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635CSi 
Really Senior Member II 
Joined: 01-March-2007 Status: Offline Points: 683 |
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 Topic: Chris Bangle, absolute genius or destroyer of BMW?Posted: 10-April-2007 at 23:05 |
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Since barely anybody posts new threads regularly on this forum I felt I should get one going.
What do people think of Chris Bangle's designs in general? Does anybody think he has destroyed BMW design or has he put BMW in the right direction? What sparked off my idea for this thread was from comparing the E39 to the E60 and noticing how faultless the E39's styling was and how ugly the E60 can look from some angles. IMO the post 2001 facelift E39 looks newer than the E60 because the E60's design hasn't aged well at all IMO, it shows how perfect the E39 was. Everybody on this forum please state whether they love or loathe Chris Bangle's design. Thanks, 635CSi |
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thepits
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Joined: 09-July-2003 Location: far far away Status: Offline Points: 10000473 |
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Posted: 10-April-2007 at 23:10 |
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great idea....... not had a CB thread for ---oooooo--- ages!
here's a couple of old ones to give you inspiration! http://www.bavarian-board.co.uk/forum_posts.asp?TID=7986& ; ;KW=bangle http://www.bavarian-board.co.uk/forum_posts.asp?TID=14609&am p;am p;KW=bangle
Edited by thepits |
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635CSi
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Posted: 10-April-2007 at 23:44 |
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Ok this thread is officially pointless then!!  I actually never knew there was already dispute about Chris Bangle but still, you have to give me credit for the idea or at least for trying. |
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larzyh
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Joined: 25-February-2007 Location: Limerick Status: Offline Points: 633 |
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Posted: 11-April-2007 at 07:49 |
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Dear 635CSI, I think it's perfectly OK to re-open debates. I think the BMW's of the 90's (E34, E36, E38, EOhwhatever the 8Serieswas) had a classical handsomeness that is certainly gone. This line, I think, culminated in the E46; an extremely well proportioned car. I think even Bangle would agree that these cars had cleaner, less fussy, lines. Bangle pushes the envelopes of thinking and for that he should be congratulated, even if it isn't always successful from a purely aesthetic point of view. Anyway, the sales figures speak for themselves from a corporate standpoint so he must be doing something right. Larzyh. |
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T.J.
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Joined: 22-September-2003 Location: Cork, Ireland Status: Offline Points: 2332 |
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Posted: 11-April-2007 at 08:22 |
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I'm very pro Bangle. The 7 is still a bit ungainly I think. The 6 took a while for me to come around to, but I'm appreciating its sense of proportion more & more and am now a big fan. The 5 is really nice, the 3 saloon is ok, but the estate & coupe are fantastic, the 1 is also fantastic, & the Z4 is drop dead gorgeous. I think the Bangle era cars show the competition up. Whether you consider the competition 'classical' or 'dated' depends on whether you consider Bangled BMWs ugly or not.
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Mazda 6 MPS
S1 Elise 135 Sport Alfa Romeo 159 Sportwagon 
Formerly E39 TDS, E36 M3, E36 328i, E34 525i, E34 518i |
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BeemaBoy
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Starting a Collection Joined: 25-October-2004 Location: Johannesburg, South Africa Status: Offline Points: 927 |
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Posted: 11-April-2007 at 09:05 |
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From a personal standpoint, I would much rather have a 2001 E38 740I than a new 2006 E?? 745I. I think that the E38 has an timeless and perfect design. It does not look too big or leary and lookes racy and refined enough to pull of the fact that it is a well built, German Autobahn basher bought by people who want to be moved from one side of the country to the other, in absolute comfort at 140MPH The new 7 does not do that. There is way to much to think about when driving the car...to the point that it becomes annoying to drive! I have had he lucky chance to ride in a new 7 and the interior has way too much going on. The interior is also starting to weather a lot quicker than the E38. Many new ones I have seen, the buttons are all scratched and the coating is wearing off them! The new 7 does not feel like an extension of the driver...not like a previous generation BMW!!! Oh yes...and the styling is horrid...looks too lumpy BB |
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87 E30 320I
95 E34 525I Auto, Executive Package, Arctic Silver 98 E38 740I Steptronic, Silver |
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dryle
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Posted: 11-April-2007 at 09:46 |
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i think the new 5 series is a blend of the sporty look of the e34 and the elegant lines of the e39, and looks a peach, the e46 is nicer on the eye then the current 3 series. The 1 series is a good looking car. x3 useless as a 4x4 |
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Dave Ryle
 "The power of accurate observation is commonly called cynicism by those who have not got it." -- George Bernard Shaw |
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T.J.
