Does anyone know what the next BMW body style will be?

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

I have an E46 and I like its body style so much more than the newer generation. But my CPO warranty is up in Aug. 2008. I should have about 70k miles on her by then. I will probably just buy another warranty. I will not buy the current body style, but I am thinking of getting a new(er) one when they change again, if they look any better. Don't they go about 4-5 years with each generation? Anyone have any spy photos or sketches of what's coming down the pike?

VaSteve · 07-30-2007, 06:44 PM

Rick....you're looking at like 5 more years until it comes out. It'll probably be bigger. MIght be a
facelift" like they did a couple years in on the e46 style. The E90's have grown on me since thy came out (esp the coupe....which is near useless to me with the family), but I don't like what they have done with the insides. The window switches are now on the door and the dash is set up so everyone can read it. If you never noticed how much the e46 cockpit is oriented towards the driver....ride shotgun sometime.

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

I had a new one as a loaner last summer and it did nothing for me. Didn't help that there cigarette butts in the ashtray. But I do love the new coupes. Honestly, as seldom as we've used the back seats in my car, I think a coupe could be in the future.

speedracer · 07-30-2007, 08:05 PM

I agree with you both and think e90 sedan does not look very good, but the coupe on the other hand is damn gorgeous. Supposed to have a ton of room in the back seats as well which is a bonus if you need em.

the · 07-30-2007, 08:23 PM

BMW's generally (almost without fail) go 7 years before a body change. Half way through, there may be minor "freshening" of the lights and other minor styling things, but the chassis and body will go for 7 years.

Dottore · 07-30-2007, 09:27 PM

On Lufthansa recently I picked up a copy of Auto Motor Sport (I think that's what the main German car mag is called) and they had a full feature on the new BMW 3 series that they are working towards. They are definitely trying to get away from the Bangle look of the current series. It's already on the drawing board and it looks much better than the current series.

dd74 · 07-30-2007, 09:44 PM

I like this little Beemer's body style:

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

I've been to a few events at BMW's DC office where they have designers come in and talk about how they do stuff. They used to have a shop in Newbury Park, CA that sent over clay models to Germany and they'd bounce ideas back and forth. The CA guys had a real sense of humor and would paint beach and palm tree murals on the insides of the crates for the Germans to see when they uncrated the clay models - ha ha. One guy, I believe named Greg Brewer, was a Z3 designer. I met him just after the car appeared in that James Bond movie. Greg was standing at an easel with a Sharpie in one hand and drew a Z3 in less than one minute that looked like a photograph. I was blown away. I also got to see a lot of stuff they built but never put into production, like the dune buggy and some motorcycle stuff. Bob's BMW, the local motorcycle place, has one of the bikes with the roll cage that doesn't require a helmet. It was never approved in the US, but I've seen them in Europe. And I recently saw a Z1 in my parking garage, which was their precursor to the Z3, but only sold in Europe. They have a lot of turbo diesel models in Europe too, but I don't think any in the US.

72doug2,2S · 72doug2,2S's Garage

A new Camry?

304065 · 08-01-2007, 11:45 AM

Bangle's model for the BMW lineup.

Bring back Paul Bracq or Count Albrecht von Goertz!

Seric · 08-01-2007, 11:53 AM

As long as Bangle isn't involved. I loved BMW styling up until he started taking over....

t951 · t951's Garage

I thought I was the only person that saw the Buick - BMW - Bangle thing. The Buick is truly hideous, and its completely disjointed angular look is the crap bangle pushes. The Z4 is truly one of the ugliest cars made in the last 20 years.

Tobra · Tobra's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by t951

I thought I was the only person that saw the Buick - BMW - Bangle thing. The Buick is truly hideous, and its completely disjointed angular look is the crap bangle pushes. The Z4 is truly one of the ugliest cars made in the last 20 years.

You are joking, right?

Rick Lee · Rick Lee's Garage

I don't like the Z3 or Z4 at all. I like my E46 a lot and the five and seven series of the same vintage are ok with me. I really find nothing in the new lineup other than the new coupes and M3's.

epbrown · 08-02-2007, 05:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

I don't like the Z3 or Z4 at all.

Just kidding! You're entitled to your opinion, but the Z4 is my favorite Bangle-era Bimmer; being a sports-car, the over-the-top exotic looks just fit. (Just this week a girl came into the office and said a guy was taking pictures of his girlfriend posing with my car - the fresh coat of Zymol made it too tempting, I'm sure). The Z4 M Coupe looks especially wicked. I also like the current 5-series, and the 3-series coupe and cabriolet. In fact, I've been number-crunching to see if I want to swap in my two BMWs to get a 335i convertible.

That said, the other posters are right: BMW follows a 7-year cycle for their models, with a facelift at the mid-point where they typically change the front and rear bumpers and maybe the headlights; they also usually bump the engines a bit. The next round of cars are supposed to be a but more curvy, but closer to the previous under-stated designs.