BMW’s Wild, Artistic, Elegantly Folded K18

Lucas

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Besides BMW's current design language, the paint on their new cars is horrible. Our newest dealership had a great '40 Years of M3s' event recently. Of course, they want you to take a look at all the new stuff. My buddies couldn't believe how bad the paint jobs were on all the new cars. There was a bright red $140K M5 center stage, it had so much orange peal on those humongous slab sides - it was unbelievable. My new company car, a Hyundai Santa Fe, has way better paint - and as boxy as it - it might be better looking than the M5. :D
 
Agree with all of the above sentiments. When I take one of my cars into the dealership for service, I typically will browse the new cars to pass the time.

When I bring my M2 Competition to the BMW dealer for service, I spend my time on my phone, not tempted by what's in the showroom.

I sense that many of you (hard core vintage BMW enthusiasts) feel the same. If so, that should be alarming to any BMW exec who may monitor this forum.
 
It's pretty clear that BMW isn't designing cars for us specifically, or the US in general. Sales here run a poor second to China. I seems they want eye catching designs, even if that means they are conventionally 'ugly'.

From the web:
China remains BMW Group's largest single-country market by volume, with approximately 625,527 vehicles sold there in 2025 (despite a 12.5% sales decrease that year).
United States is the second-largest single-country market for BMW, recording 417,638 vehicle sales in 2025
 
China remains BMW Group's largest single-country market by volume, with approximately 625,527 vehicles sold there in 2025 (despite a 12.5% sales decrease that year).

That will soon no longer be the case...
The Chinese are no longer willing to pay extra just for the badge on the hood.
BMW is slowly losing its prestige.
 
BMW lost its prestige and its soul decades ago.
I see that problem as well.

But there are flashes of brilliance still. They build the best 6-cylinder engines available (though relying on turbocharging) that make incredible amounts of power. They still can make a decent chassis (F87 and G87 M2). They still offer a manual transmission in some of its performance models. But looking through the enthusiast lens, I wish they were more weight conscious, wish they would not embrace hybridization in the enthusiast models, wish they could improve the steering feel and chassis dynamics in their cars, and wish they would hire new designers (maybe poach them from Aston Martin or Alfa Romeo).

This EV world has become obsessed with 0-to-60 times like we are all on an amusement ride at Six Flags. The driving experience as a whole is not being prioritized by very many car companies, including BMW.
 
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