27 Votes

Bangle Leaves BMW Over Project i, Is BMW In Store For Radical Changes?

Agent009 submitted on 2/6/2009 Official Bell & Ross Timestamp: 12:52:25 PM

42 user comments | Category: New Cars | Source: | SOURCE: www.bmwblog.com

As promised, we’re back with some new information regarding Bangle’s departure from BMW, the reasons behind it and how will this impact BMW and future designs.

As we might have hinted earlier, lately it has been an internal argument, about the future of some BMW projects. Apparently, the Project i is the one that divided the designers and the board. Mr. Bangle’s idea did not fully coincide with his protege, Adrian Von Hooydonk and other members of the board.

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Bangle Leaves BMW Over Project i, Is BMW In Store For Radical Changes?

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"If everything seems under control, you're just not going fast enough."
— Agent009 (View Profile)

User Comments

You consider me the young apprentice, Caught between the Scylla and Charybdis. Hypnotized by you if I should linger, Staring at the ring around your finger. I have only come here seeking knowledge, Things they would not teach me of in college. I can see the destiny you sold
Turned into a shining band of gold. Devil and the deep blue sea behind me Vanish in the air, you'll never find me. I will turn your face to alabaster, Then you'll find your servant is your master. You'll be wrapped around my finger, You'll be wrapped around my finger
You'll be wrapped around my finger. I do believe Sting said it best. Good Luck Mr Bangle!
— Kthorn (View Profile)

Posted on 2/6/2009 1:11:56 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -2

Finally, some brain cells.
— nsmatt (View Profile)

Posted on 2/6/2009 1:26:59 PM | | Votes: 0

glad to see him exit the building... the new 7 looks much better - and the new z4 will be a winner - now lets work on the 5 and clean up his mess.
— davide (View Profile)

Posted on 2/6/2009 1:19:09 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0

I would brand Project I separately from Mini or BMW, like Smart. Regardless, Bangle will make a killing in his next venture, he deserves it.
— sizquik (View Profile)

Posted on 2/6/2009 1:29:40 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3

i think there's a good chance he'll be found at hyundai or kia soon. They need such people badly. ugly or not, they need new and unique designs(no copying).

JUGNU
— JUGNU (View Profile)

Posted on 2/6/2009 1:37:51 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -7

Bangle is is a marvel you I dont see any of you A$$-HOLES saying anything about the six series. thats a bangle design what about the new 3 series and M3 oh wait thats a bangle design too.....JERKS... Bangle has had much success with BMW ESPECIALLY....ESPECIALLY with the 2002-2008 BMW 7 Series and the 2004-present 6 Series. I will tell you again he put BMW on the map with his designs. Now he needs to go to AUDI and show them how its done.....because audi doesn't have a clue how to design the exterior of a car but to clone the cheaper model and stretch it into a flagship model...ololol... yeah thats what we call designing 001 they have the designing brain of a 2nd grader. Now all you AUDI MUN-LOVERS could start DE-BOOSTING me for the truth because I am right. AUDI needs to take whoever does the interior design which is beautiful and have them design the exterior of the AUDI. NO MORE CLONES TAKE IT TO THE EDGE..
— B7FAN (View Profile)

Posted on 2/6/2009 4:34:45 PM | | Votes: 1

To 'bangle' a design is now an auto-industry verb for ruining it." -Motor Trend Magazine. You know B7, I could be wrong (rarely happens) but I think it's a generally accepted fact that while Chris was still the "head" of the design team, Adrian was largely responsible for the design of the 6 series. I think this quote sums it up best... "Love or loathe his work," Motor Trend wrote in an interview with Bangle, "no other designer, not even legendary GM design chief Harley Earl, has so rapidly become a part of the industry lexicon. To 'bangle' a design is now an auto-industry verb for ruining it."
— Kthorn (View Profile)

Posted on 2/6/2009 9:48:09 PM | | Votes: 0

B7Fan, This Quote of yours... "Bangle has had much success with BMW ESPECIALLY....ESPECIALLY with the 2002-2008 BMW 7 Series". Unless you live in an alternative universe, you speak of the same 7 series that Time Magazine named as one of the worst 50 cars of all time. Think about this for a second, think of ALL the cars ever made and this "GEM" is one of the 50 worst. It's okay to be a fan of Chris', if you want to give him props use the Z8 or something, not the 7 series.
— Kthorn (View Profile)

