MITSU-EVO

Hey there,

Hardcore BMW fans, like my friend Stephan here, might kill me, but I wanted to say that Chris Bangle has done a very bad job about the design of the new 5-series. I used to adore the previous 5's, and all my sympathy towards BMW s=tarted to vanish thanks to Mr. Bangle. Anthign he designs, he tries to make it look controversial. Look at the new 5's. They do not look very different than a Honda or a Mazda.

csieminski

The above post could just as well have been written by me, so I won't be redundant. The E39's (1997-2003) were the most beautiful cars ever in my mind, and the 2004's--aren't.

I thought you were supposed to improve a car in every way when you redesigned it.

Crazyjo

I'm tempted to jump to Bangles defence and say 'Maybe the cars are just ahead of their time design-wise.'

However, if anything I think they're just going to end up looking worse when the novelity of the new design has worn off. : /

panzershreck

the only bangle design i like is the new 7 series (except the rear tail lights)... all others, without alot of modification, look like honda accords (the e39 has the best looks of a bmw in my opinion)

sachaja

I agree with you guys . I was thinking of trading my 2000 E39 in for a 2004 but after seeing the new design in person I think I'll keep mine.

Brom

i totally disagree with you old timer bmw peeps

the new design 2004 525i will be a classic
i really never cared for bmw until now (being a british sports car enthusiast)

i love my new bmw

Filehorse 525i

When is the last time BMW introduced a new model series where so many of those who favored the new design were required to defend its styling? Prior to the E60, most existing BMW series owners could not wait until they could upgrade to the new model series. The E60 has created a seismic shift among the BMW faithful.

After reading way too many "discussions" on the E60 Vs. E39, a couple of common threads seem to be developing:

1. Very few E60 afficionados come from the E39 ranks
2. Many E60 "lovers" are new to BMW. Many were shopping for cars which include Lexus, Jaguar, and others. They were mostly shopping for a sport sedan of some flavor and they have little appreciation of BMW's heritage - or why so many long-term BMW owners feel betrayed by the E60's styling
3. I've heard way too many defend the E60 by saying it compares favorably to a Lexus model. Please....... BMWs have historically been pleasing to the eye but their real beauty was far more than skin deep. It was the engineering under the sheet metal that set BMW apart from the crowd.

BMW should really hope the E60 appeals to a new group of BMW owners because for the current group of E39 owners, the E60, as it currently exists, is going to cause a lot of us to look long and hard at Mercedes and other marques when the time comes to replace our E39s.

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Filehorse

Presley348

I agree with you. I now own a new 2004 530i, and I do know that everyone at first, (including myself), resist drastic change to most anything, especially a winner as we once the five series knew it to be, the older 5 series with its excellent body style. But like BMW said over the years: "Do your Best. Now do it better!" But what about that 04 five series? Christ Bangle finally found his niche, and has designed a good looking and Hi Tech Bimmer 5 series!

I believe once people get use to the 04 5 series style, test drive a 530i for themselves, and see all that it offers from the 2003s they will change their minds. (I see no more strange sounds or tire cupping as I did when I test drove a 2003 525i with the sport package).

I could had bought the like new preowned 2003 525i or a 530i, but I first I talked with a guy who has no reason to lie to me, that actually owns a like new 02 530i gray, and asked him what he think about the 04's to ones like his. He just smiled and said well I just took a test drive of the new 04 530i, and all I can say is I wish I could take my 02 body and place it on the 04 530i chassis!

But he went on to say that new 2004 5 series body style I suppose will get better with age and then I will have to have one.

After he made that statement I myself test drove both: 03 and 04 530i, and I saw very quickly that he was right the 04 530i is much better that the old five series.

In conclusion: Don't take our word for it, just go to your local BMW dealer and ask to test drive an 2004 5 series for yourself, and then you with all honesty decide which one it better?

Sincerely a 04 530i series owner,

Ep = GA

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Presley348