BMW moving away from "M Performance" vehicle branding

[Staszek]

To be honest I feel like BMW started diluting the M brand when it stopped making bespoke engines, yes the S55 is different from the N55, but its not special.

That being said I could care less what letter they put, but there is a difference, the M performance variants have done an awesome job catching up, but just like the C43 AMG both great and capable cars they are add on packages to the stock C or 3 series.

The M is still (sans the engine) designed differently from the ground up.

I really dont think it matters or care, but if I had an M340 I wouldnt consider it an M car, just like I stopped considering the S4 part of Audi's real S line once they dumbed it down.

[EddieA1]

Originally Posted by georgere

It's 382 not 400+ hp.

He means that 382 is stated HP. Everyone know that BMW under promises but over delivers on the power numbers. This car on a dyno is definitely running 400hp or more. And can be tuned to far more than that. Bottom line the M340i is a fantastic rocket machine. BMW assigns the m moniker to the car, so take your beef to them.

[nicky dj]

Originally Posted by joshuastein55

I didn't say that the M-Performance cars can't handle, I'm just saying performance stats aren't everything.

Then what is it? Is it the M badge on the headrest, grill and cockpit console? Or maybe it's the alacantra stitching...


These are performance cars, bar none.

[Mrida335]

Originally Posted by nicky dj

Another M fanboy. Just took a look at your posts, another corporate executive M boy "love the color and the lines, so beautiful" ... you probably don't even know how the internals of a turbo engine works lol. Go to sleep kid.


I love coming to the news section to talk sense to all you corporate BMW guys with your M license plate, I'll just stick to the engine threads smh.

Bro I have owned, built and modded more cars than your family has ever had. I'm not a buy it out of the box fan boy, I started like everyone else. I have had more grease on my hands and fuck my life engine building moments than most. I'm a realist when it comes to this conversation.

Corporate boy. Haha, ya if you only knew. Go back to your engine mod threads and continue arguing about which intake you should put it on
Or which burble tune you should get. Kiss my ass while your there too.

[R N M]

M340 should be 340is
M550 should be 550is
So on and so on

///M badge on these cars is Marketing for the most part.

[LOW4LYF]

Originally Posted by nicky dj

Again if you saw all my posts on this thread, I'm not saying the M550i is an M5, I'm saying it's a damn worthy car that I don't mind or worthy of having the M badge. Only M owners are offended and they have no idea how their car functions internally they just believe in "the badge" being superior.

All that M perf add-ons and trims options are trash, BMW really screwed up with that one. They hit it out of the park with these cars performance wise.

Because most M owner's are absolute Brand Whores...

Same counts for aftermarket parts aka HRE, BBS, Akrapovic... Needs to be expensive.

Most M owner's use the M's on public roads and don't even drive it on the edge.

A M550i is a great car, can't wait to see the Facelift! Seriously, M cars are not special anymore...

[G35POPPEDMYCHERRY]

yall have some serious insecurity issues if what you drive matters this much. geeez goes for both sides

[stein_325i]

Originally Posted by nicky dj

Then what is it? Is it the M badge on the headrest, grill and cockpit console? Or maybe it's the alacantra stitching...


These are performance cars, bar none.

You were using performance stats as your main reasoning as to why the 550 should be considered an M car, to which I essentially replied performance isn't everything when defining M cars and cars in general.

[stein_325i]

Originally Posted by R N M

M340 should be 340is
M550 should be 550is
So on and so on

///M badge on these cars is Marketing for the most part.

I think the badges should go back to matching their actual engine sizes. M340 should be 330, with the current 330 being 320. X2 28 can be X2 20i and then the X2 M35i could be X2 20is.

[EddieA1]

Originally Posted by nicky dj

Then what is it? Is it the M badge on the headrest, grill and cockpit console? Or maybe it's the alacantra stitching...


These are performance cars, bar none.

Totally agree. The performance gap is narrowing considerably. M cars are fantastic drive machines, but M Performance cars are incredibly competent power machines in their own right. I loved my M2c, but found my M240i to be as pleasing but in a different way. My M340i is a notch higher and is a quintessential sleeper that will be respected.