Posted on 2/6/2009 9:56:00 PM | | Votes: 0

Van Hooydonk designed the 6 and 7 Series (not the new one).
— S4cabriofoxone (View Profile)

Posted on 2/7/2009 11:23:27 AM | | Votes: 2

That "boyfriend" in the background is Adrien VanBootydonk, his replacement.
— Kthorn (View Profile)

Posted on 2/6/2009 10:54:41 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -2

In a time of financial crisis, looks more like a battle of egos than a logical move.
— caixa2 (View Profile)

Posted on 2/6/2009 2:15:00 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0

Von Hooydonk! Sounds like something the dutch would say after hitting one's thumb with a hammer.
— Kthorn (View Profile)

Posted on 2/6/2009 3:37:41 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1

+1 :) ||| WTF is "Project i"? A bidet that works perfectly with Bangle-butts?
— downtoearth (View Profile)

Posted on 2/6/2009 5:40:04 PM | | Votes: -3

What they need are radical changes in quality control department as well as ethics department. bimmers and overpriced and are very poorly built, many will refute but it's a fact, couple this with cost cutting that's gone buck wild, and their continued efforts to engineer parts that are designed to fail prematurely so that poor saps (and I do mean "poor" literally, since BMW owners have the lowest per capita income compared to Merc, Audi and Lexus) have to spend thousands on repairs and other fixer-uppers.. BMW needs to shape up or ship out :)
— sector (View Profile)

Posted on 2/6/2009 3:47:20 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -5

That's a brave statement on this forum. There is an element of truth in your words but it seems BMW is more focused on expanding the line-up, than perfecting its core. The company became too fixated on design and that has resulted in quality issues, this has been happening for some time now. Maybe this is the move BMW needs.
— Kthorn (View Profile)

Posted on 2/6/2009 3:54:00 PM | | Votes: -5

I completely disagree, while their interiors look cheap on the surface they hold up very well. If you live with one for a year you'll understand. They're still built the German way.
— S4cabriofoxone (View Profile)

Posted on 2/7/2009 11:25:04 AM | | Votes: 5

S4, the trim on the grab handles and edges of the steering wheel of my wifes X5 peeled off in less than 6 months. The service dept tried telling me it was because of her hand lotion. The driver seat switch and trim panel popped off twice within the first year and had to be replaced both times. I have owned many BMW's for many years, the older cars held up much better than the new ones. I put 167,000 miles on my '86 535is and then turned it into a track car. I put another 6,000 miles on the car just on the track alone. I had far fewer problems with that car than any of the '92 and newer cars I've owned since. I may be opinionated, but it comes from dropping money on these things for many years.
— Kthorn (View Profile)

Posted on 2/7/2009 12:58:39 PM | | Votes: -5

Kthorn, my wife also has an X5 (I'm guessing yours is new), but we got the nappa leather so the grab handles and steering wheel are leather-clad. I wouldn't be able to comment on that. The only problem we've had with the car is a creaking noise coming from one of the C-pillars over bumps, which is going to be fixed as soon as a necessary part comes in. The X5 has been with us for 16 months and, IIRC, about 14K miles.
— S4cabriofoxone (View Profile)

Posted on 2/9/2009 11:17:44 PM | | Votes: 1

Peace out B*****s!!! And no, that's not a bangle in my pocket either.
— Bmw8ter (View Profile)

Posted on 2/6/2009 4:03:37 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -2

I like TP for my Bangle! TP for my Bangle!

