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      04-07-2008, 08:09 PM   #1
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Exclamation BMW's trademark.... right? wrong.

forum member Davin and I were talking, and we were discussing how audi has their LED headlights, as other (most) companies have their signature styling. which brings me to a very good point Davin suggested.

How can BMW claim their Corona rings (aka Angel Eyes) as their signature when it doesnt come standard? we have to pay for xenons for that...

yes, i understand the concept that they are for the "higher end" vehicles... but can we really call it BMW's signature? i think the only thing bmw has is the kidney grilles.

are we the only people that feel all BMW's should come standard with corona rings, regardless of xenons?
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      04-07-2008, 08:33 PM   #2
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Signature styling is just something a car company offers that is unique to the others, doesn't mean it has to be standard. Honda has the signature V-Tec but not all Hondas have it.
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      04-07-2008, 08:43 PM   #3
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Um I've never seen BMW claim anything about the angel eye headlights being some sort of signature. However the things that BMW is known for style-wise IMO, is:

1. Twin kidney grills
2. Hofmeister kink
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      04-07-2008, 08:45 PM   #4
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Angel eyes are not a signature for BMW

LED's are not a signature for Audi

Eddie Bauer IS a signature for Ford...come on guys, it's easy, if someone signs their name to it, well then and only then, it's a signature.

LOL
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      04-07-2008, 09:44 PM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by E90330iS View Post
Signature styling is just something a car company offers that is unique to the others, doesn't mean it has to be standard. Honda has the signature V-Tec but not all Hondas have it.
so true +1
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      04-07-2008, 09:49 PM   #6
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I think BMW refers to the coronas as a "traditional" styling element, not a signature one.

BMW has enough styling discrepancies that I think it doesn't really matter: the hoffmeister kink, the quad headlights (and coronas), the flame surfacing, and of course the kidney grille.
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      04-07-2008, 09:51 PM   #7
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Dood... The kidneys are a BMW signature!

You get those for the base price of the car.

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      04-07-2008, 09:51 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Neek View Post
Um I've never seen BMW claim anything about the angel eye headlights being some sort of signature. However the things that BMW is known for style-wise IMO, is:

1. Twin kidney grills
2. Hofmeister kink
+100
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      04-07-2008, 10:28 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bimmer Loyalist View Post
I think BMW refers to the coronas as a "traditional" styling element, not a signature one.

BMW has enough styling discrepancies that I think it doesn't really matter: the hoffmeister kink, the quad headlights (and coronas), the flame surfacing, and of course the kidney grille.

FLAME SURFACING is definitively not a signature BMW trait, it may be on the newer ones since moron bangle decided to do this, but it is not and never will be a BMW signature. bangle FTL !!!
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      04-07-2008, 10:32 PM   #10
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      04-07-2008, 10:38 PM   #11
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Well, choose what you want to believe, but at the moment, flame surfacing is a definite signature of the BMW marque. It's only temporary, as design languages tend to move on, but for now it is what it is.

I'm personally a huge fan of Bangle's work. He's arguably the most influential automotive designer of the 21st century. He's a design genious regardless of what you choose to think. Okay, maybe that's pushing it as I guess that can be assumed as a subjective topic, but nonetheless you can't deny the impact of his work, be it for better or worse (business wise - definitely better).

The designs of all the current models are logical progressions in the BMW design history. Each model carries at least some form of an element(s) that can be seen. It's hard to design a car that must be polarizing and new, yet familiar at the same time.
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      04-07-2008, 10:41 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by E90330iS View Post
Signature styling is just something a car company offers that is unique to the others, doesn't mean it has to be standard. Honda has the signature V-Tec but not all Hondas have it.
I'm pretty sure all Honda's are v-techs.
Maybe not the mini vans but. . . I think the others are.
I know Civic's are
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      04-07-2008, 11:15 PM   #13
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There are only three:

Kidney grilles
Hofmeister Kink
Four headlights
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      04-08-2008, 12:43 AM   #14
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I don't know about the US but in europe the audi led lights are only fitted on cars where the buyer pays extra for the xenon lights exactly like bmw.
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      04-08-2008, 12:55 AM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by xPaulBaiLeyx View Post
I'm pretty sure all Honda's are v-techs.
Maybe not the mini vans but. . . I think the others are.
I know Civic's are
Hmmm, I looked at Honda's web site. It certainly appears that all models currently sold in the U.S. feature some form of VTEC engines. But I'm sure that wasn't always the case. In the previous generation of Accord/Civic, the low end models did not feature VTEC engines.

My friend had an old 4-cyl Accord. And it definitely wasn't VTEC.

My Acura TSX Type-S however... oh yeah.

We've both moved up, though. He has an Acura now... and I've moved on to my 335 E93.
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      04-08-2008, 12:56 AM   #16
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Audi have been quick to jump in with using LED as DRL but it's hardly what I'd call their signature. Shortly Audi might also be the first company to use LED as headlamps in a production model but let me assure you that most car manufactures will also follow with tis very quickly.
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      04-08-2008, 12:59 AM   #17
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It is "nearly" a signature styling because only BMWs had it. from the factory. Whether it was an option or not, if a Company A was the first to publicize and start making product A, it just naturally becomes their trademark styling.

Think of it this way, Audi is now coming out with real sexy looking LEDs on their headlights. Imagine if next year BMW came out with EXACT same LED styling on their headlights. Everyone is going to scream "Copycat!!". I know I would. Im sure everyone had ideas of LEDs on the headlights, but just because Audi came out with it first, its now their "styling cue". Thats how business and market works anyways. kinda like restaurants with no reservations. First come, first serve.
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      04-08-2008, 01:08 AM   #18
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Let me assure you that LED companies like Cree, Nichia, Lumileds and Osram are working closely with Audi, BMW, MB and a lot of other manufactures. LED headlights will be mainstream and wont be the domain of one manufacture.
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      04-08-2008, 01:16 AM   #19
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I guess we just gave the idea to BMW that the "twin kidney" will be optional extra on coming 2010 models....
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      04-08-2008, 01:24 AM   #20
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heres bmw's signature!
























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      04-08-2008, 01:26 AM   #21
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Ok, here's another one...What about the shark fin antenna? I think I saw them 1st on BMWs, then Audi has them. It's not a signature but it started with BMW?
BTW, what is a hofmeister kink??? (I hope that isn't a dumb question!)
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      04-08-2008, 01:34 AM   #22
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Don't for get Pontiac also uses double kidny grill in all of their cars.
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