[Spydert]

So the other night I was driving and noticed a pair of headlights behind me. I was certain it was an LCI 5 series only for the car to overtake, and for me to see that it was some Volkswagen SUV. Weird I thought.
Then a few minutes later, I saw the tail lights of a car and was sure it was a BMW only to catch up and realize it was something else entirely. It wasn't even a German car.

I was like, BMW is really okay with losing this much on road identity? The angel eyes are a major reason I've stuck with BMW through the years. It's like I drive a car with real identity in the midst of the millions that ply our roads.

And then today, I sat in the new iX and I just hated that interior. Pretty much everything about it from the steering wheel to the curved tablet thingy. The car felt like it was designed by Artificial intelligence. So cold and unfriendly. Also got a chance to play with iDrive 8 and I was totally underwhelmed. It feels so geometric. Everything looks straight and cold and the menu system is definitely worse than in 7.

So I'm like, these guys are really losing it.

Then I enter the cabin of an M4 with Kyalami Orange interior and carbon fiber trim and it was one of the most beautiful car interiors I had ever been in. It's almost impossible to believe it was developed by the same team that did the iX.

And then I'm like maybe it's alright as long as BMW lets interiors like this co-exist with the new and unimproved - only to get on Bimmerpost and see that they are about to change the interior of all M3s and M4s to this totally underwhelming new style.

Something weird is really going on at BMW design.

[SteveinArizona]

I am test driving an IX this afternoon. I will see what I think of it. I am comparing it to a Lucid Air.

[LogicalApex]

Originally Posted by SteveinArizona

I am test driving an IX this afternoon. I will see what I think of it. I am comparing it to a Lucid Air.

Definitely post your thoughts. I’m very interested in what your impressions are.

[jcal65]

I watched this video and thought, well, maybe the new i7 isn’t all that bad in black and maybe it will grow on me over time. Then I saw the night shots near the end of the video with the illuminated massive grill looking like it is trying to swallow everything in its path. Sorry, it looks tacky to me. Please tell me you can turn that off!

[Joe-BMW33]

Originally Posted by jcal65

I watched this video and thought, well, maybe the new i7 isn’t all that bad in black and maybe it will grow on me over time. Then I saw the night shots near the end of the video with the illuminated massive grill looking like it is trying to swallow everything in its path. Sorry, it looks tacky to me. Please tell me you can turn that off!

God that looks horrible in day or night.

[Joe-BMW33]

Originally Posted by Spydert

So the other night I was driving and noticed a pair of headlights behind me. I was certain it was an LCI 5 series only for the car to overtake, and for me to see that it was some Volkswagen SUV. Weird I thought.
Then a few minutes later, I saw the tail lights of a car and was sure it was a BMW only to catch up and realize it was something else entirely. It wasn't even a German car.

I was like, BMW is really okay with losing this much on road identity? The angel eyes are a major reason I've stuck with BMW through the years. It's like I drive a car with real identity in the midst of the millions that ply our roads.

And then today, I sat in the new iX and I just hated that interior. Pretty much everything about it from the steering wheel to the curved tablet thingy. The car felt like it was designed by Artificial intelligence. So cold and unfriendly. Also got a chance to play with iDrive 8 and I was totally underwhelmed. It feels so geometric. Everything looks straight and cold and the menu system is definitely worse than in 7.

So I'm like, these guys are really losing it.

Then I enter the cabin of an M4 with Kyalami Orange interior and carbon fiber trim and it was one of the most beautiful car interiors I had ever been in. It's almost impossible to believe it was developed by the same team that did the iX.

And then I'm like maybe it's alright as long as BMW lets interiors like this co-exist with the new and unimproved - only to get on Bimmerpost and see that they are about to change the interior of all M3s and M4s to this totally underwhelming new style.

Something weird is really going on at BMW design.

I agree with you in general in exclusivity, but keep in mind, Angel Eyes or Halo's were only introduced in 2001 (first on the E39). BMW has been making cars since 1916. I love the angel eyes, but I would not say they are some kind of staple that's been around for 100 years. Kidney Grills, that's a different story.

[ezaircon4jc]

Originally Posted by jcal65

I watched this video and thought, well, maybe the new i7 isn’t all that bad in black and maybe it will grow on me over time. Then I saw the night shots near the end of the video with the illuminated massive grill looking like it is trying to swallow everything in its path. Sorry, it looks tacky to me. Please tell me you can turn that off!

