New beemers.. :(

[325iSmk2]

The turning point for me was the e90, everything before then was built by engineers to last much longer than motorplan, this however is not good for business because people keep their well-built car long after motorplan expires instead of trading it in on a new model. Accountants took over bmw and softened the cars with expensive electronics and parts that don't last long in order to make them uneconomical to run out of motorplan so you are forced to trade it in once motorplan is up. You now buy a new car every 3-5 years instead of every 10-15years.

You do realise that (mandatory) motorplan is a SA product only, and SA market is a very tiny blip on the BMW radar?

 

[ChefDJ]

The only designs I thank Bangle for are the E53 and E65 LCI. That is all.

 

[Gizmo]

The turning point for me was the e90, everything before then was built by engineers to last much longer than motorplan, this however is not good for business because people keep their well-built car long after motorplan expires instead of trading it in on a new model. Accountants took over bmw and softened the cars with expensive electronics and parts that don't last long in order to make them uneconomical to run out of motorplan so you are forced to trade it in once motorplan is up. You now buy a new car every 3-5 years instead of every 10-15years.

You do realise that (mandatory) motorplan is a SA product only, and SA market is a very tiny blip on the BMW radar?

I do. Other countries call it a warranty.
Its about selling more cars, end of story. Motorplan is a SA sales gimmick to sell even more cars. You think you winning by getting free services for the next few years but they use it against you on a poor trade in on your about-to-fall-out-of-motorplan BMW. The cost of servicing your own vehicle is minuscule compared to how much BMW profit off you in selling you a new vehicle every 3 years because of "motorplan".

 

[325iSmk2]

The turning point for me was the e90, everything before then was built by engineers to last much longer than motorplan, this however is not good for business because people keep their well-built car long after motorplan expires instead of trading it in on a new model. Accountants took over bmw and softened the cars with expensive electronics and parts that don't last long in order to make them uneconomical to run out of motorplan so you are forced to trade it in once motorplan is up. You now buy a new car every 3-5 years instead of every 10-15years.

You do realise that (mandatory) motorplan is a SA product only, and SA market is a very tiny blip on the BMW radar?

I do. Other countries call it a warranty.
Its about selling more cars, end of story. Motorplan is a SA sales gimmick to sell even more cars. You think you winning by getting free services for the next few years but they use it against you on a poor trade in on your about-to-fall-out-of-motorplan BMW. The cost of servicing your own vehicle is minuscule compared to how much BMW profit off you in selling you a new vehicle every 3 years because of "motorplan".

You seem to have it all worked out. Accountants and engineers out to get the poor stupid consumers. But you're onto them.

 

[Gizmo]

Motorplan isn't the best thing to have anyway as many people tend to abuse the system by abusing their cars and claim its BMW's fault. People would take way better care for their cars if they were financially responsible for it's maintenance from day one. This very forum is full of examples of those people who do software and meth ect on motorplan cars and break them in the process and claim from BMW saying it's BMW's fault for their "stock" car breaking...

 

[ChefDJ]

Motorplan isn't the best thing to have anyway as many people tend to abuse the system by abusing their cars and claim its BMW's fault. People would take way better care for their cars if they were financially responsible for it's maintenance from day one. This very forum is full of examples of those people who do software and meth ect on motorplan cars and break them in the process and claim from BMW saying it's BMW's fault for their "stock" car breaking...

That's a bold statement.

 

[Gizmo]

Chef, X35i communities are rife with motorplan abuse if you haven't noticed.

 

[zippy320]

Well at least our cars old and new are not catching fire like the Kugas :roflol:

 

[Chucky]

I share the OP's sentiment,
IMO BMW lost its "BMW-ness" on models after the e46 era of cars.

 

[Maljan]

The new age BMWs don't do much for me either. The thing is, BMW are selling more cars now than they did in the E39/E46 era. So us fossils will just have to suck it up, I guess.

 

[///Avi]

I agree that the newer BMWs aren't as exciting as the older ones. However, I've only driven a few new BMWs and have never driven the new Ms. But they are more luxurious than ever before and are selling better than ever! I think that is what is really important to BMW at the moment. I doubt you are going to find something more exciting from Audi or merc.

 

[r0ckf1re]

Imo No E36, E46 or E90 is better than any F series car.