"Uh huh huh huh"
— StarSearch (View Profile)

Posted on 2/6/2009 4:10:58 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -2

I am Bangholio!!!
— Bmw8ter (View Profile)

Posted on 2/6/2009 4:14:26 PM | | Votes: -1

In my opinion when Bangle was on top of his game his designs for the 5,6,and 7 series totally sucked. The flame surfacing incoherant and the back end of these cars made me think he was on drugs when he did them. I'm sure he'll go down in history as a pivatol designer. Not in my book.Good riddins!
— mini22 (View Profile)

Posted on 2/6/2009 5:20:16 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 2

That's because for less than you think, you too can look like a poser. Kaner, The reason you see so many people driving a 7 series in Phoenix and Scottsdale is because the valley is chuck full of $30,000 millionaires. You know 'em, they roll up to BS West (mistakenly on fag night) in a used black 7 series (they picked up on Ebay for less than 15 grand) sporting the fake Rolex, a pinky ring and a knock-off Versace belt they got at the swap meet. The hair is too long and slicked back, face unshaven, and they just used a half bottle of cologne to mask the fact they haven't showered in three days (because he lives on his buddies couch and showers at the gym). Kaner, next time you see a 7 series in PHX or Scottsdale take a few notes, here's what you will find... The car has 4 bald tires, the windshield is cracked, it's dinged up one side and down the other, none of the panels match because the cars been painted 4 or 5 times, and the tags are expired. And oh, one more thing, look around the parking lot for a flatbed, becaues right now the guy's out for repo and skip/trace is closing in.
— Kthorn (View Profile)

Posted on 2/6/2009 10:42:47 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -4

Thank you Agent 009 for the sweet photos of the Volvo XC60 and Porsche Museum. Now I would like to respone to the article. My personal opinion is Bangle may have insisted that the project i (ultra efficient city cars) be styled in a simlar manner to the Five and Seven series designs that he presided over. With little support for his ideas on such a large design project, Bangle decided it was time to move on.

However, I can honestly say I like what Adrian Von Hooydonk has to offer BMW design group. So, yes BMW is in store for radical changes. My personal opinion is with Adrian Von Hooydonk in charge BMW cars will look radicaly different than they do today. Is that good or bad; I guess we will all have to wait and see.
— BM3W (View Profile)

Posted on 2/6/2009 9:24:56 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3

Kaner,
Probably because you can get a 745i just back from lease for the same price as you can for a 2009 loaded Camry.
http://www.trader.ca/powerpage/details.aspx?vlotid=86917&adid=7179516

Badgewhores are snapping them up since they can't afford new ones.

I knew it though, the BMW board finally got the balls to say his designs suck and fired his ass. Is it really resigning if you know they're about to show you the door anyway?

Why would Hyundai waste money hiring him to copy Honda/Toyota when they're doing it quite well without him?

I can see GM doing something stupid like hire Bangle to try and inject some controversy into Saab.
— huu76 (View Profile)

Posted on 2/6/2009 9:31:46 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: -1

Personally, the only Bangle designs that caught my eye were the 745 which I leased for 3 years and loved and the 6 series. His other designs simply didn't do it for me, they were not ugly, just not my style. Especially the 5 series. I will be in the market next year for a new sports sedan but this time I will probably go midsized since they all have plenty of room. The 5 series, even though it will most definitely be a good drive, is just not high on my list primarily due to its looks. Right now my list goes: Supercharged A6, 2010 Infiniti M, or if I just can't live without a full sized car, a used A8 or S550.
— stone (View Profile)

Posted on 2/6/2009 10:13:27 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 3

I thought his 6 series was spot on gorgeous. Just waaay too expensive for it's class.
— Bmw8ter (View Profile)

Posted on 2/7/2009 2:50:51 PM | | Votes: 2

what the heck is "project i"?
— 1995e34 (View Profile)

Posted on 2/9/2009 11:31:21 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1

he'll be greatly missed.
— 1995e34 (View Profile)

Posted on 2/9/2009 11:31:47 AM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1

I have no problem with different, but ugly shouldn't be considered a design style. Glad he's gone.
— thstone (View Profile)

Posted on 2/9/2009 7:31:16 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 0

Not that its the reason why Bangles designs sucked so bad, but the guy on the left just screams "flame on".
— huu76 (View Profile)

Posted on 2/9/2009 8:59:40 PM | reply to this comment | Votes: 1

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Bangle Leaves BMW Over Project i, Is BMW In Store For Radical Changes?

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