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09-30-2012, 06:23 PM | #1 |
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So, the M135i has landed, and the 335is will soon be the M335i. Has the migration of the M badge to the rear deck lid on these cars made any of you consider debadging?
From a review I read, it does seem like the M135i is a nice little car, and I do like the idea of BMW giving drivers a lighter, simpler choice (compared to some of the current bloated M models). I guess ///M is changing so much (forced induction, electric steering, phasing out the manual trans. in the next M5, etc.), all we can hope is that these cars with our beloved M between the tail lights actually have been formed more by the engineers than the marketers...
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09-30-2012, 06:30 PM | #2 |
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technically a badge is just a badge... since u can by M and AMG and any other badge you want on the internet. toolbags are always badging their things... c250 amg , 328i M , etc; if you know cars you will be able to distinguish them apart from others.
just like if you are a car person you will know that bmw now makes M performance models like mentioned in the thread |
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09-30-2012, 07:07 PM | #3 |
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No. I'm not a badge snob.
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09-30-2012, 07:20 PM | #4 |
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No, I like the car for the car, not for the family of cars it shares a badge with.
I haven't considered debadging my S2000 because of all the boring appliances honda is putting out, haven't considered debadging my evo because of all the boring crap mitsubishi is putting out.
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09-30-2012, 09:34 PM | #6 |
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This sounds similar to what Tiffany & Co. went through in the past with their line of intro level jewelry. Their target market was for those who really wanted a piece of jewelry with a Tiffany's name on it at an affordable price. They started to pump out silver jewelry priced so affordable that teenage girls were wearing and they were sharing the same prestigious and precious value of owning a Tiffany's jewelry. Not that this is wrong, but some of the "original" customers were turned off by this and some even sold their Tiffany's jewelry because they felt that their jewelry had lost its exclusivity. After learning this, Tiffany's started to increase the prices on these intro line of jewelry but its safe to assume that what they gained in additional revenue from their more affordable line of jewelry, they took a hit on their image and perceived value.
Same thing could happen with BMW. I personally don't care too much to a point where I would boycott the M brand. Obviously the M division is doing something right if everyone wants to be a part of it (even the ricers who add on a M badge on their civics). But I will be honest and admit that it does bother me just a tad bit. The M cars have always been very special in delivering exceptional performance and also provided exclusiveness to the brand. |
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09-30-2012, 09:50 PM | #7 |
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I just hope all of these new cars (M "Light"?) prove to deserve the letter they wear. I'd love to hear the opinions of some past and present M engineers on all this...
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09-30-2012, 10:08 PM | #8 |
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Lets be honest, it's a good marketing move to make the the non real M cars feel more special by wearing a M badge, the same way an S4 looks like a special car even if it's not an RS, a 335is will look more special if it's called a M335i and it weares the little colored badge! Also, if the real M cars ever get softer, it surely wont be because some lesser expensive models wears the M badge!
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10-01-2012, 07:26 AM | #9 | |
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However, it does really water down the M brand IMO. Certain customers/enthusiasts are loyal to the M brand and this definitely takes away from the exclusivity/prestige. Right now, when you see the M on the back of a BMW you know its the top performance model. After the new M performance cars are available they will be lost in a sea of M badges. |
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10-01-2012, 09:48 AM | #10 |
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Did you guys see the X6 that was just shown at the Paris auto show? It is an "X6M50d"... This is stupid. They should have just called it an X6M-d OR an X6d with an M package.. I agree that BMW should stop throwing the M badge on everything. It is one thing to have "M packages" as an option; thats fine. But why do they have to indicate the M on the rear lid badging?
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10-01-2012, 10:48 AM | #13 |
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I agree that car looks dumb with that badge but I don't own an X6M50d I own an M3. So it doesn't matter to me one bit what they put on the back of the X6M50d.
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10-01-2012, 10:52 AM | #14 | |
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10-01-2012, 12:10 PM | #16 |
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IMHO ... All this is a Marketing ploy ... Accoumtants now seam to overule or oversee this ... If you drive a true ///M car then all you should be doing is ~smile~ when you see one. For all it is what you see is cosmetic ... "you know what is under your hood"
Perhaps it's time for a new slogan ... Like "Do you know what's under your hood?" My 2 cents on the subject ...
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10-01-2012, 05:17 PM | #17 | |
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Last edited by Alex07M3; 10-01-2012 at 08:06 PM.. |
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10-01-2012, 05:32 PM | #18 |
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10-01-2012, 05:38 PM | #19 |
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10-01-2012, 08:17 PM | #20 | |
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This will play the same way. The average driver is either going to see those Ms and not think twice, or more likely not even notice them. Those with the real M are going to ignore them as well. What's the point? You buy an M for the performance, not the badge or the body parts. |
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10-01-2012, 08:36 PM | #21 |
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Perhaps BMW got the idea from China when it copied the X5? At least the badge isn't quite as bad as the "Shuanhuan S-CEO HBJ6474Y". That isn't, however, saying much.
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10-01-2012, 08:36 PM | #22 | |
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