Once you go M, you don't go back (umm base)

[2013M3]

I got a 320i xdrive as a 'loaner' while they work on my car. Can I tell you how much more fun the M is to drive.. wow..

Is a BMW still the 'ultimate driving machine' if it is a base model? Steering loose, cornering not so fun, acceleration - not there.

So why would anyone want to buy a base BMW at the price it is being charged? Wouldn't you rather get a Lexus or Acura or other cars?

My wife said the car felt 'cheap'.

Maybe I'm spoiled with the M. I can't imagine getting a base car to own in the future.

[BOOF-M3]

Yea it was a secret how great the M cars are. Don't muddy the waters by letting the base model drivers in on our secret. Pretty soon everyone will want one.

[WingZeroX5]

I went M and never went back. Which is why I got an X5M rather than a non M x5

[Rajmun340]

Originally Posted by 2013M3

I got a 320i xdrive as a 'loaner' while they work on my car. Can I tell you how much more fun the M is to drive.. wow..

Is a BMW still the 'ultimate driving machine' if it is a base model? Steering loose, cornering not so fun, acceleration - not there.

So why would anyone want to buy a base BMW at the price it is being charged? Wouldn't you rather get a Lexus or Acura or other cars?

My wife said the car felt 'cheap'.

Maybe I'm spoiled with the M. I can't imagine getting a base car to own in the future.

I agree. For the last week I've had a 2017 330i Xdrive loaner while my M3 is getting some interior work done. Today i felt a genuine "not another day with this 330i" dislike and picked my trusty 2004 Accord instead. I felt much happier and rediscovered how great and predictable hydraulic steering is. The naturally aspirated engine might not be that powerful but it does exactly what you tell it to, you're not constantly fighting a digital steering and turbo lag and it even feels more composed on the road. It sounds crazy to compare an older Accord with a 2017 bmw but as a driver i largely prefer the organic and confident response of the old trusty Accord over the unbearable fidgety electrical steering and the incessant hesitations of the automatic box + turbo of the 330i. I would keep the Accord and sell the 330i if it was my car. This is how bad new BMWs are these days.

[avantegardestyle]

Originally Posted by WingZeroX5

I went M and never went back. Which is why I got an X5M rather than a non M x5

please tell me more, there is an X5m im eyeing, need to know more abut this truck

[WingZeroX5]

Originally Posted by avantegardestyle

please tell me more, there is an X5m im eyeing, need to know more abut this truck

Lol, what do you want to know?

[Bartledoo]

A lot of people want the status of a new BMW at the lowest price possible.

[TheMidnightNarwhal]

Originally Posted by WingZeroX5

I went M and never went back. Which is why I got an X5M rather than a non M x5

Man if I could afford that beast..

The X5M seems like a fantastic winter beater

[srmast1]

For the life of me I can't understand why anyone would voluntarily own a 320i. For the price of that pathetic BMW, you could have a nice car from another brand. I'm convinced that the 320 is for the peeps that are desperate for any kind of bmw, but can only afford the base model of base models. Is there a 220i also? For the love of...

[rdoctor]

Originally Posted by avantegardestyle

please tell me more, there is an X5m im eyeing, need to know more abut this truck

The X5M is bad ass. My indy shop owner (and former 944 Series Supercup champion driver and Dinan dealer) owned one and took me for a "spirited" ride once and I was blown away about how well this SUV handled and how fast it was. His X5M had the normal Dinan goodies but even bone stock the X5M is a beast. He tracked it a number of times and apparently beat plenty of M3's around the course. But then again, he is a very experienced driver

[New2Roundel]

Originally Posted by srmast1

For the life of me I can't understand why anyone would voluntarily own a 320i.

Pretty easy one as it permeates all regular production non-M BMWs. Most people don't notice the subtleties of vehicle dynamics and in some cases, a luxury experience equates to a soft, numb, and isolating experience. "Feel" to those people equates to the 190K, 15 yo Honda accord they used to own that would shake above 60 mph. Bank vault solidity is really the only thing that the US populous expects of a luxury german car.

So with that assessment, you realize why pretty much all BMW cars have lost their driver focus. And then there are the people who A) feel they wouldn't use or notice the extra power in a 330 or greater 3 series or B) feel they can get into a well built and well engineered car at a "bargain" price.

