Gone off track All German Car Interiors look the same. Except they don't

[empower77]

This will bloody dilute the interior of the S... I hate how the Germans are copying and pasting all over the board

 

[martinbo]

This will bloody dilute the interior of the S... I hate how the Germans are copying and past...

But not BMW, each model family gets its own specific interior. So not all Germans.

 

[Deleted member 1071]

This will bloody dilute the interior of the S... I hate how the Germans are copying and past...

On the other hand, the association with the brands halo S-Class sedans ensures desire and a pride of ownership that will equate to good unit sales. And in terms of unit sales, the C-and E-Class sedans are bread-and-butter cars that are moved from distributors in high numbers. And both model lines being highly configurable, good returns are made on generously appointed cars. While the S-Class is a halo car with enormous brand equity, as well as being a major profit contributor courtesy of the North American and Asian markets, it is far less relevant here in the EU. A nicely optioned E-Class epitomizes the brand "Mercedes-Benz" in Europe, despite its' popularity, in very basic specification, as a taxicab as well.

 

[SKY]

But not BMW, each model family gets its own specific interior. So not all Germans.

How so? All recent BMWs share the same central console, speedo, steering wheel, A/C controls... Hard to say the X5 interior is so different to the 3er one.

The exterior, on the other hand, remains distinctive for most of the models.

 

[martinbo]

This topic of discussion comes up over and over again. And I hate to derail this thread with it but there's this constant assertion that BMW's interiors are the same. They're not.
Yes, there is electronic module commonality - why wouldn't there be in this day and age - but even then there is model specificity.

All recent BMWs share the same central console

No, not entirely. The gear level housing module is common and often finished in different surfaces depending on the level of luxury.
I would expect, given the extent of common functionality, that car makers would be smart and use such modules universally to standardise and reduce costs. And, they do.

speedo,

Sure, but it's just a screen. Just like much everything else we interface with as human beings in the 21st century. The graphics design is software, and once again, common sense and hence, commonality, should prevail.
Does this make the interior "the same"? Of course not.

steering wheel,

Agreed. Again standardise the design and adapt subtly for additional functions (buttons).

A/C controls

Yes and no. Have a look at the two pics attached. The A/C units clearly share much but they're not the same and the centre console in which they're housed is completely different in shape and trim.

Hard to say the X5 interior is so different to the 3er one.

Very easy for me. See the two pics - they're different interiors sharing a common design language marking them out clearly as being BMW interiors. That's solid business practice there.



On second thoughts I'm going to spin this discussion off into a separate thread and we can argue about what "the same" means.

 

[martinbo]

Please continue discussion here on the same-ness of German car interiors.

 

[CrunchSlaughtered]

The E30, E32 and E34 all have very similar interiors. And I still love all of them.

 

[martinbo]

The E30, E32 and E34 all have very similar interiors. And I still love all of them.[...

Yes, very similar in design theme. But, still not the same.

 

[Centurion]

Homogeneity or sameness in cabin designs has stem from the limited locations that infotainment screens can be placed.

Identical screens and buttons within a manufacturers line up improves familiarity and lowers the barriers for existing customers to jump into a new model.

There are also cost benefits to component sharing.

 

[Rolf]

Yes, very similar in design theme. But, still not the same.

Ok you BMW lovers which one is which in this famous design theme center consoles for E30, E32 and E34?

I loved those rotating vents and driver centric consoles.

 

[dalab]

I don't know if I ever saw those two empty spaces with buttons ...., even so, that dashboard was perfect, were they ever used?
Kenwood, who had one in the car (or two like me, 1990 and 2009), knows they were just the best ...

 

[empower77]

My point is clearly being taken out if context and thrashed.

I was merely eluding to the fact that the 2000s saw a marked difference in manufacturers attempting to differentiate their halo products.

Case in point - W220/221 looked nothing like cars lower down the food chain on the inside

E65/66, the same story.

Why did they move away from this formula?

 

[dalab]

My point is clearly being taken out if context and thrashed.

I was merely eluding to the f...

Actually what is happening is positive.
It is taking badly the fact that now those "below" are very similar to the most expensive of the line, this was already the case at the time of the unforgettable e46, e39 and the 7 contemporary to them, very similar designs (almost the same than now), where there was no difference even in the quality that was the best and superior to its rivals

The era that you mention (2005/2006/2007), gave a well differentiated 7 series but the 5 and 3 series that were quite different (except for the shape and location of the very innovative and pioneering idrive screen), different but the ugliest and cheapest in sight and touch dashboards of the world, a cheap plastic festival.

Today again all the series enjoy the great design and quality of the top of the range, and not as you are thinking it is in reverse.
In my opinion, if they made them very different, which is expensive, they should put cheaper materials to compensate.

Horrible everywhere

 

[SKY]

@martinbo well, I have to say our concept of completely different is completely different LOL.

Most of the German brand have a history of sharing interior design. What I critisize of the current BMW, Audi and MB interiors, was also present in some of my favourite BMWs: E38, E39, E46.

I find it hard to argue that the pictures you have posted are virtually identical when you compare them with these ones:

This is what I would define as different interiors sharing a common design language.

 

[Levi68]

Either they all have the same interior, or they all don't have the same interior. In that regard they are all the same, BMW and Mercedes. I have not seen Audi, not really interested, I know the R8 is different.

The problem is not if the interior is the same or not, but if the interior in nice or not, and to that my answer is a definite NO! The interiors are not nice.

 

[SKY]

Either they all have the same interior, or they all don't have the same interior. In that regar...

Can't think of many brands with a current interior design languague better than BMW. Certainly not MB (not to mention the weird stuff they are cooking). Audi has done some very nice interiors lately, but touch screens make them less safe to use while driving.

 

[LaArtist]

BMW interiors look like shit as always stuck with zero imagination.
Damn things are still a evolution of the 2 decade old damn e65 7 series.

expect i cars which are loosely based on egg cartons.

a whole lot of bull shit in this thread!

 

[martinbo]

a whole lot of bull shit in this thread!

Yup, that amount just went up by 80% with your contribution to this discussion.

BMW still make among the best driver-centric interiors around. When a lowly G20 has an ergonomic and intuitive driver interface that's as good - if not better - than a 992, then that counts for a lot. Same goes for slightly older cars; my 5 year old F30 has a far more intuitive-to-use interior over my 7 year old 981.

 

[PanterroR]

Yup, that amount just went up by 80% with your contribution to this discussion.

I'd say 100%, that's it, close the thread.

 

[Deleted member 1071]

BMW interiors, pretty much ALL of them, are nice places to spend time in.