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Joined: 22-September-2003 Location: Cork, Ireland Status: Offline Points: 2332 |
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Posted: 11-April-2007 at 09:57 |
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Oh yeah - I forgot the X cars - X5 is nice but a bit of a lump - new one looks a belter in photos and, dare I say it, I like the X3! And I think the next X car - the X6 - will be a total copy of the ssangyong
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Mazda 6 MPS
S1 Elise 135 Sport Alfa Romeo 159 Sportwagon
Formerly E39 TDS, E36 M3, E36 328i, E34 525i, E34 518i |
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Don520
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Posted: 11-April-2007 at 10:03 |
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I was no fan of the E60 at first, but I have warmed to it, there is some
fantastic surfacing on it, yet it is restrained and not as in your face as the Z4's manic surfacing. I think the design is holding well, and to my eyes has not started to date, as ever BMW got the details spot on, wheelbase, overhangs, glass area, so whatever happen between those spaces the fundamentals of the car are right. I think some of Bangles other efforts really show some poor design, the rear of the 6 and the whole of the pre facelift 7, there is no getting away from the fact that there is a lack of cohesiveness that would have never been signed off pre Bangle. But it is edgy and challenging, and it has worked from a sales POV, but us purist will always hark back to a bygone era, just as kids today will view the E60 as a classic when confronted with future BMW designs. It's the curse of the fuddy duddy... |
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95 520iSE Auto (sadly missed)
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beemerchris
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Posted: 11-April-2007 at 10:45 |
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IMHO 1 series misses the point a bit but looks ok in an agressive kinda way especially in Sport kid 3 Series boring and has no chance against the e46 Z4 + Coupe ok the Z4 looks better than the Z3 the coupe however just doesn't do it for me against the mental breadvan 5 Series looks ok if with the M-kit and the right wheels and colours 6 Series looks like an obese bloated version of a Z4 and even after all that years it's around I still cant warm to it. and driving one it just isn't a sport coupe more a replacement of the 8 series which looked 1000 times better. Perfect for the American market. (No offence to our American board members 7 series looks ok and the facelifted version looks quiet good doesn't stand a chance against the e38 which together with the 8 series was one of the nicest bmw in a while. The I-drive isn't as bad as people make it out to be. A bit finicy till you get used to it after that it's brill. I don't like the "uncluttered cockpit it makes as I feel it looks just blant inside now. X's are a waste of time in my eyes as neither of them is a propper off-oader (Sorry I jhust cant get my head araund that 4x4 hype) You life in the jungle/outback, or work as farmer etc good get one you live in the urban jungle ......... (not printable) so for me they miss the point. |
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Chris
3rock-Car-Electronics-Services Cars.: e34 540t 6sp e24 635csi |
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Ben O Brien
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Posted: 11-April-2007 at 11:08 |
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Hmmm.. I agree with Chris above re the E60, has to have the M kit and the wheels seen on the 530d Sports. But short of this i much prefer the E39 over the E60. This also extends to the E46 and the E38, i just think they are more like the bmw's i grew up around and liked from the get-go, the sweeping dashboard and the creases down the sides of the car at wheelarch level both of which are seen in models back as far as the E30 and E34. The e39 and e46 just seemed like a logical progression over their predecessors and i found them instantly likeable. I have to say i havent warmed to the E60 and E90 in the same way, perhaps the E60 with sport kit but the E90 does nothing for me. I have resigned myself to the fact that i wont be owning an e60 or an e90 anytime soon for many reasons ( mainly financial! |
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99' 740iL
99' 728i Sport 98' E39 M5 - Avus Blue, Dec Car! 96' M3 Saloon - Estoril Blue 94' M3 3.0 Convertible 91' E34 M5 - 3.6, Macau Blue *E36 M3's Breaking* |
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fozzymandeus
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Posted: 11-April-2007 at 11:41 |
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BMW were my favourite marque as soon as I was in the car buying market, then looking at the recently superseded E36...
I've got myself to the stage where I have a pretty unmolested E36 convertible (which is being molested in the paintshop as we speak... damn the weather and my timing!) and I truly don't know what I'd replace it with because of the Bangle BMWs. The Z4 is a possible contender (a little roadster like that suits all the aggression) but the others look too overstyled to me. The E60 looks particularly daft with its standard wheels. But it isnt just BMW. All Audis are being uglified left right and centre with that unnecessary grille identity... alot of premium cars are beginning to look somewhat gauche and I wouldnt be seen dead in the majority of them. So for now I'll keep the E36, buy a shopping car and wait until I can afford a 4 year old Citroen C6.  |
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635CSi
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Posted: 11-April-2007 at 11:52 |
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IMO the E90 is the best looking in Arctic Blue with Elipsoid spoke wheels, I think it is a very appealing looking car but definitely not beautiful!
