BMW have gone too far

[DegsyE39]

Couldnt agree more OP BMW are a joke these days whether its selling broken sounding m4's or selling out the brand with fking front wheel drive MPV's , 2 series active tourer? Come again? Whats that meant to be its fking gopping..

Its a snotty toddler ferrying device for mums on the school run who think a badge on a car that still looks as gopping as a zafira gives them a bit more panache. All in recession white and on tick.

Alpina are still doing it kind of right IMHO and dont get me wrong the current gen M6 , 6 series gran coupe arent bad lookers. But still lets face it they aint a patch on the old stuff.

But being born in the 80's i grew up around mean looking e30's , E34's, wideboys in 8 series coupes, Z1's, bond in tommorow never dies in a remote control e38, Z3M coupes , Bimmer used to make nothing but mean looking subtle cars.

Now its all about chintz and chrome everywhere for the chinese market and other various methods of brand dilution.

I dont really class a lot of the newer stuff as BMW's sorry ill probably get flamed but it just my opinion.

Edited by DegsyE39 on Tuesday 5th July 03:39

[Skipraider]

DegsyE39 said:

Couldnt agree more OP BMW are a joke these days whether its selling broken sounding m4's or selling out the brand with fking front wheel drive MPV's , 2 series active tourer? Come again? Whats that meant to be its fking gopping..

Its a snotty toddler ferrying device for mums on the school run who think a badge on a car that still looks as gopping as a zafira gives them a bit more panache. All in recession white and on tick.

Alpina are still doing it kind of right IMHO and dont get me wrong the current gen M6 , 6 series gran coupe arent bad lookers. But still lets face it they aint a patch on the old stuff.

But being born in the 80's i grew up around mean looking e30's , E34's, wideboys in 8 series coupes, Z1's, bond in tommorow never dies in a remote control e38, Z3M coupes , Bimmer used to make nothing but mean looking subtle cars.

Now its all about chintz and chrome everywhere for the chinese market and other various methods of brand dilution.

I dont really class a lot of the newer stuff as BMW's sorry ill probably get flamed but it just my opinion.

Edited by DegsyE39 on Tuesday 5th July 03:39

Is that the e38 sport that had m badges on the steering wheel?

I've had 3 BMW's, an e39 530i sport, e63 650i sport and an f31 335i m sport. All of them have had an m badge on the interior (steering wheel) and they didn't bother me at all. - I really dont like the fake m badges on the boot or grill though.

If I had to have these cars in se spec, I wouldn't have bought them, a standard se looks very bland, the m sport adds a much more aggresive look.

[Ninja59]

garylythgoe said:

I don't actually see what's wrong with this?

Or this



If I was in the market for a 3-series, I'd go for exactly the M-Sport one, with the nice bits on it.

To me these look fine as well, BMW directly never advertise anything as an "M car", because it is not it is either M performance or M Sport end of the day they are just trim or additional bits from the M division.

Furthermore, a point of view that has been not taken into account is the power output of for example the white 340i above is virtually the same as an old school balls out E46 M3 (standard version). At some point I think many have considered what is going to be reasonably "sensible" without going for a full on M model (and the subsequent "M Tax"), and like the 340i when the performance is the same as a previous generation model the rate of progress is impressive and no doubt whilst "dull" the MPG will be better on the 340i.

Another potential thorn really is taking consideration of what is actually "different" in the full on M models these days? Engine wise a good proportion of them just feature altered parts of what comes from the top end standard straight 6 or V8 engine range, nothing like for example the M5 V10. So the only other bits "special" or possibly special are trim,exhausts, some suspension, brakes and wheels....

In regards to the mention of the 2 series active tourer...well all I will say is that is a true bd (whether X drive is another question??) of the BMW brand not the M Sport or M performance.

Note some bias as I am a 640D Gran Coupe M Sport in Alpine White owner (owned outright)...I do quite a few miles hence the diesel.

Edited by Ninja59 on Tuesday 5th July 07:07

Edited by Ninja59 on Tuesday 5th July 07:09

[Gazzas86]

I agree OP, I have a M135i and I think 13 M badges on my car, its a bit OTT tbh.

