The Car's Bangle Spannered...what do we think in hindsight?
Discussion
Firstly let me say that I love a challenging design in most things.
Chris Bangle had me chewing the inside of my cheek with his designs and to be honest the gut instinct says they were predominately bad. However again I'm back to wondering if I'm the biggest idiot on the block?
So was he a visionary or one of those fannies that changed coventional design concepts to leave a personal legacy?..
I like AND dislike this equally...
Chris Bangle had me chewing the inside of my cheek with his designs and to be honest the gut instinct says they were predominately bad. However again I'm back to wondering if I'm the biggest idiot on the block?
So was he a visionary or one of those fannies that changed coventional design concepts to leave a personal legacy?..
I like AND dislike this equally...
Edited by Stablelad on Wednesday 17th February 22:40
I loved the E39, one of the most elegant designs and probably the best all round car ever made in 530i sport guise, but........I thought the E60 5 series was a stunner, I hate boring looking cars.
Whether the die hard, stuck in the mud, can't stand change, blah blah blah BMW fan liked it or not is one thing, but they did fantastic business with it and I got more comments about my 535d sport touring than any other car I have owned, specially in the early days before they were as common.
A great car, that I miss...
Whether the die hard, stuck in the mud, can't stand change, blah blah blah BMW fan liked it or not is one thing, but they did fantastic business with it and I got more comments about my 535d sport touring than any other car I have owned, specially in the early days before they were as common.
A great car, that I miss...
Edited by gizlaroc on Wednesday 17th February 23:03
I loved the E39, one of the most elegant designs and probably the best all round car ever made in 530i sport guise, but........I thought the E60 5 series was a stunner, I hate boring looking cars.
Whether the die hard, stuck in the mud, can't stand change, blah blah blah BMW fan liked it or not is one thing, but they did fantastic business with it and I got more comments about my 535d sport touring than any other car I have owned, specially in the early days before they were as common.
A great car, that I miss...
Whether the die hard, stuck in the mud, can't stand change, blah blah blah BMW fan liked it or not is one thing, but they did fantastic business with it and I got more comments about my 535d sport touring than any other car I have owned, specially in the early days before they were as common.
A great car, that I miss...
Edited by gizlaroc on Wednesday 17th February 23:13
Think he geniously moved things forward. Different manufacturers seem to do this. Remember the last in the line and woefully ugly Ford Scorpio? It was gross but lessened the shock of the Ka and the Focus which now look totally generic. Lots of makers have adopted Bangles lines now too.
I nearly vomited the first time I saw the first Bangle 7 series, looked truly truly disgusting.
However, looks awesome to me now. Just the right blend of imposing (which seems right for that type of car) and sleek. Infact that only Bangle era BMW that I don't think has aged well is the Z4 (soft top version). The sides on front wings just look a little too lardy for me.
However, looks awesome to me now. Just the right blend of imposing (which seems right for that type of car) and sleek. Infact that only Bangle era BMW that I don't think has aged well is the Z4 (soft top version). The sides on front wings just look a little too lardy for me.
To be honest I used to adore BMW's I've even had a couple, E34 and E39 but to be honest the current range just leaves me cold. I'm sure dynamically they are good cars, but there is just something about them I don't like, a blandness, hard to pinpoint but its definitely there.
These days BMW's just don't register on my radar anymore. My move away from them seems to have co-icided with Bangles creations. Not blaming him entirely but I'm sure he played his part.
These days BMW's just don't register on my radar anymore. My move away from them seems to have co-icided with Bangles creations. Not blaming him entirely but I'm sure he played his part.
Hi all
Just commented on the 'would you keep an E39' thread!
Yes, like it or not, Bangle did 'cause a stir' and look, BMW haven't lost out from it, in fact they've probably gained from it. Yes, there's plenty of us who were very used to the classic designs, then along came that 7 series in 2001 and it caused a .. sharp intake of breath.. followed by words of WTF' !!
Plenty of us said oh no, whats happened, end of BMW, I'm not buying one, neither will a mate of mine etc etc. Whilst we got used to it over the last few years, and the same with the new 5 and 3.. the 'non' enthusiast crowd, simply went to their dealers and ordered 3 and 5's by the bucketload. That translates into 'Success' in anyone's book regardless of the styling aspects we all filled forums up with!
I'd definitley buy an E60, I want the 535 Touring for instance - at the time I was also 'ugh' ! but with those Sport bumpers and M Sport versions, they look fantastic as is.
