More trouble for BMW.. The bangle 5 a bomb?

[AZ94Q]

"This month's issue of Road and Track (see graphic below) ranks the new BMW 530 in 6th place out of 7, just in front of the last place Volvo!

And this is not the first review from the major mags that have knocked BMW off their once permanent pedestal."

The 5 series ALWAYS dominated these competitions..

"Even thought they said they had their best month ever, we think the numbers show some signs of concern.

The new 5-series should be blowing away the old 5-series sales numbers at least 3 to 1 and they're not. They barely beat last years 5-series numbers.

Take a look at the excel files below and make your own decisions..."

Excel Sales Figures...

http://www.autospies.com/image...w.xls

http://www.autospies.com/image...v.xls

http://www.autospies.com/image...i.xls

[AZ94Q]

Some more rumors...

I just got out of my dealer meeting and their were hints that a 535 model would make it's US debut sometime in 2005...it will with same engine that will be going into the 335i for 2005-06

Seems that BMW executives are reeling after the 6th place finish in R&T and lukewarm reviews in others.

I'm also hearing the interior color schemes may be changed, to look a little more luxurious, due to the complaints of a less than 'rich' interior feel.

More stuff to come,

Tony S. in New Jersey

[Jesda]

And the 5-series is THE UGLIEST GOD DAMN THING ON THE ROAD.

It makes me SO angry to see the damage they did to these formerly clean-sculpted tributes to driver satisfaction.

[AZ94Q]

Jesda,

You are SO right.. The last 5 series was pure drivers satisfaction.. A true classic.. Nobody was offering a v8 with a 6 speed manual in a nice sedan back then, hell nobody is now..

Just wait till bangle ruins the new 3 series... Just like the 5, the 3 will probably be ruined.. The last M3/m5s are true drivers cars.. absolute perfection..

[PalmerWMD]

I also preferrred the old 5 series.

But then thats what I said about every single 5 series change we had yet in my lifetime..:oface.

Fred...

PS: Ryan you are a BMW saleasman?

[AZ94Q]

hehe no.. I am quoting autospies.com for ya'all... I should have put in the quotes, it makes me look like I was saying those things

[AZ94Q]

Keep it up bangle.. I can't wait till the new M45 hits showrooms.. Looks like those loyal 5 series owners will be shopping elsewhere...

[shadedoc]

The company I work for recently got a new 5series. I really don't like the styling. The active steering is awkard for me, but I could see how a "non-driver" would really like it. The active roll control is awsome. Oh, and I hate the all-in-one accesory control.

[Jesda]

If iDrive was a good idea, pilots would have adopted it years ago.

Thankfully for the popular 3-series, Bangle was bumped up to head of design, so he no longer does any actual designs, he just approves them.

[AZ94Q]

Everyone who has tested out the active steering says it sucks..

BMW ruined their legendary steering..

[longrunQ]

the old bmw 5 series was perfection that comes from a mix of good design and pure luck.

They mangled the new one.

[ScottJackson]

mangled... the bmw guys call it "Bangled". If something is done poorly or messed up, we bmw folk say it's been bangled. There's a Chris Bangle book out now, although I know of no one who's bought it, I sure won't.

[louiegz]

I tell you one thing, I'm glad that I got my 330i before the change. The BMW line is hitting new levels of ugly like I've never seen before. First it started with the Z4. The Z3 was a beautiful roadster, to replace it with that techno Z4 was a crime. Then the 7's, that was a classy car with very clean lines, now it's a clunky, bloated, overly complicated i-drive sedan with many electrical problems. If I pay that much for a car, I don't want to be at the dealer every other month to get something repaired. The last straw was the 5. The last gen 5, to me , was as close to perfect as a car can be, and they mess that up. There was a time that the 5 would be my replacement for the Q, but when I see that a 530i with all the options that I want will probably cost me about $55,000, what's the point. For that green, I can get myself a brand new Q. It really sucks that there getting ugly now. BMWs are special cars. I had the Q in for service at the dealer last week and I got to drive a G35x as a loaner, so I had a chance to compare the G35 to my 330i. I was looking forward to this because, I know I will get slammed for this, but I've never liked any other Infiniti that I've driven except for my Q. I've driven as loaners a G20, J30, and I30 and I didn't like them. Yes, the G35 is the first Infiniti, other than my Q that I like to drive. The 330 and the G35 are the same type of car but very different, and I'll tell you this, if the choice was mine, I would but the G over the 330 for overall comfort and room, but what makes the 330 special is that it's a real drivers car. It wakes up the senses of a driver. The suspension has much more rattle than the G, but when you hit those curves, it just makes you want to smile. One of my favorite things of the 330 is the sound of the exhaust. While the G's is quite, the music that comes out of the tailpipe is the best. So now BMW is going to mess with the 3. BMW better get there act together. Make nicer, well equipped cars with more competitive prices or they will be in trouble