[nicky dj]

Originally Posted by Mrida335

Bro I have owned, built and modded more cars than your family has ever had. I'm not a buy it out of the box fan boy, I started like everyone else. I have had more grease on my hands and fuck my life engine building moments than most. I'm a realist when it comes to this conversation.

Corporate boy. Haha, ya if you only knew. Go back to your engine mod threads and continue arguing about which intake you should put it on
Or which burble tune you should get. Kiss my ass while your there too.

Then you out of all people should understand the potential of these cars and appreciate them. Intake is negligible gain bro. Give me a 6466 ball bearing turbo(s) on any of these cars, and methanol injection bye bye. And I disagree with you on the cost difference, give me 15k and I could make an M550i just as fast as an M5.

[EddieA1]

Originally Posted by R N M

M340 should be 340is
M550 should be 550is
So on and so on

///M badge on these cars is Marketing for the most part.

Sorry but the M is due to the car being performances tuned by the M division. It's not a full on M car but it's definitely M inspired and engineered,

[stein_325i]

Originally Posted by EddieA1

Sorry but the M is due to the car being performances tuned by the M division. It's not a full on M car but it's definitely M inspired and engineered,

Where though? The M340i is really just a 340i with an m-sport package and other optional goodies. Its not a bad car, if anything its a really good car, but M inspired? Its not. The 330i can be optioned the same way as the M340i with exception to the tire and cooling package, but it isn't referred to as the M330i or as an M-performance vehicle. The M340i is just a 330i with the upgraded engine, same as the 335i is a 328i with an upgraded engine and has been for years. The two trims share basically almost every single detail other than their engines. The difference this time being, that the luxury-line is no longer available with the larger engine, thus allowing BMW to make the 340 start with the m-sport package and refer to it as an M340/m-performance vehicle.

Again, no where am I saying this is a bad vehicle, but M-performance is just a name, it doesn't hold much meaning.

[icebiker]

Well now...

[EddieA1]

Originally Posted by joshuastein55

Where though? The M340i is really just a 340i with an m-sport package and other optional goodies. Its not a bad car, if anything its a really good car, but M inspired? Its not. The 330i can be optioned the same way as the M340i with exception to the tire and cooling package, but it isn't referred to as the M330i or as an M-performance vehicle. The M340i is just a 330i with the upgraded engine, same as the 335i is a 328i with an upgraded engine and has been for years. The difference this time being, that the luxury-line is no longer available with the larger engine, thus allowing BMW to make the 340 start with the m-sport package and refer to it as an M340/m-performance vehicle.

Again, no where am I saying this is a bad vehicle, but M-performance is just a name, it doesn't hold much meaning.

Sorry that is a mischaracterization. This car transcends a M-sport aesthetic. The engine is tuned to deliver more power. Moreover, it carries several M performance-related tech. Again, it's not the fabled M car, but it certainly is more than what you misrepresent. I'm sure you mean well. But let's be honest about things. It's a notch or two below a M car, and several notches above a 330i and 340i. This is a fucking paradigm shift in the M Performance genre.

[nicky dj]

Originally Posted by LOW4LYF

Because most M owner's are absolute Brand Whores...

Same counts for aftermarket parts aka HRE, BBS, Akrapovic... Needs to be expensive.

Most M owner's use the M's on public roads and don't even drive it on the edge.

A M550i is a great car, can't wait to see the Facelift! Seriously, M cars are not special anymore...

Amen and well said. M cars are special though and the best of my favorite brand, it's just that gap is closing real tight. These MP cars are special too and I didn't realize the potential until I thrashed a few at a BMW ultimate driving event. Changed my opinion completely.

[chrisk03]

damn yall are wild. all this projection/outrage...society is so fickle and argumentative nowadays.

BMW whored out the line plain and simple; there is no argument because the car manufacturer decides what goes; not all your opinions.

Forced induction leveled the playing field for everything.

Want to be special; drive a classic.

This is bad for ALL bmw owners regardless of models. All cars will depreciate more since there is dilution of the M brand; moreover the BMW brand.

We could argue all day what a real M car is or not....but not going to change how fickle society is. Some people buy cars for self-esteem; some for looks; some for performance. My sister is soon purchasing an RS5 god knows why.

