M cars v M sport

[3ftandclean]

Sorry if this has been covered before, just wondering what others think about the M sport range by BMW. I've had an E39 M5 in the past and an e46 M3 CS but now drive a 135i which has M badges on the steering wheel and sill covers. I'm a bit embarrassed by these as I don't consider it a proper M car. Surely it's just a marketing ploy by BMW?

[juliann]

Don't be too embarrased. You have a car that is closer in spirit to true M cars than many of the more recent additions.

Now I am embarrased with my nigh on 2 tonne diesel estate with M emblems on the wheel & sills

[juliann]

I take it all back - just checked the weight of the 135i. How on earth do they manage to make such a car weigh so much !!!

[3ftandclean]

Fair point! I think it must be the weight of all the M badges.

Edited by 3ftandclean on Thursday 30th July 13:51

[Pulse]

juliann said:

I take it all back - just checked the weight of the 135i. How on earth do they manage to make such a car weigh so much !!!

Have a look at the weight of the Z4 that I've got - It's over 1300kgs!

[DaveR]

Pulse said:

Have a look at the weight of the Z4 that I've got - It's over 1300kgs!

1300Kg is pretty anorexic by current bimmer standards though. Even Elises are creeping up to the 900Kg mark these days.

[carl_w]

Pulse said:

Have a look at the weight of the Z4 that I've got - It's over 1300kgs!

I think mine is 1495 kg, as it's got the iron block S54 engine rather than the all-ally N-something engine (N30?)

[a11y_m]

In the whole scheme of things the Z4/Z4C aren't actually that heavy!

My previous car was a Seat Ibiza diesel and weighed around 1240kg. IIRC my pre-facelift 3.0i (i.e. older engined) Z4 is around 1350kgs and is a good bit bigger than an Ibiza! Is the Coupe heavier than the Roadster?

Oh, and if you've got a Coupe then it'll be the new engine? 265ps? I didn;t think they did the old (231ps) engine in the Coupe?

[aeropilot]

juliann said:

I take it all back - just checked the weight of the 135i. How on earth do they manage to make such a car weigh so much !!!

The same way that all manufacturers are making cars heavier and heavier.

A 135i is some 70 odd kg's heavier than a first gen E28 M5...!!

But then, a current E60 M5 is now not far off being 400kg heavier than a first gen E28 M5!!

And a current E92 M3 at 1650 odd kg's is a whopping 450kg's heavier than a first gen E30 M3.

It would be nice though if BMW had been able to use a few more exotic materials in a 135i to keep it around the 1400-1450kg mark, but that would have made it more expensive and even more people would be saying you paid 'how much' for a 1 series .....

Edited by aeropilot on Friday 31st July 11:49

[FesterNath]

The weight issues is a fair point. But I would be willing to bet that if you gave the current M5 the same level of equipment and safety as the original, there would be nothing in it.

[adycav]

3ftandclean said:

Fair point! I think it must be the weight of all the M badges.

Nice one

[RacingTeatray]

aeropilot said:

juliann said:

It would be nice though if BMW had been able to use a few more exotic materials in a 135i to keep it around the 1400-1450kg mark, but that would have made it more expensive and even more people would be saying you paid 'how much' for a 1 series .....

Edited by aeropilot on Friday 31st July 11:49

Yes, that old chestnut does get rather boring!

[Pulse]

DaveR said:

Pulse said:

Have a look at the weight of the Z4 that I've got - It's over 1300kgs!

1300Kg is pretty anorexic by current bimmer standards though. Even Elises are creeping up to the 900Kg mark these days.

Perhaps, but I was surprised when I saw that it was HEAVIER than my Astra VXR!

[Pulse]

carl_w said:

Pulse said:

Have a look at the weight of the Z4 that I've got - It's over 1300kgs!

I think mine is 1495 kg, as it's got the iron block S54 engine rather than the all-ally N-something engine (N30?)

Think it's the N52, but not sure.

[Pulse]

a11y_m said:

Oh, and if you've got a Coupe then it'll be the new engine? 265ps? I didn;t think they did the old (231ps) engine in the Coupe?

Yep, new Si engine - 265ps. You're right, they didn't do any 3.0i engines in the Coupe.

[GingerWizard]

Pulse said:

DaveR said:

Pulse said:

Have a look at the weight of the Z4 that I've got - It's over 1300kgs!

1300Kg is pretty anorexic by current bimmer standards though. Even Elises are creeping up to the 900Kg mark these days.

Perhaps, but I was surprised when I saw that it was HEAVIER than my Astra VXR!

yeah i was shocked it was nearly 100kg heavier then my CTR.... what do they make the body panels out of 9mm lead.....

[Ranger 6]

3ftandclean said:

...Surely it's just a marketing ploy by BMW?

Don't be embarrassed, we've got a 2.0 diesel 4x4 with M badges

Not on the outside I hasten to add!