[carseatsm5]

Caught a look at my headlights while out last night and experienced renewed disbelief that they changed the design. They’re just so damn cool. Any time I see them on another car in my rearview I think the same.

Pre-LCI tail lights however are really uninspired. LCIs are a clear improvement.

Just revisiting after some time to digest the changes. Not trying to start a flame war.

[Spunky]

I’m not a fan of the LCI’s front as well, DRL looks like a Golf. Tail lights are nice and contemporary. I’ll keep the car longer this time, since I don’t like BMW’s new design language, sound and they ruined the gauges. I’ll just swap the tail lights.

[CosmicCharlie]

I think the LCI headlights, taillights and associated bumper redesigns are all major improvements over the pre-LCI design. The pre-LCI lights always looked bulbous and out of place to me, tail lights= just plain awful. I think the entire package lends a sleeker and more modern visual impression. To me, the pre-lci cars look tired and a bit dated, but at the end of the day any M5 is a pretty cool car.

[MSchfiftyFive]

This will be an unpopular opinion for sure but I haven't been a fan of BMW's headlight design for the 21st century, Audi just had that piece more figured out in general. I miss the sweeping animation on my RS7, it was cool as shit every time you locked or unlocked the car. Even the LCI, I like them more than the pre-LCI, different while still looking like a BMW, but I've never thought it was a part of the car they did as well as Audi or a few other manufacturers. Just one tiny part of a car though, and clearly I love the M enough otherwise to be driving one.

EDIT: Added a video to show what I meant, hah:

View post on imgur.com

[AmooManiak]

Originally Posted by CosmicCharlie

I think the LCI headlights, taillights and associated bumper redesigns are all major improvements over the pre-LCI design. The pre-LCI lights always looked bulbous and out of place to me, tail lights= just plain awful. I think the entire package lends a sleeker and more modern visual impression. To me, the pre-lci cars look tired and a bit dated, but at the end of the day any M5 is a pretty cool car.

Agreed, this was one of the major reasons why I waited to pick up an LCI. LCI to me screams 2021 executive luxury + sport in one package where the pre-LCI looks like a slight evolution from the F10.

Nothing wrong with prefering the F10 (I used to have one), but the LCI was finally worth the upgrade from the F10 when it comes to design.

[ChalkyM5]

Originally Posted by carseatsm5

Caught a look at my headlights while out last night and experienced renewed disbelief that they changed the design. They’re just so damn cool. Any time I see them on another car in my rearview I think the same.

Pre-LCI tail lights however are really uninspired. LCIs are a clear improvement.

Just revisiting after some time to digest the changes. Not trying to start a flame war.

Could not agree more

[will0621]

Originally Posted by carseatsm5

Caught a look at my headlights while out last night and experienced renewed disbelief that they changed the design. They’re just so damn cool. Any time I see them on another car in my rearview I think the same.

Pre-LCI tail lights however are really uninspired. LCIs are a clear improvement.

Just revisiting after some time to digest the changes. Not trying to start a flame war.

I definitely get your take as I was in the same boat months ago while shopping for a M5. At first I limited myself to 2019 models only due to the headlight design as well as the gauge cluster. However due to the used car market I couldn’t justify overpaying for a used 2019 with the options I wanted, when a 2021 was only slightly more at the time.

Ended up getting a 2021 despite my initial thoughts on the headlights. After seeing them in person I think it is far more modern and suits the modern m5. Although true it has lost the traditional bmw style I think they make the car look far more aggressive. The taillights, I think most agree the lci is improved. I still think the old gauge cluster is better but I look at the hud most of the time anyway.

I still think the pre lci looks great but overall am glad I decided on the ‘21.

[TrevorM3]

car looks great... you need some windshield tint..

[AmooManiak]

Originally Posted by will0621

Ended up getting a 2021 despite my initial thoughts on the headlights. After seeing them in person I think it is far more modern and suits the modern m5. Although true it has lost the traditional bmw style I think they make the car look far more aggressive. The taillights, I think most agree the lci is improved. I still think the old gauge cluster is better but I look at the hud most of the time anyway.

I still think the pre lci looks great but overall am glad I decided on the ‘21.

Awesome car, we have the same color

I think this is a typical scenario where owners of the slightly older design dislike the new designs and eventually switch to it. Will probably happen with the LCI guys when the new model comes out and everyone "dislikes" it until they realize that it's actually progressive and more modern. Happens all the time. Happened with the F10s when the G30s/F90s came out. All the F10 owners complained and eventually jumped ship.

The same will happen with the G80/G82s with the big grilles. All the people complaining and are in the market for that type of car will eventually switch to it.

[Neptune7]

I prefer the old headlights too, though like the taillights from the LCI more than pre-LCI. That would be the perfect combo IMO.

[Damzz]

Originally Posted by carseatsm5

Caught a look at my headlights while out last night and experienced renewed disbelief that they changed the design. They’re just so damn cool. Any time I see them on another car in my rearview I think the same.

Pre-LCI tail lights however are really uninspired. LCIs are a clear improvement.

Just revisiting after some time to digest the changes. Not trying to start a flame war.

Couldn't agree more. I kept my '19 M5C and just swapped the taillights.

[carseatsm5]

Originally Posted by Damzz

Couldn't agree more. I kept my '19 M5C and just swapped the taillights.

I want to do that but I’m not handy enough plus the coding seems like a nightmare. Wish BMW would just sell/install a kit.

[Bluehorseshoe]

Sadly, all manufacturers change things just to change things. A lot of people need to justify their jobs. Quite sad.

[euro*]

Originally Posted by carseatsm5

I want to do that but I’m not handy enough plus the coding seems like a nightmare. Wish BMW would just sell/install a kit.

It's not a nightmare lol. For somebody that knows what they are doing it will take 20-30mins, and most of that time is actually taken by reading the vehicle, coding is quick.

[Blindside_137]

I find the front bumper on the pre-LCI more aggressive as well.

In either case it's a toss up though, the M5 is so good looking whether LCI or pre-LCI

[adolzero]

take oss design，it brings more aggressive look on prelci and i think the design approach is very trendy，the lci headlight is very similar to Skoda

[AmooManiak]

Originally Posted by adolzero

take oss design，it brings more aggressive look on prelci and i think the design approach is very trendy，the lci headlight is very similar to Skoda

I had something similar on my F10. Paid a guy in Chicago close to $2k for parts and labor. Headlights had to be cut open and I had them blacked out while he was at it. There were a few reasons why I would not recommend them and keep it stock (LCI or Pre-LCI) instead of going this route.

1. At first I really liked them, but after a while I thought they were too "Asian" for a German executive sedan. There is too much going on.
2. The car needed another set of wires running to the fuse box and they did not always light up correctly in the winter.
3. Since the headlight has to be cut open, the crafstmanship would never be the same as a stock light. May not bother some but I'm really picky when it comes to these things and every time I opened the hood I could see even though the lenses were replaced with brand new ones.

All in all, looks cool at first but eventually I wish I hadn't done it.