So what is the entitlement to an M badge
Discussion
Paul S4 said:
I have an E36 318iS, and the factory spec sheet lists a few 'M Sport' options; ie M sport package, M Sport Suspension, M steering wheel.
It also has the small M badges on the side rub strips; however, personally I would rather it did not..in fact I changed the OEM spoiler bootlid for a standard one.
I would much rather that the car looks more understated.
Mechanically it has a few subtle upgrades like a remap and a Milltek exhaust
The expression Q-car comes to mind.
Now a Q car is something completely different again.It also has the small M badges on the side rub strips; however, personally I would rather it did not..in fact I changed the OEM spoiler bootlid for a standard one.
I would much rather that the car looks more understated.
Mechanically it has a few subtle upgrades like a remap and a Milltek exhaust
The expression Q-car comes to mind.
Assuming we ignore the fact that DVLA hand out Q plates to many "kit or home assembled" cars, Aston Martin actually offer "Q" spec cars, that are bespoke vehicles and modifications from standard spec offerings in homage to 007's gadgets from "Q" branch from the James Bond movies.
8Tech said:
Paul S4 said:
I have an E36 318iS, and the factory spec sheet lists a few 'M Sport' options; ie M sport package, M Sport Suspension, M steering wheel.
It also has the small M badges on the side rub strips; however, personally I would rather it did not..in fact I changed the OEM spoiler bootlid for a standard one.
I would much rather that the car looks more understated.
Mechanically it has a few subtle upgrades like a remap and a Milltek exhaust
The expression Q-car comes to mind.
Now a Q car is something completely different again.It also has the small M badges on the side rub strips; however, personally I would rather it did not..in fact I changed the OEM spoiler bootlid for a standard one.
I would much rather that the car looks more understated.
Mechanically it has a few subtle upgrades like a remap and a Milltek exhaust
The expression Q-car comes to mind.
Assuming we ignore the fact that DVLA hand out Q plates to many "kit or home assembled" cars, Aston Martin actually offer "Q" spec cars, that are bespoke vehicles and modifications from standard spec offerings in homage to 007's gadgets from "Q" branch from the James Bond movies.
The Q-car takes its name from the Q-ships in the First World War AFAIK, which were heavily-armed attack boats designed to look more like merchant boats. The idea being they would act as a lure for enemy subs and smaller gunships, who wouldn't realise until the last minute that they were in a trap. My understanding is the 'Q' stands for quiet, but could be wrong on that
Anyway, childish as it may sound, the Q-car is an immense source of pleasure for me (de-badged E34 3.8 M5). There seem to be a near-infinite number of 520d & E200CDi drivers out there with a very aggressive and dismissive driving style
SidewaysSi said:
Not this same old s
t again. M don't produce the sorts of cars I want anymore. Why anyone aspires to such a brand is beyond me.
With respect you don't appear to have had any M cars in your history......how on earth can you not want something you've never had?t again. M don't produce the sorts of cars I want anymore. Why anyone aspires to such a brand is beyond me.As it happens I love my M car, best car I've ever owned by a long, long way
I had a long line of BMW,including M cars. Among them was en E39 M5 and an E63 M6.
I always felt that they were unique because they had a separate engine line not available in the regular cars. As BMW broadened its range and moved away from the truly separate M cars, I abandoned the brand. I had them from 1986 to my last new purchase of the E63 in 2006. There were some great cars, and I assume they are still massively quick, but no longer for me.
I always felt that they were unique because they had a separate engine line not available in the regular cars. As BMW broadened its range and moved away from the truly separate M cars, I abandoned the brand. I had them from 1986 to my last new purchase of the E63 in 2006. There were some great cars, and I assume they are still massively quick, but no longer for me.
I think it is up to BMW - my 325ti Sport Compact has M badge on each wheel, the steering wheel, gear knob and door opening sill trim but it is a Sport not an M-Sport!
My Z4C has an M-badge on each wheel, the gear knob, the steering wheel and the sill trims too.
However both are designated as "Sport" models rather than M-Sport which are mostly diseasels, so it seems like BMW know how to devalue the brand as effectively as white AMG C/E Class 220Cdi dross or white Corsa VXR Nurburgring 1.2s/. Maybe other manufacturers are missing something??
