New BMW and it's straining to get your attention

[Andyk]

Loved my bread van, one of the best/ most fun cars I ever had (BM - Before Maserati).

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Great car with a great engine.

 

[mjheathcote]

An aquired taste visually...

a bit like a reverse mullet...party (sporty) at the front, business (3-series tourer) at the back.

I've always though with a wider "M2" rear end my M140i would have made a modern take, with mine being 3 door, manual, 6 pot, rear wheel drive etc.
Infact like this chap has done:

 

[Tallman]

An aquired taste visually...

a bit like a reverse mullet...party (sporty) at the front, business (3-series tourer) at the back.

Indeed, this is a better angle though - BMW did a small series (25) here when the S54 engine came out in 2001 with AC Schnitzer wheels, exhaust, suspension and short shifter, mine was No1. Low mileage they are worth quite a bob now, saw on coming past (hardly ever happens with only 25 around) going for about 75k GBP

 

[Gazcw]

That's not a Maserati next to the Golf/Polo...the A Pillar looks too wide, the rear window is not curved and the front wing looks too flared...

I thought the front and wheels looked a bit 3200. And I think it's a citroen ds3 next to it. Looks like the back of my boys car.

 

[MAF260]

Indeed, this is a better angle though - BMW did a small series (25) here when the S54 engine came out in 2001 with AC Schnitzer wheels, exhaust, suspension and short shifter, mine was No1. Low mileage they are worth quite a bob now, saw on coming past (hardly ever happens with only 25 around) going for about 75k GBP

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I love these. I was offered a Imola red Z3M Coupe a few years back for £7k. I took an hour to decide and it was gone when I called back to buy it

 

[bigbob]

Time to bring this (unfortunate) thread back...sorry.

So this is the BMW iX BEV. What are they doing? Why have a big grille when a BEV does not need a grille? At least Tesla understands this and dumped it's grilles a few years back.

I still can't get over how much I have loved this brand in the past but they are so off message with what I want which is so sad. Customer focus groups? Maybe it is targeted at sub 40 year olds with lots of facial enhancements but are there enough of those?

 

[GeoffCapes]

Looks like a new Transformer!

Absolutely horrific!

 

[Nayf]

Hard to believe they are the same company that once turned out beauties like this 507!!

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Beautiful but alas it makes the current BMW designers’ point for them - the 507 and 503 nearly bankrupted the company.

 

[mjheathcote]

Time to bring this (unfortunate) thread back...sorry.

So this is the BMW iX BEV. What are they doing? Why have a big grille when a BEV does not need a grille? At least Tesla understands this and dumped it's grilles a few years back.

I still can't get over how much I have loved this brand in the past but they are so off message with what I want which is so sad. Customer focus groups? Maybe it is targeted at sub 40 year olds with lots of facial enhancements but are there enough of those?

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I guess they need the grill for brand identity.
If they didn't have a fake grill, a great big 12 inch BMW badge instead!
You know a Tesla when it comes to you because Tesla's brand identity is just plain boring no identity!!

 

[Nayf]

Currently have a Touring 325i E93.
I respect it, don’t love it. Very dull to drive. Which is what the point was…

 

[bigbob]

I guess they need the grill for brand identity.
If they didn't have a fake grill, a great big 12 inch BMW badge instead!
You know a Tesla when it comes to you because Tesla's brand identity is just plain boring no identity!!

Yes, this is not much of an improvement:



At first I wondered if I did not like modern cars but there are lots that I like it's just that people are trying too hard to be different with BEVs.

 

[mjheathcote]

Yes, this is not much of an improvement:

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At first I wondered if I did not like modern cars but there are lots that I like it's just that people are trying too hard to be different with BEVs.

So boring and neutral, would rather have the grill!

 

[Jamin]

don't worry, there are sticker solutions

 

[bigbob]

BMW 2 Series review | Autocar

Does the junior BMW coupé still make a convincing case in base-level 220i form?

www.autocar.co.uk

They have managed to launch a car without a hideous front end. Mind the rear is challenging.

 

[BennyD]

Yes, this is not much of an improvement:

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At first I wondered if I did not like modern cars but there are lots that I like it's just that people are trying too hard to be different with BEVs.

Reminds me of the Matrix when Mr Smith seals up Keane Reeve’s mouth.

 

[BennyD]

I’ve still got 2 BMs, the Shed - an E46 320D estate with 340k - and an F10 335D X-drive. Both are good cars and do a decent job of getting me about but the E46, even for a German car, has character. I certainly won’t be buying anything newer from BM, only the Z4 does anything for me but my Jaaag does more.

 

[dem maser]

I love BMs......my second love after the Italians Maserati/Alfa....

They make great cars even in normal everyday ones not M, like the 335d, the 440i etc......but the new gen is horrible, wont have me buying if the opportunity came about, a 2016 M4 Competition is all the car you need, the new one looks ugly and is about 15k more to buy than when that came out 5 years back

 

[Tallman]

Same here, had lots of BM's and still have 2. The other day I thought I'd try the paddles on my 650i, given they are so much fun on the QP, but unfortunately it just doesn't work for me. The paddles are relatively small (even for me with fairly large hands) and fixed to the wheel. But that is not the worst problem - the biggest issue is that there are too many gears (8) and also that you don't hear the engine - so unless your eyes are glued to the rev counter you're clueless as to when to shift up or down. Even in sport mode with the exhaust valves open. Fortunately the gearbox in auto is extremely good and fast shifting so it's not that much of an issue. In my X5 3.0d it's more or less the same, just not worth the effort.

 

[UlstermanAbroad]

I know that BMW is not that popular a brand for many on here but I've had some great sports coupes/saloons from them over the last 25 years. It is just so sad to see them now reduced to making rubbish like this the new '2022 2 series active tourer'. No idea what that means!

If ever a brand needed to a sub brand to focus on the mundane then this is it. I recently thought about ordering an M4 when I was out shopping but the front grill and the downwards brand extension into rubbish like this put me off. BMW is a success but it is not a brand I admire anymore.

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Agreed. The designer of the E9 and similar cars must be spinning in his grave.
Every time I see an X6, I just laugh.
Same with this new grill style. Ve haf to close ze grill gap viff ze Audis!

You know whose fault it is. The grey demographic. Reginald and Mavis are long retired and have downsized to a little bungalow in Southend. Mavis is too frightened of everything to drive and Reginald's aggressive shingles and worn out hips from too many years spent on the dogging circuit around South London, mean that he can't lower himself into and get out of a low slung saloon, like their old Hillman Hunter.

The future is hybrid cross-overs and then totally electric. By brands like Bisto. People's Friend. Werthers.
M & S. Bran Flakes.

 

[Andyk]

I’ve still got 2 BMs, the Shed - an E46 320D estate with 340k - and an F10 335D X-drive. Both are good cars and do a decent job of getting me about but the E46, even for a German car, has character. I certainly won’t be buying anything newer from BM, only the Z4 does anything for me but my Jaaag does more.

Agree buddy…Had five E46 over the years with different size engines and everyone has been fun with bags of character that the new ones can emulate.