German Car Zone

Originally Posted by Osnabrueck

Ha! I vividly remember seeing that photo while waiting for a flight at LAX back in October 2001. I was sitting there with my then girlfriend saying "It's not right! This is outrageous!" I couldn't stop bitching and moaning about what a disaster the new 7er was.

I also vividly recall my wedding day in March 2002 when my father-in-law picked us up in a silver 7er. I was completely blown away.

I remember the looks on peoples' faces as we slowly drove through the inner city. It was the kind of bizarre reaction that you'd get out of few cars - people were amazed, shocked, appalled.

We parked the car next to a S500, and it dawned on me that there was something distinctly crazy and vibrant about the 7er that give it grotesque, and perhaps metaphysical appeal. Every every man, woman and child that came within eyeshot of the 7er had to check it out. People were in curious awe of the car like the apes and the monolith in Stanley Kubrick's 2001.

With the X5, the range-wide transition is finally complete (unless you want to count the 3er cabrio), and it's hard to argue that BMW isn't much, much more healthy for all slings and arrows.

Despite my misgivings about the 7er facelift - I think BMW now operates from a position of design credibility, as opposed to being patrons of the conservative status quo. No small feat, and an enviable position for any car company.

Originally Posted by MikeJ

It would have been interesting to see what sort of reception his style would have had if he had become the design chief of some brand of lesser reputation...