still had the grey). In 97, the nosepanel/kidney grilles were changed. 96 and earlier were the same nosepanel/grilles.

I was just about to type this too haha

[addnon]

Also the sidemarkers changed from 1996 to 1997 on the E36.

[adamnur]

Also the sidemarkers changed from 1996 to 1997 on the E36.

true, forgot that.

[bmw3er]

Also the sidemarkers changed from 1996 to 1997 on the E36.

Also,

The sidemarkers were added in the first place for model year 95.

[windnsea00]

I personally think the facelifted E46 looks really good compared to the `99-`00 sedan/wagons. Same goes with the `04+ coupes.

[digitaldragon03]

Yeah, the entire E46 line looked better after the facelift. I would have loved to see the M3 go through the facelift too. The facelifted coupe looks like a hawk.

[TomC]

No one mentioned the e30. It's probably got the most distinguished facelift: no more DB's.