Controversial?: E86 Coupe with pre-facelift front bumper.

Now THAT is a front end. Quality.
Just taken the Z (with the same front end) to visit my mum (she's in a Nursing Home unfortunately, with advanced Dementia), and the roads were surprisingly empty. Happy days with the 'Sport' button engaged, as it's Christmas.
Wishing you (and everyone) a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
I'm on a few different online forums (fora?), mostly non-car related, and this one is by far the most friendly, encouraging, collaborative and entertaining one of the lot.
 
Always loved the retro prefacelift rear lights of my ex-roady.

OP, thoughts about that?
 
I must be one of the few who does not like the earlier bumper installed on the coupe.
I remember seeing one with it and pre-face tail lights, looked like something that has been bodged with parts that were available.
But as always, everyone has a different taste and as long as you like it, go for it 👍🏻
 
I have no problem with the facelift tail lights, prefer them in fact, and have no major issues with the facelift front, but I do think that the pre-facelfit front end better reflects the sleek curves of the overall coupe design.

On the plus side, whatever set up you have, it is still one of the best looking cars on the road - fact!
 
While I prefer the early front I definitely like the facelift rear lights better. Just realised another bonus with the pre-facelift bumper is it won't have those minging reflectors!
 
Facelift rear lights, for sure..
I like the thin LED light bars, it gives a nice modern twist and takesxme back to a time when manufacturers were experimenting with new lighting ideas instead of halogen bulbs with reflectors.

Facelift rears, definitely.

I visited a local paint shop today. His initial mix on a sample card for Montego Blue A51 was a little off, too purple.
He's going to get a lighter shade organised and we'll offer if up again to hopefully get a good match.
 
Addendums
To be honest, I've always preferred the facelift bumper. The pre-LCI looks amazing with that silver in the sun though! I think you definitely need a lighter colored car to pull it off.
 
Generally I find BMW LCIs an upgrade in terms of looks (E46, E39, E38) but sometimes they dilute the ‘pureness’ of the original design. Good examples of that are the E65 and E85 in my view. With the E85, the round elements of the rear lights fit the cluster profile better, and the front bumper fits more organic into the design.

That was why I specifically wanted and bought a pre-LCI E85. Of course there was also a slight price advantage in the older model, but not enough to stop me from buying a LCI E85 if that was what I preferred. Would have liked the extra power and rev range of the N52B30 though!
 
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Generally I find BMW LCIs an upgrade in terms of looks (E46, E39, E38) but sometimes they dilute the ‘pureness’ of the original design. Good examples of that are the E65 and E85 in my view. The round elements of the rear lights fit the profile better, and the the front bumper fits more organic into the design.

That was why I specifically wanted and bought a pre-LCI E85. Of course there was also a slight price advantage in the older model, but not enough to stop me from buying a LCI E85 if that was what I preferred. Would have liked the extra power and revs of the N52B30 though.

Yes, the LCI front bumper follows nothing of the original design. I never noticed it until my buddy mentioned it, then I couldn't unsee it.

That long, angular lower grill, it's a complete mis-match to ther rest of the curves and forms of the car. Same with the pointy fog lights. The large deep set fogs of the previous version are really nice. (and glass, and dont fill up with water)

It was enough to bother me but not enough to warrant the change, Montego Blue was not a pre-LCI colour so I had no option to locate a matching bumper. Whatever I did was going to cost £££.
But a £23 bumper including grills and fogs forced my hand.

My current bumper has no cracks or knocks but much road rash being a darker blue and if parked facing the sunshine these really show up, so I'll be glad to see a fresh bumper, too.
 
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