[Tag]

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Should come from factory like this IMO.

[zero21]

When they get a splitter attached it'll look good I think.

[Lex Templar]

It really amplifies the vertical pieces which I'm not sure is good.
I prefer it the way it is from the factory.

[StickyPickle]

Originally Posted by Lex Templar

It really amplifies the vertical pieces which I'm not sure is good.
I prefer it the way it is from the factory.

Yeah, this is one of those times where I thought something looked better in my head but actually didn’t when executed irl. Those vertical slats/stems being present makes it difficult to pull this look off properly.

For now I think the black looks better than this but I appreciate companies are actively looking to improve it.

[Tag]

Originally Posted by Lex Templar

It really amplifies the vertical pieces which I'm not sure is good.
I prefer it the way it is from the factory.

Originally Posted by StickyPickle

Yeah, this is one of those times where I thought something looked better in my head but actually didn’t when executed irl. Those vertical slats/stems being present makes it difficult to pull this look off properly.

For now I think the black looks better than this but I appreciate companies are actively looking to improve it.

It's because they painted the body color past the slats. If it stopped just shy of where the slats begin it would be perfect. Here's a photoshop that I made a while ago demonstrating what I mean.

[Game]

I think it needs a front lip and should look great after that.

[NathObeaN]

Looks so much better. And this if aftermarket. If BMW designed it this way in mind it would probabaly look even better. LCI maybe?

[monte11974]

I want it!! On my ride!!
It should have come from factory.

[hufington]

Looks better than factory setup. Still missing something to look as aggressive as the rest of the car.

[fanofbmwe46]

Wow way way better

[jas165]

It really completes the front end - major upgrade!

[WifeBeforeCar]

I had the exact thought before. Definitely complete the look of the front end

[10"]

I think it looked better from the factory…this looks too bulky IMO—no wonder BMW didn’t do it this way…

[JustinHEMI]

I'm glad they did that. Definitely not for me.

[reward72]

I like it. Now give it dual headlamps and it would be (almost) perfect.

[dukat1]

can just that section be replaced, wondering if some companies can redesign it or would have to be a full bumper replacement?

[nathanm4]

Actually I kinda like it!

[Alan l.]

While i'm still not a fan of the front fascia this looks way better. With the right front lip design this has a lot of potential.

Alan

[mssVT98]

I like it in theory and if I don't look too closely it looks good. But to me where it goes wrong is that it doesn't make sense with the rest of the bumper. It emphasizes that the painted lower section isn't connected to the intake sections of the bumper, as opposed to being all one piece as you'd expect. That and the places where the vertical pieces connect to the lower section look too obvious to me that it's been painted and isn't factory. I think you'd need an entirely new bumper that includes an integrated painted center section to truly do this right. Which is probably not worth the cost or the effort, but I can't see another way of doing it such that it would look correct.

[Tallest]

Overall I like the idea of highlighting the center section and giving it more definition. It makes the car look more complete.

I dont think I would have gone with the same painting approach though. As others pointed out, the vertical fins that slice into the colored lip look uncomfortable. Same time, intakes either side look rather big still.

I propose something like this instead:

1) use the natural curve for all three intakes as the area of demarcation for where painted and unpainted bits are (green)
2) may be consider painting lower lip of the side intakes to match the center one, but thats optional (blue)
3) consider making sure that the black vertical splitters meet the lip thats also black near them, so they dont stand out so much. (red)

EDIT: as pointed out, the IND side scoops are carbon, factory ones are body painted. This makes my 2) point irrelevant. From stock, you would do pretty great just by highlighting the edge of the lip, without getting into the "trees" of the vertical slats.

[Quadruple VANOS]

Well executed. Looks much better. Thanks.

[StickyPickle]

Originally Posted by Tag

It's because they painted the body color past the slats. If it stopped just shy of where the slats begin it would be perfect. Here's a photoshop that I made a while ago demonstrating what I mean.

Yup, pretty much. From a distance the way it was done by IND looks fine until you get up close to it and see how the paint goes around the vertical slats. Gives it kind of a “teeth” appearance imo. Just doing the front edge of the lip would look much better to me but again, I’m glad companies are experimenting with this. We’re sure to have some great options to change the look of this in short time.