BMW design direction - bangle comes good
Discussion
randlemarcus said:
But I hired a Z4 the other week, and it was saggy, wierd looking and Fugly. And it drove like a Micra. BMW=Unforgiven.
Although I must admit,I prefer the flame styley thing to something like the Disco 3 "we forgot to bring corners" motif.
Although I must admit,I prefer the flame styley thing to something like the Disco 3 "we forgot to bring corners" motif.
Hmmm Don't know what Micra you've driven but I know which I prefer to drive everyday. Ain't the Micra either!
A good thread topic and well argued, but I predict that the BMW hate squad will be along soon to pour scorn.
My own take is that these Bangle designs are difficult, but are an essential jump in design evolution. You can see elements of the design appearing in other manufacturers' designs now, such as the challenging new S Class.
The previous 7, 5 and even 3 now look extraordinarily old-fashioned and closer to the generation before than to the current models.
I'll be that the Z4 the other poster hired was a 2.2, in which case, although the Micra comparison is clearly hyperbole, what did you expect?
My own take is that these Bangle designs are difficult, but are an essential jump in design evolution. You can see elements of the design appearing in other manufacturers' designs now, such as the challenging new S Class.
The previous 7, 5 and even 3 now look extraordinarily old-fashioned and closer to the generation before than to the current models.
I'll be that the Z4 the other poster hired was a 2.2, in which case, although the Micra comparison is clearly hyperbole, what did you expect?
designo said:
a few years later...
Sorry, but most of them remain pretty damn ugly.
I think it telling that they "bottled it" on the new 3-series (crucial to their P&L). IMO the Z4 is the best looking of the new range and they should be congratulated for it, but it still falls short of "beautiful" by some distance.
Getting better at it? maybe. There ? no.
I agree with a lot of what the original poster has to say and also with our resident solicitor.
But IMO its not all good news and here is my roll call of BMW's band of ugly brothers:
The 1 series is a real bread van of a design.
The X3 again is another ugly mother and a car that really should have had the styling of the new X5 which really does look quite stunning.
The 6 series is another frumpy design which only just pulls it off in the right colour.
The Z4 is let down again by that ugly front end and doesnt even get close to the free flowing lines of the Porsche boxster.
The 7 is another poor design and ugly as sin when sat next to our Merc cls,that's also one of the reasons why they depreciate so badly.
The current 3 and 5 really do make the previous genneration look ancient like them or not while the fourth coming Z8 looks to be a real stunner and again what the Z4 should have looked like.
Its all down to personal taste at the end of the day and i believe BMW manufacture a good variety of cars that have a broad appeal and for that they should be applauded.
Ps L.A Good to hear you on this forum,just one question for you.......
How the
has you managed to notch up 14thousand posts 30 months?
I thought you lived in the sunshine state not in Siberia!
But IMO its not all good news and here is my roll call of BMW's band of ugly brothers:
The 1 series is a real bread van of a design.
The X3 again is another ugly mother and a car that really should have had the styling of the new X5 which really does look quite stunning.
The 6 series is another frumpy design which only just pulls it off in the right colour.
The Z4 is let down again by that ugly front end and doesnt even get close to the free flowing lines of the Porsche boxster.
The 7 is another poor design and ugly as sin when sat next to our Merc cls,that's also one of the reasons why they depreciate so badly.
The current 3 and 5 really do make the previous genneration look ancient like them or not while the fourth coming Z8 looks to be a real stunner and again what the Z4 should have looked like.
Its all down to personal taste at the end of the day and i believe BMW manufacture a good variety of cars that have a broad appeal and for that they should be applauded.
Ps L.A Good to hear you on this forum,just one question for you.......
How the
has you managed to notch up 14thousand posts 30 months? I thought you lived in the sunshine state not in Siberia!
Edited by rob05 on Thursday 14th September 12:37
I see these designs as a transitional stage. You have to remember that BMW used to be castigated for making hte new model look exactly like the old model. It was time for a jump and that was never going to be painless.
The new X5 looks very good, unlike the awkward X3. The 3 Series looks good. The 5 looks good with sports kit and 17"+ wheels. The 7 has improved in the latest incarnation, but is still difficult from some angles. The 6 I sometimes like and sometimes don't, but I do like the M6. The Z4 is a big improvement on the Z3, but the front isn't quite right. THe Z4 Coupe looks great, apart from the front.
One thing BMW should drop immediately, except for special orders is the chrome window surrounds. They look terrible on these ultra-modern designs.
