BMW Gave Its Kidney Grilles Kidney Grilles

Buyers in Germany get the option of Level 3 driving assist, but the tech adds some extra clutter to the grille.

bmw 7 series revised grille

Chris Bruce

By: Chris Bruce

Nov 10, 2023 at 1:08pm ET

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The massive kidney grilles on the current BMW 7 Series – not to mention the M3, iX, and XM – are polarizing among enthusiasts, and that's being generous. Whenever Motor1 publishes a story about these models, it's a safe bet we see a comment from someone complaining about the ostentatious noses. Now, BMW has arguably made the front end even worse as part of improving the 7 Series' technology suite.

The BMW Personal Pilot L3 system is a hands-free driver-assistance system that becomes an option for the German-market 7 Series and i7 in March. This equipment can control the car at speeds up to 37 miles per hour. The tech adds the equivalent of $6,402 (6,000 euros) to a vehicle's price.

Gallery: BMW Personal Pilot L3 - Level 3 automated driving system

BMW i7 with Personal Pilot L3

Source: BMW AG.

This system should make commuting in traffic easier for 7 Series drivers, but the tech does nothing positive for the sedan's looks. BMW has to add ultrasonic sensors, radar, and 3D lidar, and some of these pieces fit into the upper part of the kidney grilles.

There are now inset trapezoidal areas with rectangular sensors on each side of the grille (see below). They make it look like tiny kidneys are on top of the larger ones. The new elements only make the already busy-looking nose appear even more cluttered.

BMW i7 with Personal Pilot L3

For now, the BMW Personal Pilot L3 is only available in Germany, so we don't have to worry about seeing a 7 Series with this crowded front-end styling on the road. But, this tech could proliferate to other markets eventually.

What do you think?

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Beyond their styling, the latest 7 Series and i7 are intriguing automobiles. While the general consensus seems to be that it has an awkward-looking nose, the folks on the Motor1 team with time behind the wheel praise the new sedan. They say you can't see how ugly it is while sitting behind the wheel.

Let us know your opinion in the comments below. It doesn't seem likely, but maybe a few folks out there think the revised grille improves the look.

A Bushel Of BMW News:

BMW XM Loses $9,900 And Part Of Its Name

New BMW 5 Series Touring Coming To The US Only As An M5: Report

Source: BMW

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