M Sport package considered an "M" car?

[CPWINCH]

Originally Posted by GORDON.M3

Personally, I think BMW has ruined the ///M branding by adding these cars that aren't true ///M cars, like the M340i, M235i, etc...

they did a good job of ruining the M branding by releasing the new M3

[avantegardestyle]

Originally Posted by Siajoon

I'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

compare that to the guy whose WIFEWOULDNT let him buy an M-Car
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

[Siajoon]

Originally Posted by avantegardestyle

compare that to the guy whose WIFEWOULDNT let him buy an M-Car
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

Well, 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

[avantegardestyle]

Originally Posted by Siajoon

Well, 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

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

[fs34]

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.

[Winter.M3]

Originally Posted by nrubenstein

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.

I 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.

[Winter.M3]

Originally Posted by drwankel

Not upbadging if it came that way from the factory...

I 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.

[Winter.M3]

Originally Posted by fs34

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.

Haha 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...

[PYE46M3]

If they figured out a need for 7 different SUVs then they will figure out a need for M badge on any crap that rolls off the production line. BMW as a whole is a big joke to me nowadays. Glad there's always Porsche.

[Scrippy]

This battle will rage on forever. One side thinks that a badge should mean the whole car is gone over to make ///M in order to establish what is basic and what is special. The other side thinks real M owners are haters. The M340i is a beast of a car but it is not a true M. I think we have forgotten the separation from grocery get'r to sports car with Msport line branding. It's a middle ground to up sell the grocery get'er to the new flock. What makes me giggle is the person comparing the new m340i to an E46 or E92......the m340i should win, it's newer. Problem is the newer car feels numb and lacks presence felt by the operator. A sports car MUST have a DCT. A sports car must have hydraulic assisted steering. A sports car must feel more stable than the basic version. A few logos and added esthetic aggressiveness doesn't make the grade of M. The brand is losing value/strength when the pie is cut 10 ways instead of 5

[InnerBlueSkies]

Be careful comparing dicks gentleman. Just because you have a capable car doesn't mean you're capable.

I have respect for anybody who appreciates the spirit of the brand whether it's a 2002, e21, e39, e46 or some newer model.

[MPizza]

Originally Posted by InnerBlueSkies

Be careful comparing dicks gentleman.

sorry but we are comparing M's here

[kimiraikkonen]

Originally Posted by Winter.M3

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.

BMW 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).

[timothy2001]

Originally Posted by InnerBlueSkies

Be careful comparing dicks gentleman. Just because you have a capable car doesn't mean you're capable.

[SoCalRPM]

Originally Posted by nrubenstein

It's not upbadging if BMW does it.

But they aren't M cars either.

+1

[SilverSlug]

Mercedes has diluted the AMG brand just the same with their AMG E43, AMG E53, etc... These aren't actual AMG cars, just a defined price point marketing toward the crowd who wants more than mediocre performance, but can't afford the actual AMG (nor a true M car).

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]

Hell no.

[neilum]

Originally Posted by Dr Ed

Hell no.

How 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...

[LakeSurfer]

If you're slapping stuff on your car to make it appear to be something it's not is kind of lame, makes you a little self indulgent and sort of small.

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".

[SilverSlug]

What about "upbadging" a true M-car?

I.e. grill M-badge

[srbs73]

As an owner of an M340i Touring, a true M was not an option (yet!).

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

[para38super]

I am BMW enthusiast and have owned several BMW's over the years. But I still ask my self what is a true M car? M3/M4 is nothing special now a days. M sport is just m sport, m3 is just a m3. They are both 3 series cars, nothing special. Some times on this forum it seems like we are comparing a family sedan vs super car. They are more alike than some like to accept. Again this is coming from a BMW enthusiast and I like 3 series cars.