A BMW without the double kidney grille? Unthinkable! For almost 90 years, virtually every vehicle produced by Bayerische Motoren Werke – whether a concept car or a production model – has been adorned with the kidney grille, whose distinct shape is the hallmark of every BMW. The fact that new powertrain technologies and the elimination of the cooling function have opened up new design possibilities for the front end of the vehicle is now also having an impact on the design of the kidney grille. Join us on a brief journey through the history of BMW and BMW M – with a focus on the famous front end.
THE MILESTONES OF BMW KIDNEY DESIGN.
THE BEGINNINGS.
THE BEGINNINGS.
The BMW 303 laid the foundations in 1933. As the brand’s first model, it featured the characteristic double kidney grille that still characterises every BMW today. Originally a square-edged radiator grille, rounded at the top and bottom and with a highly sculptural appearance, the design evolved towards narrower proportions in the run-up to the Second World War.
In 1956, the BMW 503 featured a significantly more compact kidney grille, complemented by additional side air intakes. The BMW 507 Roadster, launched at the same time, however, offered a radical reinterpretation of the double kidney: two large, horizontally oriented openings replaced the classic shape – a design approach that was not revisited until the 1990s and has more recently been reflected, for example, in the large air intakes on the BMW Z4 G29.
Starting with the Neue Klasse in 1961, the kidney was embedded directly between two wide horizontal grilles. The kidneys of the BMW 1500, 1600, 1800 and 2000 resembled those of the BMW 503, but were connected for the first time and even narrower than on any previous BMW models. This design served as the stylistic blueprint for the BMW core models right through to the 1980s. In doing so, BMW established the kidney as a central identifying feature that combined functionality with high brand recognition.
BMW M1 E26 (1978).
BMW M1 E26 (1978).
The first independent model by M GmbH immediately presented a special case in terms of the double kidney design: for the legendary mid-engine sports car, the BMW M1 from 1978, only ultra-flat air intakes were feasible due to its deeply recessed front end; however, these were still required to retain the character of the kidney as a defining feature of the brand. This double kidney is therefore one of the smallest ever to adorn a BMW. The 1972 BMW Turbo concept car served as the inspiration for the coupé. As was later the case with the BMW M1, the kidney grilles here appear to be moulded directly into the extension of the power dome; they are separated from narrow secondary air intakes by body panels in the car’s colour and flanked by pop-up headlights. The design of the double kidney on the M1 was reflected in the front-end styling of subsequent niche BMW models, such as the BMW Z1 (1988) and the BMW M8 prototype E31 (1990).
BMW M3 E36 (1992).
BMW M3 E36 (1992).
Another evolutionary leap followed in the early 1990s. The second generation of the BMW M3 featured a flat, horizontal double kidney, which was not particularly wide. Unlike the first generation, the BMW M3 E30, the two halves of the grille were once again separated. The kidneys are distinctly rectangular with slightly rounded corners and – this is particularly noteworthy here – are separated from the headlight strips not by additional grilles, but solely by panels in the body colour. This design was carried over to many models from the 1990s onwards. BMW M fans came to appreciate these models with their distinctive design, and today many of these cars are regarded as classics: from the BMW M5 E34 (1988–1995) through the BMW Z3 M Roadster (1997–2002) and the BMW Z3 M Coupé (1998–2002) to the BMW M3 E46 (2000–2006).
BMW M3 F80 (2014).
BMW M3 F80 (2014).
The fifth generation of the BMW M3 (2014–2018) saw a further evolution: for the first time, the separate, relatively wide kidney grilles extended right up to the headlights. A similar grille design is also featured on the BMW M760 Li xDrive G12 (2017–2022) and the BMW M5 F90 (2017).
BMW M8 F91, F92, F93 and BMW Z4 M40i G29 (2018/2019).
BMW M8 F91, F92, F93 and BMW Z4 M40i G29 (2018/2019).
With two high-performance BMW models, the double kidney takes on a new and relatively angular shape from 2018 onwards. This is particularly striking on the BMW Z4 M40i (2018–2025) and the BMW M8 – Coupé, Convertible and Gran Coupé – (2019–2025); geometrically speaking, the grilles now form very wide, horizontally oriented pentagons, which are connected on the M8 but separate on the Z4. At the sides, small, body-coloured strips connect to the headlamp units. As with all newer BMW coupés, the sporty character is emphasised by the fact that the kidney grilles ‘open downwards’, thereby placing the visual centre of gravity of the front end lower and closer to the road.
BMW X7 M50i G07 (2019).
BMW X7 M50i G07 (2019).
Just how much the design of the kidney can vary between different models in the BMW range is evident when looking at the 2019 luxury SAV: the BMW X7 M50i featured a double kidney similar to that of the BMW M8, which was produced at the same time. However, on the X7 M50i it is considerably larger and much more striking – and therefore far more prominent. This principle was continued in 2022 with the BMW X7 M60i model update.
BMW Vision M NEXT (2019).
BMW Vision M NEXT (2019).
With its vision vehicle in 2019, BMW M offered a glimpse of what the brand’s primary distinguishing feature might look like on future models: on the BMW Vision M NEXT hybrid sports car, the defining feature is a highly sculpted, glass-enclosed double kidney that emerges directly from the front without any boundaries, its surfaces featuring engraved, stylised BMW logos. The lighting of the two kidneys and a colour gradient within them further enhance the sculptural, three-dimensional effect.
