Bangle getting the axe?

[Mystikal]

Have you seen the sales figures for the newer BMW's Mariano? Sales have been on a painful decline since the new designs.

Bangle will/has been relocated elsewhere within the company.

Sales are slightly down over every model, but up significantly for BMW overall. They have a much larger US product lineup than before, so sales are spread across the line. Mercedes, Audi and VW all posted sales losses this year, BMW posted an increase.

-Charlie

One would imagine that any increase in BMW revenue would be offset by the R&D and production costs of building so many different models, no?

[Charlie]

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.

What exactly does "give props" mean?

"Heeeey, your car is worth 15x what mine is, you can get credit! - MAD PROPS TO YOU DAWG"

-Charlie

[Charlie]

Have you seen the sales figures for the newer BMW's Mariano? Sales have been on a painful decline since the new designs.

Bangle will/has been relocated elsewhere within the company.

Sales are slightly down over every model, but up significantly for BMW overall. They have a much larger US product lineup than before, so sales are spread across the line. Mercedes, Audi and VW all posted sales losses this year, BMW posted an increase.

-Charlie

One would imagine that any increase in BMW revenue would be offset by the R&D and production costs of building so many different models, no?

I doubt that R&D is that much different, these cars all share platforms. As opposed to the late nineties where we would get 2 e36 models, a sedan and a coupe, we now get a 2WD sedan, coupe, touring, a 4WD sedan, coupe and touring, and 2 flavors of a small SUV based off the 3 series platform, the X3. Sales are fractured over 8 models instead of 2 now, so while "330i sedan" sales may be down compared to 328i sedan sales in 1998, it's not due to people not buying BMW, but to buying one of the other 8 cars in that lineup now. Same goes with the X5 and the five series.

-Charlie

[CleanAzzE30z]

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.

Well said. I, hands down, admit that the performance aspect is still at the forefront of all technologies. Im only speaking of the style and I also admit that we are not even a fraction of the people that buy these cars, which is why we really dont matter, to put it bluntly. Its only an observation, I do know that BMW, in the end, is a business and they must do what is in the companies best interests. I suppose Im just starting to get old, lol.

[TUD]

Wishful thinking. If the E90 bombs then he just might get the axe, but nothing will happen until then. BTW, Z4 sales are off 33%, 7-Series sales are off 21%, and The 5 is also seeing a decline in it's 2nd year. This is all per the WSJ article.

[Victell]

What exactly does "give props" mean?

"Heeeey, your car is worth 15x what mine is, you can get credit! - MAD PROPS TO YOU DAWG"
-Charlie

A nod from one driving enthusiast to another appreciating a well-built, well-engineered driver's machine. Perhaps you dont understand that.

But as someone posted earlier, our e30s were purchased by mostly yuppies in the late 80's & early 90's. Same shit, different decade. I dont think BMW's main customer base has ever been driving enthusiasts.

But now that I think about it, if all those yuppies had not gobbled up so many e30's, we would probably not be able to purchase them used at such a good price, with good replacement parts prices as well. Because there are so many e30s, we can buy one for ~$3000. Thats a screaming deal, and why I have one.

[bimmerphile]

Ok, since I've never said this to anyone before...

Welcome to 2 years ago... (j/k).

But seriously, Bangle announced 1-2 years ago that he'd be stepping down as head of design, but no, he's not being fired and he's also not leaving BMW. The rumors surrounding his announcement, however, was that BMW asked him to step down as design chief, but who know/who cares, I like all bmw designs, afterall, it is still the most copied/emulated marque to date.

I thought he was "stepping down" to a promotion, which takes the pad and paper from his hands but gives him more money.

[MattE30]

I thought he was "stepping down" to a promotion, which takes the pad and paper from his hands but gives him more money.

I heard that too.

[Purdue89E30]

Wishful thinking. If the E90 bombs then he just might get the axe, but nothing will happen until then. BTW, Z4 sales are off 33%, 7-Series sales are off 21%, and The 5 is also seeing a decline in it's 2nd year. This is all per the WSJ article.

I was just gonna mention that article

I thought he was "stepping down" to a promotion, which takes the pad and paper from his hands but gives him more money.

That could be what's going on, maybe my professor misunderstood the article. He was never clear on what had happened but he said BMW had started some precess which indicated that they would be firing Bangle in a month or so. So I guess we'll just wait and see.