GORDON.M3 wrotethey did a good job of ruining the M branding by releasing the new M3Personally, I think BMW has ruined the ///M branding by adding these cars that aren't true ///M cars, like the M340i, M235i, etc...
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Siajoon wrotecompare that to the guy whose WIFEWOULDNT let him buy an M-CarI've taught my wife well.. We will be driving and she's like.. HEY!! That's a fake M it doesn't have bulging fenders and doesn't have quad exhausts what a poser. And I just smirk at her.. so proud
Any wife who dares try to regulate me in that way will be an ex-wife.
Any car that doesnt have an M engine and by BMW M Division isnt an M-Car regardless of how its badged
Might as well put an M badge on a Camry
avantegardestyle wroteWell, that would suck.. but I was a car nerd before my wife came along, and now she's become a car nerd.. mostly a BMW nerd. She loves the way the M's look.. up until the latest and greatest bever editionSiajoon wrotecompare that to the guy whose WIFEWOULDNT let him buy an M-CarI've taught my wife well.. We will be driving and she's like.. HEY!! That's a fake M it doesn't have bulging fenders and doesn't have quad exhausts what a poser. And I just smirk at her.. so proud
Any wife who dares try to regulate me in that way will be an ex-wife.
Any car that doesnt have an M engine and by BMW M Division isnt an M-Car regardless of how its badged
Might as well put an M badge on a Camry
Just kidding.. for whomever purchased the g8x no offense. You love it enough to buy it then enjoy the heck out of it
Siajoon wroteI dont like these new cars with too much angles, ridges, fake vents etc that does really nothing and will not age wellWell, that would suck.. but I was a car nerd before my wife came along, and now she's become a car nerd.. mostly a BMW nerd. She loves the way the M's look.. up until the latest and greatest bever edition
Just kidding.. for whomever purchased the g8x no offense. You love it enough to buy it then enjoy the heck out of it
All the M cards up to the E9x were elegant cars. the only exception being the E60 M5, which I actually like aesthetically even with the weird headlights
the Last two M3's are just terrible looking
All of the full M cars represent something special to those who drive them, they are all crazy good cars for what they are at the time and some great no matter what the time.
This v8, this car, I don’t need a badge to enjoy that.
nrubenstein wroteI agree, my friend and I were saying the new m340's are technically M cars but not the 330i m sport package. Even though the m340's aren't imo M, they are branded and have performance to back it up. But me and my friend agreed they weren't anything crazy while stock.It's not upbadging if BMW does it.
But they aren't M cars either.
The reality is that BMW "M" cars aren't really M cars anymore, either. So who cares? If the only transmission available is a slushbox, it's not an M car. M8? Nope. X5M? Nope. X3M? Nope. M5? Nope. What does that leave? The M3 (kind of) and the M2.
It's not brand dilution if there's no brand left in the first place.
drwankel wroteI agree there, anything more though. For instance, a (///M) 335i. With the badge before the 335i. Sure it may have 500 horsepower and the M sport package, but by that point, it's up badging in my opinion.Not upbadging if it came that way from the factory...
fs34 wroteHaha yeah, it's always fun to see it on the road and at meets. I love seeing peoples reactions when they tell me about their car with all the M colors striped along their 328 and then ask what car I'm driving...To each his own I guess. M badges don’t bother me on non m cars, sometimes it’s pretty funny. I enjoy this car so much, “I know what I’ve got”. I don’t give a rip what someone in an m340i or whatever does.
All of the full M cars represent something special to those who drive them, they are all crazy good cars for what they are at the time and some great no matter what the time.
This v8, this car, I don’t need a badge to enjoy that.
I have respect for anybody who appreciates the spirit of the brand whether it's a 2002, e21, e39, e46 or some newer model.
InnerBlueSkies wrotesorry but we are comparing M's hereBe careful comparing dicks gentleman.
Winter.M3 wroteBMW basically copied what Mercedes has being doing with excessive AMG badging on parts and packages (on non-AMG cars). This is of course easy money and improves profitability for the companies (bean counters love this), but from a long-term branding perspective, very dilutive for the premium M-brand. The M235i and other M-lite models create very confusing messaging for the public (especially for the car illiterate).Kinda controversial but I couldn't find anyone else's input. I see 3 series with the M sport package with M badges, M stickered calipers, M color stripes, etc. In my opinion, it's excessive.
Now, would you consider this upbadging? I would say yes, but I'm not sure. What's your opinion?
However; I still think it's cool to an extent to do it to some BMWs, especially if you have some performance mods. So don't get me wrong there.
InnerBlueSkies wroteBe careful comparing dicks gentleman. Just because you have a capable car doesn't mean you're capable.
nrubenstein wrote+1It's not upbadging if BMW does it.
But they aren't M cars either.
Corporate folks making these decisions have lost touch with tradition of the brand, and are disconnected from the demand of true enthusiasts. Therefore they simply don't understand that badging is not that makes an M car.
Dr Ed wroteHow is this even a debate? m cars have bespoke engines, aluminum suspension components, limited slip differentials and various components that would never come on a standard car. The fact this is a conversation shows how far the brand has fallen from grace...Hell no.
That being said, what does a badge or sticker matter? Who are you trying to impress? You care about someone else's car about as much as they care about yours so why bother? When you see someone in a new Ferrari I'm sure you're not thinking "wow that guy looks really cool". You're thinking that guy doesn't deserve it and he looks like a douche bag. The same thing that the guy with the civic thinks about you when you fly by in the "M".
I.e. grill M-badge
I think Audi’s naming convention is better where they have the S-line styling and trim on the standard models and then the S and RS models. Just seems more logical than BMW. Prefixing the M feels like an afterthought.
Regardless of the name, I love the car though. A comfortable family estate car that can hit 60mph in a fraction over 4 seconds
