Jalopnik: "The Death Of BMW’s M Brand"

[M3 Adjuster]

Originally Posted by davesaddiction

Thanks for the tip - hope it works for me to join you all! Looks like the perfect way to break my M in at the track. I'm guessing this will be a vastly different experience from the time I took my old Mazda 3s hatch (not Speed!) out there for an HST day. I was probably the slowest car out there, but I sure had a lot of fun. Will be nice to have twice the torque to pull out of the tight corners!

Absolutely.

the HST days can be a little ummm.. interesting.... a BMW CCA event will be a bit more structured (read: safer).. Hope to see you there!

[konaforever]

Originally Posted by Richbot

People who think BMW M has strayed from its roots have no idea what those roots are.

I believe it's a Canadian based clothing shop.

[Richbot]

Originally Posted by konaforever

I believe it's a Canadian based clothing shop.

Yeah, but they really lost their way when they started selling coffee mugs and keychains too

[luis_m3]

Originally Posted by ssabripo

who are you to ask a Mod to close the thread?

you don't like the thread, it's this simple: DON'T CLICK ON IT!

I guess you just don't get sarcasm... Sorry if I offended your favorite thread.
Mod, please do NOT close it.

[bikesbikes]

While I agree for the most part that the M brand has been "watered down" in recent years. All the blame can't be placed on the marketing people. Nobody has commented on the fact that auto racing has changed. The Ferrari F40, Jaguar XJ220 & McLaren F1 were all cars that were homologated in order to race in an FIA series. Sadly FIA GT1 no longer exists. So car companies pour money into what racing series they deem gets them the most bang for the buck.

I'm not a huge Nascar fan, but that used to be THE "race on Sunday sell on Monday" series. No one can argue that the Chevy's and Fords that race there now have nothing in common with the street cars.

Yes M cars are still great cars. (note how i said cars) No they're not street versions of race cars anymore. But what really is?!? Unless you have gobs of money to spend...

Just my two cents.

[Fuman]

Sadly this is what I felt when I started feeling confused about all the upcoming different and new models. It's starting to lose the feeling of passion and brand. I'm worried about the sense of belonging in ownership in the years to come. I'm a lover of the 3 series coupe but now its sounding like a 4 series. Exactly what is it? It's starting to feel like the marketing of Toyota or Kia. Soon there will be another off shoot from BMW like a Toyota/Lexus. I hope in 2 years when I change my car I will will have the same sense of belonging from my first BMW over a decade ago, and not feel confused.

[ozinaldo]

Originally Posted by bikesbikes

While I agree for the most part that the M brand has been "watered down" in recent years. All the blame can't be placed on the marketing people. Nobody has commented on the fact that auto racing has changed. The Ferrari F40, Jaguar XJ220 & McLaren F1 were all cars that were homologated in order to race in an FIA series. Sadly FIA GT1 no longer exists. So car companies pour money into what racing series they deem gets them the most bang for the buck.

I'm not a huge Nascar fan, but that used to be THE "race on Sunday sell on Monday" series. No one can argue that the Chevy's and Fords that race there now have nothing in common with the street cars.

Yes M cars are still great cars. (note how i said cars) No they're not street versions of race cars anymore. But what really is?!? Unless you have gobs of money to spend...

Just my two cents.

This is so true! Look what it was the McLaren F1 and what it is the MP4-12C nowadays or compare the hype the Ferrrari 599 GTO was able to generate vs. the F40 or Enzo in the past. Lamborghini Aventador is mighty but would you compare the "impact" of it with the Countach? Things are watering down in everything in fact, not only in cars; in music, in literature, in cinema, just name it. There is no denying that while the technology is progressing we are also not passing through a time of genuine innovation and creativity. BMW and M are just following the tides to survive maybe.

[aus]

Originally Posted by Richbot

People who think BMW M has strayed from its roots have no idea what those roots are.

Guess you never read the article in Roundel about 6 years ago with the then head of //M. He was asked what makes an M car and why there wasn't an X5M or M7. I wish I would have kept that issue since it showed how focused //M was at the time and explained the core values of the //M Philosophy at the time. But who would have known that //M would deviate so far from their core values.

.

[GrussGott]

Originally Posted by ozinaldo

Things are watering down in everything in fact, not only in cars; in music, in literature, in cinema, just name it. There is no denying that while the technology is progressing we are also not passing through a time of genuine innovation and creativity.

I agree if you add "off the shelf mass market" to your point.

Ever listen to a Starbucks order? Do you mod your car? How's BMW's Individual doing?

These days we don't want the same thing as the next guy, we want the same production thing to customize. We're hobbyists. Even with lattes.

Which brings up another point: I'm not a race car driver

I know.

But if I was ... you what I wouldn't do? Buy a mass produced luxury car with leather, A/C, and bluetooth. That comes with European delivery.

I haven't checked into it, but is that how F1s are delivered?

More on that here:

My ill thought-through rant:

Mr Caswell doth protest too much: if he wants a race car then he should build one; Don't whine because BMW's 21st century mass market production factory won't do it for you... really?

Does any serious race car driver buy a factory built car with A/C, stereo, and leather interior and head to the track matrix?

As to "M used to mean something":
Uhhhh... You mean your poseur ass used to like the brand, I.e., the marketing? But now you dont because it's not quite poseur enough so you're calling people who like a fast factory luxury car poseurs?