[Dog Star]

MikeTFSI said:

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

It's the badge thing that I think the OP is on about - my last 3 Mercs have all been "AMG packs": two SLKs and now an E class coupe (all 4 pot diesels). However apart from the body styling (that even I don't know what it is apart from the wheels) there are no displayed AMG logos at all (there are actually some small cast in ones on the wheels but they are small, you'd need to bend down and look at the wheels) except on the floor mats. I'd agree that BMW are diluting their M brand.

[theboss]

I think M badge proliferation bothered me more before I had an M5 than it does now... if anything I like the fact that M "styled" cars are so ubiquitous as the real things become less distinguishable visually.

[iphonedyou]

Ninja59 said:

Note some bias as I am a 640D Gran Coupe M Sport in Alpine White owner (owned outright)...

Why not post up a bank statement and get rid of the last of that hitherto crippling insecurity?

[IceBoy]

OK, so I consider myself as a bit of a car nut and can tell a real M-car from a m-design or whatever they call it.

However today, whilst parking at the car park to catch the train to the city........I saw an estoril blue 3 series with an m-badge on the back, big wheels.

As I was paying for the car park ticket, I got a closer look.....

this thing was very close to the real thing (looks) it even had the big blue brakes and huge discs ??!!

So does the M-look-a-likey cars also get these big brakes and calipers?

IceBoy

Really had to look hard to distinguish if it was the real thing or not!

[Audemars]

Who cares? BMW M3, M4, M5, MERC C63 and AUDI RS are just upmarket Mondeos. Most would not care less whether its a real M car or not. These cars are for transporting people rather than cars to admire or drive.

I would actually say why waste money for the higher priced M barge when it will always be a barge. Want a proper car. Buy a £2k BMW and get a Mclaren, Ferrari or Lotus for the weekend.

Edited by Audemars on Tuesday 5th July 08:57

[vtecyo]

vkcs22 said:

vtecyo said:

Exactly this. Only one tosser in that story.

Haters will hate.

And someone was asking if the C63 has gone council...

[scherzkeks]

Audemars said:

Who cares? BMW M3, M4, M5, MERC C63 and AUDI RS are just upmarket Mondeos. Most would not care less whether its a real M car or not. These cars are for transporting people rather than cars to admire or drive.

I would actually say why waste money for the higher priced M barge when it will always be a barge. Want a proper car. Buy a £2k BMW and get a Mclaren, Ferrari or Lotus for the weekend.

Edited by Audemars on Tuesday 5th July 08:57

I tend to agree. Particularly when you can get 90% of the driving experience on public roads by just buying a mid-range std. model with the M-sport/AMG kit.

[Dave Hedgehog]

vkcs22 said:

They can put as many badges and stickers on, at the end of the day it can't beat the real thing.

Drove past one of those AMG line C class (CDI something...) last time, pressed the throttle a bit and the owner looked at me.... Yes bh, that's what a real AMG C63 sounds like!

VAG group has that covered, they will stick speakers under the bonnet of their 4 pot hot hatches or speakers in the exhausts of their sports oil burners

[cerb4.5lee]

scherzkeks said:

Audemars said:

Who cares? BMW M3, M4, M5, MERC C63 and AUDI RS are just upmarket Mondeos. Most would not care less whether its a real M car or not. These cars are for transporting people rather than cars to admire or drive.

I would actually say why waste money for the higher priced M barge when it will always be a barge. Want a proper car. Buy a £2k BMW and get a Mclaren, Ferrari or Lotus for the weekend.

Edited by Audemars on Tuesday 5th July 08:57

I tend to agree. Particularly when you can get 90% of the driving experience on public roads by just buying a mid-range std. model with the M-sport/AMG kit.

Also agree with this, BMW's are lovely cars don't get me wrong but exciting drivers cars they are not because they're luxury cruisers primarily, you need to look at other manufacturers for proper fun/driving involvement as mentioned.

[ghibbett]

Triumph Man said:

I think someone mentioned it above, but with all the bodykits and badges and big wheels flying around, at least the really high performance stuff will look a bit more inconspicuous. They may even become sleepers. Relatively.

