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Good, Bad or Ugly - Current and Future styling trends of BMW
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Comments
:mad:
Hmmm, go figure. I loved the look of the E46 when it first came out, and loved the look of my 1999 328i for over three years. By 2002 I thought its looks were beginning to age, so when my lease was up, I didn't replace it with another E46. Now that the new E90 3-Series is out, I have my sights set on a new 330i, which I think is significantly better looking than the E46 it replaced.
Best Regards,
Shipo
Another great BMW design gone imo. While this isn't nearly as bad as the 5 and 7-Series cars were upon their intro, it still isn't the looker the current E46 coupe is. The roofline is the same, but that rear end needs work. The bumper doesn't even seem to fit.
M
M
I think it needs a little work around the rear wheel-wells... Looks promising.. more aggressive than the sedan..
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M
For instance, the newly released BMW 3-Series sedan is called the E90, while the sedan that it replaced is called the E46, which replaced the E36 for the 1999 model year. As for the 5-Series, the current model is called the E60 and the model that came before it (prior to 2004) was called the E39.
I could go on and give you a complete history of the various designations but I think that you get the idea. ;-)
Best Regards,
Shipo
I know, I know. I'm still at the hand-holding stagae of all of this.... :confuse:
E39:
1997-1998 -- 528i -- 2.8 liter I6 -- 190 hp
1999-2000 -- 528i -- 2.8 liter I6 -- 193 hp
2001-2003 -- 525i -- 2.5 liter I6 -- 184 hp
2001-2003 -- 530i -- 3.0 liter I6 -- 225 hp
1997-2001 -- 540i -- 4.4 liter V8 -- 282 hp
2002-2003 -- 540i -- 4.4 liter V8 -- 290 hp
2000-2003 -- M5 ---- 4.9 liter V8 -- 394 hp
E60:
2004-2005 -- 525i -- 2.5 liter I6 -- 184 hp
2006-2006 -- 525i -- 3.0 liter I6 -- 215 hp (same engine as in the 525xi)
2004-2005 -- 530i -- 3.0 liter I6 -- 225 hp
2006-2006 -- 530i -- 3.0 liter I6 -- 255 hp (same engine as in the 530xi)
2004-2005 -- 540i -- 4.4 liter V8 -- 325 hp
2006-2006 -- 550i -- 4.8 liter V8 -- 360 hp
2006-2006 -- M5 --- 5.0 liter V10 -- 507 hp
Best Regards,
Shipo
http://www.km77.com/marcas/mercedes/2005/clase-s/gama/med/30.jpg
Best regards,
José
1998 Maybach concept
Check out this ghastly BMW.
New BMW coming
What utter nonesense. The new S-Class doesn't look like any vehicle from Japan INC, much less a ugly-duck Camry.
M
The M5 will have a manual tranny!
Stop manufacturing SUVs? Why? If you do not like SUVs, BMW has a few sedan offerings! What is the problem?
BMW should improve its quality ? Based on the latest stats from JD Power and CR, quality is improving quite nicely.
BMW styling resembles Scion/Pontiac? Maybe you should see an optometrist! That may explain why you see a resemblence!
So you are waiting for a hand made M5? The vintage car market has no shortage of hand made cars!
Last but not least is a question I want to ask you? Who the hell buys a BMW solely for its styling?
Dont you think that BMWs' drivetrain/chassis qualities are an important consideration . In fact anybody who buys a BMW without considering such qualities is simply wasting their money!(especially the one who buys his Bimmer solely for styling reasons)
I just noticed the date of the message I responded to on my last post! Feb. 27/05.
Well at least the year is current!
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Despicable? Ugly? Bull Horns?
Lexus re-wrote the book???(Lexus being a dismal # 4 in the Luxury car segment does not deserve to be referred to as re-writing any book, except maybe the following title: "Welcome to my Snoozemobile)
Whatever your view is about styling, the true heart and soul of any car is embedded in its chassis and drivetrain! And guess who is number ONE in that department( Hint: It does not begin with an L or an M and does not have a silly fuel burning rotory engine)
Way to take the bull by the horns BMW!
Go Bangle! Go BMW!
Nothing else drives like BMWs in their price segment.
They are the ultimate driving machine!
I love the new 5 series look.
The sorehead confrontational sapparo probably couldn't see my beautiful 545i because I passed him so fast!
Him :lemon:
Me :shades:
BTW, I'll take longhorns on a 76 Eldorado.
Yes I was blasting Bangle but that's before committing to the 545i. Now I have to rationalize the purchase which admittedly is easy on the performance end but more difficult for the styling. It really does look better in person than in photos, but yet, so do I and that's not saying much!
