Why do people put "M" badges on non-M cars?
Discussion
zeDuffMan said:
This appeared at work this morning. Apologies for potato quality
Rather predictably its a 520d underneath
I have to own up to indulging in some very childish behaviour a little while ago when I encountered one of these E60 "M5"s. I'm not sure he ever figured out what the old (debadged) 5-series, which disappeared into the distance, actually wasRather predictably its a 520d underneath
Not big, not clever, but remarkably good fun on occasion
RDMcG said:
pingu393 said:
Makes little sense, but...
I can understand someone of student age making a basic Fiesta look like an ST. It shows me that you have aspirations to make it in life.
Trying to make a 520d look like an M5 just makes me think that you haven't made it to where you want to - and you are letting everyone know it. Kind of sad, really.
They never do the mirrors, of course. Instant fail.I can understand someone of student age making a basic Fiesta look like an ST. It shows me that you have aspirations to make it in life.
Trying to make a 520d look like an M5 just makes me think that you haven't made it to where you want to - and you are letting everyone know it. Kind of sad, really.
RDMcG said:
They never do the mirrors, of course. Instant fail.
I particularly like the halfords mesh-esque bit at the bottom of the back..... The bizarre thing is, to people who know...you look like a tool....and to people who don't know what a real M5 looks like they probably won't notice your 4 fake exhausts or halfords mesh anyway .... so why bother to create a daily shrine to how you can't afford a proper one.
RossP said:
Nice - especially the chrome aftermarket trim. 
This is the sort I really don't get. Whether we like it or not people fitting M badges to M Sport cars are not trying to kid anyone . But this is a 530d SE. It is not an M Sport. It's even on 17 inch wheels with baloon tyres with chrome window trim. It's not even got an M branded steering wheel. So what on earth has made him think that badge is 'proper wicked'?Broadoakboy said:
I'm not sure I know what you mean. I own a 6 year old V10 M6. I bought it because ever since I saw one as the MotoGP safety car I wanted one. I don't boast about it, I just drive it and enjoy every second. I have noticed that M badges are appearing on most of the new models. I don't care. My car is a dinosaur. The tech is old. The engine is outdated. It drinks fuel like an oil tanker. Probably every current M car is better than it. My choice though and I'm happy with it.
Exactly the same here mate. I bought my E46 M3 because ever since I saw one when I started learning to drive I just had to have one, I even bought lower E46 models to slowly ease into an E46 and be ready for when the big day comes (okay those cars fit the then criteria I had but still... 
).I enjoy my car and I also enjoy it with friends and family. It's a great recreational machine for sure, even if it is 10 years old and even though newer models can easily keep up or outpace it in some cases, none of them can provide the same feeling and/or character.
I see loads of cars with M badges that simply don't warrant an M badge. "///M 520D" "///M 335i" etc.
I've seen M badges on kidney grilles, M badges on the opposite side of the boot lid and on cars both SE and Sport. The main thing is I mostly see it on newer BMW cars and almost always it's on a diesel, usually a 520D or 320D. This is on otherwise normal looking cars. Chavved up ones I'm not including in this.
I think the gist of it is this, a vast majority of new BMW buyer doesn't care or know of “The Ultimate Driving Machine” or what it stands for. The brand name doesn’t mean what it once did and people see the badge and only the badge as a status symbol. The ///M badges stuck on just add pub banter fodder or kudos points to mates for them.
But this is what the buying public want now, they want sporty looking small engine cars and BMW are catering to that demand which is why these cars are selling. The ///M era isn’t what it once was really, for better or for worse is a subjective thing. Personally I’m pro old skool BMW, the new ones do nothing great for me. Even the 6 series I wasn’t too fond of. Scratchy plastics and fiddly controls around the dash.
dized it, unlike his car) 
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