The underlying fact that with a BMW, all you 'really' have to do is lower it slightly and put some decent size wheels on it stayed true with the 5 and 7 series that Bangle made. It stays true with pretty much all BMWs.
Moving on slightly - I've mentioned the following a few times before -
Remember when Mercedes had that seriously boring block shaped barge S class from like 1994-2000? and BMW had the E38 7 ? - what a stark difference, the merc you could easily miss - it had zero styling, and that it could cost up to £80+K was laughable. BMWs 7 looked sublime in comparison and yes, I am biased!!
then something wierd happened, the New S class popped out and was the complete opposite of it's predecessor ! and BMW bought out a car totally opposite too - the tables turned!
I've noticed this with things like In car audio (which im also a fan) Alpine, used to have a range which looked sublime, their famous green frosted buttons, simple layout - was the choice of many including standard fit in Lambo's. Then, they bought out ranges without the famous stuff and went all 'electronicky' and lost their shine somewhat, and marques such as Becker who made very simple looking units got more exposure - again, tables turned.
My theory is, the designs 'flip flop' like this quite a bit, and I'm sure happens in other industries and products.
Could it possibly be time for the Flip to Flop again?! the new S class is nice.. but it's a bit bland again (although not as bland as that older S class!!!!) looks like a bit of a bigger Toyota Avensis with bigger wheel arches.. Could the new 7 be something of beauty again?! maybe not in the forthcoming generations, maybe the one after?!
The New 5 has very quickly grown on me from the first look of the car - which I thought was a bit bland with it being a bigger current 3 series from the front and 7 ish series in size, and it's not even released yet! So when I do see one in the metal it won't be such a shock as the E60 was!
Bangle - yes we all knocked him, but looks like we were wrong in so much predicting less sales - the company has increased from it..
Cheers, Dennis! West London & Slough UK!
Just commented on the 'would you keep an E39' thread!
Yes, like it or not, Bangle did 'cause a stir' and look, BMW haven't lost out from it, in fact they've probably gained from it. Yes, there's plenty of us who were very used to the classic designs, then along came that 7 series in 2001 and it caused a .. sharp intake of breath.. followed by words of WTF' !!
Plenty of us said oh no, whats happened, end of BMW, I'm not buying one, neither will a mate of mine etc etc. Whilst we got used to it over the last few years, and the same with the new 5 and 3.. the 'non' enthusiast crowd, simply went to their dealers and ordered 3 and 5's by the bucketload. That translates into 'Success' in anyone's book regardless of the styling aspects we all filled forums up with!
I'd definitley buy an E60, I want the 535 Touring for instance - at the time I was also 'ugh' ! but with those Sport bumpers and M Sport versions, they look fantastic as is.
The underlying fact that with a BMW, all you 'really' have to do is lower it slightly and put some decent size wheels on it stayed true with the 5 and 7 series that Bangle made. It stays true with pretty much all BMWs.
Moving on slightly - I've mentioned the following a few times before -
Remember when Mercedes had that seriously boring block shaped barge S class from like 1994-2000? and BMW had the E38 7 ? - what a stark difference, the merc you could easily miss - it had zero styling, and that it could cost up to £80+K was laughable. BMWs 7 looked sublime in comparison and yes, I am biased!!
then something wierd happened, the New S class popped out and was the complete opposite of it's predecessor ! and BMW bought out a car totally opposite too - the tables turned!
I've noticed this with things like In car audio (which im also a fan) Alpine, used to have a range which looked sublime, their famous green frosted buttons, simple layout - was the choice of many including standard fit in Lambo's. Then, they bought out ranges without the famous stuff and went all 'electronicky' and lost their shine somewhat, and marques such as Becker who made very simple looking units got more exposure - again, tables turned.
My theory is, the designs 'flip flop' like this quite a bit, and I'm sure happens in other industries and products.
Could it possibly be time for the Flip to Flop again?! the new S class is nice.. but it's a bit bland again (although not as bland as that older S class!!!!) looks like a bit of a bigger Toyota Avensis with bigger wheel arches.. Could the new 7 be something of beauty again?! maybe not in the forthcoming generations, maybe the one after?!
The New 5 has very quickly grown on me from the first look of the car - which I thought was a bit bland with it being a bigger current 3 series from the front and 7 ish series in size, and it's not even released yet! So when I do see one in the metal it won't be such a shock as the E60 was!
Bangle - yes we all knocked him, but looks like we were wrong in so much predicting less sales - the company has increased from it..
Cheers, Dennis! West London & Slough UK!
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