BMW downgrading stuff

[Falcon_LS]

Originally Posted By: JHZR2
Decontenting cars has always been something that occurs.


Sadly, true. I'm surprised to see it happen with premium brands, however.

I would have thought a brand such as BMW would be loyal to its image, considering the price you pay for one.

Have to say I think Ford is the master of decontenting. Luckily, my Grand Marquis is an early production '03. Had I gotten a later production '03, I would have lost stuff like under hood lighting, locking fuel door, front seat map pockets, extended length overhead console, black b-pillars, clock in the dashboard, etc. Sadly, my '03 is better equipped than a '10, which has no overhead console, auto parking brake release, power passenger seat, steering wheel climate/audio controls, compass, etc. Yet it retails for the same price my loaded '03 did back in late '02.

 

[Quattro Pete]

And now supposedly BMW will be offering FWD cars, too.

 

[Nick R]

If BMW offered a Fusion-priced FWD Midsize, I would probably strongly consider it. Well, if I liked it of course.

 

[d00df00d]

Originally Posted By: Falcon_LS
Originally Posted By: JHZR2
Decontenting cars has always been something that occurs.


Sadly, true. I'm surprised to see it happen with premium brands, however.

I would have thought a brand such as BMW would be loyal to its image, considering the price you pay for one.

Actually, if you think about it, decontenting would be totally in line with BMW's image. Their cars are supposed to be relatively lighter, simpler, and more purely functional compared to their peers, and they have gotten a little bloated as of late.

 

[97tbird]

Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
And now supposedly BMW will be offering FWD cars, too.


that's a joke, please say that's a joke.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: 97tbird
Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
And now supposedly BMW will be offering FWD cars, too.


that's a joke, please say that's a joke.


https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/bmw-caves.128244/

So far only the 1-series, but once they step on that path...

 

[d00df00d]

Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/bmw-caves.128244/

So far only the 1-series, but once they step on that path...

I don't think they said the 1-series would be FWD, just that they would make a FWD car...

 

[SLCraig]

No shock, its happening with all of the companies thesedays, another that comes to mind is Toyota..

This was the last BMW body style that I actually liked enough that I wanted nothing more than to own one..

Everything else has gone downhill since, except maybe the E46 M3

 

[97tbird]

I think the E46 coupes (facelift) in general look great - not just the m3

 

[Nick R]

I like the 128i, and I would jump all over a 335d if I could.

 

[Drew2000]

Last BMW that I liked was the previous generation 5-series ending around '03. A nice 530i with 5-sp manual, simple, driver's car with none of the I-drive cr-ap and other electronic gimmicks (that caused alot of reliability problems on later generations)

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: d00df00d
Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/bmw-caves.128244/

So far only the 1-series, but once they step on that path...

I don't think they said the 1-series would be FWD, just that they would make a FWD car...

But I think 1 is the most likely candidate judging by this...

Quote:
At the Annual Accounts Press Conference for 2010, Dr. Norbert Reithofer, Chairman of the Board of Management of BMW, had this to say:

[The small car] segment is expected to grow further. And we will take advantage of this opportunity. We are exploring the possibility of developing a joint architecture for the front and four-wheel drive systems of these cars. In other words: There will be front-wheel drive BMWs in the smaller vehicle classes in the future.

Heresy, BMW fans? We wouldn't worry too much – there seems little chance that BMW will make a wholesale switch from powering the rear wheels to the fronts, especially for its mainstream models like the 3 Series, 5 Series and 7 Series – but the addition of a FWD chassis will make it easier for the automaker to share platforms with other companies and to "reduce [its] fleet's carbon-emissions worldwide by at least another 25 percent between 2008 and 2020."


http://green.autoblog.com/2010/03/17/bmw-confirms-plans-for-front-wheel-drive-low-emissions-targets/