For me, personally, BMW is all about M CARS. Not land yachts or SUVs. My e92 M is the only BMW I've ever owned and it's freaking spectacular. However, it's also what I think every BMW should be--which means that "lesser" BMWs would be a bit disappointing to me. I'm not sure I'll get another BMW (not that they are bad cars, but there are too many great rides out there to be stuck with one brand), but if I do, I couldn't look at something that isn't an M car.

As far as SUVs are concerned, I'd rather own one with a Porsche badge or if I need to save a little, an SRT8 GC. If performance wasn't all that important, but I wanted a nice, pleasant experience, I'd probably go for an Audi, which is really the only thing I like in their current lineup. Having said all of that, what I wouldn't give for a G550. G550+e92M3+ supercharged VR6 corrado is all I would need to live a vehicularly happy life indefinitely. I just need to find out how to acquire a G550 that isn't stupidly priced...

[avantegardestyle]

Originally Posted by rdoctor

The X5M is bad ass. My indy shop owner (and former 944 Series Supercup champion driver and Dinan dealer) owned one and took me for a "spirited" ride once and I was blown away about how well this SUV handled and how fast it was. His X5M had the normal Dinan goodies but even bone stock the X5M is a beast. He tracked it a number of times and apparently beat plenty of M3's around the course. But then again, he is a very experienced driver

honestly i'm tempted
how does it do in winter?

I want to start driving my M3 less and less. I want something for the winter and I thought about a regular X5.
I saw one of the X5M at a dealer in PA and was smitten............
I got high taste, i can help it. i might plunk down 20K and say what the hell.....

[srmast1]

Originally Posted by New2Roundel

Pretty easy one as it permeates all regular production non-M BMWs. Most people don't notice the subtleties of vehicle dynamics and in some cases, a luxury experience equates to a soft, numb, and isolating experience. "Feel" to those people equates to the 190K, 15 yo Honda accord they used to own that would shake above 60 mph. Bank vault solidity is really the only thing that the US populous expects of a luxury german car.

So with that assessment, you realize why pretty much all BMW cars have lost their driver focus. And then there are the people who A) feel they wouldn't use or notice the extra power in a 330 or greater 3 series or B) feel they can get into a well built and well engineered car at a "bargain" price.

For me, personally, BMW is all about M CARS. Not land yachts or SUVs. My e92 M is the only BMW I've ever owned and it's freaking spectacular. However, it's also what I think every BMW should be--which means that "lesser" BMWs would be a bit disappointing to me. I'm not sure I'll get another BMW (not that they are bad cars, but there are too many great rides out there to be stuck with one brand), but if I do, I couldn't look at something that isn't an M car.

As far as SUVs are concerned, I'd rather own one with a Porsche badge or if I need to save a little, an SRT8 GC. If performance wasn't all that important, but I wanted a nice, pleasant experience, I'd probably go for an Audi, which is really the only thing I like in their current lineup. Having said all of that, what I wouldn't give for a G550. G550+e92M3+ supercharged VR6 corrado is all I would need to live a vehicularly happy life indefinitely. I just need to find out how to acquire a G550 that isn't stupidly priced...

Wow, I completely agree with your assessment, but I would like to add the X5 to the suv list and the the Lexus F cars (ISF and GSF) to the car list. They are now like M engines.. But yeah, good luck finding a non expensive G wagon!

[DSilk]

The Motorsport versions (M3, M4, M5) have also lost their focus since the electronic steering assist that saps road feel has permeated those cars as well. Hell's bells, the 2018 M5 won't even offer a manual transmission any more! I love my M3, I loved my previous M3, and I loved the "lesser" BMWs I previously owned, as they were all driver's cars. BMW has lost me as a consumer.

[New2Roundel]

Originally Posted by srmast1

Wow, I completely agree with your assessment, but I would like to add the X5 to the suv list and the the Lexus F cars (ISF and GSF) to the car list. They are now like M engines.. But yeah, good luck finding a non expensive G wagon!

