When did BMW lose it?

[Maldini35]

The initial message was deleted from this topic on 24 July 2015 at 11:52

[alfabadass]

I thought they were doing pretty well.

The new lot have grown on me apart from the 5GT which still looks odd...and st.

One thing I have noticed is how subtle they have been this time. I have to strain hard to see many differences in the new X3.

[LiamB]

After the E46 3 Series imo.
Every car after that is just ugly and mundane.

Edited by LiamB on Tuesday 22 January 23:35

[folos]

Clearly there's alot of people that DO like their cars, otherwise they wouldn't be selling so well..

[Kentish]

I used to think that all of Chris Bangles creations were a bit of a poor substitute for a traditional BMW but they've all grown on me.

Now driving an e60

[Kentish]

PS

I quite like the latest incarnation of the X3; I hated the original!

[mattshiz]

They're all dull cars apart from maybe the Z4. Doesn't help that its rare to see a competent driver driving a BMW.

[alfabadass]

Kentish said:

PS

I quite like the latest incarnation of the X3; I hated the original!

The new X3 is supposed to be pretty good! BMW did invent the niche so have a head start!

I love my mk1 X3 3.0 Auto Sport! All the advantages of a car and a 4x4!

[Pablo Escobar]

I agree with OP. The 1 series is especially egregious and aside from the 3 and 5 series the rest of the range looks fking dire too.

[dvs_dave]

For me it was the Bangle E65 7-series onward. Everything since has been a design abomination.

[sparks_E39]

From 2003 to 2010. The last 3 years have been a massive improvement. A F10 5 Series with the Sports kit is a very handsome car. As is the new 6 Series, the new 3 Series and the current Z4. In my opinion they are back on track.

[tim0409]

I may be biased as I own a 118d coupe, but given the cars in its class, I think it's actually a good car. Yes, the looks may not appeal to everyone, but it handles well with a decent amount of power given it does 50mpg and only costs £30 to tax.

[SWoll]

If you compare them against their nearest rival though I would say that they are doing pretty well TBH.

Forgetting about styling etc. which is too subjective a topic, and purely from a "driving" point of view I can't think of a single model where the roughly equivelant Audi is the better car.

[londonbabe]

After the E30.

Or when they hired Chris Bangle.

Or when they acquired a reputation as drug dealer's cars

Or when they decided to buy Rover and then kill it.

Or when they became five times as common as Mondeos.

Or when they started making diesels.

Or when they started actually putting radios in their cars :-)

The list is endless, really.

[Wills2]

Maldini35 said:

Looking their current range only the 3 series, 5 series and X5 are really any good.

1 series - unforgiveably ugly, poorly packaged and dull to drive (135i aside)
Z4 - a big dissappointment given the potential of 2 seats, powerful engines and RWD.
M3 - again dissappointing to drive considering their previous models (E46, E30)
6 series - Not pretty, heavy & hardly thrilling to drive
5 series GT - just look at it
7 series - lacks presence, identity and charisma in the luxury category
X1 - A horrid little thing
X6 - Another irrelevant monstrosity

It's been a long time since they could credibly claim to be the ultimate driving machine.
With a batch of uninspiring, unaattractive, FWD shopping trollies on the way it's only going to get worse.
The question is when did it all go wrong?

That's your opinion the market says something else.

[RDMcG]

Well, they are selling pretty well, so somebody is doing the right thing.

Its like some other manufacturers, though. To broaden the appeal the hard-edged, pure driving machine has just about gone.I sold my last BMW ( An E63 M6 ) in mid 2012. Prior to that I had a manual 645Ci, and E39 M5, and a string of earlier cars.I think it was at the E39 that things peaked and after that it was a slow shift towards luxury, electronic sophistication, and a broader market positioning.

I never really considered the new M cars. There is a good argument that the Bangle cars were far from beautiful, but Iiked the 6 and loved the V10 in the E63. It had character and uniqueness. I feel a little sad having no M car any more.

[Wills2]

Maldini35 said:

M3 - again dissappointing to drive considering their previous models (E46, E30)

IIRC has won every comparison against the c63/RS4.

Owned both the E46 and e92 both brilliant, not sure you really know what you're talking about TBH.

[djglover]

Well I like my e90 330i. Not bothered about the looks, or it having I drive, there is not a lot of competition for a reasonably well powered RWD family car...

Wouldn't be seen dead in a Merc.

[Kentish]

alfabadass said:

Kentish said:

PS

I quite like the latest incarnation of the X3; I hated the original!

The new X3 is supposed to be pretty good! BMW did invent the niche so have a head start!

I love my mk1 X3 3.0 Auto Sport! All the advantages of a car and a 4x4!

I meant purely the looks of the MkI X3; the lines of the body around the headlights, the rear quarters just puts me right off what is actually a very good car in every other respect. Call me shallow

The styling of the new one is spot on.

Dynamically, every BMW I've driven (and I've owned a few now) has been very good indeed.

[mad4amanda]

I would say they are stronger now than ever, having a wide range of vehicles that appeal to a range of niche markets. How many of them have you driven I wonder ?
Surely the whole point of a diverse range of vehicles is that they appeal to different customers and therefore will not all appeal to one customer?
They used to be quite dull staid machines that were very well built and drove superbly but with the exception of specials and M Models were a bit boring, having owned E30 (318 T/325)and still having an E34 (540i T) they are lovely classic looking bits of kit but not exciting. Ive had long term company 3 and 5 series doing over 50k Pa in previous jobs over the past 10 years.
Through the course of my current work Ive driven current mini . 1 series , 3 series , M3 ,X1 X3 X5 X6 z4 5 series and 7 series with a variety of engines both petrol and derv and can honestly say never did I think oh thats a poor one . We do get them with good specs and I rarely spend more than a day at a time in one but I dont see the loss that you do.