[Andyxus]

What you guys think ?

[440xiGCMSport2]

Sorry not a fan. looks like VW Golf likes with a bigger grille. It does look sportier but not as cohesive and as elegant. Just my opinion.

[The J-Man]

I like it - it still looks like a BMW, unlike the new designs coming out.

[COBodom]

Looks a bit less boring than pre-LCI G30. That borderline flat sheet of aluminium hood kills the look.

F10 had elegant yet aggressive hood sculpting. In this iteration of the 5 series we gotta go F90 for that hood to show some character.

[MauiSteve]

I really don't like the new headlight design. I'm fine with the new tail lights. The lack of exterior color selections, and removal of individual Merino leather choices in 2021 is kind of a bummer. Worst of all, no more B&W stereo in the 540i - my absolute favorite option. If you want multi-contour seats you're stuck with the same old 3 choices of Nappa. The slightly improved tech, bigger screen, and shadowline trim option are positives. And I do like the new 19" wheels better than pre-LCI.

[AP]

So they are being delivered now it would seem
I have a dealership just around the corner so will keep an eye out , would like to form my opinion on one once I've seen one in the metal but like a lot of people here, feel the headlights are very generic and don't say BMW in any way at all.
Not keen on the larger I drive screen , always felt it looked like an afterthought stuck there rather than being integrated into eu dashboard
New dash I'm not a fan of either, looks like it was designed by someone who spent too much time playing on their PlayStation

I wonder if bmw have made any changes to the steering , ie given it some feel?!

The g30 is a damn fine car but just a couple of things that it could do better. Not convinced the LCI is necessarily better in every way.

Would I still buy one, most probably but for me the only thing to tempt me to part with what would be a large amount of cash would the 550 here in the U.K.

[DBV1]

Really dislike the headlights. The most distinguishing feature on the BMW is now gone. Looks like too many other headlights now on the road. Will see if it grows on me in person though.

[saw1]

I saw an LCI M5 yesterday (United BMW Roswell) in Tanzanite Blue and it looked amazing in person. I would still go for the m550 over the M5 for me personally, but this blue/aragon M5 was simply beautiful!

[SteveinArizona]

Originally Posted by AP

So they are being delivered now it would seem
I have a dealership just around the corner so will keep an eye out , would like to form my opinion on one once I've seen one in the metal but like a lot of people here, feel the headlights are very generic and don't say BMW in any way at all.
Not keen on the larger I drive screen , always felt it looked like an afterthought stuck there rather than being integrated into eu dashboard
New dash I'm not a fan of either, looks like it was designed by someone who spent too much time playing on their PlayStation

I wonder if bmw have made any changes to the steering , ie given it some feel?!

The g30 is a damn fine car but just a couple of things that it could do better. Not convinced the LCI is necessarily better in every way.

Would I still buy one, most probably but for me the only thing to tempt me to part with what would be a large amount of cash would the 550 here in the U.K.

I disagree with you about the Idrive screen. I like a car that keeps my eyes on the road as much as possible. That is why I opted for a HUD. Putting the IDrive screen up high on the dash reduces the distance my eyes have to travel to see the screen. To me, that is a positive and the cars that have put the screen down lower and integrated into the dash force the driver to take his eyes further off the road.

But...that is why it is nice that there are so many car companies...If one does something one doesn't like, there are lots of other choices. To each his own.

[ted99]

I opted to purchase a 2020, rather than waiting for the LCI. At the time, the pre-release info didn't give me any reason to wait for the features of the LCI. Now, I'm glad I did it because of the price increases on the 530e. If the LCI had even a slightly larger battery, I would have waited. It turns out that the LCI feature I really want is OTA updates--but not for $thousands more. I thought my 2020 had the latest I-drive--turns out it was the "lite" version. In any event, I'm happy it doesn't have a giant grill because it means my 2020 will continue to look "current" for another 3 years. If these giant grills persist, my next purchase in 2023 will not be a BMW.

[AP]

Agree about the hud, that is the right place to be puttinformtation that is required whilst driving and the I drive should be for when stationary essentially.


But yes as you say , we have a choice if you don't like it, I something else.

[calbears]

A few more pics of the LCI (540i)

[MikeElmendorf]

Any interior shots?

[calbears]

Originally Posted by MikeElmendorf

Any interior shots?

