Agent00J
Agent00J
Life is too short to drive boring cars...
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Has BMW Lost Its Edge and Become Too Conservative in Their Designs?
First the new 7-Series and now the first undisguised pictures of the new 3-Series and the debate begins.  The last generation 7-Series was controversial, the 5-Series followed suit but didn't garner nearly the debate.  The Z4 drew either a love it or hate it reaction, and the 2006 3-Series tied up the line with its redesign.



The question that seems to be on everyones mind however is if BMW has gone far enough with the new designs, and the refreshing.  Although only a mid-cycle refresh, you would be hard pressed to see any major difference between current 3-Series and the 2009 3-Series.  Aside from a mild tail light treatment, the changes are downright conservative.



Of course conservative isn't always a bad thing, is it?



With BMW the consensus seems to be yes, for as much as everyone ranted about the previous 7, there seems to be just as much discontent regarding the new 7, a model that quite frankly BMW played safe with.

Don't get me wrong, BMW probably shouldn't try to shock with every model line, but in the same respect if they are the company to beat, they should always be trying to push the envelope a little.  I remember an interview done with Chris Bangle done a couple of years ago stating how the 7-Series would look normal once the new 5 and 3 hit the dealers lots.  The funny thing is, he was right.  But is that same aggressive spirit present with the new 7 and refreshed 3?

I guess time will ultimately be the judge, in the meantime we want to hear what your thoughts are.
Has BMW Lost Its Edge and Become Too Conservative in Their Designs?



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Htay7500Htay7500 - 7/11/2008 3:07:28 PM
+2 BoostDrop the Boost Up the Boost
its looking better than before, but I'm a bigger fan of their 09's looks.

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Htay7500Htay7500 - 7/11/2008 3:07:49 PM
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*90's looks


M53RM53R - 7/11/2008 4:14:38 PMView My AgentSpace
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It's a facelift for God's sake! It's not supposed to look majorly different!!! Just the same as the current one with minor tweaks!

They basically fixed what needed to be fixed. The rear lights, and made the front look more agressive, the interior much nicer.

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BMW_DRVRBMW_DRVR - 7/11/2008 5:43:48 PM
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This is your dumbest article yet 00J. A mild mid-cycle refresh of the 3 series and one conservative design with the 7 series and now the sky is falling.

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JUGNUJUGNU - 7/12/2008 6:31:04 AMView My AgentSpace
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I agree with the topic.

To me, 3 series coupe is the last good looking BMW, after that 4 or 5 new models came, like 1 series, X6, 7 Series...etc and they all were weak in designs(except M3 that too is based on 3 Coupe).

One more example is of M3 Sedan and regular 3 sedan, they don't share the basic front end shape, seems like BMW were unsure what to do and at the end they put the coupe front end.

Now what kind of design is that, that different TUNED versoins of same car(M3 sedan and regular sedan) got totally differnt front ends.
Something like they decided, 'no that is not looking good so cut the whole front end and paste the coupe's front end'.
That's not good, that's not what u call flowing design, one same design, original deisgn, inspired design..etc.

It's more like two different ends bolted together. That's not art, that's not the work of million dollars design houses/groups and talented people.

JUGNU

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JB007JB007 - 7/13/2008 6:33:18 AM
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Conservative design for the 7 Series is absolutely correct, do you know the average age of a 7 Series owner? BMW realised with the last 7 Series model they may have gone a step too far, it is not a car for young people who may appreciate radical styling. They have made the new 7 Series an evolution of the last one (as opposed to the last model which was totally revolutionary). I think they have done a great job. Now we just have to wait and see.

As for the 3 Series - this is a face-lift to extend the model life-cycle. They've tidies up the rear lights, given it a new shape grille and smiling mouth, changed the wing mirrors and made improvements to the i-drive and instrument panels / materials. What more do you want??

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bmwdrvrbmwdrvr - 7/13/2008 1:37:24 PM
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i guess alot of people here have never followed BMW through the years....for one save a few BMW cars here and there BMW styling has ALWAYS BEEN VERY CONSERVATIVE.......it wasnt until the Bangle desighns that they switched that....so Im not sure why people are saying losing their edge......thats why some BMW fans hate the bangle desighns because they arent the conservative very restrained styling that they know...trace the 3, 5, and 7 through the years and you will see my point

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