avantegardestyle wroteI think I’m in minority camp but I think e60 m5 is the best looking generation (next would be e34). Just a shame the SMG sucks big time and the swap is not as easy as the e46, else I’d own one myself. But finding low mileage 6MT with black interior is so tough.I dont like these new cars with too much angles, ridges, fake vents etc that does really nothing and will not age well
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
835.5KVIEWS
431REPLIES
565APPRECIATES
200ACTIVE PEOPLE
05-11-2026LAST POST
Just had to add another useless affirmation to see how many pages we can stretch this topic to!!
This will answer the question finally
LOW4LYF wroteThese will definitely be collectors cars.
jhan315 wroteThat diff can be optioned on a 230i/330i as well.One point is that the 1M and OG M2 have the N54 and N55 respectively but they dont have "true" S type engines. Is it just the badge and price tag? Even the new M240xi has a diff now and the M3 powerdome. I dont like up badging but bmw continues to provide more and more //M division exclusive parts to m-lite versions.
An m240i/m340i are dynamically very much the same as a 230i/330i (they don't handle any better). An M3 on the other hand is a totally different handling experience.
jhan315 wroteLet us be honest here. The 1M and M2 are big upgrades from the 135i and M240i. Not all real M cars have s type engines.One point is that the 1M and OG M2 have the N54 and N55 respectively but they dont have "true" S type engines. Is it just the badge and price tag? Even the new M240xi has a diff now and the M3 powerdome. I dont like up badging but bmw continues to provide more and more //M division exclusive parts to m-lite versions.
DanG wroteWhat ///M vehicle does not have an "S" engine, or did you mean M-sport?...Not all real M cars have s type engines.
M_Bimmer wrote1M and 2016-2018 M2.What ///M vehicle does not have an "S" engine, or did you mean M-sport?
Now that we don’t have the “what’s in our garage” in our Profile, I should provide context.
Janjohn wroteInteresting response... sry I digressWe’ve owned several M Sport editions. Absolutely none of them was an M car. The M Sport provides the sports steering wheel, and sport wheels and tires, which I think is cool. We have no intent to run it on a track. We have the Dodge Hellcat for that.
Now that we don’t have the “what’s in our garage” in our Profile, I should provide context.

Hellcat is specifically engineered for straight-line speed, generally considered world-class drag strip performer but only a mediocre track car.
My limited experience with previous gen Chargers/Challengers:
skillets wroteHilarious! That guy took it to another level of stupidity when he said "x5m".COULDNT AGREE MORE! It frustrates me to see these said cars, let alone their owners who think they actually own a M car. I owned a 2017 x5m and my neighbors brother showed up one day bragging about his X5M. His X5 was actually just an M sport. He argued with me on and on. Little did he know I actually owned a real x5m and it was sitting in the garage next door. He was humbled very quickly!
It annoys me to no end when people call their car "2021 x5 40i Msport", etc. For years people were adding "M sport" to their x3 name when it was purely cosmetic. Now I guess there is some functionality with M suspension, M sports brakes but, its not the name of your car! It's just a package!
Might as well say "I have a 2025 x5 40i Msport Premium Climate Comfort Driving Assistance Professional Parking Assistance Front Massaging Seats"
Speaking of stupidity, there was an 2015 ish X3 thread once where someone said "I wouldn't be surprised if the M engineers go over and tweak the design of the X3 m sport models"
smokinjoe64 wroteSorry I digressed. The Hellcat has a supercharger and is built for the drag strip. The point I was trying to share is that when someone buys an MSport SUV, they don’t buy it as a track car. It has too much ground clearance, too much weight, and is way too large. This is also true of the Porsche Cayenne or any other SUV. On the other hand, when we step on the throttle, we get a little taste of the M experience.Interesting response... sry I digress![]()
Hellcat is specifically engineered for straight-line speed, generally considered world-class drag strip performer but only a mediocre track car.
My limited experience with previous gen Chargers/Challengers:
Dominant Power [ie Redeye/Jailbreak trims]
Launch Control
Excessive Weight
Handling - Struggles with understeer and "brake fade" during session
Janjohn wroteGotcha...clarification makes senseSorry I digressed. The Hellcat has a supercharger and is built for the drag strip. The point I was trying to share is that when someone buys an MSport SUV, they don’t buy it as a track car. It has too much ground clearance, too much weight, and is way too large. This is also true of the Porsche Cayenne or any other SUV. On the other hand, when we step on the throttle, we get a little taste of the M experience.
The REAL problem started with the various M35/M40/M50/M60 models, for which BMW and their owners can make a strong case about these being "almost M cars". In the case of these particular models, it is indeed quite difficult to distinguish between the "real M" and the "almost M" models, and some journalists have gone as far as to say that the "almost M" model may be a better car overall than the "real M" model (and yes I'm talking about the X5M and X5 M60)
freakystyly wroteYep - I posted this in a few other "what is ///M" threads. BMW says they are M cars, although many don't want/consider them to be.Having to scroll down to the Ms on certain webpages model lists for M240i is stupid.
https://www.bmwusa.com/vehicles/bmw-m/models.html
https://www.bmwusa.com/vehicles/3-series/3-series-sedan/bmw-3-series-sedan.html