I don't know who has the worse grille. BMW's interpretation of a bass mouth or Lexus' Cylon warrior.

[DealBMW]

I agree with the OP. I will miss the halo lights too. Don't get me wrong, I like my 5 LCI headlights, but still. VW and Jaguar models have very similar headlights across most of their current models. Dodge is using halos in their Challengers on the other hand.
I am not a huge fan of the recent BMW interiors either, while all the panels are rock solid and the materials great too, the design itself is not on point..
Overall though, there are no better cars for the money, than a BMW

[SteveinArizona]

Originally Posted by LogicalApex

Definitely post your thoughts. I’m very interested in what your impressions are.

It was too short a drive. I will have to have a more extensive test drive at my dealership (which I will do). Just a circle around the mall.

Screen and HUD are great. I miss the buttons for AC but the touchscreen is not bad for that. I had trouble getting out of the car...door handle is a weird push button.

View out the rear is pretty limited.

I am going to take a test drive on Wednesday of a Lucid Air. Once I have done that, and taken a more extensive test drive of the IX, I will have more info to post.

Of course, both the IX and I4 have the ugly bugs bunny grille. I might be able to get past that on the IX because the front is so tall and by getting a dark color it can mostly hide.

I like the look of the I4 (aside from the grille...I prefer a smaller car). But the basic I4 is not powerful enough for me and the upgraded model has too little range.

I am curious as to what the new electric Porsche Macan will be like.

Keep in mind that I only have a 20 amp dedicated 240 circuit for charging which means that I can only add about 45 kWh over night. That makes me different from most BEV purchasers.

One question I had, which the BMW representative couldn't really answer, is this: BMW has taken a portion of the battery pack and made it inaccessible. So my question is does that mean that we can safely charge to 100% of the listed range since they have already blocked off some of the battery pack or should we still plan on most charging to not more than 80% of the listed range?

[SteveinArizona]

Originally Posted by LogicalApex

Definitely post your thoughts. I’m very interested in what your impressions are.

It was too short a drive. I will have to have a more extensive test drive at my dealership (which I will do). Just a circle around the mall.

Screen and HUD are great. I miss the buttons for AC but the touchscreen is not bad for that. I had trouble getting out of the car...door handle is a weird push button.

View out the rear is pretty limited.

I am going to take a test drive on Wednesday of a Lucid Air. Once I have done that, and taken a more extensive test drive of the IX, I will have more info to post.

Of course, both the IX and I4 have the ugly bugs bunny grille. I might be able to get past that on the IX because the front is so tall and by getting a dark color it can mostly hide.

I like the look of the I4 (aside from the grille...I prefer a smaller car). But the basic I4 is not powerful enough for me and the upgraded model has too little range.

I am curious as to what the new electric Porsche Macan will be like.

Keep in mind that I only have a 20 amp dedicated 240 circuit for charging which means that I can only add about 45 kWh over night. That makes me different from most BEV purchasers.

One question I had, which the BMW representative couldn't really answer, is this: BMW has taken a portion of the battery pack and made it inaccessible. So my question is does that mean that we can safely charge to 100% of the listed range since they have already blocked off some of the battery pack or should we still plan on most charging to not more than 80% of the listed range?

I have a full test drive on a Lucid Air GT this coming Wednesday afternoon. Once I have completed that, and then done a similar test drive on an IX, I will be in a position to report back (based, of course, on my own preferences).

[Warp Ten]

Don't forget the horrible nose of the 4 series and the electric cars. An article in the Wall Street Journal today on the BMW 230i made this comment:

"Notably, the 2 Series’ understated grille honors the traditional twin-kidney design while conspicuously avoiding the fearful symmetries of BMW’s electrified fleet, the Nostrils of Doom."

I liken them to a pair of Edsels crashed together, but that is a really good description I think. But I am just an old guy who doesn't like change, I suppose. --Bob

[SonD]

*One question I had, which the BMW representative couldn't really answer, is this: BMW has taken a portion of the battery pack and made it inaccessible. So my question is does that mean that we can safely charge to 100% of the listed range since they have already blocked off some of the battery pack or should we still plan on most charging to not more than 80% of the listed range?**

Is this for BMW to give the mileage they quote over the predicted life of battery, ie, more of the battery becomes usable over time as range begins to fall?

