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BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum > E90 / E92 / E93 3-series Technical Forums > Cosmetic and Lighting Modifications (exterior/interior) > Blacklines - Vote!



View Poll Results: Do you prefer the look of Blackline Tail Lights?
Yes - Look much better than stock. 137 69.90%
No - I like the stock lights better. 59 30.10%
Voters: 196. You may not vote on this poll

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      05-04-2006, 12:30 AM   #1
marcus330i
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Blacklines don't make sense

I just don't "get" blacklines.

OK...I see all these posts about people buying blacklines for the E90. I had a 2001 E46 sedan with ambers and I switched them out for clears, front and back. The look of the car changed in a big way...looked great on a jet black car.

With the blacklines there isn't any amber to get rid of. The stock design of the tail lights is a perfect integration of the body lines...and the "L" shape of the red part is a strong visual for the completion of the look. The blacklines diffuse the cohesiveness of the butt end of the car and makes it look....like an old Toyota Avalon or something.

To each his own but I can think of several mods that would make the car better looking....blacklines aren't one of them.
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      05-04-2006, 12:36 AM   #2
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I have to admit, when the E90 first came out, I dind't like the taillights, but now I LOVE it. Having said that, the blackline is not bad either, at first I was thinking, "I'll have to get the blackline as soon as I get my car", but now, not so much anymore, but it still looks good to me either or. The OEM L-shape is evolutionary, while the blacklines are paying homage to the older style 3 series.
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      05-04-2006, 12:44 AM   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ZuerstBMW
Like you said "To each his own." BUT

I think they make the rear of the car look wider. The stock ones make the rear look squished to me. And 200.00 is a very reasonable price for them.
That's exactly why I like the blacklines. They definitely make the rear look a little wider and to me, makes the trunk height look a little lower. Another reason I like them is that they help make the car look a little different than other E90's and I always like to do that.
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      05-04-2006, 12:48 AM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by marcus330i
I just don't "get" blacklines.

OK...I see all these posts about people buying blacklines for the E90. I had a 2001 E46 sedan with ambers and I switched them out for clears, front and back. The look of the car changed in a big way...looked great on a jet black car.

With the blacklines there isn't any amber to get rid of. The stock design of the tail lights is a perfect integration of the body lines...and the "L" shape of the red part is a strong visual for the completion of the look. The blacklines diffuse the cohesiveness of the butt end of the car and makes it look....like an old Toyota Avalon or something.

To each his own but I can think of several mods that would make the car better looking....blacklines aren't one of them.
Amen
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      05-04-2006, 01:13 AM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by PersonaNonGrata
That's exactly why I like the blacklines. They definitely make the rear look a little wider and to me, makes the trunk height look a little lower. Another reason I like them is that they help make the car look a little different than other E90's and I always like to do that.
and then add an oem spoiler and it widens out even more... streeeeetch.... blacklines are starting to get played out, but i haven't seen very many on the street (tons of e90's around here tho) so maybe i'll still be somewhat unique if i get them.
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      05-04-2006, 01:13 AM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ZuerstBMW
Hey, if you rather have a squished azz, than a wide one, more power to you.
I like a tight a$$ better than a wide one.
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      05-04-2006, 01:14 AM   #7
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Looks are subjective. You might not understand it, but doesn't mean other poeple don't love them.

As funny as this sounds, the black line tail lights are the actual reason I am getting the 330i.

I liked the car, but rear was so awwful I just couldn't do it. But once I saw the blackline tail lights, and how much they truly transformed the rear...I fell in love and I decided to purchase an e90.
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      05-04-2006, 01:15 AM   #8
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I have to admit. I’ve seen the pics and I really don't get what the big deal is. Maybe I'm just not looking at them right, but I really don't see a big difference. Do pictures just not do them justice or something?

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      05-04-2006, 01:15 AM   #9
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one of the goals of me getting the blacklines was to get rid of the red turn signal.
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      05-04-2006, 01:19 AM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MIKEYMIKE
Looks are subjective. You might not understand it, but doesn't mean other poeple don't love them.

As funny as this sounds, the black line tail lights are the actual reason I am getting the 330i.

I liked the car, but rear was so awwful I just couldn't do it. But once I saw the blackline tail lights, and how much they truly transformed the rear...I fell in love and I decided to purchase an e90.
I have seen the picture of E 90 with black line but have not seen actual car in person, so I am not sure yet...
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      05-04-2006, 01:19 AM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by xcalibr
and then add an oem spoiler and it widens out even more... streeeeetch.... blacklines are starting to get played out, but i haven't seen very many on the street (tons of e90's around here tho) so maybe i'll still be somewhat unique if i get them.
Oh yes, that is on the list too. I'm planning on getting the blackines and the OEM painted spoiler.

I don't think blacklines are played out unless you get all the E90Post.com people together. The vast majority of people who own E90's have probably never heard of such a thing. I say get 'em.
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      05-04-2006, 01:25 AM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by marcus330i

With the blacklines there isn't any amber to get rid of. The stock design of the tail lights is a perfect integration of the body lines...and the "L" shape of the red part is a strong visual for the completion of the look. The blacklines diffuse the cohesiveness of the butt end of the car and makes it look....like an old Toyota Avalon or something.
I like the L-Shape of the stock tail lights. I disagree that blacklines change integration of the body lines - the crease in the side moves right into the separation line of white uppers and red lowers on the blacklines.

My car is Barrique Red. What I did not like was the white plastic border of the reverse lights. If BMW had made that outline either silver or chrome then no problem. On my car that white plastic looked horrible - like they left some kind of protective shipping material glued to the lights. The blacklines improve the look of my car's rear end immensely.

