BMW Design - What happened?

[LuS1fer]

stuart-b said:

GroundEffect said:

It got fat compared to the E86...

Well it's a great looking chubber! Frequently voted best looking roadster. OP was talking about design not weight

Looks like the QE2 with a big nose to me.

[Downward]

Take the bmw and grill off that 2 series and it could be any car from a Hyundai to a Ford.

Although Kia do it better

Edited by Downward on Sunday 4th October 17:29

[daemon]

bearman68 said:

but you would have to say this is lovely



Much nicer than the older equivilent

Curious as to why you're comparing an X6 to an X5?

[rsbmw]

Whilst I think the current crop is a mixed bag, the f10 is the nicest 5 series yet. Would still say E92 is the nicest looking BMW. Anything older than that is really showing its age, not really my thing although I do have a soft spot for the E36 which my cousin had (and let me drive) when I was 17.

[somynameiswhat]

GroundEffect said:

somynameiswhat said:

rohrl said:

I think you can date the decline of BMW design to quite a precise moment. It's when the E46 was facelifted and the front indicators were turned upside down.

I still can't quite believe that the company that made this -



now makes this -

Not only that- its front wheel drive!

Treason!

Because it's a Mini platform. Simple mathematics for BMW.

OP, I think the F30 3 series is a good looking thing.



Shame it lost its older brother's engine

There's one of the still good looking cars, the 3 series has seemed to remain a good design, along with the 5 series.

[kambites]

It's not just BMW, cars in general have just got ugly in the past 20 years to my eyes.

I think a large part of it stems from the minimum bonnet clearances required for EU type approval; that lead to rising bonnet lines which in turn lead manufacturers to use daft compound creases and other ugly surface effects to hide the slab-sidedness of the resulting shape.

The other problem is that the market has pushed mundane versions of cars to look sportier and sportier with huge wheels and sticky-outy body kits which means the actual sporty models have to look completely over-the-top to stand out.

Edited by kambites on Sunday 4th October 18:13

[somynameiswhat]

stuart-b said:

It didn't all go wrong

This was definitely the evolution of the previous one, coupled with sharp lines that smoothly merge with the body. The Z4 is a hit, definitely still one of the great looking cars that BMW offered. The crossovers on the other hand however...

[TheInternet]

bearman68 said:

Much nicer than the older equivilent

Cat st is tastier than dog st?

[daemon]

TheInternet said:

bearman68 said:

Much nicer than the older equivilent

Cat st is tastier than dog st?

I'll take your word for it.

[JonV8V]

somynameiswhat said:

stuart-b said:

It didn't all go wrong

This was definitely the evolution of the previous one, coupled with sharp lines that smoothly merge with the body. The Z4 is a hit, definitely still one of the great looking cars that BMW offered. The crossovers on the other hand however...

And it was e89 was launched 6 years ago, is the only E series they still sell, and isn't going to be replaced.

The 6 gran coupe looks great to me, but then I own one (and a Z4 for that matter)

[IntriguedUser]

I was in front a white BMW 1 series (Think it was a 116 in hatchback form) but in my rear view mirror it looked like an SUV X over thing?!?!?! until I saw the back, it was huge, almost like a Audi "All Road" with the raised ride height, and black plastic bumpers!

[daemon]

IntriguedUser said:

I was in front a white BMW 1 series (Think it was a 116 in hatchback form) but in my rear view mirror it looked like an SUV X over thing?!?!?! until I saw the back, it was huge, almost like a Audi "All Road" with the raised ride height, and black plastic bumpers!

if it had black bumpers it was an X1.

[kambites]

IntriguedUser said:

I was in front a white BMW 1 series (Think it was a 116 in hatchback form) but in my rear view mirror it looked like an SUV X over thing?!?!?! until I saw the back, it was huge, almost like a Audi "All Road" with the raised ride height, and black plastic bumpers!

Are you sure it wasn't an X1?

[surveyor]

You can't compare over the years, just with other competitors from the same time frame. Public's likes and dislikes change with time and car manufacturers are going to reflect this in their range.

[StuntmanMike]

What happened? they once made high performance executive saloons for enthusiasts then they caught the VW disease and build ugly fleet cars that try to appeal to every-man. German car design just seems so dull these days, its like they just aren't interested any more, bloaty samey diesely grey efficient characterless cars.

[lord trumpton]

I think that the current crop of BMW look pretty tasty (especially mine)

The reason why BMW have gone down the volume route with a car for every niche is because that have to. BMW is still owned and controlled by the founding family. If they don't stay financially strong then they would get taken over.

They have to respond to the market and make what people want to buy

I've owned countless BMW over the years and even today, you can jump right into any model and they still have that familiar layout and slightly over weighted steering. They are still a quality brand that stand out from the rest.

Any model they make (good or bad) is instantly recognisable as a BMW yet still remain individual - unlike the ste Audi produce

[StuntmanMike]

lord trumpton said:

I think that the current crop of BMW look pretty tasty (especially mine)

The reason why BMW have gone down the volume route with a car for every niche is because that have to. BMW is still owned and controlled by the founding family. If they don't stay financially strong then they would get taken over.

They have to respond to the market and make what people want to buy

I've owned countless BMW over the years and even today, you can jump right into any model and they still have that familiar layout and slightly over weighted steering. They are still a quality brand that stand out from the rest.

Any model they make (good or bad) is instantly recognisable as a BMW yet still remain individual - unlike the ste Audi produce

I'd imagine your right, the current crop is better than the bangle stuff, I just don't really like new car design full stop, there's nothing out there I desire or think looks great, which is why I have owned an E46 Coupe for years, it looks good, its reliable and I don't drive it to justify replacing it.

[StuntmanMike]

Downward said:

Take the bmw and grill off that 2 series and it could be any car from a Hyundai to a Ford.

Although Kia do it better

Edited by Downward on Sunday 4th October 17:29

Probably more reliable, and that warranty.

[Challo]

BMW are just the same as Audi and Merc. In direct competition with each other so they are going down the volume route to build more cars, and cover all the niche markets and even make a few new ones if possible.

A lot of the cars look similar because they have the family front which creates brand recognition. We gave the new 3 series and I think it looks pretty good.

If you look at Audi most people would hard pushed to tell the difference between most models.

[BrownBottle]

I think they have had a return to form since the days of the E39 and E46, current M3 and M5 looking good to my eyes.

These models
E87 1 series
E60 5 series
E65 7 series
E90 3 series
E63 6 series

Were all a low point for me personally with regards to both exterior and interior styling. I've tried for years to like them hoping they would grow on me but I just can't force it the feelings just aren't there.

I remember seeing an E60 for the first time just after they were released, I was literally stunned and couldn't believe BMW had built one of the ugliest cars I had ever seen. The shock faded over time as I think it did for a lot of people, but my mind never changed.