My Z4C has an M-badge on each wheel, the gear knob, the steering wheel and the sill trims too.
However both are designated as "Sport" models rather than M-Sport which are mostly diseasels, so it seems like BMW know how to devalue the brand as effectively as white AMG C/E Class 220Cdi dross or white Corsa VXR Nurburgring 1.2s/. Maybe other manufacturers are missing something??
8Tech said:
And to put a fly in everyones ointment, how about the E31 850CSi, a car with a unique engine, badged "M" Power by the factory, with a proper "M" chassis (full floating brakes from the M5, rear wheel steering, Bilstein struts, special coil springs, "M" mirrors and bodykit (also fitted to later Sports), body bracing and recalibrated, faster steering) but never externally badged as an "M" car because BMW were planning an M8 that never materialised.
8Tech
I wonder why BMW missed the "M" out off the Z8.? It has the E39 M 5 engine and faster.!8Tech
M Sport is largely a UK phenomenon. The rest of the world don't seem to care but over here we seem to like bigger wheels with stiffer suspension and complain about the ride and a body kit. People have this notion that rock hard suspension makes the car handle better and feeling every bump in the road means the steering is more communicative. Drive a Lotus and you'll see how far wide that is from the truth. But its become such a cliché that you almost have to have the m sport version otherwise people think you're on your way to pick up your pension.
There are some classics in the BMW line up as other have pointed out that could have warranted the badge. I suspect they came from a time when it was used correctly and those cars were more grand tourers than performance variants even though they carried the performance.
M3/M4 sales have declined over the years as a combination of improving performance of base models and the devaluation of the brand. A 335i is half the price to buy, service, insure, tax etc and delivers plenty of grunt with 5s to 60. E46 days and before you needed an M car to be near 5s as the regular cars were nearer 7s.
There are some classics in the BMW line up as other have pointed out that could have warranted the badge. I suspect they came from a time when it was used correctly and those cars were more grand tourers than performance variants even though they carried the performance.
M3/M4 sales have declined over the years as a combination of improving performance of base models and the devaluation of the brand. A 335i is half the price to buy, service, insure, tax etc and delivers plenty of grunt with 5s to 60. E46 days and before you needed an M car to be near 5s as the regular cars were nearer 7s.
JonV8V said:
M Sport is largely a UK phenomenon. The rest of the world don't seem to care but over here we seem to like bigger wheels with stiffer suspension and complain about the ride and a body kit. People have this notion that rock hard suspension makes the car handle better and feeling every bump in the road means the steering is more communicative. Drive a Lotus and you'll see how far wide that is from the truth. But its become such a cliché that you almost have to have the m sport version otherwise people think you're on your way to pick up your pension.
There are some classics in the BMW line up as other have pointed out that could have warranted the badge. I suspect they came from a time when it was used correctly and those cars were more grand tourers than performance variants even though they carried the performance.
M3/M4 sales have declined over the years as a combination of improving performance of base models and the devaluation of the brand. A 335i is half the price to buy, service, insure, tax etc and delivers plenty of grunt with 5s to 60. E46 days and before you needed an M car to be near 5s as the regular cars were nearer 7s.
SE suspension is horrendous. M Sport adaptive suspension is absolutely essential on a current 3er unless you like piloting a boat down the road There are some classics in the BMW line up as other have pointed out that could have warranted the badge. I suspect they came from a time when it was used correctly and those cars were more grand tourers than performance variants even though they carried the performance.
M3/M4 sales have declined over the years as a combination of improving performance of base models and the devaluation of the brand. A 335i is half the price to buy, service, insure, tax etc and delivers plenty of grunt with 5s to 60. E46 days and before you needed an M car to be near 5s as the regular cars were nearer 7s.
I recently bought an old E91 318. It is the Msport version so has M all over the wheels and interior trim, but the previous owner had put on M badges on both the front grill and back which looked terrible.
I had a debadging hour over the weekend and got rid of them - looks a lot better!
I had a debadging hour over the weekend and got rid of them - looks a lot better!
meduk1 said:
I recently bought an old E91 318. It is the Msport version so has M all over the wheels and interior trim, but the previous owner had put on M badges on both the front grill and back which looked terrible.
I had a debadging hour over the weekend and got rid of them - looks a lot better!
I had a debadging hour over the weekend and got rid of them - looks a lot better!
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