BMW killing M Brand with M Performance Autos?

[Foodle]

Originally Posted by drchuck72

After all, anyone who's owned the ZHP E46 330 can attest to the fact that the car has M Badges all over the place, The only difference now is that the M Badge will also be on the decklid.

And the ZHP E46 was a damn good car, even if it wasn't a "real" M-car.

[Legion5]

Originally Posted by mkoesel

Audi S Line ~ BMW M Sport
Audi S ~ BMW M Performance
Audi RS ~ BMW M

Yep that's right. Audi also covers their s line cars with badges.

[iamcpap]

I don't care about the badging, but after seeing the new M Sport 335i, the new M3/4 better be way above and beyond that car...

[NoM3ForMe]

Originally Posted by Vybz

????????? What are you guys talking about??

The article has nothing to do with killing the M brand. Or as a die hard fanboys would probably call it "diluting" the M gene pool. Who gives a shit if instead of using 335is they want to refer to the car as a 335M (M335). Does replacing the "is" on their top tier 335s emasculate your e9x M3? Did your M3 magically just turn into a civic?

The IS models already had m performance parts that they could opt to put on their vehicles, if they put a "m" prior to the model # instead of an "is" after to display their additional expense does it really hurt anything? (besides people's ego's apparently)



There is no difference. the "IS" badge will no longer be used for top tier models it'll be replaced with an "M".

As autobahn335 said, it's all probably just a marketing gag. It'll most likely work too. This really isn't a reason to get upset though. If anything is being damaged by this, it's people's personal pride more then it is the M brand.

^^ This post delivers.

[GrussGott]

Originally Posted by Vybz

If anything is being damaged by this, it's people's personal pride more then it is the M brand.

Brands are emotional not practical. If I wanted to be a track guy I'd build a track car from an e36 or, if I had more money, an e9x. I'd strip it, mod it, drive it.

Buying a dual purpose M3 with leather, a/c, stereo, nav, etc to take to the track once a month/quarter/year doesn't make sense to me so mine is a daily driver.

Therefore the "m" letter has value to me just like Rolex sub-mariner (although I'd buy bathys) due to heritage and uniqueness.

And, therefore, they've diluted the brand for me.

So I'll probably buy a p-car next because it will still have what I value in a brand, but I could be the only one.

[GrussGott]

Originally Posted by Rated ///M

Actually, yes they do.

I shouldve been more clear:

1.) the back of the car doesn't have "/s4" and "/s a4". That's confusing brand wise for me.

2.) the "s" brand is re-used as "s-line". That works for me because it creates distance and clarity but again IMO

3.) on my s-line a4 the s-line badge was on the side and front not the back.

[[DIM3]]

Originally Posted by bnombe

Pardon my ignorance but is this like the S Line in Audi?

TBH, IMHO replacing the 'is' trim with M Performance models isn't that bad. It maybe a better utilization of the M brand value than just selling M parts (cosmetic ones which they still sell) to dress up regular bimmers.

I agree but they don't slap a big S badge on the back of the audis like they will with m performance line

[LucWerkz]

Guys I have a solution. When we get our next generation M3/4's, lets rip off every M badge (there will probably be over 350) on the car and just leave the number. After that we will no longer be associated with the low (no) performance M sport/M performance models that non car enthusiasts drive.

[AddictedToBavarian]

This kind of thread has come up on these forums 100 times. Don't worry about it. M3 will always be in a class of it's own. Despite what the 335 fanboys say.

[mdosu]

i would rock the M550d

[mdosu]

Originally Posted by lthai

Guys I have a solution. When we get our next generation M3/4's, lets rip off every M badge (there will probably be over 350) on the car and just leave the number. After that we will no longer be associated with the low (no) performance M sport/M performance models that non car enthusiasts drive.

agreed, rip it off and put "is" badges on.

[mdosu]

Here's a question for you. If M3 non-zcp = M3 civic, then what does M performance 335 = ? Honda Fit?

[JulieDriving]

There is a fine line between milking a brand as much as possible (which is what BMW is doing), before you milk it so much that it no longer seems 'valuable' to the crowd they're marketing it to.

Already we have twits that think their M-Sport is an M car. Now we will have twits who will even more loudly brag that their non-M cars *are* M cars, by pointing at the badge on their trunks.

On the other hand...

I like the fact that most people don't know what an M3 is. Or that it's the same as a regular 3-series. Less attention/ jealously towards me, the better. The other day, someone asked us what car I'm getting. We replied "M3".... hoping she wouldn't have a clue. She answered, "Oh a Camry? (since M3 and Camry sound similar) That's nice!" We nodded approvingly.