I won't argue against an X5, as they are nice vehicles. My neighbor still owns his 02 or 03 X5 that he bought new. He replaced it a few months ago with a 2014 model. It's a real shame because the older X5 just sits and collects dust and garbage from the trees above--when he owned it as the primary vehicle, it was spotless at all times. I guess the newer X5s like the newer BMWs in general just don't excite me as much. Seems like a Cayanne holds more to the performance mantra that the X5 started over a decade ago.

I just can't get into the lexus products. I like the idea of the F cars and they sound great. Every once in a very great while I will looks for an ISF, but they completely lose me with the boring transmission offering. And the engine itself really isn't that special. Take the engine from the LS, tweak it a little and boom, ISF. This is where I'd go for a C63 instead as it's of the same mindset as the M cars, but with a different approach entirely.

I hope once the new G-wagon is released next year or so, values on the older vehicles will go down a bit. I really don't understand why people in this country like them so much. What rich person want to drive a vehicle with 2 solid axles? I get the interest in various version of the S class or Range Rover, but not the fancy jeep wrangler. And yet, it's the resale of both the Jeep and the G-wagon are the envy of S class and RR owners everywhere!

[jlo0109]

I've never owned a BMW ever before. I've owned pretty much all JDM cars since I was able to drive. I remembered looking through 335i, Z4s, and all I could remember now was the moment when I drove the e92 for the first time. I went straight to the e92 M3 and never for once doubted my decision. Sure, I did buy the M because of its name not knowing enough of just much heritage the name carries. But now that I own one and I drive it on daily. I must admit, M cars are flagships of what made BMW great, to begin with. While I am not one to trash talk to those that have the normal BMWs, you won't know how prestige M cars are until you own one.

[WingZeroX5]

Originally Posted by TheMidnightNarwhal

Man if I could afford that beast..

The X5M seems like a fantastic winter beater

Don't know yet lol, 1st year owning it.

[R3dliner]

M lyfe or nothing!

[clou]

Like some of the other guys in this thread, I made sure my first BMW was an M car. I remember driving my sister's 135i with the m package, and being completely turned off by everything from the drive to the build quality.

My only mistake was test-driving my dad's 991 GTS, knowing well that it was way out of my budget. I plan to keep the M3 long after the hybrids and electric cars take over, but will also need to add a naturally aspirated p-car to the stable before I'm 100% satisfied.

[2013M3]

I wonder how the other regular series forum feel about this topic.

[BOOF-M3]

Originally Posted by 2013M3

I wonder how the other regular series forum feel about this topic.

Wait? There are other series forums and forum members?

[DSilk]

Originally Posted by jlo0109

I've never owned a BMW ever before. I've owned pretty much all JDM cars since I was able to drive. I remembered looking through 335i, Z4s, and all I could remember now was the moment when I drove the e92 for the first time. I went straight to the e92 M3 and never for once doubted my decision. Sure, I did buy the M because of its name not knowing enough of just much heritage the name carries. But now that I own one and I drive it on daily. I must admit, M cars are flagships of what made BMW great, to begin with. While I am not one to trash talk to those that have the normal BMWs, you won't know how prestige M cars are until you own one.

"Prestige" is the last reason any enthusiast will choose an M3. In fact it is that very "prestige" that has opened the marque to so many poseurs and led to the ultimate demise of the intangibles of driving involvement and tactile feel in the current M stables. The original M3 was built for racing, and was only sold to the public to meet homologation requirements. It was a purpose-built machine. While each generation has edged a bit further from that ideal, with the addition of technology and creature comforts, they have been able to maintain their driver-oriented focus, balance, and feel up through the e9X models.

BMWs have been drivers' cars from the beginning, harking back to the pre-war 328 models. The post-war era saw a slump, and BMW had to produce Isetta bubble cars under license to keep itself afloat. The 507 was a spectacularly beautiful car, but it was more expensive than the 300SL Gullwing, and was not a sales success. BMW regained its mojo with the 2002, which hit its high point with the 2002 tii, the car that defined the sport sedan for a generation and laid the groundwork for the 3 series. All 3 series BMWs, up to the e9X, have been great drivers' cars in any iteration, from the 318i (which was slow, but still fun to drive) through the 330i. While the M3 has always been the most focused on performance, the other models in the series have always been great cars for an enthusiast to drive.