Article: Has the 3-Series met its match?

Peter Fenwick wrote: The new Accord influenced by bangle?? You really do need to get your eyes checked Andy

Well have a look,



and,



Now that bears a strong resemblence to "Flame Surfacing" to me.

The whole "Bangle's to blame" thing is so old hat. Even rival manufacturers have started to get away from the bar-of-soap look in order not to be left behind. Some of their efforts are a bit too contrived to work but at least they're trying.

I'm no fan of Bangle - as I said, his Fiat Coupe was one of the worst examples of car design I've ever seen - it made the TR7 look good. However he did have a point - BMWs design was becoming very unadventurous.

Some of the designs work really well like the Z4, some are quite good - the 6-series, 1-series & new 3-series and some are a bit awkward the 5-series & the original Bangle 7-series. I won't comment on the X models as I just don't get the whole urban off-roader thing.

If you really can't stand the new models then I guess you'll either have to make your old cars last indefinitely or buy something else. Me? I'll take a new 3-series Touring thanks!

As for the E30 starting to look old - well it did go out of production over 12 years ago! However, in convertible & Touring guise it's still considered quite cool. Will the E36 still be cool in 2112?

Regarding Bangle designs - I believe that his designs are being taken by all other manufacturers in some shape or form.
Even volvo are being as brazen and using the fin aerial!  

I think Bangles brief was to give the BMW range a bit of a kick start. The kick might have been a little harder than the customers (& BMW) were expecting but I think once the new designs mature a little we'll see really desirable BMWs again.

Other manufacturers have indeed been following suit. Just remember, there are worse designs out there than Bangles!

I'm afraid to say I think the E90 3-series is a disaster.

The sales will tell you the same too - the car is simply not selling anything like BMW expected it too.  I only recently discovered this and was also told that a 'redesign' of the rear end is seriously being considered right now.

I cannot help but think of the Badge Test when I look at it.

That is, remove the badges and replace them with any you feel fit.  When I look at an E90 3-series and do this I find myself rather concerned that those badges that seem most appropriate are of South Korean origin.  It looks remarkably like any of the rubbish (in terms of design) to have come from SK in the last 10 years.

All of this is a disaster because the 3-series is technically the best in its class by quite some margin.  It's an excellent car it drive in any guise (and the 320d is astonishly good) but they've made a major mess of the car on the exterior in my opinion.

The E92 Coupe is already having a rear end rethink - before it comes out. 

The E92 M3 is possibly going to be delayed from May 2007 to September 2007 - because they're aware they just cannot afford to get it wrong, especially in light of the Audi RS4 which is currently putting paid to everything else in the class.

I don't think it matters if BMW only make it a coupe, it will never avoid comparison with the RS4 no matter what they do. TBH the RS4 isn't there biggest problem, it is the outgoing M3 with they need to beat. In EVO this month the e46 M3 CS beat the RS4 in a group test.

 

the sales of the e90 have not being what they were first thought they was going to be

i can only go by what the sales guys tell me ;but in there eyes there commisions havent been what they had hoped

the e46 sold far quicker when it was launched[fact]

 

its been mainly companys that are replacing there fleets that seem to buying them

only my 2 pennys worth on the subject

Yeah, I read that, but pma1ums has his piggies on the pulse as usual - I wonder if the atricle has an element of PR spin to it.....?

sleeper

its spin in my eyes

true sales of the 320d has had strong first sales performance .but who was ordering them ?? hmmm  companys that buy 3 series for there mid mangement every 3 years

but iam sure others mite beg to differ

I agree that theres an element of 'spin', thats the nature of business.

Yea for sure bmw's expectations might possibly been much higher and this is a get-out clause to massage their ego a bit..But no matter how it evolves...sales targets are achieved....that in itself is a trend that new buyers like to see

Audi are stealing a large number of BMW customers right now.

Take an A4 for example, B6 or B7.

The interior is better, the paintwork is better (much).  The build quality is far superior now and the engines are getting better all the time (the RS4 being a prime example).

However, they do have one major fly in the ointment.  By comparison to your average BMW dealer, your Audi dealer treatment is absolutely appalling.  Their servicing costs are also now significantly higher (particularly on the diesel models).

That said, the A4 was the car of my choice when I choose between it and a 320d Tourer - and other than the fact it has the most horrid ESP system for it's naff FWD, it beats the 320d into the ground on build, interior, finish, everything (it's slightly slower than the 320d, but not that you'd notice over a short run).

Edited by Coasting