IMHO, *as long* as the true M cars deserve their badge, then BMW will continue to have a letter that enthusiasts will aspire to, car magazines will proclaim is the benchmark, and BMW will be able to *continue* to milk...

Btw, this M-milking isn't limited to non-M cars. There was a thread recently about the "M3 ///M Performance Edition" which is a UK special edition....... with nothing but cosmetic additions!!

[LucWerkz]

Originally Posted by mdosu

agreed, rip it off and put "is" badges on.

Yes and swap about the BMW badge with a Mercedes star. "Merc-MW IS3" sounds pretty badass to me

[kmarei]

Originally Posted by mkoesel

Audi S Line ~ BMW M Sport
Audi S ~ BMW M Performance
Audi RS ~ BMW M

I'm glad someone else also sees BMW as imitating Audi
Last time I said that Scott26 got offended
Truth hurts sometimes

The whole we're ahead of the market idea is no longer true for BMW
Now they are following Audi, which is not a good plan
The minute you start worrying about market share, you stop making good products

Audi did the A4/A5 so now bmw is doing the 3 series/4 series
Audi did the S-line so no we have the m335 etc

What I still don't get is why not do the same exact thing and call them the iS line?
And yes that M badge makes a huge difference
That's why an M3 costs $15,000 more than a 335i
If they're basically the same car, but with a milder tune for the m335
Why should I pay the premium in price?
I'd get the m335 and chip it and I have a car as fast as the M3
And save me about 8 grand

Once you stop making enough parts different between the 2 models
Why am I paying a premium?

[IFX]

Originally Posted by W///

That's what the E46 crowd said when the M3 went to a V8

It's a damn badge. That's not why I purchased my M3. I couldn't care less if it was called M4 either.

I guess so, wasn't really of age browsing forums to see that go down.

But I'll say one thing, the new Twin Turbo motors don't sound anything "M". I didn't expect them to.. but that for me, is truly depressing. Everyone talks about power delivery etc, I can careless how i get the power. If the car doesn't sound right, it's not for me.

Which is why the 6.2L MB is the next motor in my garage.

[rantarM3]

It's funny to see folks complaining about the dilution of the M brand. If you're looking for exclusivity, you're not going to get it in the vast majority of BMW's or M cars. The branding on the car really does not matter as long as what's underneath the sheet metal and plastic excites you. And if you think there is not sufficient difference between an M335 and an M3 to justify the premium, save some money and get the M335.

Instead of worrying about badges and naming, get what you find sufficiently fun to drive. Besides, MB has been doing this for years with the AMG brand and Lexus has recently pushed down the F brand/image into cars that are not true F performance cars. Brand loyalty is generally pointless.

[Brucewonder]

if im paying this much $$$ for a new M3 i want the M letter to stay top tier in that class.

[GrussGott]

Originally Posted by JulieDriving

There was a thread recently about the "M3 ///M Performance Edition" which is a UK special edition....... with nothing but cosmetic additions!!

Dude this is just common sense:

"M performance" which actually sounds better than "m" is actually worse. So if you want actual performance you buy "m" not "m performance" since "performance" really means cosmetics.

Also, if you want sport, you buy "m", not " m sport" which also sounds more sporty than just "m" but isn't.

So if you want the best you buy what sounds like the worst, if you want cosmetics you buy what sounds like sport but is actually performance.

[1BMW4fun]

Originally Posted by drchuck72

Hasn't anyone ever seen the AMG badged C350, E350, E550, S550 etc? Mercedes has been doing in the factory what others have done after the fact to BMWs for years. BMW is just using the M Brand to sell more cars. After all, anyone who's owned the ZHP E46 330 can attest to the fact that the car has M Badges all over the place, The only difference now is that the M Badge will also be on the decklid.

Who cares? As long as there is a true M model to be had, I'm still going to buy one (unless I move up to a P Car).

Actually Mercedes never put an AMG badge on their regular line cars, they have option packages that have AMG stuffs but I haven't seen any cars such as C350 AMG or S550 AMG. Its all about marketing, making the buyers feel good about their purchase and making them feel special.

[Foodle]

Originally Posted by IFX

Everyone talks about power delivery etc, I can careless how i get the power. If the car doesn't sound right, it's not for me.

I guess you're never going electric then

[jaehshim]

Originally Posted by IFX

M is over after the e9xM.

+1