Only reason I drive an M3 is because its a fast beautiful car with a manual. m340i does not even come close to the body of an m3. I guess we'll see with the g80.

Could I drive an m340i...sure...will it depreciate more when only costing a little less. you can bet your ass

if bmw says the m320i is an M car; than it is. BMW run the show out here


This +a lot. Ha. Most manufacturers have diluted their "Sport/Motorsport" brands and get to make the call (marketing call) on what fits into that category. Get what you want and what makes you happy based on YOU, not what someone else might think of you...who gives a chit.

I've had "lite" models from both BMW and MB and have been quite satisfied. At some point, I will get a "true" M or AMG and have no doubt they will be awesome, as well. Some "lite" models are actually more fun to drive than a "true" model...SLC43 was a hoot at COTA vs the SL63, perhaps not a fair comparison, but all of these vehicles are pretty amazing in their own way. Manufacturers are going to do what brings them more sales and that means this will continue, for better or worse. I'm honestly just happy I'm lucky enough to buy/enjoy any of these vehicles, as a car enthusiast.

[stein_325i]

Originally Posted by EddieA1

Sorry that is a mischaracterization. This car transcends a M-sport aesthetic. The engine is tuned to deliver more power. Moreover, it carries several M performance-related tech. Again, it's not the fabled M car, but it certainly is more than what you misrepresent. I'm sure you mean well. But let's be honest about things. It's a notch or two below a M car, and several notches above a 330i and 340i. This is a fucking paradigm shift in the M Performance genre.

Again, the M badge doesn't refer to anything in this case, its just marketing. Behind that marketing, all you will find is what in reality is a 340i with the m-sport package, I haven't misrepresented anything. When I say 340i i'm not referring to the F30. When you say its notches above a 340i, that doesn't make sense because that's all it is, a 340i with an M badge placed in front.

[kavo11]

Originally Posted by SoManyBlueCars

I'm gonna stop you there because I've had both and there are 2 things to consider.

A new M340 is faster and more capable than my old E92 M3. Does that mean my M3 is no longer a real M car because it doesn't have true M Performance by modern standards? I'm sure you'll answer no.

So then what makes the M340 NOT an M car? It has real M Performance.

The new M3 will of course be even more solid and stable and fast, but you don't need it everyday. You might use 50% of the car's performance on your commute, and that's only for a few seconds at a time. At normal speeds, it feels like...a BMW. And if you're gonna use it like a normal BMW most of the time, why not get a normal BMW?

SoManyBlueCars I think you missed my entire point as you immediately mentioned speed.....An M car is so much more than straight line speed. If you really did own an M3, you should know that.

First of all, please tell me you realize you just compared a car that came out 12 YEARS AGO versus a brand new, less than 1 year old car (2 gens newer!) that barely performs on a similar playing field to its much older sibling? I'd bet the e92 m3 would still slightly edge the m340 around a track.

To your final point, why bother getting a m340 or heck, even a 330 when a 320 will feel like a BMW at normal commuting speeds? If you have the means to afford a true, proper M car, then why not if it makes you happy?

Wait until the new m3 is released. It's going to walk circles around the M340i in every way possible...

[premier3is]

Originally Posted by Mrida335

Spoken like a true 1/4 mile nerd. Do the same thing to the ///M5 and see where you are at. Then hit a circuit course and check again. Or better, hit a half mile or mile roll race and the check it. Look they are all fast as F. But the m550 is not an M. It's not about your 60
Foot or your 1/4 mile. An ///M is the sum of its parts and it's composure over all.

Nothing you do to a non M will make it an M. Get real.

You hard yet?

[EddieA1]

Originally Posted by joshuastein55

Its just a 340, again, the M badge doesn't refer to anything in this case.

The 340i sat on the F30 platform, while the M340i sits on the widely improved G20 platform. Now, if we put the 340i engine and bits on the G20 platform, it still would couldn't light a candle to the M340i, even if it was equipped with MPPSK. The power numbers and dynamics still outshine the 340i. Once again, it's not a pure M car, but it certainly isn't too far behind. It's a fantastic street car. Paradigm shift in the M Performance genre. And the power numbers can be greatly extended with a competent tune.

[uniqueMR]