Does anyone else think BMW's from 2004 to 2011 were so ugly?
Does anyone else think BMW's from 2004 to 2011 were so ugly?
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DOCG

Original Poster:

717 posts

84 months

Sunday 14th June 2020
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Specifically the E90 3 Series, E60 5 Series and E65 7 Series.

I loved the look of the E46 3 Series and E38 7 Series from the 90's, but they were replaced by incredibly ugly cars. Not to mention the 1 series of the same era.

Thankfully since 2010 BMW's have become much better looking again, except from the current facelifted 7 series.

Do others feel the same about the mid 2000's cars?

Luke.

12,036 posts

280 months

Sunday 14th June 2020
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This has been discussed more than once or twice...

anonymous-user

84 months

Sunday 14th June 2020
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Peak BMW design was the E46, E39, E38. Seriously, look back at them, particularly the M3 and M5 and they're fantastic.

E65 (7) and E60 (5) may have been bold, but they're ugly. You can't say that about the earlier ones...

anonymous-user

84 months

Sunday 14th June 2020
quotequote all
DOCG said:
Specifically the E90 3 Series, E60 5 Series and E65 7 Series.

I loved the look of the E46 3 Series and E38 7 Series from the 90's, but they were replaced by incredibly ugly cars. Not to mention the 1 series of the same era.

Thankfully since 2010 BMW's have become much better looking again, except from the current facelifted 7 series.

Do others feel the same about the mid 2000's cars?
I like the exterior of the E90 coupe but the interior,no thanks so i bought an E46.I spent a couple of hours having the E46 airbag replaced at a dealer and looked over all the cars in the show room,i l like bmws,as a fan of the earlier stuff i was sure i would find something i liked,not a chance so disheartening really i tried to see their good points.The quality wasnt there,flimsy looking things.I know the E46 is a plastic mess too particularly the engines but now its to much.Not a fan of small turboed engines with no dipstick,they have become appliances.

Jonesy77

35 posts

113 months

Sunday 14th June 2020
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I feel exactly the same, had to get rid of my E39 a few months ago due to flood damage - was a great car, I miss it dearly.

Got my eye on an E38 at the moment, I seriously want one a good one of these before they get too old.

For me, the models that followed just don't look right, I have no desire to own one whatsover.

Dinoboy

2,600 posts

247 months

Sunday 14th June 2020
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Argleton said:
Peak BMW design was the E46, E39, E38. Seriously, look back at them, particularly the M3 and M5 and they're fantastic.

E65 (7) and E60 (5) may have been bold, but they're ugly. You can't say that about the earlier ones...
I'm sure it's my age smile but peak BMW for me was mid eighties, E30, E28, E24 and E23 7 series. Not a bad one amongst them

Weekendrebuild

1,120 posts

93 months

Sunday 14th June 2020
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Actually prefer these to my old e39 m5 she’s not moved in 3 years .

bmwmike

8,766 posts

138 months

Sunday 14th June 2020
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e60/e61 LCI has aged very well IMO, in msport kit anyway.

I think the f10 is a very good design too, and a natural evolution of the e60 from a lot of angles.

e39 and e46 were a classic shape, not arguing with that, mind.

Court_S

14,764 posts

207 months

Sunday 14th June 2020
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That era seven was awful, to be honest there’s not been a good looking seven since the E38.

I like the E90 and E60 and think both have aged really well. The Z4 is a great piece of design too which has stood the test of time and looks better than any of the models that have followed it.

craigjm

21,615 posts

230 months

Sunday 14th June 2020
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I would rather have a Bangle era BMW than most of the dull crap that has come since and it looks like the next 6-7 years are going to be dominated by massive nostril kidney grilles.

gizlaroc

17,251 posts

254 months

Sunday 14th June 2020
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No.


The E46 and E39 were great at the time, the E91 and E61 I thought were a proper move on and in the right spec and colour looked superb.
The F11 and F31 etc. I also think moved things on in a nice way, they again look great.

The current gen coming through, the new M440i, the new 7 Series and the X7 etc. I do find truly vulgar.

Every generation since the E30 and E34 etc. I have loved, with the exception of some of todays designs.

The curent 3 series and 5 series look great, the rest are just looking far too 'look at me'.




AI1694

893 posts

124 months

Sunday 14th June 2020
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I think the E90 LCI has aged well. I personally don’t think my F30 is all that good looking but I needed the practicality vs the 4 series. Current G20 3er is a nice design. Oh and the F10 still looks good, probably my favourite BMW design in recent years.

DOCG

Original Poster:

717 posts

84 months

Sunday 14th June 2020
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Weekendrebuild said:


Each to there own but what’s ugly about that
The way the headlamps look as if they have huge eyelashes.

Weekendrebuild

1,120 posts

93 months

Sunday 14th June 2020
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DOCG said:
The way the headlamps look as if they have huge eyelashes.
Slight tint to them quickly remedies that , to be fair I’ve never noticed or seen them that way .For me personally it’s the best looking and performing super saloons of all time . Made the e39 look and sound very ordinary and I own both .

Weekendrebuild

1,120 posts

93 months

Sunday 14th June 2020
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[redacted]

Mr Tidy

31,665 posts

157 months

Sunday 14th June 2020
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I've had two E46s (both Compacts that everyone thought were ugly), a 2007 E87, a 2006 E91 and a 2005 E90 so all apparently ugly!

But when I was looking for a 3 Series Touring in 2018 I just couldn't find an E46 that wasn't rusty, and in that respect the E9* 3 Series is so much better.

And to be fair I didn't like the E60 5 Series much at the time, but it has grown on me - whereas the E65 7 Series just hasn't.

However not all 2004 to 2011 BMWs were ugly - I've also had three E86 Z4 Coupes and I think they are stunning!

This is my current one and whatever adjective you want to use for it, I don't know anyone who has used "ugly".



Edited by Mr Tidy on Sunday 14th June 23:22

DOCG

Original Poster:

717 posts

84 months

Sunday 14th June 2020
quotequote all
Weekendrebuild said:
Slight tint to them quickly remedies that , to be fair I’ve never noticed or seen them that way .For me personally it’s the best looking and performing super saloons of all time . Made the e39 look and sound very ordinary and I own both .
Other than the headlamps the rest of the car does look reasonably good, but the headlamps just look so absurd to me. Personally I do put a strong emphasis on headlamps in judging a cars look, they are like the eyes of the car.

Jakg

4,050 posts

198 months

Sunday 14th June 2020
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craigjm said:
I would rather have a Bangle era BMW than most of the dull crap that has come since and it looks like the next 6-7 years are going to be dominated by massive nostril kidney grilles.
+1.

Didn't like them at launch, but they've grown on me a lot as they've aged - especially the E60/1 / E65 / E63/4. Obviously some poorer angled (E65 headlights!).

Not so keen on the F30/F10, but I think the whole point was to be a little more bland and less divisive and they certainly achieved that.
The next generation with the grills... well lets just not go there.

The E38/E39 might be the beards favourite, and acclaimed in it's day - but today they are classics and visually very dated. The Bangle cars still look somewhat fresh.

Triumph Man

9,623 posts

198 months

Monday 15th June 2020
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I don’t dislike the front and sort of front 3/4 of the facelift E65, however that arse just ruins it. Someone clearly tried to salvage it from the pre facelift but had a tight budget or something.

I think the E60 looks good now, in the right colour and spec.

nickfrog

25,405 posts

247 months

Monday 15th June 2020
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[redacted]