I think this is why BMW has increased the size of the kidney grills

BM dnobagaV · 02-18-2019, 06:03 PM

I think it goes back to the Eurosafety regulation regarding a soft front impact area.

For F generation vehicles, they simply pulled the hood back & inserted more crunchable bumper in place. For the G generation, they haven't really put the hood back to where it was. Rather they just grossly increased the size of the grills.

Again, all blame goes to that government road safety regulation that has created a grill race-off. Correct me if I'm wrong here

autoart · 02-18-2019, 06:27 PM

More powerful engines need more air to cool them.

stevenvillatoro · 02-18-2019, 07:30 PM

Bigger grilles from competitors mean bigger grilles from BMW.

Where one sheep leads, the others will follow.

perryo91 · 02-18-2019, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by autoart

More powerful engines need more air to cool them.

320i has same size grill as m3

c1pher · 02-18-2019, 08:12 PM

Plastic costs less than metal?

dsad1 · 02-18-2019, 10:04 PM

The bmw electric cars have small grills, and other electrics don't have a grill at all, so not sure if it's because of impact area.

thebmw · 02-18-2019, 10:05 PM

One word...Chinese. They love big grills and that is BMW's biggest growth market.

alphaod · 02-18-2019, 11:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thebmw

One word...Chinese. They love big grills and that is BMW's biggest growth market.

May I ask why you believe this because I don't know anyone in China that like big grills and I certainly don't.

thebmw · 02-18-2019, 11:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alphaod

May I ask why you believe this because I don't know anyone in China that like big grills and I certainly don't.

This has been pretty widely published. You can do your own Google searches. Just because you and your friends don't like it doesn't mean you represent over a billion people. And quite frankly it really doesn't matter what the vast majority of people in China feel. The only thing that matters is what the very wealthy Chinese buyers who can afford these incredibly highly priced and tariffed BMWs feel.

Apparently they like big grills! Clearly BMWs market research team found that to be the case.

XMetal · 02-19-2019, 12:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BM dnobagaV

I think it goes back to the Eurosafety regulation regarding a soft front impact area.

While it may be true to some degree, it doesn't explain the ridiculously large 7 Series and X7 grills.

The HACK · 02-19-2019, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thebmw

One word...Chinese. They love big grills and that is BMW's biggest growth market.

THIS.

HighlandPete · 02-19-2019, 02:42 PM

I don't see the link to pedestrian protection, and I'd need some convincing on a technical level. If there is such a connection, there must be far better ways to improve safety, without having such ridiculous and poorly proportioned grilles.

domino_z · 02-19-2019, 02:42 PM

OP maybe, but it's principally for the (fastest growing) chinese market, where brand recognition and the perceived value of said brand is considered in high regard in their culture - vehicle grilles are a brand's most easily visible brand identity

the chinese market is (and will continue) to influence car design until another market emerges with a greater buying potential

Humdizzle · 02-19-2019, 02:42 PM

its all safety regulations unfortunately. which is why i give BMW huge credit for keeping the M3s around 3500 pounds when everything else it competes with is nudging on 4000 lbs.

02-18-2019, 06:03 PM	#1
BM dnobagaV Banned 454 Rep 459 Posts Drives: 2010 BMW 528i Join Date: Apr 2018 Location: Dreamville iTrader: (0)	I think this is why BMW has increased the size of the kidney grills I think it goes back to the Eurosafety regulation regarding a soft front impact area. For F generation vehicles, they simply pulled the hood back & inserted more crunchable bumper in place. For the G generation, they haven't really put the hood back to where it was. Rather they just grossly increased the size of the grills. Again, all blame goes to that government road safety regulation that has created a grill race-off. Correct me if I'm wrong here
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02-18-2019, 06:27 PM	#2
autoart Colonel 377 Rep 2,326 Posts Drives: 2009 335i e90 M/ 22 X3/2016 Ho Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: socal iTrader: (8)	More powerful engines need more air to cool them.
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02-18-2019, 07:30 PM	#3
stevenvillatoro Captain 735 Rep 611 Posts Drives: ‘18 M240i, Estoril Blue Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: San Diego, CA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2018 BMW M240i [0.00]	Bigger grilles from competitors mean bigger grilles from BMW. Where one sheep leads, the others will follow. __________________ —Steve '19 MX-5 Miata GT-S soft top Past BMWs: two '57 Isetta 300s, '70 1600, '72 Bavaria, '78 320i, '18 M240i
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02-18-2019, 08:12 PM	#5
c1pher Primo Generalissimo 5056 Rep 4,205 Posts Drives: All of them Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: DC area iTrader: (0) Garage List 2024 Ford Bronco Ra ... [10.00] 2018 Porsche 911 GTS [10.00] 2023 BMW M2 [9.25] 2022 Ford F-250 Tremor [8.50]	Plastic costs less than metal?
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02-18-2019, 10:04 PM	#6
dsad1 Colonel 1216 Rep 2,404 Posts Drives: car Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: United States iTrader: (0)	The bmw electric cars have small grills, and other electrics don't have a grill at all, so not sure if it's because of impact area.
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02-18-2019, 10:05 PM	#7
thebmw Post Advisor 1911 Rep 1,810 Posts Drives: More Manuals than Automatics Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Illinois iTrader: (10)	One word...Chinese. They love big grills and that is BMW's biggest growth market.
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02-19-2019, 02:42 PM	#12
HighlandPete Lieutenant General 6551 Rep 15,857 Posts Drives: BMW F11 535i Touring Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Scotland, Highland Region iTrader: (0)	I don't see the link to pedestrian protection, and I'd need some convincing on a technical level. If there is such a connection, there must be far better ways to improve safety, without having such ridiculous and poorly proportioned grilles.
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02-19-2019, 02:42 PM	#13
domino_z Colonel 1375 Rep 2,026 Posts Drives: F-Pace SVR Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Australia iTrader: (0)	OP maybe, but it's principally for the (fastest growing) chinese market, where brand recognition and the perceived value of said brand is considered in high regard in their culture - vehicle grilles are a brand's most easily visible brand identity the chinese market is (and will continue) to influence car design until another market emerges with a greater buying potential
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02-19-2019, 02:42 PM	#14
Humdizzle Brigadier General 6531 Rep 3,849 Posts Drives: 991.2 GT3 Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Missouri iTrader: (0)	its all safety regulations unfortunately. which is why i give BMW huge credit for keeping the M3s around 3500 pounds when everything else it competes with is nudging on 4000 lbs.
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