I'm also in the 'Old Guy' camp of totally disliking those simply massive front grills.

[Joe-BMW33]

Originally Posted by Warp Ten

Don't forget the horrible nose of the 4 series and the electric cars. An article in the Wall Street Journal today on the BMW 230i made this comment:

"Notably, the 2 Series' understated grille honors the traditional twin-kidney design while conspicuously avoiding the fearful symmetries of BMW's electrified fleet, the Nostrils of Doom."

I liken them to a pair of Edsels crashed together, but that is a really good description I think. But I am just an old guy who doesn't like change, I suppose. --Bob

I admire the "2" series but there is something about that number that will never entertain me. Nothing but 3 or higher. The E30 was my first BMW, the lowest model in the chain, I just can't get into something with a "2" on it. Never mind a "1". I think I'd just get something Japanese. I know the M2 something is a beast.

[LogicalApex]

Originally Posted by SteveinArizona

It was too short a drive. I will have to have a more extensive test drive at my dealership (which I will do). Just a circle around the mall.

Screen and HUD are great. I miss the buttons for AC but the touchscreen is not bad for that. I had trouble getting out of the car...door handle is a weird push button.

View out the rear is pretty limited.

I am going to take a test drive on Wednesday of a Lucid Air. Once I have done that, and taken a more extensive test drive of the IX, I will have more info to post.

Of course, both the IX and I4 have the ugly bugs bunny grille. I might be able to get past that on the IX because the front is so tall and by getting a dark color it can mostly hide.

I like the look of the I4 (aside from the grille...I prefer a smaller car). But the basic I4 is not powerful enough for me and the upgraded model has too little range.

I am curious as to what the new electric Porsche Macan will be like.

Keep in mind that I only have a 20 amp dedicated 240 circuit for charging which means that I can only add about 45 kWh over night. That makes me different from most BEV purchasers.

One question I had, which the BMW representative couldn't really answer, is this: BMW has taken a portion of the battery pack and made it inaccessible. So my question is does that mean that we can safely charge to 100% of the listed range since they have already blocked off some of the battery pack or should we still plan on most charging to not more than 80% of the listed range?

Thanks!

Very good question. I also wonder if BMW allows temporarily overriding that reserve limit based on anticipated needs similar to Tesla.

The reserve should prevent us from needing to do anything extra to manage the battery capacity over the longer term, but I'm interested in the above.

My wife is looking for a full BEV so I'm now keeping an eye out on what BEVs we should add as a second car in addition to my 530e. I'm still hoping to hold onto the 530e until at least 2026.

[Kriz2fer]

Times change, designs change. Angle eyes make your car look dated.

[ezaircon4jc]

Originally Posted by Kriz2fer

Times change, designs change. Angle eyes make your car look dated.

Only the yellowish examples.

[Kriz2fer]

Originally Posted by ezaircon4jc

Only the yellowish examples.

All the new Bmw's coming out now have the newer style headlights. So if your bmw has the angle eyes you automatically know it's older. Not that they were a bad look but just look dated.

[OmahaDB]

Originally Posted by ezaircon4jc

I don't know who has the worse grille. BMW's interpretation of a bass mouth or Lexus' Cylon warrior.

It looks like the I7 is trying to score with a beaver. That is about the butt-ugliest grille I've seen in a long time, and lighting it up at night just makes it look even more cheesy.

[530iDriver]

Gonna wait another 5 years before jumping into the BEV wagon. Battery technology still has a ways to go.

[530iDriver]

Originally Posted by Kriz2fer

All the new Bmw's coming out now have the newer style headlights. So if your bmw has the angle eyes you automatically know it's older. Not that they were a bad look but just look dated.

Dated?

[530iDriver]

Originally Posted by Kriz2fer

Times change, designs change. Angle eyes make your car look dated.

Your opinion of course

[ezaircon4jc]

Originally Posted by 530iDriver

Gonna wait another 5 years before jumping into the BEV wagon. Battery technology still has a ways to go.

So does the infrastructure. Kommiefornyastan is already warning about rolling blackouts this summer.