I think I have a few on my home computer. Otherwise, I'll grab some. Biggest interior change is the iDrive screen, it's noticeably larger than the 2020. Plus no auto start/stop button as the 540i has the mild hybrid system

[LogicalApex]

Originally Posted by ted99

I opted to purchase a 2020, rather than waiting for the LCI. At the time, the pre-release info didn't give me any reason to wait for the features of the LCI. Now, I'm glad I did it because of the price increases on the 530e. If the LCI had even a slightly larger battery, I would have waited. It turns out that the LCI feature I really want is OTA updates--but not for $thousands more. I thought my 2020 had the latest I-drive--turns out it was the "lite" version. In any event, I'm happy it doesn't have a giant grill because it means my 2020 will continue to look "current" for another 3 years. If these giant grills persist, my next purchase in 2023 will not be a BMW.

Yeah the 530e is a bad deal with the LCI. I am similarly upset about RSU as I purchased for it, but it isn’t worth the LCI price bump. Especially since BMW RSU may not be terribly well done in practice. They still haven’t done the RSU for the July update for RSU supporting cars. It may be years still before BMW are actually doing RSU updates well.

The bump is bad enough that I feel BMW may be trying to cool the PHEV sales. I am not sure if it is battery supply issues or what. As the incentives are thin on it as well now. Most state rebates exclude it due to sales price now and HOV lanes are clipping it due to battery range. A price hike seems misguided unless they are trying to cool demand to have batteries for the X40e or the like.

Originally Posted by calbears

I think I have a few on my home computer. Otherwise, I'll grab some. Biggest interior change is the iDrive screen, it's noticeably larger than the 2020. Plus no auto start/stop button as the 540i has the mild hybrid system

It is strange that they still left the cover and blank button for the CD player in the LCI. I was annoyed they did that in my MY2020 (first to lack the drive) but chalked it up to them reworking the dash in the LCI. But nope. Still there.

Very odd to me.

[AP]

They should have left the CD player there.
No doubt a combination of a CD being perceived as old fashioned (nothing wrong with CD at all) and penny pinching to save a few bucks.

I'll be interested on reading reviews of this mild hybrid technology and how it is perceived. I thought I read somewhere that I'd you put the car in sport mode (presumably includes sports individual as well?) that it is not engaged.

[calbears]

Originally Posted by MikeElmendorf

Any interior shots?

Some interior shots. Comes with latest software (android auto), but overall very similar to pre-LCI

[MikeElmendorf]

Thanks! Do you have any M550s sitting around? Curious about the differences in the cluster on the M550.

[calbears]

Originally Posted by MikeElmendorf

Thanks! Do you have any M550s sitting around? Curious about the differences in the cluster on the M550.

Some M550i shots (Tanzanite/Mocha). Better photos coming maybe this weekend. Glare on the instrument panel photo, but from memory this looks the same as the 2020

[stein_325i]

Originally Posted by calbears

A few more pics of the LCI (540i)

Looks good, although would much prefer the M-Sport front fascia, as the lower bumper has some awkward design going on. Overall glad BMW kept it tame and didn't pull a 7er on it.

However, it looks more and more like a G20/F30 mix 3er now than a mini 7er (pre-LCI G11). I though Dukec's whole purpose of ruining the BMW lineup's design was to at least distinguish each individual model more?

[MikeElmendorf]

Nice. Thank you. The font is definitely better on the M550 cluster than the standard. I wish it looked more like the M cluster.

[SteveinArizona]

Originally Posted by ted99

I opted to purchase a 2020, rather than waiting for the LCI. At the time, the pre-release info didn't give me any reason to wait for the features of the LCI. Now, I'm glad I did it because of the price increases on the 530e. If the LCI had even a slightly larger battery, I would have waited. It turns out that the LCI feature I really want is OTA updates--but not for $thousands more. I thought my 2020 had the latest I-drive--turns out it was the "lite" version. In any event, I'm happy it doesn't have a giant grill because it means my 2020 will continue to look "current" for another 3 years. If these giant grills persist, my next purchase in 2023 will not be a BMW.

I agree with you about evrything in your post EXCEPT that I wanted the 545e for the LCI, not the slightly improved 530e. But in its lack of wisdom, BMWNA decided not to bring it across the pond.

So like you my current 530e might be my last BMW as I also can't stand the new grills.