E32’s/E38’s

Fifteen years ago I remember being struck by how different all the BMWs looked to the rest of the cars on the roads. Ford had the sierra out, thousands of rusty cortinas smoking around the streets, Vauxhall had the mk2 cavalier and of course the almighty chevette. Even the big boys like Merc managed to fit in with all the repmobiles. But BMW stood out with these aggressive vicious looking shark nosed beasts - I loved them!

Of course now all the repmobiles succeed in being featureless bland blobs. But now BMW produce quirky stylized designs that just turn out as ugly - the e60 isn't a patch on the e39 IMO. Also aberrations such as the 1er should never have seen the light of day. The e90 succeeds in looking like a fat 1er with a rear modelled on a 1998 Nissan Primera - where did it all go wrong??

Must have been something going for the old sharknoses, they still have a strong following even today. I wouldn't turn away one of the old mercs with the headlights above each other, but past the 80' all the wind tunnel styling just got too bland for me. Some of them the only way you can tell the manufacturer is by the badging, and not always then thanks to badge engineering (and yes, I know that started much earlier)

The new three is just bland and nothingy.

The 1 Series is struggling and so far, sales are
about 60% of what was predicted. This is the first
new BMW I can remember being discounted from
new.

The A8 is just a stunning car, as was the old one.
You need taste to appreciate the Audi and how
elegant and subtle it is - that's why the Beckhams
and Ozzy Osbourne drive a nasty E65.

The Merc is not badly built. Compared to a lets not get personal please, it's a superb car and
should be a paragon of reliability. My Mum's CLK230
has been faultless over the last 6 years.

Edited by Rhys

One possible reason why so many of the early to mid 1980's cars rusted more than most is due to the steels that were used. The steel industry went through a series of strikes in this country which gave the big car manufacturers no choice but to get their steels elsewhere. Poland was one country that supplied steel during this time as a substitute for British steel. Fords were very badly hit with rust problems as a result on all cars built tween 1982 and 1986. There is no reason why other manufacturers were not hit by the same steel supply problems and with the supply problems came steel that was often below standard. The build quality didn't suffer, it was the quality of the materials used that caused so many 1980's cars to rust out prematurely.

VonPaulus wrote: ...The 1 Series is struggling and so far, sales are about 60% of what was predicted. This is the first new BMW I can remember being discounted from new....

Well, it is based on a Nissan Almera....

When posting please follow forum guidelines on language.

Edited by Rhys

Whilst very new to this forum and bmw, i do not think it will be the last e32 that i will buy. Bought my 730 i se for £225, with 6months mot 2mnths tax, half a tank of petrol, no dinks ,two owners same family.Small problem with it being stuck in third gear due to lack of use said the owner and bmw .Had the advice to take of the battery off for 24hrs ,and switch a light on so to drain any charge from the capaciters, and then drive for 10 miles or there abouts and bingo it worked.Another Ebay bargain whish i had a bigger yard?!!.