Sent from the Edge

 

[Quick///M]

M135i has it for me.... And for me the Audi S3/7R has no soul they are like emotionless cars making vrrr pha every where they go.

 

[Gbmw]

M135i has it for me.... And for me the Audi S3/7R has no soul they are like emotionless cars making vrrr pha every where they go.

Heeeey slowly there. We talking abt your no soul beemers. Vrrrrrpha got plenty soul



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[cOlDFuSiOn]

The 5cyl generation RS3 sounds good actually.. Some good Vrrrpha when they shift.. :roflol:

 

[Maljan]

Imo No E36, E46 or E90 is better than any F series car.

The exact opposite of the order in which I rate them: :roflol:

1. E36
2. E46
3. E90
4. F whatever

I have owned #1 and #2, looked at #3 and #4 in the showroom and said "nah, forget it."

 

[Lizzard]

Well I owned based on Maljan's list, #1, #2 and now #3 and have to say I am sad I gave #2 to my brother.

 

[ASH]

I've driven some newer F-Series BMWs, 118i, 320i (normal & MSport) and 528i MSport, all 4cylinders. I guess if you want any sort of excitement you will have to look at the diesel ones and the x35i models as the 4 cylinder petrol models just lack that wow factor. Yes they are faster and more fuel efficient but they just lack soul and are too sanitised and clinical. The one which really disappointed me was the 528i, as I have fond memories of the E39 generation of 5series and drove most of the range, basically I learnt how to drive on the E39 5series before being able to buy my own BMW. The 528i just (to me) did not feel as solid and as smooth as the older generation which I experienced. Yes there were lots of toys in the cabin but on pure driving side, I found it rather boring. I would expect this to also filter through onto the current F series 328i/330i and you really can not compare them to E36 328i E46 330i E90 330i, as the older generations are different beasts altogether and deliver a different type of driving experience.

For me, they feel like rear wheel drive Audis now, and I have driven a lot of Audi (quiet cabin, linear power delivery and smooth almost seamless shift transmission). The OP refers to E46 generation which and I can understand why the disappointment with the newer F-Series BMWs. Back then you were not paying half a bar for an entry level BMW sedan. My personal experience with E46 was a 323ci and 320i MSport (2.2l 6ylinder), I really enjoyed the way that E46 320i drove, it only had a modest 125kw power output, it performed admirably, if consider the big brother 330i was 160kw, it was velvet smooth, punchy, sounded fantastic and devoured corners. I think I paid around R140K for it in 2005/6, & I still consider it very good bang for buck buy and really was fun to drive, something which the drive in F30 320i did not deliver.

I guess with each generation of 3 series the growth in size has blunted the sportiness of the model. Also another thing to consider is how much electronic wizardry there is in a newer generation vehicle to keep it on the road. Back in the day, I recall my first ride in an E36 M3 2 door, will never forget it, road slightly damp, on full throttle take off the rear end is dancing all over the place, no traction control at all, and it takes real skill to keep that on the road. I think the Z3 MCoupe also did not have traction control. A vehicle may be newer and have newer technology and even have better specifications on paper but it does not necessarily mean it translates into a better on road driving experience.

 

[osiris]

The new age BMWs don't do much for me either. The thing is, BMW are selling more cars now than they did in the E39/E46 era. So us fossils will just have to suck it up, I guess.

LOL they are only selling more BMW's now than ever before because of a thing called "Residual".

90% of people buying new bmw's these days buy on residual.


Back in the days of E39/E46 era and previous to that, People could only buy a brand new BMW if they could actually afford it. :smashScreen: It's no wander the world is falling into so much financial crap these days.

 

[Budleigh]

I'm sure that twenty five years ago, people were bemoaning how heavy and soulless the E36/E34s were compared to the E30/E28. It's a basic rule of consumerism that the manufacturer has to lead the consumer in ways they might not be prepared to go. If BMW produced an F30 that felt like an E36, it would be a mediocre product today from a NVH point of view, even if it was more engaging to drive.

I'm no fan of the newer Bimmers- I think the F10 is unnecessarily large and that the proliferation of four cylinder motors is producing Audi-esque BMWs, but clearly enthusiasts form a negligible part of the planning equation.

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