380 posts · Joined 2005. #6 · Mar 12, 2015. IMO, the pre-facelift hasn't aged very well - it just looks a bit too sad with its drooping nose and sad eyes. The facelift has worked wonders for her, much more purposeful and worth the slight premium. The profile of the body line is just so handsome.
Recovery time. “The advantage of a mini facelift is a quicker recovery and less downtime,” says Dr. Karam. That varies based on the exact surgical techniques, but on average, it could be about one week versus up to two weeks for a full facelift. However, it’s important to mention that the associated surgical risks aren’t also reduced.
Hella used to sell an aftermarket kit for pre-facelift E39s that includes two new facelift tail lights, ballasts, and instructions for fitting. I beleive it also involved cutting a little bit out of one of the openings on each side. I bet if you search the E39 section of this site you can find threads of people installing the kits.
LEDs are also standard. The slimmer and longer proportions make the rear look wider and sportier. BMW has also restyled the bumper and tailpipes. Inside, BMW kept the same overall layout, but Door cards/handles/armrests became more curved. Dash became a three-part dash with the airbag moved above into the soft plastic area. Centre console design. Pre-facelifts had the clock in the roof above the mirror, facelifts have it in the speedo. 3 buttons on the key instead of 2 on the pre-facelift.I prefer the post-facelift on all e38s except for silver ones. Maybe it is because I owned a silver 98 e38 for 8 years. Though if it is pre-facelift it has to have amber corners, I think pre-facelift clear corners look really really really cheap.The main differences between the BMW E90 facelift and pre-facelift models are: Exterior Design: The facelift model features updated front and rear bumpers, headlights, and grille design. Interior updates: The facelift model has a revised interior with updated materials and technology. Engine updates: Some engine updates were made for the facelift model, including improved performance …