misbadging cars

Author
Discussion

hunt123

282 posts

62 months

Wednesday 30th August 2023
quotequote all
Seems like 1/3 of bmw's around here are M variants of some sort judging by the badges on them.

Stick Legs

4,957 posts

166 months

Wednesday 30th August 2023
quotequote all
BMW put a small ///M on the wing of M-Sport cars.
It’s a trim level similar to Ghia on Fords.

They never had an ///M on the boot lid.

Little ///M for Marketing.

BMW have traditionally used an ///M+designation for performance cars that are shy of bring a full Motorsport division project.

///M535i (E28)
///M340i (F30)

BMW then madenningly also use ///M+designation for a couple of real M-Cars, but they stopped that PDQ.

///M535i (E12)
///M635CSi (E24)

So officially the big ///M on the boot lid should only be on a real M-car. Unless it’s an E-28 M535i which got the single M.

Clear?

biglaugh

Flame Grilled

112 posts

10 months

Wednesday 30th August 2023
quotequote all
I can't keep up with the new German badging. Their numbers used to tie into what size engine was under the bonnet. But now they seem to put whatever numbers they like. Sure I saw what was badged as a 4.0 Audi A3 they other day.

Bobupndown

1,831 posts

44 months

Wednesday 30th August 2023
quotequote all
Flame Grilled said:
I can't keep up with the new German badging. Their numbers used to tie into what size engine was under the bonnet. But now they seem to put whatever numbers they like. Sure I saw what was badged as a 4.0 Audi A3 they other day.
Yes pretty stupid I agree. First one I saw I though they'd put a 4 litre engine in an A3!
Apparently the numbers are as follows:

Audi engine codes: what they mean,
Badge number Power output
35 110kW to 120kW (145hp to 159hp)
40 125kW to 150kW (165hp to 198hp)
45 169kW to 185kW (223hp to 244hp)
50 210kW to 230kW (278hp to 304hp

Shnozz

27,508 posts

272 months

Wednesday 30th August 2023
quotequote all
Central manufacturers badge aside, I can’t stand any badges on my cars. Ruins the symmetry and my OCD doesn’t enjoy that.

TommoAE86

2,669 posts

128 months

Wednesday 30th August 2023
quotequote all
Slight tangent, whenever I see this I can't help thinking that it's got a 4sp auto laugh

BenS94

1,928 posts

25 months

Wednesday 30th August 2023
quotequote all
Shnozz said:
Central manufacturers badge aside, I can’t stand any badges on my cars. Ruins the symmetry and my OCD doesn’t enjoy that.
Finally, someone who shares my view! I had to take the Hybrid badge off my brand new Swift on day one as it just looked awkward. I always leave the centre manufacturer badge on my cars, but everything else MUST come off. It's alarming when you see the amount of crud and crap surrounding them on older cars. Makes my teeth itch.

BenS94

1,928 posts

25 months

Wednesday 30th August 2023
quotequote all
TommoAE86 said:
Slight tangent, whenever I see this I can't help thinking that it's got a 4sp auto laugh
Just like V-Matic on a 1.6 Auris.... what's wrong with VVTi?!

Missy Charm

753 posts

29 months

Wednesday 30th August 2023
quotequote all
Flame Grilled said:
I can't keep up with the new German badging. Their numbers used to tie into what size engine was under the bonnet. But now they seem to put whatever numbers they like. Sure I saw what was badged as a 4.0 Audi A3 they other day.
The numbers, at least in BMW's case, have never really been exactly equivalent to engine capacity. The BMW 1502 and 1602 of the mid seventies both had the same size engine, but one was less powerful than the other. That continued with later series number and suffix cars: there have been 1.8 litre versions of the '16's, 1.9 variants of the '18's, 2.7 litre versions of the '25's, 2.2 capacity '20's and so on. The idea, supposedly, is that the number indicates either a notional equivalent capacity or output. Higher is almost always more power, but that could be via cams or valves or whatever rather than a bona fide capacity increase. Audi's 3.0 and 4.0 badges seem to follow the same format.

It is confusing and feels like marketing spin to those of us used to lowlier marques who actually give you a three litre engine to go with the '3.0' badge!

Stick Legs

4,957 posts

166 months

Wednesday 30th August 2023
quotequote all
TommoAE86 said:
Slight tangent, whenever I see this I can't help thinking that it's got a 4sp auto laugh
You aren’t alone.

Gez79

218 posts

184 months

Thursday 31st August 2023
quotequote all
The Audi thing is to allow their electric models and ICE models to be sold side by side and for the customer to have some idea where they sit in relation to each other.

hungry_hog

2,262 posts

189 months

Thursday 31st August 2023
quotequote all
Stick Legs said:
BMW put a small ///M on the wing of M-Sport cars.
It’s a trim level similar to Ghia on Fords.

They never had an ///M on the boot lid.

Little ///M for Marketing.

BMW have traditionally used an ///M+designation for performance cars that are shy of bring a full Motorsport division project.

///M535i (E28)
///M340i (F30)

BMW then madenningly also use ///M+designation for a couple of real M-Cars, but they stopped that PDQ.

///M535i (E12)
///M635CSi (E24)

So officially the big ///M on the boot lid should only be on a real M-car. Unless it’s an E-28 M535i which got the single M.

Clear?

biglaugh
In addition to above, I think the 850CSi (E31) has an M on the engine but nowhere else
Always been a dream car of mine

Doyliestag

105 posts

46 months

Monday 18th September 2023
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8bit

4,874 posts

156 months

Sunday 1st October 2023
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Yeah... but no.


98elise

26,683 posts

162 months

Monday 2nd October 2023
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Doyliestag said:
Identifies as a Lamborghini?

ka90

161 posts

124 months

Monday 9th October 2023
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It's a diesel.

F55MCS

8 posts

17 months

Sunday 19th November 2023
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Couldn’t even get the badge on straight! Untaxed too…




Horsey McHorseface

2,537 posts

185 months

Wednesday 29th November 2023
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AdeTuono

7,262 posts

228 months

Thursday 30th November 2023
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Horsey McHorseface said:
All that, and not an AMG badge in sight!

nobrakes

2,993 posts

199 months

Thursday 30th November 2023
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Stick Legs said:
TommoAE86 said:
Slight tangent, whenever I see this I can't help thinking that it's got a 4sp auto laugh
You aren’t alone.
DAF Variomatic