The worst looking is the X3, it's not just the worst BMW on sale today, it's one of the worst cars on sale today. Really and truly a horrible car! The E60 has grown on me a good bit and I do agree it looks fantastic with the M Pack but it will never appeal to me like the E39 did. To me the E39 is automotive perfection. I hated the E65 7 Series when it was launched but when it was toned down into the E66 it looked less ugly. It can look quite good from some angles I'll give it that. The 6 Series isn't bad looking at all but it falls short in the BMW driving experience, it's not that good a drive surprisingly for a BMW. The new X5 looks like the old one except more hideous at the front, it looks way too fussy and the creases spoil the design somewhat. The 3rd row of seats are also virtually useless. Still I'd choose one over an M Class but maybe not an XC90  .The E92 is lovely BTW but it looks like it crashed into a propeller from the side! 635CSi |
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BeemaBoy
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Posted: 11-April-2007 at 12:15 |
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Lets not forget that the X3 is not even a BMW! It was made under license by another company, who stuck all the BMW badges on at the end of the production line BB |
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87 E30 320I
95 E34 525I Auto, Executive Package, Arctic Silver 98 E38 740I Steptronic, Silver |
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nn_dd
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Posted: 11-April-2007 at 13:35 |
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There was a time when any BMW, you would've been proud to have on your drive, for some people it still is so, as long as it has the appropriate reg number attached to it !! (this is the group of people that BMW corp care about)
Has there ever been a time like now that BMW enthusiasts wouldn't be seen dead in some of the marque models, probably not. The Bangle era is a whole new style direction that is taking BMW as a company from strength to strength, but it has been their marketing that is driving the sales further and further as badge identification is more and more prevalent as society becomes more affluent, more 3er's than mondeos being sold in the UK ! Even if the styling is not universally accepted they have managed to maintain the driving dynamics which makes BMW's what they are - the ultimate...you know the rest. That aside, the E60 is a car I wouldn't mind owning, I like the look of it and the interior is at the top of it's class - only you need horrifically large wheels to make it look good from the outside. The E90 saloon is not a very nice car, looks great, really aggressive from the front, but the rear is a complete balls up. The interior is small and spartan, seats are not very good - but boy does it drive well. The jury for me is still out on the E92. The 6 series is the bomb, its unusual, aggressive and handsome at the same time, its proportions are monumental, you can live with the rear tail thingy and it's the only non-M model that I would actively seek out in the future, prices are dropping nicely - roll on 2012 - may be able to afford a nice 630 by then. I thought the 7 series was nice the first day it fell from the ugly tree. Most marque flagships today are gaudy from over styling, to test the market for the big mid-segment hitters to come out based on them. As good as the E46/39 were they are starting to look a little dated, their proportions make them look flat in comparison to the new breed. Sorry for the long response, I've got the flu - so feck all to be at ! Time for another lemsip. |
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E39 530d Touring
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dryle
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Posted: 11-April-2007 at 14:10 |
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nah the xc90 looks like a v40 on stilts |
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Dave Ryle
"The power of accurate observation is commonly called cynicism by those who have not got it." -- George Bernard Shaw |
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dryle
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Posted: 11-April-2007 at 14:12 |
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if you look at the cars in their different class's then bmw have generally the nicer looking cars. i like the x5, she wants a 7 seater if i win euromillions, i can have an m6 then, but i think the range rover sport in the rustic brown colour is nicer. Despite the controversy surrounding Bangle's work, numerous automakers have emulated his design elements. For example, the 2007 Mercedes-Benz S-Class came out with a Bangle style trunk and several Toyotas (notably the Avalon and Camry) have utilized his "Bangle-butt" design cues. The new-for-2007 Lexus LS also bears some resemblance to the BMW 7 Series. Edited by dryle |
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Dave Ryle
"The power of accurate observation is commonly called cynicism by those who have not got it." -- George Bernard Shaw |
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dryle
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Posted: 11-April-2007 at 14:58 |
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em any1 see this |
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Dave Ryle
"The power of accurate observation is commonly called cynicism by those who have not got it." -- George Bernard Shaw |
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AHEALY
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Posted: 11-April-2007 at 16:56 |
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I love the e39 and e38 models myself but believe from a corporate view point you need to be bold to make sales these days and there is alot of competition now from Audi and Merc. Also, each model seems to have a life span of 7 or so years including mid-life tweeks, so a car needs to look almost futuristic in the beginning to last the pace. That's my view anyways. I didn't like the new 7 series when it came out first but the facelift version is definetly an improvement. I like the 6 series, and z4 roadster. I love the Z4 coupe and 3 series coupe. I'm not a great fan of the 3 series saloon or 5 series (pre facelift).
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Ado
'97 523i & 95 M3 97 Subaru Impreza WRX Sport Wagon (sold) |
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635CSi
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Posted: 11-April-2007 at 18:11 |
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Yes that's true, it's built under contract by a company in Austria called Magna Steyr. |
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Chris Bangle, absolute genius or destroyer of BMW?
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thepits wrote:
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