An expanded refuge for those exiled from bm3w.co.uk

[markxw]

Just thinking that if i cant use bm3w any more from the end of this month, next best thing wd be PH for me. Worth expanding the sections available to entice those exiled from bm3w over? I know lots already use both sites.

I'm thinking M3, M5/6, CSL, Z, general bmw, classic maybe. I'll miss loitering in the CSL section over there...

[PetrolTed]

Very happy to give it a go.

Would the sub-forums you describe be the ones to start with?

Any other takers?

[markxw]

Just my suggestion. Have a look at bm3w. It's a different style and with more splits given its a bmw pure site, but i thought more than current but less than bm3w might fit in better with what you've done in the lotus, porker and tvr sections...

worth a try anyway, guess you could always change it after. seems most csl owners were prev 911 owners who like me couldnt afford a gt3, and there are plenty who move from lotus or tvr into m3s and vice versa. have a word with some of the other guys who i think use both sites. Dont know any in person (yet - sadly) but dazren i think, jarrod, DasChin, carrera2, zod, chillo, and a bunch of others

[neil_cardiff]

markxw said:

I'm thinking M3, M5/6, CSL, Z, general bmw, classic maybe. I'll miss loitering in the CSL section over there...

I wouldn't want to see General BMW, as I feel that although I haven't a M car, I do feel that I'm 'part' of the clan as it were.

Additionally, by segregating out non M cars to another thread, you'll end up with people with 325's or 525's not wanting to ask questions in which could quite easily be answered by those M car owners who usually have had experience.

I think 3 series, 5 series, etc should be the way forward if at all.

Personally, I don't think it needs splitting up - its great to read about all the different types and problems, and if it were split up, I think I wouldn't bother dipping into the X series forum, for instance.

You may end up losing more information that gaining - there are several on there who answer the questions for everyone, and perhaps may not if segregated.

Additionally, if we do this for BMW, then Porsche will want it, and then Audi/VW etc...

[markxw]

All good points mate. Mind you, porsche had it and gave up on it, but then basically you've got front engines, few of whom seem to post, boxsters, likewise, and all the diff iterations of 911 who have a lot in common across the ranges. Seems to work better for TVR, Lotus though...

Surely more likely to be used if you can easily delve down to a niche? That's got to be part of the success of bm3w... The concentration of info on CSL in particular was immense. Any qn answered, majority of UK owners members of the board. Will/would be so sad to lose that.

[neil_cardiff]

markxw said:

All good points mate. Mind you, porsche had it and gave up on it, but then basically you've got front engines, few of whom seem to post, boxsters, likewise, and all the diff iterations of 911 who have a lot in common across the ranges. Seems to work better for TVR, Lotus though...

Surely more likely to be used if you can easily delve down to a niche? That's got to be part of the success of bm3w... The concentration of info on CSL in particular was immense. Any qn answered, majority of UK owners members of the board. Will/would be so sad to lose that.

I agree with your sentiments, and wouldn't want to lose that - but surely that could continue within the BMW forum as is?

I'd welcome more input (and more of you lot to convince me that buying an M3 really IS a good idea) however, I wouldn't want to forget about everyone else.

I enjoy reading Derins posts about his earlier bog standard concours car project he has for example...

[Carrera2]

I think it's a good idea.

There's a wealth of knowledge at bm3w that'll go to waste or get diluted in a general BMW room.

[neil_cardiff]

Carrera2 said:

I think it's a good idea.

There's a wealth of knowledge at bm3w that'll go to waste or get diluted in a general BMW room.

Outside you.

[PetrolTed]

Carrera2 said:

I think it's a good idea.

There's a wealth of knowledge at bm3w that'll go to waste or get diluted in a general BMW room.

Always a bit of a balance though as empty forums also don't flourish.

If I just created an M Power forum to start with, would that sort the wheat from the chaff? We could then subdivide further if it gained momentum.

[neil_cardiff]

PetrolTed said:

Carrera2 said:

I think it's a good idea.

There's a wealth of knowledge at bm3w that'll go to waste or get diluted in a general BMW room.

Always a bit of a balance though as empty forums also don't flourish.

If I just created an M Power forum to start with, would that sort the wheat from the chaff? We could then subdivide further if it gained momentum.

*grumble* s'pose so. They'll only laugh at me though...

[Carrera2]

PetrolTed said:

Carrera2 said:

I think it's a good idea.

There's a wealth of knowledge at bm3w that'll go to waste or get diluted in a general BMW room.

Always a bit of a balance though as empty forums also don't flourish.

If I just created an M Power forum to start with, would that sort the wheat from the chaff? We could then subdivide further if it gained momentum.

Sounds good. The CSL forum at BM3W was never the busiest place - I'm guessing about 40 posts a day - but it was the only CSL specific place to go and therefore was excellent - I'm guessing the other M rooms were considerably busier too....

Cheers.

[Carrera2]

neil_cardiff said:

PetrolTed said:

Carrera2 said:

I think it's a good idea.

There's a wealth of knowledge at bm3w that'll go to waste or get diluted in a general BMW room.

Always a bit of a balance though as empty forums also don't flourish.

If I just created an M Power forum to start with, would that sort the wheat from the chaff? We could then subdivide further if it gained momentum.

*grumble* s'pose so. They'll only laugh at me though...

[dazren]

Firstly I'm gutted this has happened over at bm3w.co.uk . If the site can't be continued by someone else, perhaps with another name to keep BMW "quiet" then lets try and offer some sort of refuge over here.

Although at the moment we just have a BMW forum. Splitting it into two sections of M Power and Standard BMWs wouldn't quite be enough. I'm minded there are a lot of very high posting CSL owners with a lot of knowledge specific to that model. Accordingly what about trying a three way split to start with:


BMW standard
BMW M Power
BMW CSL

Edited by dazren on Tuesday 19th December 12:01

[markxw]

yeah baby! sounds good to me...

[d1bble]

excellent idea.

I'd like to see the BMW section concertina'd out.
The guys at BM3W are a superb bunch and although it'll take time; im sure all that wealth of knowledge can be brought to PH.

Edited by d1bble on Tuesday 19th December 22:29

[PetrolTed]

Done

[dazren]

Thanks Ted. I've taken the liberty of moving a few extra threads over to the relevent forums.

DAZ

[CatherineJ]

Ted,

Have posted under the BMW General, but thought I would post here too just in case this is the one you look into more often.

When I use the the whats new in the last xx hours, the BMW General appears to be duplicating.