BMW may win back my loyalty yet

I have owned 7 BMW's in my life, not including motorcycles. Most have been M cars and I still have one in my stable. But from 2003 onward I have abandoned the brand as I hated Bangle design and the interiors became boring and of questionable quality. Mercedes after 2003 was better in design and interior fit and finish than BMW IMO. And Audi was and has been better than both in design, styling, and quality. Every time I have taken my 2001 BMW in for service they give me a new 3 series to drive and every time I am underwealmed. Friends have 7 series and they are nice, but I do not like the styling. They still drive well, but so do Audi's, which are a step above in IMO.

However, the upcomming i8 may win be back. At least based on pictures I have seen of the hard top and roadster, it is Audi R8 like with some mix of Porsche 318 in for good measure. It has my interest. If it can be R8 like in performance, BMW may finally win me back. So I wait for that car with hope and anticipation.

 

I too was a BMW fan for decades having using an e34 M5, e36 M3, e39 M5 and e60 M5 as daily drivers. However, when I was looking for a 4 seat convertible, I went with a 2010 S5 Cabriolet. The S5 simply looks better, has superior fit and finish and an interior that outshines the current BMWs by a large margin. The S5 has also been problem free after ~40,000 of daily driver use. I too hope BMW gets back on the right track. But until/unless it does, a 2013 RS5 is looking good to me.

 

I was always a big BMW fan, the E39 M5 is one of the greatest cars of all time. The Bangle era dampened my enthusiasm quite a bit. The new F10 M5 is a knockout, a proper successor to the E39.

 

Indeed, I have owned 3 M3's (e30 & 2 e36's), an M5 (e39), 2 Z3's, and my S54 M Roadster. I also own a BMW motorcycle. All were great cars. I have also owned 4 Mercedes, including 2 AMG cars and they were also great. But thank god I discovered Audi after 2003 and have owned 3 since then, including my curent R8. Audi is the top German brand in my opinion at the moment and has been since 2003. Their styling, quality, and design are second to none. Full stop. BMW went from first to last in my book as to the German cars, which is sad, because they used to be my favorite German brand.

 

I have been just astounded lately at the sheer number of BMW's on the road. They must be doing something right.

 

That's because they have become transportation appliances, i.e., a German Camry. We have secretaries at my office who drive BMWs because they can lease one for less than $300/month. Go test drive a 2012 335i and S5 or M3 and RS5 back to back and then post what you think.

 

I am not astounded at all. On the one hand it says nothing about the desirablity of the brand unless you also happen to think that all the Prius on the road mean it is a desirable brand, or all the Camery's or all the Ford trucks or Focus etc. On the other hand, I never said they did not drive well (well at least the M cars). Can't argue with the Ultimate Driving Machine thing, but performance is only part of the equation. There is also looks, styling, design, and quality to contend with and I was comparing BMW to the other German brands, not to all brands.

My Aston is a thing of beauty, with first class styling, design, and quality, yet I don't think of it as a high performance car compared to the rest in my stable, yet compared to the 335i's I rent or get when I take my BMW in, my Aston is a supercar performance wise (of course I realize it is not fair to compare a $150k car to a $50k car, so don't want to overstate my point). Still, I have also been loaned base A4's and A3's when I take my Audi in and I think the 335i is a better performing car than those, but I would buy an A4 over a 335i in a heartbeat and 1/2 a heartbeat on Tuesday and an A3 is a much more fun car to drive and far better looking with much better design, styling, and interior/exterior fit and finish.

I did not feel that way about the e46 M3, which I have never owned, but driven many times (and that same engine sits in my S54 M Roadster) and I think is one of the most beautiful and well designed non-exotic cars ever. IMO, BMW took a wrong turn in 2003 design and styling wise for both its exteriors and interiors and let quality slip while Mercedes and Audi took a turn for the better in those departments and in the performance department. BMW engineers never waivered in the performance department, but the other two have just about caught up and the advantage they have in styling/design means I think they offer better cars these days. I used to have AMG cars, which are brute muscle cars that are fun to drive, but a handful. M3's are finese performers. I used to have an RS4, which I found to be a perfect balance between the AMG muscle car and the M3 finesse and it's design, fit and finish, and styling was better than either of the other two.

Just my 2 cent.

Alas the i8 may give me hope though. That is a turn for the better in design, even if it copies from Audi and Porsche to get there. Whatever works. I don't want to dislike BMW after all as I still own two vehicles from that brand that I will NEVER sell. My all time favorite car happens to be a BMW!

 

Well said.

 

I liked BMW's in the 80's where I think they really hit the mark with a well made, sophisticated, intelligent, sporty sedans that nothing in the US or Japan could touch.

They made the family sedan "cool" again.