What it boils down to is nothing in this price range drives like the BMW and that is of primary importance to me and always will be. Driving excitement is number one! The GS430 is better looking but who cares given its wishy-washy steering, grabby brakes and slow off the line acceleration? Would I have been happier if the 545i had the appearance of the Mercedes S class? I would be ecstatic! But it doesn't, so I must go through a process of psychological rationalization to allow myself time to absorb the styling gaffes front and back.
My previous post was an exercise in such rationalization.
I may indeed be a prime candidate for the Vulcan mind meld, " PAIN! PAIN!......" :lemon:
Oh please. The problem here is that that copying nonesense you mention is on cars that are directly in competition with each other, like a Lexus looking like a Mercedes. The new S-Class doesn't look like a Mazda RX-8 past the fender arches and it certainly doesn't look like any snore box from Lexus. Like Mercedes would set out to style and entire car to look like a Mazda is the only nonsense I'm reading here.
M
Couldn't have said it better myself, but its called "trolling". Normally I don't respond to such rubbish either, but I was mentioned so.........
M
caddilac is now one of my favorites, its edgy designs are just plain nice (and controversial to some), though they need some work on the interior.
audis simple and elegant lines works perfectly, though some hate the new grille it looks ok to me...
mercedes, well, im not sure, i like the current designs but the new ones are less appealing imo...
what do you guys think?
And now the formal ceremony.
Sir hdpowders, you overcame a heavy M lobby in the LPS thread based on driving preference and the redeeming qualities of performance. You had the courage, candor and sincerity to do so in the face styling adversity and prevailing opinion. Accordingly, and with pride and joy, I dub thee a BMW knight, a true BMW knight.
;-)
I refuse to drive a car just because it looks good when performance is compromised.
The 545i performed better than anything in its segment despite what the auto rags and the aggressive M lobby would have you believe.
My goal is to drive so fast that nobody will be able to see my Banglemobile.
Remaining thy humble servant,
hpowders
Mercedes is on a roll imo. The current S, CL, SL, E, and the new ML, CLS, and SLK are all lookers. There are some details I don't like on some of them, too much to list, but overall there isn't a "bad" looking Mercedes to be found at the moment. Now this new S-Class I'll have to see in person. The CLS is the subject of much debate, but I guess that was to be expected. I love the CLS' look/design!
For me Audi and Mercedes lead by far here with a BMW having completely fallen off the list in just a few years since 2002. The 7-Series is just plain ugly imo and the 3 and 5 just look wierd/strange and they're far too dependent on color and wheel size. I'm in the small minorirty that likes the Z4. I think "Bangle" nailed it with the Z4 and its classic GT proportions. The outgoing 3-Series will likely be the last BMW I truly like in the styling department. I don't care about idrive, the shift away from the cockpit design, but I do care about how they look and they don't pass muster in that department with me anymore. Get the M3 and 3-Series Coupes while you can!!!
M
The A8 is simply beyond reproach in being a boring looking car I'll agree. You saw the link on the High end boards about why the next S class wil be the butt (no pun intended) of jokes. I agree all these new German models are starting to get friggin weird styling and have lost the look of past models.. The CLS looks like a big banana shape LOL. If Audi leads in your book that has little value because they are a bomb in sales here in the N.A. I'd rather drive a TL which is primo quality has a sweet interior and blows out Audi in sales and technology if I wanted a nice FWD car with crisp styling. That car in the picture is also hurting the 5 series even more..
The 5 series isn't as bad, I almost like its lines. Still not as classy looking as a GS or A6, but better looking than the ugly M.
The 3-series.... I wish they wouldv'e kept the old design. The new one doesn't look BMW-esque enough. It looks kind of puffy next to the A4 or new IS. Still is a handler, but it looks weird.
I love the way the Z4 looks. It has a long hood and everything seems to come together nicely.
In terms of other luxury car makes, I have to say I like the Audi/Mercedes designs a lot, and Lexus is coming around as well. The A8 is one of the most gorgeous cars above 4000 pounds. It doesn't look hefty and the big grille fits it very well. The CLS looks kind of slippery but still good, the new SLK is sexy, and the E-Class has an evolutionary good look. The new S-Class looks a little cartoonish and its wheel arches are too big, but from the back or front its a good lookin car. Now the SL is just beautiful. Especially that SL65AMG. Whoo.
Lexus seems to be doing well, albeit a little boring, with the new IS and the GS looks good as well. The SC still looks like it was inflated with a pump, though. Have you seen the new LS pics? It looks as good as the A8 IMO.
What pics are those? This I have to see. Considering Lexus' current lineup of styling losers I'd say that is nearly impossible. Where are those pics?
M
M
Excellent. I was groping for a description on that one.
M
I meant sketches and stuff. I think they're on the next-gen LS discussion. There's a lot of stuff flying around about it. Some of it is pretty good.
"The TL looks like a paper airplane at best."
It isn't very good looking, I agree