THE BMW 'M' collectors will cherish-Part 1

Steve predicts the current 6-er, including the M, will be just another page in the book of BMW's "Flame Surfaced" dark history.

A decade from now, people will look back at BMW much like the manner in which we recall the AMC Pacer, shake their collective heads, and ponder "What were they thinking?"

Quote of the day: "Just because something sucks less, does not make it good."

Steve predicts the current 6-er, including the M, will be just another page in the book of BMW's "Flame Surfaced" dark history.

A decade from now, people will look back at BMW much like the manner in which we recall the AMC Pacer, shake their collective heads, and ponder "What were they thinking?"

Quote of the day: "Just because something sucks less, does not make it good."

I don't know if it will be a classic, but yeah, I'm *sure* everyone will look back on this 500 hp BMW and remember how much it sucked. What were they thinking putting a puny v-10 in there??? Yep, put it down next to the Pacer...haha.

Amazing, people don't like the trunk and they write off the whole thing...it might not be your cup of tea, but this car is a monster. Of course on Autospies half the people just moan about styling and ignore everything else.

Most of the time I don't even read the comment pages. If I have time and I'm bored I will glance at a few. I for one was not happy with the 7 series design...but the 5 series was another thing. That car is beautiful...unlike Japanese cars...it looks like nothing else on the road. When I'm stuck in traffic on the FDR I can always spot a 5 in my rearview mirror or way ahead of me. This car has presence on the road. I was taking a cruise upstate when I came across a black 5 that was advancing in my rear view. The car blew past me and I took off. I didn't even want to past the car ( not that I could have but that's beside the point) but I just had to admire how the car looks like a man's car. The way the wheels and body work seem like it was all made from the same metal. The car was just beautiful and badass. I don't get that sentiment when I look at say a GS, new or old. Yeah they are glitzy cars with plenty of entertainment value. But for a real drivers car and a car that looks like a real drivers car...you can't beat the 5

Some posters have taken me to task about my recent posting, so here is a clarification:

I recognize that BMW makes cars that handle exceptionally well for what they are (luxury sport sedans, luxury sport coupes, etc). The Brand has made some mistakes they are currently working on correcting (search the Web and Autospies archives for BMW execs admitting to this).

BMW's "Flame Surfaced" styling language is one of those mistakes. Automobile critics called a spade a spade when the current 7 debuted. So did most of the public who had interests in automobiles. BMW's styles can be called evocative, provocative, innovative, unique, and even arguable interesting. They can be called just about anything but beautiful.

Wisely, BMW is stepping back from their "Flame Surface revolution" to less offensive forms. Unfortunately, the Brand's styling language which was once elegant, at times aggressive, and always unique, is now similar to the forms that Asian designers have made our daily fare for the past decade. With respect to the current 6 series, yes, it is the "most attractive" flame surfaced BMW, but that's sort of like saying that a specific meal is the "tastiest" because it has less Spam in it than the others. (Steve's insight: Yes, I know that there are those that actually *like* Spam!)

Another mistake BMW has made is their obsession with technology at the price of usability and reliability. I won't go into all the details (which could easily become a feature article), but suffice it to say that the "one controller used to select parameters and then set values with the aid of a large screen" has failed miserably for real-time instrument control applications. This has been proven conclusively decades ago, and is common knowledge to Man-Machine Interface specialists. BMW's iDrive is a good example of this. BMW knows they have erred here, too, but they are still learning the degree to which they have erred. At this time, BMW believes they had to "simplify" iDrive to satisfy BMW's "less sophisticated" drivers (search the Net and Autospies for references). Those who don't know history are destined to repeat it, including other car makers who are jumping on the Big Do-Everything Knob band-wagon. BMW's obsession with technology is initially hurting them with sky high "support costs" which show up partly as warranty work. Talk to a 7 series owner and get the scoop about the sorts of issues they are experiencing. Ask for the details of their engine issues and electrical issues. After the warranty period expires, this obsession with technology will hurt BMW customers as well. In my view, US$30K of warranty work (an actual figure based on 7 series repairs) is a sign of a substantial problem, especially when that number is not uncommon.

Lastly, there is a lot to be said about BMW's interiors. Not much of it is positive. The common theme is that they "look cheap." From a more practical perspective, BMW used to be known as the "driver's car". They had interiors in which ergonomics and function dictated design. Today, BMW's interior design is lead by fashion, such as their current Bauhaus minimalist theme.

