BMW have gone too far

[nunpuncher]

All the manufacturers are at it to some extent. Dilution of their top level performance brand. But I'm afraid BMW have just taken it too far with the amount of m performance tat they will now happily plaster all over any model.

Yes, the M Sport model designation has been around for years but until the very last e9x models it was just some non badged styling kit unless some tt added their own ///M badge. Now it seems you can't drive 3 yards without encountering the ubiquitous white or estoril 3er with black grills, splitters, lip spoilers, wing M badges and those fking awful big sill stickers announcing "m performance" which ironically is always accompanied by the unmistakable clatter of a 4pot diesel.

It's just too much BMW. You have killed the brand. It may have won some sales but it's really put me off BMWs

[surveyor]

I think they will survive withoit you.

Besides which they've all done it....

[MikeTFSI]

Audi S-line? Mercedes-Benz AMG? VW R line? Ford ST-line? I could go on. All the same.

I have actually just bought a 335i M Sport (admittedly an E90). No excessive badging on the outside, maybe one or two inside but noting too much.

Edited by MikeTFSI on Monday 4th July 07:33

[shake n bake]

nunpuncher said:

It's just too much BMW. You have killed the brand. It may have won some sales but it's really put me off BMWs

But bought millions of other sales for people that like stick on bits on their cars, I guess it's what the market wants. There's always some clown that says 'I've got the m performance pack' ask what it is and they don't know! Usually a leather steering wheel and gear knob, but hey it's a m sport

[Dave Hedgehog]

surveyor said:

Besides which they've all done it....

Merc are as bad as BMW with AMG splashed on just about everything but at least Audi try to separate their performance marks with

RS
S
S-Line

and they have kept RS pretty exclusive with maybe the exception of the Q3RS, although with the ever deteriorating roads in the london and millions of sleeping policeman thats starting to make more sense then the RS3

[f1nn]

I don't really see the issue.

If you want an M3/RS4 or similar buy one. If people want to buy a diesel 3 series/A4 or whatever with a nod to "sportiness" whatever that may be, then good luck to them.

I can't see that adding the what is to my eyes at least, terrible M performance logo, detracts from an M2/M3/M4/M5.

If people didn't want them, BMW and other manufacturers wouldn't make them.

[GroundEffect]

It sells cars. They'd be mad to not do it, really. And they can sell the silly 'M Performance' addons at silly cost too.

People want the looks but can't afford the running costs of a big engine. It's nothing new.

I can sit smugly at the lights with my V8 burbling away

[Vitorio]

f1nn said:

I don't really see the issue.

If you want an M3/RS4 or similar buy one. If people want to buy a diesel 3 series/A4 or whatever with a nod to "sportiness" whatever that may be, then good luck to them.

I can't see that adding the what is to my eyes at least, terrible M performance logo, detracts from an M2/M3/M4/M5.

If people didn't want them, BMW and other manufacturers wouldn't make them.

The irony here is that OP cares just as much about having something special as the guy buying a 116i with a shedload of M-badges.

If he cared about how well an M2/M3 drives etc. primarily, he wouldnt give a fk about all those derv repmobiles with the same sticker, he'd know he has the real deal. But no..

Personally i quite enjoy sporty looking cars, was considering a Clio TCe 90 GT-line (basically the RS bumpers/skirts and special wheels) earlier in the year. Sure i'd prefer an actual RS, but that wasnt in the cards.

[roystinho]

Is it only me that thinks the m performance pack actually looks quite tidy?

[talksthetorque]

Dispicable behaviour.
It makes me so angry just diluting the brand - I can see my proper, full fat, M from where I'm sat.
If I look past my 2.0 diesel with 'Formula Racing" derived badge, flat bottomed steering wheel and red seat stitching on it.

[Monkeylegend]

Don't walk into a Mercedes showroom then OP if you don't like tat. I agree with you on this one but unfortunately it's not exclusive to BMW.

[Pesty]

roystinho said:

Is it only me that thinks the m performance pack actually looks quite tidy?

No.

What's wrong with wanting a nice looking car. Not everybody can afford to buy m4s but still want to have something nice looking on their drive. I've not even got a problem with Eco boost mustangs. Each to their own who fking cares.

Some strange people around

[iphonedyou]

GroundEffect said:

I can sit smugly at the lights with my V8 burbling away

Telling your internet pals you've a bigger engine than the rest of the traffic jam.

Is smugness always misplaced?

[anonymous-user]

Don't you get it OP?

Remember the days when an M5 looked pretty much like an SE model but with slightly bigger wheels and a subtle bodykit - you know, the ones where you would have to do a double take to see if it was an actual M-car?

Well, that's what's happening now. M-cars have got showy but 'SE' trim has now been replaced by 'M-Sport' or package or lite, or whatever it's called today, and now you have to squint to make sure that M-Sport is actually a full M-car. They've become understated again, well in an ironic way at least...

[Shakermaker]

Estoril blue is currently the "default" colour when you go to spec up a new BMW, as I was doing a couple of weeks ago on the company car configurator site.

[Mr2Mike]

MikeTFSI said:

Audi S-line? Mercedes-Benz AMG? VW R line? Ford ST-line? I could go on. All the same.

I thought all the Fords with an ST model designation were higher performance variants? Is this not the case?

[s m]

Kierkegaard said:

Don't you get it OP?

Remember the days when an M5 looked pretty much like an SE model but with slightly bigger wheels and a subtle bodykit - you know, the ones where you would have to do a double take to see if it was an actual M-car?

Well, that's what's happening now. M-cars have got showy but 'SE' trim has now been replaced by 'M-Sport' or package or lite, or whatever it's called today, and now you have to squint to make sure that M-Sport is actually a full M-car. They've become understated again, well in an ironic way at least...

Back in about 1985 you could buy the E28 M5 without the bodywork addenda that the lower powered M535i came with.....to the extent that people thought the M535i was the really fast one

[Nors]

s m said:

Kierkegaard said:

Don't you get it OP?

Remember the days when an M5 looked pretty much like an SE model but with slightly bigger wheels and a subtle bodykit - you know, the ones where you would have to do a double take to see if it was an actual M-car?

Well, that's what's happening now. M-cars have got showy but 'SE' trim has now been replaced by 'M-Sport' or package or lite, or whatever it's called today, and now you have to squint to make sure that M-Sport is actually a full M-car. They've become understated again, well in an ironic way at least...

Back in about 1985 you could buy the E28 M5 without the bodywork addenda that the lower powered M535i came with.....to the extent that people thought the M535i was the really fast one

Remember that. M5 looked more like a 528i with wider tyres. Real sleeper!

[silent ninja]

But the M Sport looks a hell of a lot better than the standard kit. If you look at the typical 3 series the difference is HUGE and looks how a BMW 'should' look. It's been proved in such a way that if you want the awesome M steering wheel, seats and alloys - who wouldn't - you'd have to opt for the M Sport

The 20d engine for all intents and purposes is a rather good middle of the road performer. It's a family car with good handling and steering, ability to carry loads and has good pick up for motorway driving and overtaking. You can absolutely see why people buy it.

[mahoone]

Mr2Mike said:

I thought all the Fords with an ST model designation were higher performance variants? Is this not the case?

I've seen one on auto trader. Looks like a Zetec S so what's the point of 'st line'