C's Bimmer

I remember signing a petition to oust Bangle from BMW when I owned my E39 and it was just about the time that the E60 was coming out. Dealers were asking customers to sign it, when they purchased their new vehicles. This was just when I bought my E39 and had seen a few sneak peeks of the E60, before it was released. Dealerships were so concerned that the new body style was so far off it's mark, that loyal 5 series BMW owners would switch over to MB or Audi, with the new change. I'm actually surprised to see him leave. Maybe it was the design of the FUGLY 7 series that finally did him in.

AlexFW

Arcangeli, I imagine.
So an italian designed the E60, good job David!

pigapumbu

Don't get me wrong. I love BMW's period!!! I just didnt like the way Chris bangle took BMW car design to. I bought the 535 cause its a BMW. After a string of BMW's (seven of them), I left for some other rubbish. LAst was a Volvo and honestly, BMW cars as they are built, as their driving pleasure, as their techincal ability and engines, I came back to it. I would not touch a X3, Z4, 1series, 7series cause the looks are just to weird. I could put up with the 5 and 3 although in terms of look, I give the merc C-class AMG a thumbs up. Other than that going for the merc, I would not have much to do with it.

So hand on heart, if the volvo wasnt so crap, I would have waited a bit longer to get into the BMW. Possibly with the new 5 thats coming out. It looks nice (in spy shots). Have no idea who designed it and if chris drew it from scratch, then I take my words back about him. If he just signed off some junior guys drawings, then what I feel about him remains.

BTW, I have a 5-series Msport. The basic model I can't live with. At least the Msport body kit helps make the car palatable for me.

cheers

edit: I didnt mean hate the look of the 5 but not the best it could have been IMHO. Thats why I bought it in the end and I am happy after a few years of not being in a BMW.

DTD

.................................................. ............ Pure Pleasure .................................................. ................

CVTBenhogan

I totally agree. Love or hate the designs, he made BMW destinctive. He left BMW because the big effort is over and now its just evolving the design cues. He's a revoluntary and not an evoluntary.

Look at Audis. They are nice cars inside and out. That said, they are safe designs and over time become bland. New A6 and A4 for example. Lexus the same and Hyundai. Only Caddy and Infiniti are somewhat bold. And only Caddy among the two is on the right track.

It was the Bangle look that got me to test drive the 5er. It was the drive that got me to buy it. IMHO, thats the way it should go.

If BMW doesn't stay out front and loses that organic design feel, they'll be a middling brand. The copycats can kill.

LONG LIVE "CHRIS BANGLE"

mb43

I think he left over a dispute about whether to introduce a new design language to the mini coopers, but I don't remember the source...