Real "M" Cars

[CamelBiscuit]

Originally Posted by radiantm3

Can't believe people are comparing performance based on a commercial. I've been on at Laguna seca 2x when there was an x5m at the track. Lets just say I was passing him all day and this was when I was pretty new at it all.

There are people in breadvans passing M3's on the ring all the time. Depends on the driver. I was in the back seat of an M3 at the ring and a fiat was trying to see if I had underwear on in every corner.

[ragingclue]

Who defines what a real "M" is?

If it's based on the homologation principle, we all know what the true "M"s are.

If it's based merely on what BMW sticks an ///M badge on, we also then know what the true "M" cars are.

It's all a matter of opinion, and they'll differ. We're all snowflakes.

[Catalina Wine Mixer]

Originally Posted by kmarei

the last M car was the M3
when M used to stand for Motorsport
the rest are the new M
where M stands for marketing/money
at least that's what my personal opinion is

Well put.

[epbrown]

This thread reminds me of the gourd/shoe debate in "The Life of Brian."

[loveskiing]

I agree with those on here that postulate the premise if I have to put yours down to make mine look bigger, that might indicate something to both of us

[Robin@Alpine]

Your co-worker is pissed because he doesn't have an M X5, that car is clean

[MrFukengruven]

Originally Posted by Endless619

The X5M and X6M are without a doubt a "M" car.

Agreed ^ The X5M and X6M's are DEFINITELY "M" Cars, simply because when you really mash the gas pedal, all you can really say is "M-M-Motherf**ker this is fast!"

But yes aside from the X5M and X6M, I was surprised when I drove my friends 1M. Yeah there was loads of torque, but for some reason it didn't really have the typical "turbo woes" (lag, power fade towards redline, quiet exhaust rather than a loud, raspy one).

Originally Posted by lthai

There are no real M cars anymore and there hasn't been one since 1999. THERE I SAID IT.

Now if you will excuse me, I have to go drive off in my fast S4.

LOL ^

E46 M3? Z3M Coupe with S54? E39 M5? Those are some of the more raw performers, that were just on the start of the path to the current "luxury and comfort" style, which annoys the hell outta me. The new M5 is bats**t fast, but even Car and Driver put it LAST vs. the new S6 and E63 AMG. They said it's too comfy, and that the car just doesn't give you the confidence to go quick all the time (aside from womping on it onto the highway and such).

Don't get me started about the "M550d" and how it "deserves" to wear an M badge. It doesn't. Three turbos are a cool technological advancement, but that doesn't mean it's an M-car. Just my opinion though

[nachob]

Originally Posted by kmarei

i believe the only bespoke part on the 1m is is the "powered by BMW M" sticker on the engine lid
the 1m was an excercise in seeing how much people would pay for a 1m
which is why production was limited, to generate hype for the next 1M based on the new chassis.
why else would a car manufacturer release a model when the new shape of that same model was already out?
a 1 year production run?
yeah right!

This is not true. While the 1M shares the engine with the Z4 and 335is, it was tuned by M to close to 370 lb/ft on overboost. It has a lightened flywheel to spool faster. It comes with auxilary water cooler, there is no hood insulation, no light in the visor. The body IS bespoke to the 1M, it is not a plastic add-on, it is a BESPOKE sheetmetal body like the E30 M3. It is the first BMW with air curtains now being added to new M3! I guess once the M3 gets them they won't be BESPOKE anymore.

It came with orange stitching since you might be into fluff like extended leather, no other BMW came with orange stitiching....BESPOKE.

It only comes in MANual and will be the last M car made that was only offered in manual only.

Electronic shocks are used to to make the M3 more confortable, the 1M only has one setting.....///M car stiff.

It is not a perfect car but when I visited ///M Design in Garching on my Euro Delivery, I asked this question to them. I told them that there were a lot of people back in the US that thought the 1M was not a real ///M car and wanted to know what the people that built it thought. He told me flat out, that the 1M was ABSOLUTELY a real M car and something that many within ///M thought was overdue since the cars were getting bigger, heavier and less focused. So you are squarely at odds with many of us that love ///M cars and those that actually design and build them.

[Augenbrauezug]

Originally Posted by PINHEAD

small penises in here

There you go, take the high road.

As for x5m and x6m, anyone who claims they aren't real M's probably have never driven one. They are both phenomenal cars.

[Robin@Alpine]

Originally Posted by Augenbrauezug

There you go, take the high road.

As for x5m and x6m, anyone who claims they aren't real M's probably have never driven one. They are both phenomenal cars.

Very true the X5 and X6 M are both amazing cars and they can mash with the best of them. But at the same time you gotta realize that the M cars are becoming more and more practical every time I see them on the road. I feel like every time I see a BMW on the road it's an M car where as in the early or late 90's seeing an M was something special. I love the all the M cars BMW produces especially the M1 which has really caught my eye, but at the same time I would appreciate them way more if not every owner of a BMW goes for an M

[FABIAN128I]

Originally Posted by mshab356

Hahahahaha

That was funny

[CAPSGOD]

What about the M550xd? All wheel drive, automatic, and 5k redline

[cuiter23]

There is no such thing as "fake" M cars if BMW designed it to be one.

Other people may argue that history and tradition is what truly makes an "M" car but from where this stands, an X5M is equally an "M" car to an M3.

[P1]

The only true "M" cars are the cars that have the M Sport package from the factory.

[mgwatson48]

<3 my M car

http://www.topgear.com/uk/photos/bmw...ery-2011-09-23

[The HACK]

At one time or another, a BMW brand manager was asked why the Le Mans X5 wasn't given an ///M Badge. His response was, and I paraphrase, "we only put ///M badges on RWD cars with high revving naturally aspirated engines that can be purchased with a manual transmission." It was about as clearly defined as to what ///M "stood" for for the longest time.

As BMW continue to have tremendous commercial success, that definition can't help but to be altered to allow more people to "enjoy" the ///M brand. You can't hold out on some childhood idealism that this is the right way to do things, and therefore it is the ONLY way to do things. So all the rules that makes an ///M car an ///M car, the RWD, the high-revving NA engine, and the manual transmission all had to be tossed out in favor of building the likes of the X5M, X6M, and the 1M.

Does that make them less of M cars than other Ms that came before it? No. ///M is what the ///M department says it is, just as the RWD, NA engine, and manual was once what ///M says ///M stands for. It's not, now.

Which begs the question. If the mighty X5 Le Mans, with its massive 6 liter V-12 outputting 700 HP, and completely redesigned suspension by Motorsports, isn't considered an ///M car...What does that make the X5M?

[cjwb1984]

BMW marketing must be really on full blast cause they're redifining/improving the ///M brand. To me, it's always been something that you can drive on a daily basis and also take to the track. With this M performance parts, its going to be take some convincing and good marketing to clearly define those lines to their customers and the public perception.