Bangle getting the axe?

[Digitalwave]

But mine always holds more weight ;)

I was going to retort, but with a lot of the members on this site... I guess there is nothing to say. :!:

[nando]

Just a bunch of rich yuppies you had to buy the newest thing.

that sounds like the people who were buying BMWs in the 80s.. :roll:

[PanamaE30]

Very doubtful due to the last few years constantly topping the last one in sales and revenue. And if they wouldnt only have to fire Bangle to get rid of the hideous designs. It would have to also be Adrian Van Hooidonk (sp), and theres another designer that was more of an influence in these "dynamic" designs. I doubt BMW will go back to the elegant linear designs seen last on the E38 and E46 anyways, now that they are selling so many cars. :( . I do hope you are right, though. I mean, you have to look at it this way, the way these cars are selling, it has given BMW the revenue to really advance in technology and motorsport.

Um.. Bangle was already influencing BMW design by the time the E46 was being designed. It just wasn't as influencing as subsequent models. Same thing applies for the E39. He was influencing before, now he's running the show.

[Madhatter]

BMW no longer makes drivers cars.

Yeah because the only thing which makes "drivers" cars is the look :roll:

[hamann318is]

Design and engineering are totally different issues with me.

While I believe that most of the design BMW has been producing is questionable, I don't think it's all Bangle. He designed the car, yes, but that design has to go through God knows how many levels of management. If BMW didn't think that this was going to work for them as a design, then they would have changed it a while ago or never produced the model.

I would also have to say that BMW is still a driver's car. Regardless of who buys them, the BMW is better to drive than most anything out on the road. I would have to say that anyone who buys a new Porsche is just as yuppie as the next new BMW owner. It comes with the marquee.

[bmwm3n528]

While we're on the subject...

http://bimmer.roadfly.org/bmw/forums/e46/6132618-1.html

...Good article.

[DEV0 E30]

Indeed it was.

Something that made me think:

Mr. Bangle, BMW's head designer, shrugs off suggestions that his
designs have scared off buyers. "We're not trying to be everybody's
darling," he says in an interview. "Sometimes you leave people
behind. But then you also pick up some new people."

I don't think BMW wants to brush off enthusiats...

[DSchultz325e]

I'd wager the market for BMWs nowadays is anything but "drivers". Call them sellouts, call them retarded, whatever. Business is business. There are richer people than you who just want a nice looking car. That is where the money lies, rich yuppies. If they want a whip for the autobahn to cruise top gear in they would buy something a little bit faster than a 325ci or a 540i for that matter. Something a little more refined, perhaps an Aston Martin or a Porsche.

The market isn't there for the young kids who want the smaller sports cars, it belongs to Subaru now.

[CleanAzzE30z]

Personally, I think Bangle is good for BMW.
You can't just make the same car over and over, you have to change, and that is what he's best at. .

I wasnt implying that they make the same car over and over, that would be rediculous. I meant not to go to Toyota/Nissan radical styling neede to sell sub-par cars, when you have been, all your history about clean lines and sublte strength instead of attention whoring designs not needed for a miachine of BMWs caliber. One has to understand that he person that grew up and was cultivated to love BMWs before this drastic change, is being completely betrayed in a way by the new designs. Of course they dont care, because were not the ones who buy new cars. The rich pretentious attention-needers buy them. They want to be seen.

Have you seen the new six, z4, and 5 series? Beautiful cars. I even like the 7, but not as much. See, BMW could care less about what all you old BMW classic style lovers want,.

I know that. But its not a good idea to alienate your enthusiast base, cuz as soon as Mercedes comes out with the latest useless doo-dad, these people will hop on over to buying Mercedes or whatever other marque offers the next abomination of over complex computerized cars.

they want to appeal to the average person.

wrong, they want to appeal to the rich, cuz they buy the ever inflating priced pig of a car.

BMWs have never really stood out untill now.

That was exactly their charm and what Ive grown to love.

There is nothing quite like them, and that is good in THIS case. Now everyone is copying them yet again. BMW doesn't hop on the bandwagon, they drive it.

Everyone copies us because they dont have the balls to do what BMW does on their own. Whether BMW is right or wrong, they do have the means and the balls to pull off a stunt like they are and be able to afford it if it goes sour.

[CleanAzzE30z]

Very doubtful due to the last few years constantly topping the last one in sales and revenue. And if they wouldnt only have to fire Bangle to get rid of the hideous designs. It would have to also be Adrian Van Hooidonk (sp), and theres another designer that was more of an influence in these "dynamic" designs. I doubt BMW will go back to the elegant linear designs seen last on the E38 and E46 anyways, now that they are selling so many cars. :( . I do hope you are right, though. I mean, you have to look at it this way, the way these cars are selling, it has given BMW the revenue to really advance in technology and motorsport.

Um.. Bangle was already influencing BMW design by the time the E46 was being designed. It just wasn't as influencing as subsequent models. Same thing applies for the E39. He was influencing before, now he's running the show.

correct, "influencing" is a far cry from what is being put out now. Now its their missions statement for gods sake. BMW almost didnt wanna put the E46 out, but that one had balance between Bangle and others. Now its not that way. :)

[CleanAzzE30z]

Design and engineering are totally different issues with me.

While I believe that most of the design BMW has been producing is questionable, I don't think it's all Bangle. He designed the car, yes, but that design has to go through God knows how many levels of management. If BMW didn't think that this was going to work for them as a design, then they would have changed it a while ago or never produced the model.

No on eargued that the upper levels of management were not at fault or that it was all Bangle. It originated with Bangle and BMW bought it.

[Victell]

I've yet to see any enthusiasts driving one of these new piles of shit. Just a bunch of rich yuppies you had to buy the newest thing. BMW no longer makes drivers cars.

Fuckin Word.

And I live in LA. Especially fuck-shitty. I dont like new BMW drivers. I give no props.

Just about everyone in LA that can afford a new BMW, Porsche, Aston Martin, etc. buys them so they can park in front of the clubs.

These cars never see WOT or a hard corner.

[CleanAzzE30z]

I've yet to see any enthusiasts driving one of these new piles of shit. Just a bunch of rich yuppies you had to buy the newest thing. BMW no longer makes drivers cars.

Fuckin Word.

And I live in LA. Especially fuck-shitty. I dont like new BMW drivers. I give no props.

Just about everyone in LA that can afford a new BMW, Porsche, Aston Martin, etc. buys them so they can park in front of the clubs.

These cars never see WOT or a hard corner.

Youre in L.A.? WHat part? I know its OT. We should set up an E30 meet very soon.

[Victell]

Youre in L.A.? WHat part? I know its OT. We should set up an E30 meet very soon.

Mid-city. 10 fwy and La Brea. Let me know.

[M3 Ryan]

I will throw my $.02 in this fire, seeing as I get to work on and drive these new cars everyday. I like the new designs a lot, espically the E60. BMW is on the cutting edge. If you think they look bad, just wait 5 years and see what everyone else does with cars, its just evolution. BMW's electronic systems (although they do have bugs) are top notch, ranking far and beyond those of other cars out there. The suspension/steering systems are incredible, you will not drive another car that feels as tight and poised than the new E60/E65/E63 series cars.
Just my opinion. If you don't like the looks, just wait a few years and things will change.
If you don't like the new 7 series, then just wait until the facelifted version comes out in March and see what you think then, although 99.999% of the people on this board can't afford a new 7, thats why we drive E30's.