I'm looking for a specific instance in where BMW has taken/stolen a design or styling cue from a competitor?

For example, is the hofmeister kink a BMW original?I'm looking for a specific instance in where BMW has taken/stolen a design or styling cue from a competitor?The 1980s BMWs look like K-cars.



Also they are about 20 years behind the times in terms of styling (round went out with the 90s).I'm looking for a specific instance in where BMW has taken/stolen a design or styling cue from a competitor?
no such time..however they have had their looks stolenI'm looking for a specific instance in where BMW has taken/stolen a design or styling cue from a competitor?The biggest one I can think of is the current BMW K-series motorcycles in the sense of using a transverse 4-cylinder engine. Very Japanese. But that's not really a tight design item, just not BMW-like. When they made a cruiser bike (R1200C) it was still relatively unique.



In cars? Geez, love it or hate it, they make trends not take them. And that goes for as far back as I can remember (Isetta, 2002Tii, Bavaria, CSL "Batmobile", M1, ...). The 1955 507 may be similar in silhouette to other roadsters of the day but it was STILL unique.
BMW is making a new car. They are calling it the PAS for now. It looks just like the Porsche Panamera concept car in shape, which was revealed a year before the BMW.I'm looking for a specific instance in where BMW has taken/stolen a design or styling cue from a competitor?yes the dog leg is a BMW trade mark. If you look at cars like the E30 BMW and the Nissan Sentra of the same years you can see almost all the same styling lines. Also take a look at the BMW 2002's and the Datsun 510. There are alot more examples out there, but like someone on here said before, BMW makes the trends and everyone else follows.I'm looking for a specific instance in where BMW has taken/stolen a design or styling cue from a competitor?
the E92 saloon, at the back it looks like a Mitsubuishi Carisma!!!



The coupe looks like the Alfa romeo Spider 1990 model!!!
When BMW moved the door on the Isetta to the normal position (side of the car), they stole the design from the majority of cars.



All kidding aside, here are some BMW cars that look similar to other cars. When the Z3 first came out, I noticed a strong resemblance to the Mazda Miata - on a larger scale. The M coupe looks a lot like the old MG coupe. The 80's 3 series coupe looks like a Sentra Coupe.



I think every auto designer takes design cues from other cars. Its inevitable, since you see cars on the road and you notice what looks good and what doesn't. When you design a new car, those likes and dislikes factor into the new design. It makes all the sense in the world - why start every design from nothing? Its the same as reinventing the wheel with every design.



Greg



ps. the new Honda Accord Sedan looks a lot like the 5 Series from behind.I'm looking for a specific instance in where BMW has taken/stolen a design or styling cue from a competitor?
The ever-famous Bangle-Butt was used on vehicles before BMW made them famous. Though I am not sure if you want to consider this as BMW stealing a design or something ...