RE: BMW's M diesels: the official details
Discussion
toppstuff said:
Dear BMW.
Why oh why oh why oh why won't you offer 4WD MODELS FOR THE UK MARKET, dammit !!!
Bwahahahah!Why oh why oh why oh why won't you offer 4WD MODELS FOR THE UK MARKET, dammit !!!
PH analysis of the situation is spot on. UK BMW fanbois are so hung up on the 'rear wheel driveness' of their (literally and figuratively) cars.
BMW have inadvertently let the cat out of the bag. Their perceived 'brand image' in the UK is an artificially cultivated one, and now this is creating problems for launching new models in this market that don't 'fit' (this 550d thing and the next generation of 1 series with FWD).
Oh no it isn't going to be offered in UK boo hoo. Who f
king cares? If you had the kind of money to afford an M550d, you wouldn't buy a diesel. If you would then you are a complete a-hole. If prospective buyers are looking for someone to blame, then instead of BMW they should focus on the tossers enthusiasts who bang on about RWD to a degree where the mfr see the UK as a such RWD-focused market - which it isn't as like many other posters have said, Audi do just fine with Quattro products in UK.
king cares? If you had the kind of money to afford an M550d, you wouldn't buy a diesel. If you would then you are a complete a-hole. If prospective buyers are looking for someone to blame, then instead of BMW they should focus on the kambites said:
People like you are quite unusual, in the grand scheme of things - I doubt they make up more than 1% of the driving population. Admittedly that's still a significant market, but it's still a fairly small one.
I'm sure BMW have put a fair amount of thought into whether it's commercially viable to convert the 4WD saloons to RHD, so presumably it's not.
But it does'nt makes sense that Audi can successfully carve out a thriving market for themselves in the UK, unchallenged by probably their biggest rival. I'm sure BMW have put a fair amount of thought into whether it's commercially viable to convert the 4WD saloons to RHD, so presumably it's not.
It is typical of BMW in the UK market however, where for some reason there always seems to be elements of the proposition that is not tailored for UK buyers.
One example that irked me for years was the fact that 5 series BMW's in RHD still have the wipers set up for LHD. It is simply because BMW cannot be arsed to tool up and serve the UK customer properly and they know they can get away with it because people will buy them anyway.
BMW !! Listen - it is bloody annoying. Pay the (huge) UK market the respect it deserves and tool your cars up properly to suit RHD.
Idiots. Makes me mad I tell you.
Next time you see a 5 series -check out the wipers. They sweep the wrong way and leave a blind spot in the corner for the driver. You would kind of expect that if it was a TATA Nano, but this is BMW. They are meant to be a pinnacle of engineering.
This "that will do, it is only the UK and they will buy them anyway attitude" is not good enough. It is a bad show.
toppstuff said:
But it does'nt makes sense that Audi can successfully carve out a thriving market for themselves in the UK, unchallenged by probably their biggest rival.
Doesn't it? Maybe with two competitors in the market neither of them would be able to make money from it and they'd both have to stop? It clearly is partly marketing though - BMW have always made a thing out of RWD and their "perfect 50/50 weight distribution" rubbish, and Audi out of Quattro.
How does BMW's 4wd system work? Is the centre diff on the back of the gearbox casing with the engine slung out in front of the front axle, or to they have some clever front-mounted diff or even two prop-shafts? Is it possible that it's significantly more difficult for BMW to do it?
Geoff Ashcroft said:
Lost soul said:
And you have got a serious chip on you're shoulder , we are not getting it because of re engineering costs
No chip at all, its my opinion. Love the tech, having had a fettled 535D Touring, there was little to touch it. Its great stuff, but its too impressive and too close to the flagship M5.. And you're not telling me the M5 is cheap to engineer in RHD....Lost soul said:
toppstuff said:
Next time you see a 5 series -check out the wipers. They sweep the wrong way and leave a blind spot in the corner for the driver.
I have a 5 and have never even noticed this , so it can hardly be a problem hence BMW do not need to address it as such 
Lost soul said:
I have a 5 and have never even noticed this , so it can hardly be a problem hence BMW do not need to address it as such
It is a potential deal breaker for me now in terms of getting another 5 series - I hate it that much.It is also very cynical of BMW.
When the car is dirty there is a larger blind spot. Any engineer would look at it and frown. It is not optimal. It should not be like that.
BMW only leave it because they can get away with it. And the bean counters save a little money, while the designers do not have to work so hard to optimise a solution.
Any engineer would hate the compromise.
It bugs the hell out of me. Maybe I'm becoming Ron Dennis...
toppstuff said:
Lost soul said:
I have a 5 and have never even noticed this , so it can hardly be a problem hence BMW do not need to address it as such
It is a potential deal breaker for me now in terms of getting another 5 series - I hate it that much.It is also very cynical of BMW.
When the car is dirty there is a larger blind spot.
side of the road, hazards On with blown Auto G-box and Turbos 
BMW Warranty void 
Mermaid said:
1000kgs, up to 200ps, petrol engine that revs to 7000, 2+ 2, sensible sized wheels/tyres, 6 speed manual, LSD, RWD. That will do me nicely.
Toyota GT-86/BRZ!! I also agree that BMW should bring over it's x drive system for the 3/5 Series... they have done in the past I believe? Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff