Sorry everyone about going off-topic again, just want to properly address some replies.
@ Carmaker1 this is a good insight to see how changes progress within the development of a model.
Especially the E63 6er which was conceived to offer a folding hard top. As well as other challenges. It might be almost 15 years old when taken into account the conception process (Klier had a 645i 10 years ago when it seems like only yesterday and 10 years when I looked much younger on film.
The current F12 6er was also considered with a hardtop with early prototypes testing both. There is design pictures not showing the rear section as it ended up being.
http://www.germancarforum.com/community/threads/bmw-design-and-development-videos.49502/
Oh, you mean as an insight into
BMW development for that matter, since I don't work there. I actually have seen that documentary numerous times in the last decade and still love it to this day. It further entrenched my ambitions as a teenager to work in this field. I credit that documentary as one of the best efforts made by a "car company" to inform the public on what most of us do behind the scenes in various departments. Much better than giving a vague, heavily doctored summary (overly reenacted), which is what most companies do. Something BMW always does the opposite of at least.
I remember that the E63 project began in 1999 just as the E31 ended production, towards the 2nd quarter E60 5er development. Didn't know you were in that video, as when re-watching it on TV last summer with my mother (she owns an E64 LCI), it came to mind that you may have been present (one shown individual in particular). Some of that video gave me the impression of being mostly done last minute, as some of it clearly took place in 2003 (E65 mule running around undisguised in 2000?), yet visually referenced processes that would've happened no later than 2000-01. I figure it was a mixture of actual events and remade footage. One part I did figure out, is the E63 was frozen circa February 2001 and the first prototypes out around August 2001 in France.
As for the F13, I remember that and have yet to find such photographs of the hardtop undisguised, but I'll look on Car Design News.
Since the discussion is really on topic again, I'm gonna answer you in as little room
and as good as I can.
G11 design freeze: The 30 month-frame you refer to is actually a 'rule'. However, it's pretty clear that depending on the complexity of the product etc. this needs to be varied. With this particular car, I don't know exactly since I joined this project only after it had started. My impression was from the very beginning on that BMW wanted to really do it right and without any delay both with regard to the weaknesses of the F01 and the expected strengths of the W222 which became more concrete then.
Mulsanne: Oh, I love this car. Had the pleasure to move it a couple of times .... gorgeous. Where did you find the great pic, btw? In this pic, you can actually see variants of the front wing with less or more edging. This is what I meant. The inner of the two almost vertical lines in the final car came later. I guess the following video shows the earlier version at around 0:40.
Such a move can only be made in an almost hand built car, I guess.
E53: Timewise, I cannot keep up with you, sorry. (I'm getting old, man.) As far as I remember, the attached pic was part of the first official set. The difference is veeeery subtle but I remember how I thought: 'that just doesn't look right' before and was relieved later.
And now: Back to G11 
This confirms my earlier suspicions when I heard about a G12 design clinic that early and what sounded like a very much finished car. The greater technical requirements, needed to accommodate a longer series development phase. As long as they've carefully ensured with foresight a 10-20 year freshness for the G11 design in the market, it will be fine surely and not easily get outdated. In my case I always think about how the W140 and X350 Jaguar XJ suffered from being designed too early.
After doing that research on the Mulsanne and seeing a few locally, I've grown to like it quite a bit in the last several months. It is a work of art, except for the steering wheel. At its press launch and for much of the last 4+ years I had disliked it, since it replaced my favourite Bentley (dad is an Arnage owner) and felt visually too overwrought. Ironically both that and the less comparable X351 XJ debuted at the same time in 2009, putting off my father from both of his favorite brands for good. VAG didn't lose his business at least (got an Audi 2-3 years later).
I had gotten this design information (and photo) from Car Design News actually and Gareth (Mulsanne senior exterior designer in 2006-07). In this, it is quite amazing how changes to the fender design were quickly managed after the design freeze. In a mass production vehicle, that wouldn't happen so easily without consequences. The only 7er I remember hearing changes to sheet metal occur with, was the E32 in late 1984/January 1985. The width of that had to be increased, with only 20 months ahead of production remaining. At Jaguar, this has happened to past, current, and
future models, with disastrous delays. Aside from the Freelander, Land Rover has never experienced this.
Oh man! How did I miss that? I had used that press photo of the X5 originally in my last post and each time I've seen it since 1999, something has always felt OFF about it! Like as if the E53 had just been born on the spot. A video from December 1998 on some automotive spy segment, also showed that photo. I only chose the other X5 photo (MX5500 plate) as, it looked "not real" or like a fiberglass design model (maybe it was ?).
Now that I think about it, the June 1998 design patent filing has the same indicator design, something I also missed. Only checking subsequent B.M.W. filings through 1999, would show when these changes may have been implemented. The pilot series I'd figure would've started in early 1999, so the indicators were changed prior to that. The next set with the "corrected" headlights are from June 1998-March 1999, but I cannot confirm if the NAIAS X5 debut cars (FEP prototype) had the final ones (January 4, 1999 press presentation).
Okay, I will now refrain from going off-topic again.
COMBINED!!! So that makes you think Audi is dead serious with this project & goal to trash 7er & S-class.