Irony can be pretty ironic sometimes.

I Have a e93 and before that an S4. I never tracked the S4 and won't the e93. Sometimes i care about its fanciness but usually I don't. I just like my luxury cars fast and wicked sounding. I like scaring myself on the way to work. I like being able to pass anybody anytime and corner better and brake faster. If I appreciated the cool looks more I'd probably buy the orange thing but I don't so I have Jerez black. I do like my 2 tone interior though. I also like the engineering. I'd buy a koenigsegg if I wasnt too lazy to make a few mil.

Grow up Mr Caswell, and realize who you are ... I have*

(*except in those moments at wide open throttle when i get slight air coming off the freeway entry ramp and giggle like a little girl ... Or that killer sweeper freeway exit s-turn when I downsift to 3rd ... Or ...)
Reply With Quote

[understeer]

That actually is a good description of what many, if not most, professional race car drivers own as street cars/daily drivers.


http://vehicle.ezinemark.com/persona...6ca0bb668.html

[Darth One]

Originally Posted by understeer

That actually is a good description of what many, if not most, professional race car drivers own as street cars/daily drivers.


http://vehicle.ezinemark.com/persona...6ca0bb668.html

some of these race car drivers have terrible cars. come on now.

[GrussGott]

Originally Posted by understeer

That actually is a good description of what many, if not most, professional race car drivers own as street cars/daily drivers.
http://vehicle.ezinemark.com/persona...6ca0bb668.html

I work for an insurance company.

I'm not really comfortable with those race car drivers claiming actuarial street cred just because they drive the same car I do.

[asandyz]

Originally Posted by ChrisK

I do think BMW is getting a little generous with the M Badges.

OK BMW, send me a badge!

[lynyrdskynyrd803]

get a life.

[MStar]

[AhsanU]

Honestly, some of you guys need to look at it from both perspectives.

From BMW's point of view, you can't argue what they're doing. It's a business. They're here to make money. If they can do something, anything, to make more money - you bet your ass they will. It's nothing personal, it's just the way the world works. They have built amazing M cars over the years and built its reputation from the ground up since the 70's. They're using their hard earned rep to boost their sales. What's wrong with that? Absolutely nothing. Again - this is if you look at it from their point of view.

On the other hand, you have us enthusiasts that love what the M brand used to be. The M badge was something that signified motoring excellence. And with BMW adding M badges to everything.. it's killing its credibility and its overall perceived image.

[GrussGott]

Originally Posted by AhsanU

From BMW's point of view, you can't argue what they're doing.

X6M50d BMW. They can M135i themselves for all I care.

[MSportDC]

Originally Posted by mkoesel

Everyone is entitled to their opinion. He does make some valid points.

But I notice that, in one breath, he trashed the guy who actually planned to take his car to the track, while in the next breath he trashed people for pretending to be drivers but never taking their cars to the track.

He also laid into the non-stock configuration of the ALMS or Le Mans M3 race cars, but then utterly dismisses the Grand Am series - where real stock M3s actually do compete in the GS class - citing the Kia competition.

In other words the author does demonstrate a bit of hypocrisy, at least at some level of abstraction, and seems to really enjoy ranting.

All MHO.

Like totally.

[TVMA Doc]

Originally Posted by Purple Derple

I don't entirely agree with this. Yes they have to make money, but successful business models do not have to forgo convictions. Take, for example, Steve Jobs' stance against smut on apple devices. Media has been made/broken by the porn industry--VHS vs Beta being the prime instance. His position was to exclude porn from their devices as much as possible. Media history would say this is damning, but apple made it work.

Yes BMW is doing this for savvy business reasons, I just think a lot of people take the position that it doesn't have to be this way. Anyways, who's to say this strategy of capitalizing on their M division isn't poisoning their reputation in the long-run?

Wow, you're saying that Apple (by Apple, I mean ONE MAN named Jobs) deciding what you should and shouldn't watch is an example of a "successful business model"? I'd argue that the only reason Apple is successful is that they had sleek designs and an even sleeker ability to self-promote.

Would you support BMW if they decided that you do not need to go above 55mph and permanently limited your car? Not to mention that I will bet you my first born that Steve Job's had accessed porn, and more than once.

[TVMA Doc]

Originally Posted by luis_m3

The reality is that today's businesses are all about money.
I hate it, but I'm a realist... BMW loves to make money out of people like us.

The only business that seems to enjoy losing money is government.

[Purple Derple]

Originally Posted by TVMA Doc

Wow, you're saying that Apple (by Apple, I mean ONE MAN named Jobs) deciding what you should and shouldn't watch is an example of a "successful business model"? I'd argue that the only reason Apple is successful is that they had sleek designs and an even sleeker ability to self-promote.

Would you support BMW if they decided that you do not need to go above 55mph and permanently limited your car? Not to mention that I will bet you my first born that Steve Job's had accessed porn, and more than once.

Naw that's not what I said at all. I agree with you that apple has had success for those reasons--they simply make the best products in their market. What I am saying is that they didn't have to sacrifice principles to do so. Perhaps it was a privileged position of being such a clear industry leader that allowed them to be this way. More of an 'in spite of' than a 'because of'. I don't think Steve Jobs personal lifestyle was/is relevant here. For the record, I'm a PC.