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      02-19-2026, 08:20 PM   #47
tsbrown
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Drives: 2023 M550i xDrive
Join Date: Jul 2010
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dantm3 View Post
Every brand does it.. not everyone can afford the full m version. I remember I went to look at a c class for my wife and it was a c300 with amg package. It was parked next to a c63 and I couldn’t tell which was which. At least bmw changes body hips, grills, bumpers and carbon roof. I can tell an m car from a mile away.
Not everyone WANTS a full M version with cost not a factor. Like me. The E90 M3 I spec’d and owned for almost 7 years from new delivery at Spartanburg PCD was my favorite in 30 years of BMW’s until my M550i. I drove the F90 M5C and really liked it, but it was too stiff for me as a daily and I don’t have space for more than one car. I’d have a 911 with space for an extra car anyway. So the M550i was the right answer. Not as sharp as I’d like a couple days a week but Goldilocks the rest of the week. At my age it’s the right choice and my favorite BMW along with the M3 (1 and 1a).

For people that think the M-lites dilute the brand, clearly are clueless about the E28 M535 and E24 M635 from the ‘80s when the M brand was still young. Those were highly desirable at the time and helped build the brand. Maybe I’m more an Alpina target customer now….I want all the M power but with the Alpina comfort.
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Bluegrass Bimmers
Current: 2023 G30 M550i xDrive | 2022 & 2018 G01 X3 xDrive30i
Past: 2019 540i M Sport | 2017 F30 340i M Sport/6MT | 2013 E70 X5 3.5 | 2011 E90 ///M3 6MT | 2005 E46 330i ZHP 6MT | 2001 E53 X5 3.0 | 2000 E39 528i Sport/5MT | 1998 E39 528iA | 1997 E38 740i | 1993 E36 318is
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