To me, they have sat back too much and I lost interest in them a long time ago. I also think their pricing is way, way out of line.

Still, I own a Mini so I only half left....

 

I agree with this.

Although, a lot of vehicles are way overpriced.

It is funny to hear a stereotypical "must be nice" sort of comments from people, when their truck cost more than my car.

 

Why not just buy another Ferrari in the range of what you want to spend and drive the crap out of it? If you are buying a new BMW you should be able to find a low milage 550 to use as a daily driver. Great car, similar parts cost (if you know where to go) and you get to drive something you truly love. Life is too short not to own and enjoy the things you work hard for. You would need to find a competent independent to take care of it as it will add a large sum to the maintenance if you have a dealer do it. Remember, they all go suck, squeeze, bang, blow. There is no real mystery to these cars. I don't mean to offend anyone here but having driven exotic cars for more than 30 years and using the same independent shop for almost that entire time I've been able to enjoy my cars to the fullest. In most cases (with the exception of the XJS period) I've lost little or no money on my cars. The last one before the 550 was an Aston DB7. In the two years I owned it I lost a total of $2500.00 on it. I think that's a bargain since I drove it 40000 miles and put a set of tires on it. I did regular maintenance on it and replaced wear items etc. but it was fun to drive every day. I look forward to the 20 minute drive to and from work every day. I get to relax and blast down the expressway EVERY DAY in something that thrills me every time I get in it. What a treat!

 

The i8 is sweet but I just saw the new 3 series and its about as exciting as a slice of wheat bread. Slightly better looking than the Bangle monstrosities but far from the design home runs from previous generations.

 

Yep, boring especially in the engine department.

Small displacement straight sixes are special engines (we got them from 2 litres up in Europe). Now they are replaced 4 cylinder twin turbos. What is special about that? The hum, whirr and purr of a straight six or V12 never gets old. 328i now sounds like a vacuum cleaner.

They have even developed a new 1.6 litre straight six which you can get in a motorbike. That is a special engine. The 4 cylinder twin turbo was the EASY choice to meet emission standards and lower european market road tax levels. But it is also just what everybody else is doing. At least they are still RWD.

All the good things about BMW are the core technologies and solutions from the great BMWs of the past. They still make great cars like the 1 Series M Coupe, but the new ideas are not innovative i.e 5 series gran turismo.

e30, e34, e32, z1 1980's was the golden period. E39 perhaps greatest but also start of the slide. Ultimate Driving Machine was one of the great marketing slogans, but it doesn't fit anymore. X6M lol.

 

I just think that BMW now is ALL MARKETING and LESS OF A SPORTY CAR than it used to be.

The ultimate driver's machine just isn't as much any more.

 

While IMHO, the e39 M5 is a better car, albeit not faster, than the e60 M5, I liked my e34 M5 much better. The e34 M5 I-6 engine is an exotic work of art.

 

Well now it makes sense, X6M = X6 Marketing.

I have had 2 litre, 2.5 litre, 2.8 litre, 3.0 litre, 3.2 litre BMW straight sixes and the 3.8 litre M5.

The Motorsport engine is fabulous as you say, but in my opinion the nicest, sweetest, smoothest, best sounding of them all is the 24V 2.0 litre. In a very light car it would be wonderful.

 

hey, I like wheat bread.

 

I've got 2 e39's. Ones an 01 530i, and he other an 03 530i. Love them. But I still am looking for another 92-95 190e 2.6 Benz. had one of these, put over 900,000km on it before is finaly gave up the ghost (i used to drive A LOT), it was by far the best car I ever owned.

 

I agree. BMW has lost the appeal. It's all just slick marketing.
BMW for me at least, is not desirable because for that amount of money, I expect Luxury features. BMW lacks the "High End" Interior qualify look and feel of Lexus and Mercedes.

Second, reliability has been an issue. My 7 series was nothing but trouble. Great handeling and ride quality, but too much $$$ for frequent repairs.

BMW needs to get back to Basics, and start building PERFORMANCE cars with LUXURY. (AMG Style).

 

I like BMW. With an e28 m5 and an 04 530i in the garage, I consider myself a fan. I love both and they are fun to drive. The styling is different on both, but I still like both. The 530i doesn't look so bland or boring or whatever due to 5 spoke rims that I have yet to see on another BMW and the sport package.

I hope to get rid of the 530 for an e46 M3 which I guess is another hated car in the looks category.

Forgot to mention the new generation.
I didn't like the styling at first, but have started liking it recently. The past few years haven't appealed to me as much but I'm starting to like the styling so we'll see.

 

i've always loved bmws. bangel really hurt my feelings toward the brand, but that was only temporary. Now apart from his original 745 i love them, and the drive and feel is amazing. hope you come back soon!