E46 M3 - Why no headlight facelift?

[Aubrey]

Hi guys, as per the title, why are there no facelifted headlights on the later E46 M3s? The other 3 series have them, but not the M3. I notice they did update the rear lights though, seems strange to do one and not the other.

I actually prefer the older style headlights to the curvier facelifted versions anyway!

Edited by Aubrey on Monday 16th June 14:32

[Vee]

Would have to redesign the front wings too to take the new lights.
The rears would be unchanged so not a problem.
Too much hassle I guess.

[Aubrey]

But surely for the flagship model in the range, you'd think BMW would go to the extra effort?

[john_p]

Aubrey said:

But surely for the flagship model in the range, you'd think BMW would go to the extra effort?

Different wings and bonnet and (I think) bumper - presumably needed new crash testing too - I guess they looked at the costs of doing it and it was prohibitive, compared to the profit from selling 'x' E46 M3's over the remaining lifetime of the car.

[Aubrey]

I suppose all of the E46 3 series except the M3 share the same wing shape, so they would sell a larger quantity of facelifted 3 series than they would sell facelifted M3s?

[Huliganov]

Looks better as it is IMO.

[E30M3SE]

Aubrey said:

But surely for the flagship model in the range, you'd think BMW would go to the extra effort?

Not if it adversely effect the bottom line.

[daveco]

Huliganov said:

Looks better as it is IMO.

I don't think so personally, a silver facelifted 330ci sport is the best looking car bmw have made in the last 10 years.

[Aubrey]

Wouldn't be too difficult to photoshop some face-lifted headlights onto an M3, see what it looks like....

[E36GUY]

Huliganov said:

Looks better as it is IMO.

[amare32]

The face lifted lights would look too 'feminine' on the M3.

Just my 2 cents.

[LC23]

amare32 said:

The face lifted lights would look too 'feminine' on the M3.

Just my 2 cents.

Yeah I agree with this. Not sure the official reason as to why the M3 didn't get a front end facelift, but the older style front lamps look "meaner" somehow, if that makes sense.

[jeffm3]

All i can say thank god they kept the front the same, i've seen 330 m3 look alike with wings bumper etc. in a old bmw performance mag (i think) and it looked shiet IMO it didn't look right at all,