Show Me Your BMW!!!!!!!!!
Discussion
RoverP6B said:
You seriously can't see what's wrong with the X3, with those gopping great grilles on the front?! The BMW kidney grilles have been getting bigger and bigger all the time.
Actually, there's worse. The inventing of micro-niches has spawned something called X2, and it's even uglier.
Aside from the gopping grilles, how are you even supposed to see out of that?! I've been in WW2 pillboxes with better visibility than this!
As for reliability, every BMW independent I speak to tells me the same thing. BMW engineering quality has been in decline for years now. Major engine work being required just out of warranty. Massive electrical problems. The E60 and E65 are disappearing rapidly as a result, and even early F01s and F10s are costing a fortune to put right.
Then there's the sheer confusion of BMW's model strategy. There's the X4, a kind of jacked-up 5-door 3-series coupé-hatch thing.
Then there's the 3-series GT, a kind of jacked-up 5-door coupé-hatch thing based on the same platform. Not quite as tall as an X4 (that's 115mm taller), still 80mm higher than a 3-series.
There's also the 4-series Gran Coupé, a kind of 5-door coupé-hatch thing based on the 3-series platform, and some 40mm lower than an F30.
Now, assuming we accept that there is an excuse for SUV coupés to exist (which I do not), one can just about understand the justification for making the X4 alongside the 4GC - there's a 234mm height difference, comparable to the 270mm between the E39 Touring and E53 X5. However, the X4 is just an X3 that's even uglier and loses out on the practicality which is the main selling point for these SUVs. Furthermore, how do they justify sandwiching a third 3-series-based hatchback into the middle of that gap? It's 119mm taller than the 4GC and 115mm shorter than the X4. Is anyone really going to notice the difference?! It's got to the point I can't even tell them apart visually any more without checking the badge (and no, my eyesight is fine!). X4 vs 4GC is easier, due to the greater height difference.
And, with the 2-door 6-series now discontinued, how do they justify two different variants of 4-door 6-series, the 6er Gran Coupé and 6er (formerly 5er) Gran Turismo hatch?
All this and now the X2 (which is also FWD). BMW is managing to beat even Audi at inventing microniches.
At some point, this insanity is going to bite them on the arse, hard. They need to stop whoring out the brand, focus on making their core range better to drive and less bloated and wilfully hideous in appearance, go back to what actually made BMWs worth buying.
Is anyone actually buying the 2-series Active Tourer? BMW entering the 5-seat mini-MPV market 15 years late, at the point everyone else is getting out of that game, seems bonkers. I've only ever seen a handful on the road, and this part of the country is BMW central.
My elder son recently opined to me that, having through a Kind Hearts and Coronets-style bloody ascent of the ladder, become CEO of BMW, he would issue a compulsory recall of almost everything BMW has made in the last 5 years and scrap the whole damn lot, just to purge the brand's history of such a vast number of abominations. I find it hard to disagree. It used to be that newer meant better, but it's just not true any more.
I cant believe I read that. it was incredibly boring and incorrect.Actually, there's worse. The inventing of micro-niches has spawned something called X2, and it's even uglier.
Aside from the gopping grilles, how are you even supposed to see out of that?! I've been in WW2 pillboxes with better visibility than this!
As for reliability, every BMW independent I speak to tells me the same thing. BMW engineering quality has been in decline for years now. Major engine work being required just out of warranty. Massive electrical problems. The E60 and E65 are disappearing rapidly as a result, and even early F01s and F10s are costing a fortune to put right.
Then there's the sheer confusion of BMW's model strategy. There's the X4, a kind of jacked-up 5-door 3-series coupé-hatch thing.
Then there's the 3-series GT, a kind of jacked-up 5-door coupé-hatch thing based on the same platform. Not quite as tall as an X4 (that's 115mm taller), still 80mm higher than a 3-series.
There's also the 4-series Gran Coupé, a kind of 5-door coupé-hatch thing based on the 3-series platform, and some 40mm lower than an F30.
Now, assuming we accept that there is an excuse for SUV coupés to exist (which I do not), one can just about understand the justification for making the X4 alongside the 4GC - there's a 234mm height difference, comparable to the 270mm between the E39 Touring and E53 X5. However, the X4 is just an X3 that's even uglier and loses out on the practicality which is the main selling point for these SUVs. Furthermore, how do they justify sandwiching a third 3-series-based hatchback into the middle of that gap? It's 119mm taller than the 4GC and 115mm shorter than the X4. Is anyone really going to notice the difference?! It's got to the point I can't even tell them apart visually any more without checking the badge (and no, my eyesight is fine!). X4 vs 4GC is easier, due to the greater height difference.
And, with the 2-door 6-series now discontinued, how do they justify two different variants of 4-door 6-series, the 6er Gran Coupé and 6er (formerly 5er) Gran Turismo hatch?
All this and now the X2 (which is also FWD). BMW is managing to beat even Audi at inventing microniches.
At some point, this insanity is going to bite them on the arse, hard. They need to stop whoring out the brand, focus on making their core range better to drive and less bloated and wilfully hideous in appearance, go back to what actually made BMWs worth buying.
Is anyone actually buying the 2-series Active Tourer? BMW entering the 5-seat mini-MPV market 15 years late, at the point everyone else is getting out of that game, seems bonkers. I've only ever seen a handful on the road, and this part of the country is BMW central.
My elder son recently opined to me that, having through a Kind Hearts and Coronets-style bloody ascent of the ladder, become CEO of BMW, he would issue a compulsory recall of almost everything BMW has made in the last 5 years and scrap the whole damn lot, just to purge the brand's history of such a vast number of abominations. I find it hard to disagree. It used to be that newer meant better, but it's just not true any more.
The bold bit in particular - BMW have had record sales. That is literally all that matters to them. Nothing else registers. Its the only reason they are in existence.
You are the exact opposite of right in terms of BMW's strategy and what they 'should' be doing.
p1stonhead said:
I cant believe I read that. it was incredibly boring and incorrect.
The bold bit in particular - BMW have had record sales. That is literally all that matters to them. Nothing else registers. Its the only reason they are in existence.
You are the exact opposite of right in terms of BMW's strategy and what they 'should' be doing.
Please don't feed the troll - if we ignore him, he'll hopefully go away - at least for a while, anyway.The bold bit in particular - BMW have had record sales. That is literally all that matters to them. Nothing else registers. Its the only reason they are in existence.
You are the exact opposite of right in terms of BMW's strategy and what they 'should' be doing.
More pictures please!
The 330d touring went yesterday.
435d arrived in its place.
20171129-GARY0364 by Gary Kinghorn, on Flickr
435d arrived in its place.
20171129-GARY0364 by Gary Kinghorn, on FlickrVery nice, very good looking car - and you will love the engine and (hugely surprising) performance that comes with it, quite unlike the usual perception of a diesel - once started it even sounds quite throaty, and revs out nicely.
I'm still not sure why people choose the tint on the back windows though, to me, it makes it look somewhat 'commercial' - but different strokes and all that...!
What have you gone for on the inside?
I'm still not sure why people choose the tint on the back windows though, to me, it makes it look somewhat 'commercial' - but different strokes and all that...!
What have you gone for on the inside?
cerb4.5lee said:
Thanks. 
Your Z4 is an absolute minter and properly well kept buddy. 
Thanks both. I'm going to have the roof re-coloured next Spring as it's a bit shiny in places, and a protective polishing done. I need to look into changing the seat foams as they feel like they should have more give. Your Z4 is an absolute minter and properly well kept buddy. Had it 13 years now, looks like it's a keeper
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