This is my plan for the next car. A sleeper is exactly what I wanted, hence it being specified in rep-tastic silver with all the badges ('M' and '340i') deleted. And it's an estate for added grandad-ness.

[vz-r_dave]

My 97 E36 328i has M badges and the M sport kit, BMW have been doing this for a very long time so not sure why now all of sudden they have gone too far.

That being said I do think the M models are very diluted compared to what they used to be.

[vz-r_dave]

ghibbett said:

Triumph Man said:

I think someone mentioned it above, but with all the bodykits and badges and big wheels flying around, at least the really high performance stuff will look a bit more inconspicuous. They may even become sleepers. Relatively.

This is my plan for the next car. A sleeper is exactly what I wanted, hence it being specified in rep-tastic silver with all the badges ('M' and '340i') deleted. And it's an estate for added grandad-ness.

Removing the badges is hardly making a car a sleeper, anyone can look at your car and see that it is no 320d or did you also spec 320 running gear, wheels (skinny tyres) and body kit as well?

Edited by vz-r_dave on Tuesday 5th July 09:40

[scherzkeks]

Dave Hedgehog said:

VAG group has that covered, they will stick speakers under the bonnet of their 4 pot hot hatches or speakers in the exhausts of their sports oil burners

An M5 will do it for you, too.

[anonymous-user]

Audemars said:

Who cares? BMW M3, M4, M5, MERC C63 and AUDI RS are just upmarket Mondeos. Most would not care less whether its a real M car or not. These cars are for transporting people rather than cars to admire or drive.

I would actually say why waste money for the higher priced M barge when it will always be a barge. Want a proper car. Buy a £2k BMW and get a Mclaren, Ferrari or Lotus for the weekend.

We are talking about a £30K investment, maybe PCP, maybe not. How would this extend to a Mclaren or Ferrari for the weekend Sir? Obviously if you wish to sell me one of your fleet for that sort of money I am all ears? Actually, if you want a 'proper car' you'd need a lightweight, not something like a Mclaren...most of which are used for cruising around inner cities

The only people who say that their car offers 90% of the experience of the relative AMG/M/RS are the same people who have never owned one, or anything half decent. I have no problem in anyone liking some AMG floor mats, perhaps a matching tie pin as they allow car companies to continue building the cars which people want to drive. These are 'normal' cars with more power and better suspension, not stripped out compromised track refugees. What do you expect, a large comfortable saloon car with the dynamics of a Dino and running costs of a Kia Cee'd?

[silent ninja]

Audemars said:

Who cares? BMW M3, M4, M5, MERC C63 and AUDI RS are just upmarket Mondeos. Most would not care less whether its a real M car or not. These cars are for transporting people rather than cars to admire or drive.

I would actually say why waste money for the higher priced M barge when it will always be a barge. Want a proper car. Buy a £2k BMW and get a Mclaren, Ferrari or Lotus for the weekend.

Edited by Audemars on Tuesday 5th July 08:57

What a tool

[scherzkeks]

cerb4.5lee said:

scherzkeks said:

Audemars said:

Who cares? BMW M3, M4, M5, MERC C63 and AUDI RS are just upmarket Mondeos. Most would not care less whether its a real M car or not. These cars are for transporting people rather than cars to admire or drive.

I would actually say why waste money for the higher priced M barge when it will always be a barge. Want a proper car. Buy a £2k BMW and get a Mclaren, Ferrari or Lotus for the weekend.

Edited by Audemars on Tuesday 5th July 08:57

I tend to agree. Particularly when you can get 90% of the driving experience on public roads by just buying a mid-range std. model with the M-sport/AMG kit.

Also agree with this, BMW's are lovely cars don't get me wrong but exciting drivers cars they are not because they're luxury cruisers primarily, you need to look at other manufacturers for proper fun/driving involvement as mentioned.

Yes, same reason I sold my S4. Quite a nice car, but too big and heavy to offer anything near sports car thrills, and nowhere to use the power -- outside of the ever-shrinking stretches of unlimited Autobahn. Can't even imagine how silly a fat mega-powered saloon/estate would be in the UK.