BMW Badge Query

[tulloch]

I took one of the company cars for a short drive today at lunchtime. It's a 3 series BMW 2 litre diesel manual, 13 plate. On getting in I noticed to my complete surprise "M" badges on both the gear knob and steering wheel although there is no badge on the rear of the car. Now the chap whose car is was has left the company but everyone is sure that he would not have been given an M series car.

How can we check exactly what this car is and if it is not an "M" car, which is a near certainty, can anyone explain the badges?

Thanks in advance.

[Eighteeteewhy]

M sport?

[CB2152]

DVLA vehicle enquiry with the reg no. and make, or (oddly) Halfords website in the "which bulbs fit my car" section has a reg no. Finder which tends to be quite good. Could it be something like a 320/325d M-Sport?

[Gruber]

It'll be the M3 diesel version. I'm surprised you couldn't tell from the power delivery and engine note...

It's a proper sports car that! Go carefully!

[Codswallop]

Eighteeteewhy said:

M sport?

Yup, M sport is a trim level these days. Has nothing to do with a proper M division car. Essentially, ever flat surface is covered in M badges, and you pay £3k more for this privilege than you would for a more comfortable SE model.

[jimbop1]

Oh dear! I can predict the way this thread will go.

[Leins]

Gruber said:

It'll be the M3 diesel version. I'm surprised you couldn't tell from the power delivery and engine note...

It's a proper sports car that! Go carefully!

But sounds like it's the very stealthy debadged M3d, so anyone following will be unaware of all that torque. Don't see too many of them about

[fjord]

Codswallop said:

Yup, M sport is a trim level these days. Has nothing to do with a proper M division car. Essentially, ever flat surface is covered in M badges, and you pay £3k more for this privilege than you would for a more comfortable SE model.

Except the SE with its larger ride height and softer suspension will be st in the bends.

[Offendotron5000]

fjord said:

Except the SE with its larger ride height and softer suspension will be st in the bends.

On a track maybe, commuting not so much.

[Rick101]

Def sounds like an M3D. It has the special M gearbox you say?

Bet it went some!

[fjord]

Offendotron5000 said:

On a track maybe, commuting not so much.

What if you commute like you're on a track?

[aspirated]

I've heard that every M badge adds an extra 20bhp...

[aspirated]

I've heard that every M badge adds an extra 20bhp...

[RicksAlfas]

I'm not sure why the OP is so surprised. You could buy M branded options for as long as I can remember - certainly on E30s and E28s. My Dad had an M striped steering wheel on his 525i in 1988, but it didn't make him or anyone else think it was an M5!

[RicksAlfas]

fjord said:

Except the SE with its larger ride height and softer suspension will be st in the bends.

You should try one. The slight extra bit of body roll is more than compensated by the suppleness over bumps. You will find an SE will flow much better over the lanes without the hop skip and jump you can get from the M Sport models, especially on their much bigger wheels and tyres. ED models run a lowered SE setup without run flats and they work very well on broken back roads. It's probably the best everyday (non track use) setup they do for the UK. The main advantage of the M Sport trim is the standard sport seats which are a £400 option on the SE.

[Gaffer]

My Z3 has the M-spec and it's really fast.

And has secret seating as my insurance has it down as a 4+1

Beware of the M-badges, it could lead to Narnia

Claire

[bennyboysvuk]

RicksAlfas said:

fjord said:

Except the SE with its larger ride height and softer suspension will be st in the bends.

You should try one. The slight extra bit of body roll is more than compensated by the suppleness over bumps. You will find an SE will flow much better over the lanes without the hop skip and jump you can get from the M Sport models, especially on their much bigger wheels and tyres. ED models run a lowered SE setup without run flats and they work very well on broken back roads. It's probably the best everyday (non track use) setup they do for the UK. The main advantage of the M Sport trim is the standard sport seats which are a £400 option on the SE.

I find the Sports generally much better once you start pushing the edge of grip, however I'm finding that they're distinctly flawed compared to proper Ms.

[tulloch]

Thank you gentlemen. Halfords, not DVLA provided the answer.
"BMW 3 SERIES 320D M SPORT 1995cc DIESEL, 4 Door SALOON"

[Betty Cumberdale]

Oh dear.

[V8 Bob]

Had an "M Sport" 320d Tourer back in 2003 - was cheaper to lease than speccing up a se as the residual value was much higher - great sports seats and 18" wheels and lots of "M" badges LOL