My Sister-in-Law had a Z4 and really did not like it. She traded it in after 1 year for a 5 Series. Our second car is an 2004 X3 and the interior styling is stoic at best. Drives great but the cup holders are an after thought and good luck finding a place to put anything.

 

This interior is terribly overdone, overwrought, really. George Jetson, perhaps, would approve. Increasing the car's size is foolish, and the exterior is more conventional in every way. A disaster, inside and out, the result of too much focus grouping (by Americans), and a relentless desire to cut costs.

 

Actually the design was done before it was shown to any focus groups.

 

I hope that is just the dash for the mule.

Just makes me happier that I have the current design.

 

well, what i meant was that, it clearly is a result of feedback surveys and focus group discussions, which started immediately after the car was introduced several years ago. but not only is it too gimmicky for me, the general emphasis/overdesign now on the vents and such, is the same approach used on SO many new cars today, an awful retro look that was mostly never there in "real life," and now manifests itself in the insistence on "round" tailight arrangements, needlessly aggressive round emphasis to venting, etc. etc. its gotten so boring. now, the MINI joins a craze, which it had sidestepped so gracefully. the innovative and unique interior we've had, is giving way to something much more ordinary, really, and that's sad.