IMHO, the stock lights look great on the light colored cars and the blackline lights make the dark colored cars look better.
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      05-04-2006, 01:29 AM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by shragon
one of the goals of me getting the blacklines was to get rid of the red turn signal.
This is one of the major pluses for me as well. Also, the OEM lights just have way too much red for my tastes. Not to mention, they look smokin' hot on my jet black car. My next door neighbor has OEM lights, and an electric red 330i, and I think the color pair on her car look great!
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      05-04-2006, 01:31 AM   #14
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Quote:
Originally Posted by canucklion
I have to admit, when the E90 first came out, I dind't like the taillights, but now I LOVE it. Having said that, the blackline is not bad either, at first I was thinking, "I'll have to get the blackline as soon as I get my car", but now, not so much anymore, but it still looks good to me either or. The OEM L-shape is evolutionary, while the blacklines are paying homage to the older style 3 series.
Wow, my thoughts EXACTLY! I actually ordered the Blacklines for install on my E90 when I pick her up at the Performance Center on May 10th, but as of yesterday I was reconsidering my decision and ultimately it came down to my spending too much on accessories already and I called my CA and cut the Blacklines loose.

They were going to cost me $275, but now I've got that money to spend on window tint.
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      05-04-2006, 01:38 AM   #15
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Yeah you guys are right...BMW designers are amateur, they don't know what they're doing!! I mean the E46 came out in like 1999, so the design of the E90 was rushed, obviously the designers put no thought into it.

Thankfully we have design experts right here on E90 Forums who have all the expertise in the world, and hence go abouts re-designing the car all on their own. Wow great work fellas!

You know I don't like what those stupid BMW designers did with the roof. I think I'll cut it off and make my own convertible, yeah that's what I'll do!! The lines will flow better.

STOP TURNING A CLASSY BMW INTO A FUCKING PIMPMOBILE!!!!!!!!!!!!! :mad:
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      05-04-2006, 01:43 AM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 325er
Yeah you guys are right...BMW designers are amateur, they don't know what they're doing!! I mean the E46 came out in like 1999, so the design of the E90 was rushed, obviously the designers put no thought into it.

Thankfully we have design experts right here on E90 Forums who have all the expertise in the world, and hence go abouts re-designing the car all on their own. Wow great work fellas!

You know I don't like what those stupid BMW designers did with the roof. I think I'll cut it off and make my own convertible, yeah that's what I'll do!! The lines will flow better.

STOP TURNING A CLASSY BMW INTO A FUCKING PIMPMOBILE!!!!!!!!!!!!! :mad:
I'll drink to that.
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      05-04-2006, 01:48 AM   #17
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i dont think anyone here gets blacklines to be "different"so it cant be played out. i for one, got them because it makes the lines of the car just flow so much cleaner. like someone said earlier the hoffmeister kink runs right into the divide of the blacklines. the blacklines look "natural," meaning my friends wont even realize its there until i point them out. it looks stock and it should of been. but i also understand the heritage of the "L" shape tails.

i hated the old back end but once i got the car (prob due to bias) it grew on me...and it was a hard decision to change it to blacklines but im glad i did.
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      05-04-2006, 01:51 AM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 325er
Yeah you guys are right...BMW designers are amateur, they don't know what they're doing!! I mean the E46 came out in like 1999, so the design of the E90 was rushed, obviously the designers put no thought into it.

Thankfully we have design experts right here on E90 Forums who have all the expertise in the world, and hence go abouts re-designing the car all on their own. Wow great work fellas!

You know I don't like what those stupid BMW designers did with the roof. I think I'll cut it off and make my own convertible, yeah that's what I'll do!! The lines will flow better.

STOP TURNING A CLASSY BMW INTO A FUCKING PIMPMOBILE!!!!!!!!!!!!! :mad:
whoa, slow down there turbo. before you blow a gasket i just want to remind you that the Blacklines ARE designed/created by BMW. to each its own, buddy.
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      05-04-2006, 01:57 AM   #19
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They are played out in this site!!!

I'm currently stationed in Germany. 90s are everywhere here.

I still havent seen another E90 with blacklines on it.
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      05-04-2006, 02:02 AM   #20
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 325er
Yeah you guys are right...BMW designers are amateur, they don't know what they're doing!! I mean the E46 came out in like 1999, so the design of the E90 was rushed, obviously the designers put no thought into it.

Thankfully we have design experts right here on E90 Forums who have all the expertise in the world, and hence go abouts re-designing the car all on their own. Wow great work fellas!

You know I don't like what those stupid BMW designers did with the roof. I think I'll cut it off and make my own convertible, yeah that's what I'll do!! The lines will flow better.

STOP TURNING A CLASSY BMW INTO A FUCKING PIMPMOBILE!!!!!!!!!!!!! :mad:

So I take it that I should not send you pics of my new spinners then? Two words. ANGER MANAGMENT.
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      05-04-2006, 02:03 AM   #21
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I think the blackline looks good and the stock lights look good too. Like some members, I don't like too much RED in my rear, so I got the blacklight. So far, people around like it a lot. Look at the E46 coupe and sedan, they cleared out the red in the sedan taillights to make it in the coupe.
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      05-04-2006, 02:11 AM   #22
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To each his own.
BMW Motorsport uses them in the FIA WTCC:
http://i.eurosport.com/2006/04/01/266354.jpg

Last edited by Robin_NL; 05-04-2006 at 09:22 AM..
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