BMW goes downhill ... rapidly.
 

What is it with BMW designs?

We have this abortion that is the 1-series making its way to market soon. Its the ugliest little S.O.B. on the market, or so I thought.

Saw one of the new 645s on the way in this morning. Had hoped that it would look better in the metal. But it doesn't. Its looks f-ing ugly as well.

The 5 series looks stupid. So does the current 7. The only decent model in the whole Bee-Em range is the 3 series, which is okay, but still looking like a fat thing (except for the M3, which looks like its been on a major course of anabolic steroids).

All I know is that I disliked the old styles (at least how homogenous they were) so I'm impressed that they changed the styling so much. I've spent a lot of time in the new 7, and I enjoy the styling a lot. I just hate the I-drive, and wouldn't get it almost souly for that reason.

The new 5 is a little more questionable, but at least it doesn't look like either the 7 or 3. Its a departure, but I'm impressed nonetheless.

And now they have the new 6. I've been eyeing this thing up for a while, and if some room opens up in my garage I might be adding this to my collection.

The Z4 is a much better design than the Z3. The original Z3 was a car that I could never understand why anyone would buy.

In fact, the only one of the new models that I have a problem with is the 3-series. Too stale of a design.

And as far as the 1-series goes, I'm not a big fan, but its a hatchback and I'm sure its designated for the European market, so I'll get to see it maybe two or three times in the next 10 years, and thats okay with me.

Design is all a matter of personal opinion. The good thing about these is if you don't like em, don't buy em. The company will get the message.

I have no problems with BMW's designs, I even like the 1 series after looking at it more, the Toyota Echo hatchback, or its cousin the Chevy Aveio hatch are much uglier hatches than the 1 series.

I also like the Z4 better than the Z3, and I like the 5 series, I'm glad too see the 6 series back, and the 7 series is well just beautiful, the 3 series while bland is still tolerable, I just don't see why people dislike these designs so much but to each his own.

I love the new 5 series.. i think that looks great.

I'm tepid with the 7 and Z4, and the 6 will probably grow on me.

the 1 has it's application and it's not so ugly to me

Nothing is worse than the 318ti's (if you've never seen one, think 3 series with a hatchback and no trunk.)

keep in mind too that this company has ALWAYS been in the black. So that speaks tomes about their designs and sales.

Well their designs have never looked that goddamn nasty, either.

I think it was someone else here who said something like BMW's newest cars look like something made by a third tier Korean company that's putting out weird designs to try and get attention. I couldn't agree more.

I dunno.... I have kinda gotten used to seeing the new designs around. I think they look a little too....'bloated' i guess, as does the z4 imo. Not their best styling trend, but it could be much worse...like a Scion.

I really like the new BMW's. Especially the 5-series. I thought the old ones were bland looking.

I love the new 645ci, when i went and saw it in the show room i loved it. the new M5 is HOT!. I can't wait for the dealer in town to get one, since i have no hope of getting one... sigh. but i think bmw is doing fine and its engines are getting better and better, since hte new M5 is faster then a damn 360 challange stardale by 1.2 seconds in the 0-120 run.

http://www.fastlane.com.au/News_BMW/545iV81-030803.jpg

http://www.sptimes.com/News/050300/photos/flo-DAME.jpg

Autoweek originally did this comparison, I think the similarity is eerie.

I rode in a new 7 series this morning, I don't give a shit what you say. That is one sweet ass car.

I love the 7, love the Z4. The 6 looks pretty cool, while the 5 does look a bit funny...Bottom line for me is the fact that this company is looking forward, sticking its neck out. The'yre taking a chance and challenging preconceptions. There are a number of other companies I could name that might learn from BM's daring example.

I love the M3 its a sexy BMW
My sister has it,she just bought it,I felt so good inside of it.
When I would get out of it I would feel special lol.

When the Lexus range first came out, it was a fantastic car (good ride, quality everything), wrapped up in a bland shell. It strikes me that BeeEm are solid cars in a flaky body.

I'm not saying the new Bee-Ems don't stand out - they do, but the designs are not coherent or particularly attractive. I think that in the most part prior ranges of the 3/5/7 have had some real class to the design, but now they just seem to be going kinda wierd.

The latest Mercs look fantastic (I've never really been a fan of anything in the range before now). They've evolved the design and kept something special. BMW seem to have missed it.

Woah. I have lunch on that same terrace every once in a while.

I again, am of the opposite opinion. As much as I like the new "SLR-inspired" versions Merc are putting out, the SLR nose looks damn ugly. From the rear, all the new mercs have got stunning looks, and superbly designed light clusters. But the nose-job looks bad on every car except the new SLK.

The problem for me with MErc is further that almost all their cars look the same. Take a SL55, for example. There's nothing vsually about that car that sets it apart from its (much) cheaper stablemates. Some people like homogeneity in designs. I dont.

I like the fact that each BMW range has different styling. The purpose of different ranges is exactly that: To produce different groups of cars. Not just ones that grow in interior space and luxuries as their price go up.

Bangle is doing a good job at BMW. I like their 3-series best, followed by the 5. The only goodlooking Z-car on the market comes out of Japan, and carries a 350 badging. BMW's Z3 (so very ghey) and Z4 (so very confused) are ugly, but the latter is certainly an improvement.

That is the best comparison I've ever seen. Period.

I like the way the Z4 looks in comparison to the Z3, but as for the rest, "eh." Never been a big fan of BMW's, and the new ones aren't really doing anything for me either.