The new X5 looks very good, unlike the awkward X3. The 3 Series looks good. The 5 looks good with sports kit and 17"+ wheels. The 7 has improved in the latest incarnation, but is still difficult from some angles. The 6 I sometimes like and sometimes don't, but I do like the M6. The Z4 is a big improvement on the Z3, but the front isn't quite right. THe Z4 Coupe looks great, apart from the front.
One thing BMW should drop immediately, except for special orders is the chrome window surrounds. They look terrible on these ultra-modern designs.
aeroresh said:
Los Angeles said:
designo said:
... a few years later have matured in the public eye into very tidy designs.
Like hell they have.Speak for yourself!
I like em all now
in fact i love the 7 
The trouble was (is) that the old mod 5 and 7 were design classics , how do you follow such great looking cars ,, you will never be popular replacing them
los Angeles said:
Zod said:
I see these designs as a transitional stage.
I believe you are right in that observation, Zod. It is work in progress. The latest designs look far more harmonious, cleaner, but I hear Crash Angle has long been promoted from the drawing board.
They're all van Hooydonk now, I believe.los Angeles said:
Zod said:
They're all van Hooydonk now, I believe.
I wonder if he will junk the ugly boot line, the one that makes a BMW look as if it has a large picnic hamper on its rear end, or is shaped after a hamster's bum. 
Edited by Zod on Thursday 14th September 16:42
IMHO the designs are a slow progression, and to see the likes of MB copying the rear design, and most of the interior from the current 7 into the S Class shows that 5 or 6 years ago BMW had got it right. I think the current 7 is the best looking car in its segment, and is selling 4 to 1 against the new S Class.
But the new 3 series coupe is I think a step backwards for BMW, even if it is a very pretty looking car.
But the new 3 series coupe is I think a step backwards for BMW, even if it is a very pretty looking car.
simonrockman said:
This is a troll. Right?
it would be a somewhatt novel trolling technique. Are you sure you are not heading that way yourself with that post (i.e. suggesting on the BMW forum that a post praising BMW design is a troll could be construed as a troll itself)? Edited by Zod on Thursday 14th September 16:41
Marki said:
The trouble was (is) that the old mod 5 and 7 were design classics , how do you follow such great looking cars ,, you will never be popular replacing them
Yup, those cars were designed very well and had understated handsome good looks and quality. The Bangle designs look like they're trying too hard and have unnecessary styling cues, there was nothing on the old designs that didn't need to be there
Agree about the X3 designwise it is a piece of arse ejaculate! when i first saw one on the road I laughed. like the classic one series ad on sniffpetrol - just how desperate are you to own the new BMW haha.
MB is a good example of another marque playing catch up to BMWs first minute drop goal - the new S class and its 'controversial' wheelarches and BMW inspired rear is another rectal discharge. only the AMG version looks faintly cool - nothing like the classicness of the previous model
trolling? I had to look up the meaning lol. I wasnt intentionally trolling saw the afore mentioned red 3 series and wondered if anyone thought the same bout BMs
Designo
MB is a good example of another marque playing catch up to BMWs first minute drop goal - the new S class and its 'controversial' wheelarches and BMW inspired rear is another rectal discharge. only the AMG version looks faintly cool - nothing like the classicness of the previous model
trolling? I had to look up the meaning lol. I wasnt intentionally trolling saw the afore mentioned red 3 series and wondered if anyone thought the same bout BMs
Designo
los Angeles said:
Zod said:
simonrockman said:
This is a troll. Right?
it would be a somewhatt novel trolling technique. Are you sure you are not heading that way yourself with that post (i.e. suggesting on the BMW forum that a post praising BMW design is a troll could be construed as a troll itself)?
The definition of a troll is getting confusing. I thought it meant someone without a track-record on PH who registers solely to cause dissent by expressing an extreme opinion without qualification or attempt to defend his position.Does that mean I should tell him Bollox? or should I just go BLAH BLAH BLAH?
Edited by bmwdrivernigel on Friday 15th September 01:04
I understood "troll" to mean someone posting something controversial, which they didn't believe, just to stir things up a bit.
There is a twist to my posting though. I'm not saying "you don't believe this", I'm saying "how can anyone believe this, the only decent thing Bangle ever did was the coupe Fiat". The 5/6/7 are all uncomfortable to took at.
Simon
There is a twist to my posting though. I'm not saying "you don't believe this", I'm saying "how can anyone believe this, the only decent thing Bangle ever did was the coupe Fiat". The 5/6/7 are all uncomfortable to took at.
Simon
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