When it comes to modern BMW design, there seems to be one consistent punching bag for the media and enthusiasts alike — Kidney Grilles. With each new BMW that debuts, it seems as if BMW’s iconic Kidney Grilles get larger and larger. They seem to have reached fever pitch with the BMW X7, which has grilles large enough to catch small children (which I guess could be looked at as a safety feature). I, too, was one of the critics of the X7’s enormous grilles. However, I’ve seen a different light and am now of the opinion that BMW’s new grilles aren’t too big.
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Let’s take a trip back to the olden times, pre-war times. Namely, 1936, which was the year BMW developed the 328 Roadster, one of the brand’s best looking, most iconic cars. Now, let’s look at its twin Kidney Grilles. They’re the size, and width, of baseball bats. They’re absolutely enormous, just tall and skinny. Do they look ridiculous? No, they fit perfectly with the car and the era. What about the BMW 501, the spiritual precursor to the 5 Series? It also had very tall grilles and they were even a bit wider than the 328s.
But let’s move one to one very specific car, a car that is quite possibly the pretties BMW of all time, the BMW 507. The 507 is an icon. Elvis Presley owned one. John Surtees owned one. It was, and still is, an absolute legend of over-engineered technology and timeless beauty. Ever see its Kidney Grilles? They’re wider than John Goodman’s waste line. And the same goes for the BMW Z8, a stunning car designed by Henrik Fisker to evoke the spirit of the 507.
So BMW has been doing large grilles for a very long time. Some of its earliest grille designs ever were massive, just differently shaped than they are today. And, sure, the tall, skinny grilles of the BMW 328 Roadster are prettier than the massive squares of the new X7, but that doesn’t mean the X7’s are too big. They’re fitting with the times, when large engines need large amounts of airflow and the designs of cars are getting bigger and chunkier.
Cars are getting bigger, there’s no two ways about it. Ever take a look at modern wheels and brakes? The brake rotors on the new BMW M5 are bigger than the original wheels of my E36 328i. That’s not a joke, I had 15-inch wheels on my E36 when I first bought it and the new M5’s carbon ceramic brake rotors measure 15.55-inches. Everything is getting bigger and grilles are too. It’s the sign of the times.
So while they might be a bit shocking to see at first, I no longer think BMW’s grilles are too big. Despite how unpopular of an opinion that is.
Don’t disagree. I think the size of the X3,4,5,6 grill will grow on most everyone as soon as they see/drive them in person. All of the previous versions of those had that odd hole under the kidneys that the larger kidneys are now covering anyway.
New models are so subtle larger kidneys are quickest way to i.d. ’em.
Couldn’t agree more. In fact, I can’t wait for the X7 LCI.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/75162fa9d8317c0d8c2dd6edeecf53e1bbd37f280d38dc14ac3e1d0f3ccd1ea3.png
Man, you’ve made me laugh!!))))))
lol did u actually take time to photoshop that
Hahaha!
I am glad someone sees it the way I do.
No LCI, radiators for impending steam-powered (& heated) Model Sssss X7.
Now you’re just being silly, but okay.
Considering how BMW’s design form have been for last 3-4 years, one should be ready to witness all such atrocity.
Take this one with a pinch of salt, guys.
I took it with a truckload of salt and of course I understood it was exaggerated. But I don’t agree with the notion. It fits the car, the large SUV they designed. I think the proportions are reasonable.
And now with the innovation that LED/Laser head lights has brought, designers are now able to make them smaller,thinner and into basically any shape without sacrificing the light output, it leaves a lot empty space upfront to design the grilles to any size and shape they wish, minimising all that would be negative space…
Sorry, they’re way too big. It’s seems BMW is headed to the oversized ugly excess of Lexus grills.
But in most recent Lexus examples, the grille has started to make sense and appears to be in sync with rest of the design details. my personal opinion. :)
Now I understand. You like plows.
… and here you are !
Can’t help you.
Glad you came around Nico. ;)
I agree. It fits the car. It’s a large SUV, it would look silly with small kidney grilles. And the thing is, grilles look good. This is the best SUV BMW has made.
The old grills were narrow but long. The new ones are huge and square. Very different. But i guess running a BMW blog, you gotta be pro BMW no matter what
To me, its not the size of the grille thats bothersome. Its the way the grille is integrated with the rest of details thats bothersome.
It stands out from the rest of the details a bit too much. its shape doesn’t gel with the rest of the details (the grilles are rounded and curvy where most other details are sharp and edgy). Its only the grille that dominates the view while other details appear to be in background. Ford Raptor has one of the biggest grilles in existence. It can probably swallow an aligator (or a baby aligator, atleast) but still it fits perfectly and proportionately with rest of the details, which isn’t the case with BMW X7 and to some extent X3 & X5.
BMW hasn’t moved much with their designs in most cases recently (read, Sedan designs and now 8 series). And whatever small steps of evolution they have taken, they lacked imagination and freshness. Grille is one of that example and hockey stick being the other one.
X7 is new entrant in a lucrative segment, of course they’re making it unmistakably BMW. Big kidneys are like Parthenon on s Rolls. Hasn’t moved much with their designs?! 8 is ALL new.
Totally agree. The new grilles are very beautiful and fit perfectly with the new design language. They’re angular, sporty. And on SUV’s especially, why would you want a smaller grille? It needs to be imposing and aggressive, which they are. Also, for instance on the 8 Series, the Kidneys are very wide as well, which reminds me of much older BMW’s.
“the pretties BMW of all time“