BMW M3 LIMOUSINE G80 und BMW M4 COUPÉ G82 (2020).
BMW M3 LIMOUSINE G80 und BMW M4 COUPÉ G82 (2020).
The next stage in the design’s evolution was evident in the BMW M3 and BMW M4 duo in 2020. The design of the front end marks a radical turning point in the design language of M GmbH. The dominant feature is the vertically elongated, frameless double kidney, whose horizontal slats create a dynamic sense of width. In contrast to the rather flat radiator grilles of previous generations, this element now extends almost the entire height of the front end and acts as a central focal point. In a historical context, this new design represented a departure from the flatter kidney grille that had previously dominated. It fulfils the requirement to visually distinguish the high-performance models clearly from the rest of the range, thereby incorporating a design feature derived from motorsport.
BMW XM G09 (2022).
BMW XM G09 (2022).
The BMW XM is the first vehicle developed exclusively by M GmbH since the BMW M1. The engineers and designers therefore felt it was important to create an expressive design language that sends a clear signal of a powerful, emotive presence that transcends conventional norms and conventions. This naturally also applied to the design of the BMW M kidney positioned between the headlights. This signature feature boasts the horizontal kidney slats typical of BMW M high-performance sports cars, whilst the double surround emphasises the octagonal contours of the two-part kidney grille. The Iconic Glow contour lighting, which was available as standard for the first time on the BMW XM G09, further highlights the vehicle’s impressive presence.
BMW M2 G87 (2022).
BMW M2 G87 (2022).
When the BMW M2 was unveiled at the end of 2022, the new horizontal kidney design immediately caught the eye. The designers have deliberately taken a new direction, setting the model apart stylistically from the large, vertical kidney grilles of other models. The kidney of the BMW M2 G87 is wider than it is tall and blends seamlessly into the front of the vehicle without a frame. It gives the model a very distinctive appearance. Instead of the traditional twin bars, the BMW M2 G87 features horizontal slats, a direct nod to the angular design of legendary models such as the BMW M3 E30.
BMW i7 M70 G70 (2023).
BMW i7 M70 G70 (2023).
The BMW i7 M70 embodies progressive luxury, which is reflected in the confident design of the kidney. At the front, the kidney grille stands very upright – giving the car a distinguished presence. The kidney grille slats are finished entirely in black, making the car appear even more striking at first glance. Instead of the classic slats, the BMW i7 M70 features a closed kidney grille, as the electric model, unlike its combustion-engine counterpart, no longer requires air intakes.
BMW X2 M35i xDrive U10 (2023).
BMW X2 M35i xDrive U10 (2023).
The redesigned kidney on the BMW X2 marks a departure from the design typically associated with SAVs to date, a fact that becomes particularly clear when compared with the BMW X1. Whilst the upright kidney of the X1 tends to emphasise its elegant character, the kidney design of the X2 is aimed at conveying a sporty character. This is exemplified by the BMW X2 M35i xDrive. With its M specific front apron that opens downwards, it boasts a distinctive and expressive design, which is further emphasised by the kidney grille with its striking hexagonal shape.
BMW M5 G90 (2024).
BMW M5 G90 (2024).
When designing the BMW M5, the focus was above all on clearly conveying a sense of presence and performance. The shark nose – in true BMW 5 Series style – is flat, oriented towards the road and directed forwards. This is particularly evident when viewed from the side. The newly designed BMW M kidney, finished in High-gloss Black, is almost completely closed, which visually enhances the car’s dynamism and lends it an even more expressive character.
BMW X3 M50 G45 (2024).
BMW X3 M50 G45 (2024).
On the upright front end of the new BMW X3, the large BMW kidney exudes a confident presence. It represents a visual evolution of its predecessor. Inside the BMW kidney grille, an innovative structure comprising vertical and diagonal slats creates a striking accent. The M Performance version, the BMW X3 M50 xDrive, adopts the outline of the X3 kidney but features distinctive details in the form of horizontally arranged kidney grille slats in black, which emphasise the model’s performance character. The standard BMW Iconic Glow contour lighting wraps around both kidney elements of the X3 M50.
BMW M Concept Neue Klasse (2026).
BMW M Concept Neue Klasse (2026).
The BMW M Concept Neue Klasse showcases the new design language for high-performance vehicles for the first time – offering an uncompromising glimpse of the next generation of electric BMW M models. This design breakthrough is also evident in the concept car’s new kidney: it is flat, yet extends across the entire width, so that the grille forms a single unit with the light signature and the M Yellow Lights.
QUO VADIS, KIDNEY DESIGN.
From the towering radiator grille of the BMW 303 to the flat, digitally-inspired front end of the BMW M Concept Neue Klasse, the double kidney impressively demonstrates how a trademark can remain constant while constantly reinventing itself. The journey of the BMW double kidney is therefore far from over. On the contrary: with the Neue Klasse, a new chapter begins in which the kidney is no longer merely a functional element, but a carrier of light, identity and digital presence – and thus continues to shape the face of BMW M.
