RE: Name-Games For 3-Series: BMW To Make 3 Into 4?

[T16OLE]

The only reason BMW would do this is to raise the stigma attached to a 3 series` price. Therefore being a 4 series BMW could then ask a premium over the salon model

[FamilyDub]

Dr S said:

Who cares? It would only be a pity for the M3 as this is an iconic badge.

^^ This - is it 1st April?

'M3' sounds cool, 'M4' sounds like trying to flog a car named after a motorway.



I'm aware there is an M3 motorway too, but it doesn't sound as naff as M4.

[cookie1600]

The M4 bus lane didn't last long.....

[anonymous-user]

It depends whether they want to break into the Asian market without having to rename it, because they won't sell many '4' Series in China or Japan.

[forzaminardi]

Madness.

[Ramses]

MarJay said:

Copying Audi.

Audi copied BMW years ago....

[TinyCappo]

Im sorry a front wheel drive BMW? WTF?????

[deadmau5]

TinyCappo said:

Im sorry a front wheel drive BMW? WTF?????

Most 1-series drivers think their car is FWD so why not save some money by scrapping RWD on the lower-down-the-range models? You can still have a RWD one if you want.

[Dagnut]

TinyCappo said:

Im sorry a front wheel drive BMW? WTF?????

80% of 1 series drivers when questioned thought it was already fwd or didn't know or care

[MK4 Slowride]

I was dissapointed when BMW started using F number for the cars IE: F01 for the new 7. There's an infinite number of E or engineering numbers they can still use so why change?

[VeeDub Geezer]

No issues with another certain vehicle?

[thewheelman]

This is what ze Germans do when they get bored. Don't really see the point of it.

[Ramses]

VeeDub Geezer said:

No issues with another certain vehicle?

They apparently waited until the last Rover 420 (1995) had finally rotted and been scrapped.

[Gizmo!]

Symbolica said:

It depends whether they want to break into the Asian market without having to rename it, because they won't sell many '4' Series in China or Japan.

This is an extremely good point.

That said they probably sell more 7-series (LWB, black, with red leather) than 3-series.

[cheesyblob]

Already be done. There has been an E30 Cabrio badged as a 420i (With proper BMW Font numbers and a matching XXX 420X plate) near where I live for a while now.

[va1o]

I'm sure this was rumoured back before the E92/ E92 were launched. Would make sense I guess, as long as they don't let the prices get too silly, the 6-series costs double that of a 5-series.

[JohnGoodridge]

Mermaid said:

They are making it easy for customers to distinguish, the snobs going for the even numbers that will be more highly priced.

In any event they may not have a M3 saloon so it matters not, but what about a Touring?

The new M3/M4, M5/M6 will IMO make the "old" cars so so out of date it seems notwithstanding the stunning engines.

I'm not sure they're making it easier. For instance a 335i would be more everyday than a 418si and a 550i would be less 'sporting' than a 640d. I'm not knocking the cars, I love BM's I just think the spread of ability within each classification makes the comparison a bit meaningless - unless all that's important is image and not substance.

[Pierscoe1]

first they junk the awesome 3ltr 'six' for the top of the range 1-series hatch, then...

"the future 1-series expected to go for front-wheel drive"

...sigh.


buy your cars now, before they stop making ANY decent ones.

[blearyeyedboy]

Alfa numeric said:

Doesn't this rumour reappear every time a new 3-series is imminent?

Yes. I'll believe it when I see it.

[Essex Exile]

BMW's numbering policy went West years ago. sDrive3.0si indeed!