Wondering How the convertible is going to handle Antennas?

[WolfsburgerMitFries]

I've been wondering how the 1 series convertible is going to handle its antennas. There are specialty concerns with a convertible, so follow along with me and learn something.

First, observe the 1 series coupe uses a shark fin, as does the 3. Now the shark fin is not as fragile as a power antenna, fixed mast, or rubber ducky...but it does look like a tacky afterthought and its just simply screwing up the otherwise clean lines of the car. In short, the shark fin is uglier than homemade sin.



Now, We'll take the new Volvo C70 retractible hard top under consideration. Notice how it uses both a "shark fin" and a "rubber ducky" antenna. For a car that's almost as expensive as a 3 series retractible hard top, the C70s antenna solution is obviously a cheap afterthought and clearly underengineered. Its uglying the whole thing up. But that's fine, because the C70 is waaaaay overpriced and nobody in their right mind would purchase one anyway.


Lets move on to another convertible that has been discussed in this forum. The often misunderstood, underappreciated, and underestimated Volkswagen Eos. I would like everybody to witness that the Eos has no antennas visible anywhere on the car at all. The appearance of the Eos is very clean and well executed, its undeniably first rate. So by now, you're obviously asking yourself how'd Volkswagen pull off such a discreet and well executed feat?




Well the answer to that question is all the antennas in the Eos are embedded in the trunk lid. What a wonderfully witty and aesthetically pleasing solution. I have to wonder if BMW is going to present such an innovative solution as the Eos in the 1 series convertible, or if they are simply planning on tacking another shark fin onto the trunk.

[larry lawless]

The shark fin isn't an after thought it is purposely put their cause it is the new interpretation of the old antennas on the 740s. And personally i like the shark fin because it give the car a distinct look which i happen to like. And the eos is clean but i just dislike the car a lot especially after i drove it.

[c4r_dr1v3r]

At the moment it has two antennas and they're big and ugly.

http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/secret_...sid=798&page=3

I was doubting they would copy the solution adopted by VW simply because car makers like BMW and Mercedes don't usually do copy/paste... Especially being something innovative. They just wish they had come up with the solution themselves in the first place. However, I can't see the antenna on the 3 series convertible...
http://www.worldcarfans.com/photos.c...es-convertible

Does anyone know what solution they adopted in this car? Whatever it is, there's a big chance they'll do the same with the 1 series convertible.

[WolfsburgerMitFries]

Originally Posted by c4r_dr1v3r

I was doubting they would copy the solution adopted by VW simply because car makers like BMW and Mercedes don't usually do copy/paste... Especially being something innovative. They just wish they had come up with the solution themselves in the first place. However, I can't see the antenna on the 3 series convertible...

I think maybe "copy/paste" is a bit of an oversimplification. German automakers are very cooperative with each other. In fact Mercedes-Benz uses Volkswagens VR6 engine (think R32 but also available in the Eos) in a Mercedes Van because its a very compact form factor, and its an outstandingly well designed engine. The VR6 is so good, its also used as the base engine in the Porsche Cayenne. All the German auto manufacturers are buying from the same OEM's like for example, Siemens VDO, Getrag, Hella, Webasto, Bosch, Wilhelm Karmann GmbH. So it would be a bit naive to think that BMW would refuse to do integral antennas just because the Eos had it first. And it would also be a bit naive to not understand that German cars have more similarities under the skin than you might initially think.

But back to your picture of the 3 series. Most 3 series convertibles I've seen do have the shark fin on the trunk lid, a few don't. I'm not entirely sure why, mainly beause the current 3 series puts me to sleep. Really, I wanted to like the E92/E93 when It was introduced, but after an honest assesment of the current 3 series (looking past the BMW badge) I see a car that is unrecognizable as an evolutionary stage after E30-E36-E46. That's why I'm here...the 1 series coupe and convertible is "the purest BMW" currently available.

One attribute I would very much like to see in the 1 series convertible is the ambient rope lighting along the interior side panels. To those unfamiliar with this, you can see it at 3:22 into the video below.

http://shows.autospies.com/video/335..._Drive_web.wmv

[dmboone25]

Originally Posted by WolfsburgerMitFries

I think maybe "copy/paste" is a bit of an oversimplification. German automakers are very cooperative with each other. In fact Mercedes-Benz uses Volkswagens VR6 engine (think R32 but also available in the Eos) in a Mercedes Van because its a very compact form factor, and its an outstandingly well designed engine. The VR6 is so good, its also used as the base engine in the Porsche Cayenne. All the German auto manufacturers are buying from the same OEM's like for example, Siemens VDO, Getrag, Hella, Webasto, Bosch, Wilhelm Karmann GmbH. So it would be a bit naive to think that BMW would refuse to do integral antennas just because the Eos had it first. And it would also be a bit naive to not understand that German cars have more similarities under the skin than you might initially think.

But back to your picture of the 3 series. Most 3 series convertibles I've seen do have the shark fin on the trunk lid, a few don't. I'm not entirely sure why, mainly beause the current 3 series puts me to sleep. Really, I wanted to like the E92/E93 when It was introduced, but after an honest assesment of the current 3 series (looking past the BMW badge) I see a car that is unrecognizable as an evolutionary stage after E30-E36-E46. That's why I'm here...the 1 series coupe and convertible is "the purest BMW" currently available.

One attribute I would very much like to see in the 1 series convertible is the ambient rope lighting along the interior side panels. To those unfamiliar with this, you can see it at 3:22 into the video below.

http://shows.autospies.com/video/335..._Drive_web.wmv

I like my little shark fin on my E92. :biggrin:

I wondering more about how the tailights will look on the 1er coupe....if they resemble the 3's, as they are rumored to be, then I think I am really going to like the overall look of the car.

And the 3, to me, is not boring. It is just getting a bit larger than I would prefer...