Now, let us get back to the current 6 series, in M incarnation, and forecast if it will be become a "cherished collectors' item." The exterior styling is at best inoffensive. The interior is stark, and considered by most to look cheap. The iDrive punches up "wow factor" at the price of usability. But the car does handle very well, and with an M badge, it will be awesomely powerful, too. Decide for yourself if this makes for a collectors' item. In my mind, it does not.


Readers of this posting should not read any more into it than what I have written. I do not claim that BMW makes horrible cars, but rather, the luster of the once-great Brand has dulled in recent years.

I am left wondering which is the better scenario: One in which 90% of the car-buying public loves your cars and 3% (of the total) buy them, or a scenario in which just 7% of the car-buying public loves your cars and 3.5% buy them? This Zen Koan is a difficult one to answer, but a decade from now, BMW will have given it to us. I look forward to the coming years.

-Steve*

*A BMW fan who owns 3 pre-Bangle BMWs, and just doesn’t care for their current offerings. Steve hopes that his next car is a BMW that makes him want to do stupid things with his money.

Some posters have taken me to task about my recent posting, so here is a clarification:

I recognize that BMW makes cars that handle exceptionally well for what they are (luxury sport sedans, luxury sport coupes, etc). The Brand has made some mistakes they are currently working on correcting (search the Web and Autospies archives for BMW execs admitting to this).

BMW's "Flame Surfaced" styling language is one of those mistakes. Automobile critics called a spade a spade when the current 7 debuted. So did most of the public who had interests in automobiles. BMW's styles can be called evocative, provocative, innovative, unique, and even arguable interesting. They can be called just about anything but beautiful.

Wisely, BMW is stepping back from their "Flame Surface revolution" to less offensive forms. Unfortunately, the Brand's styling language which was once elegant, at times aggressive, and always unique, is now similar to the forms that Asian designers have made our daily fare for the past decade. With respect to the current 6 series, yes, it is the "most attractive" flame surfaced BMW, but that's sort of like saying that a specific meal is the "tastiest" because it has less Spam in it than the others. (Steve's insight: Yes, I know that there are those that actually *like* Spam!)

Another mistake BMW has made is their obsession with technology at the price of usability and reliability. I won't go into all the details (which could easily become a feature article), but suffice it to say that the "one controller used to select parameters and then set values with the aid of a large screen" has failed miserably for real-time instrument control applications. This has been proven conclusively decades ago, and is common knowledge to Man-Machine Interface specialists. BMW's iDrive is a good example of this. BMW knows they have erred here, too, but they are still learning the degree to which they have erred. At this time, BMW believes they had to "simplify" iDrive to satisfy BMW's "less sophisticated" drivers (search the Net and Autospies for references). Those who don't know history are destined to repeat it, including other car makers who are jumping on the Big Do-Everything Knob band-wagon. BMW's obsession with technology is initially hurting them with sky high "support costs" which show up partly as warranty work. Talk to a 7 series owner and get the scoop about the sorts of issues they are experiencing. Ask for the details of their engine issues and electrical issues. After the warranty period expires, this obsession with technology will hurt BMW customers as well. In my view, US$30K of warranty work (an actual figure based on 7 series repairs) is a sign of a substantial problem, especially when that number is not uncommon.

Lastly, there is a lot to be said about BMW's interiors. Not much of it is positive. The common theme is that they "look cheap." From a more practical perspective, BMW used to be known as the "driver's car". They had interiors in which ergonomics and function dictated design. Today, BMW's interior design is lead by fashion, such as their current Bauhaus minimalist theme.

Now, let us get back to the current 6 series, in M incarnation, and forecast if it will be become a "cherished collectors' item." The exterior styling is at best inoffensive. The interior is stark, and considered by most to look cheap. The iDrive punches up "wow factor" at the price of usability. But the car does handle very well, and with an M badge, it will be awesomely powerful, too. Decide for yourself if this makes for a collectors' item. In my mind, it does not.


Readers of this posting should not read any more into it than what I have written. I do not claim that BMW makes horrible cars, but rather, the luster of the once-great Brand has dulled in recent years.

I am left wondering which is the better scenario: One in which 90% of the car-buying public loves your cars and 3% (of the total) buy them, or a scenario in which just 7% of the car-buying public loves your cars and 3.5% buy them? This Zen Koan is a difficult one to answer, but a decade from now, BMW will have given it to us. I look forward to the coming years.

-Steve*

*A BMW fan who owns 3 pre-Bangle BMWs, and just doesn’t care for their current offerings. Steve hopes that his next car is a BMW that makes him want to do stupid things with his money.