BMW M Competition trim is being eliminated

[roku.g9]

What is the last chance to order a g80 m3 base? I wonder how much will be known about next gen at that point.

I’m only a year into my g80 comp, and wouldn’t be opposed to ordering another g80 manual before this generation is wrapped up. I guess deciding factors for me will be what happens with next gen, is it offered in manual or not. Sounds like manual is not confirmed to be dead on next gen, but highly likely.

[Bimmer Barney]

This is good. Comp is a package, not a model designation.

[pz619]

Auto only? Gross

[NickyC]

Good, it was stoopid anyway.

[Boltar]

This has been announced 2 years ago..

[NGT2]

Originally Posted by 19M5

In all honesty, how many people here actually know how to drive a stick? Of all the people I ever met, besides me, I think I’ve known only 4-5 others. And they were “older in age” like me! lol

I’m 40 and a lot of my friends can’t drive stick.

I love driving the ‘97 Z3 with a 5 speed manual.

But I recently tested a M3 6MT back to back with a M4 Comp (auto, obviously). Honestly, the M4 was more fun.

Of course, easier to say when the old 5 speed is in the garage and I can get that sensation there.

[MDude]

Originally Posted by -RAC

https://www.motor1.com/news/777772/bmw-killing-m-competition-models-reason/

In a recent interview with BMW Blog, BMW M CEO Frank van Meel confirmed that the Competition trim is all but dead on future M cars. The reasoning? Buyers simply preferred the higher-performance version. Van Meel said:

'More than 80 percent of our customers went straight for the Competition. So we said, let’s just make that the standard one. You could say that every M model today is a Competition.'

According to Van Meel, the move will help simplify the M lineup moving forward. Buyers will soon have just three options to choose from: The base M, the CS, and the CSL. Standard M models will now include many of the features—including power—previously reserved for Competition versions, while the CS and CSL trims will focus on reduced weight and enhanced track performance.

This is the biggest bullsh*t I have ever read…. Then just call them all Competitions if there isn’t going to be a higher trim or model. Not to forget to mention the new M5 has a lot of mixed reviews and really isn’t that much better or at all versus the F90 M5 Comp.

BMW stop bs’ing and bring back the comp models, you idiots… 🤦‍♂️ committing brand suicide!

[RPM33]

Originally Posted by robopp

And for anyone holding their breath for a manual in a future M car can breath again because the manual is confirmed dead.

Enough. The manual transmission cannot handle the torque. Why is this so hard to understand?

Be thankful that car companies are rolling back EV initiatives.

[RPM33]

Originally Posted by Dnshift

I was just wondering this, waiting for the M5 Competition, which I suppose won’t be a thing?

Seems like a miss, upbrand everything in the portfolio to M and M-sport but kill comp? Feels like more dilution of “M”.

If this came up in a meeting at work - my counterpoint would be “so 80% of customers like and select this, and you want to get RID of that?” Seems half thought through to me.

Just wait for the M5 CS version which is probably on the way.

[MDude]

Originally Posted by RPM33

Enough. The manual transmission cannot handle the torque. Why is this so hard to understand?

Be thankful that car companies are rolling back EV initiatives.

Agreed, get over manual transmissions, didn’t realize how many people still enjoy playing with sticks (lmao, jk) but in all seriousness, I hope people get over it (auto is much more powerful and better &#128521

[MDude]

Originally Posted by RPM33

Just wait for the M5 CS version which is probably on the way.

Unfortunately it looks like that ain’t happening…

[RPM33]

Originally Posted by MDude

This is the biggest bullsh*t I have ever read…. Then just call them all Competitions if there isn’t going to be a higher trim or model. Not to forget to mention the new M5 has a lot of mixed reviews and really isn’t that much better or at all versus the F90 M5 Comp.

BMW stop bs’ing and bring back the comp models, you idiots… 🤦‍♂️ committing brand suicide!

The CS version is the higher trim model. They just got rid of the middle tier model, the Competition trim.

[DDDGGG_M]

Originally Posted by Boltar

This has been announced 2 years ago..

Yes this is old news. People on here are so clueless lol.

First off, the competition moniker never directly related to the transmission choice until the G80/82. And in those cars, the transmission (and de-rated power/torque) were literally the only difference between the comp and non-comp models. It was a stupid marketing thing in the first place.

In the G87, BMW has already shown us how this works going forward. The “regular M2” comes in both manual and auto. The performance parts are identical except the engine is de-rated in the manual due to hardware limitations. So the manual is slightly slower but from a track handling standpoint (aka “competition”) it should perform really well. No reason to call the auto “competition” when the suspension, brakes, steering, etc. are all the same.

[Bimmerfun82]

Originally Posted by 19M5

In all honesty, how many people here actually know how to drive a stick? Of all the people I ever met, besides me, I think I’ve known only 4-5 others. And they were “older in age” like me! lol

Everyone over 40 on this forum. Well, I’d be willing to bet at least 90% of those over 40. I learned how to drive on a manual. I drove and owned many manual BMW’s including the e39 m5 and e46 m3. First car was a manual c5 corvette. I feel bad for those who haven’t experienced the engagement of a manual transmission and the craft that goes with it.

[MDude]

Originally Posted by RPM33

The CS version is the higher trim model. They just got rid of the middle tier model, the Competition trim.

Not gonna hold my breath but I hope you are right… :/

Plus not everyone is able to get their hands on one, allocations for the CS models are very tough, good luck trying to get one! Loll

[6SPDG82]

Originally Posted by evdoho

The number of comments claiming this statement inherently means the manual transmission is dead just proves how poorly the “competition” moniker was handled in the past.

Is the manual transmission dead for future models? No clue. This headline means nothing in regards to transmission choices.

The “competition” badge has meant so many different things depending on the model.

E46 - competition (ZCP) does not affect transmission choice.

E9X - competition (ZCP) does not affect transmission choice.

F80 & F82 - competition does not affect transmission choice.

F87 - competition does not affect transmission choice.

G87 - competition does not affect transmission choice. (Because comp is dead, this is the way future models will be)

The ONLY generation which relied on the competition badge to define transmission was the G80 & G82.

I agree, that’s why I asked the question…you can (in theory) have a standardized M3/M4 with either a manual or automatic transmission. Then have CS and CSL models with increased power/different trim levels in auto only.

They didn’t state explicitly if the manual cars fall into that bucket.

What made it more confusing was the statement about the increase power blah blah because the manuals are detuned from the factory.

[6SPDG82]

Originally Posted by Scrapula

I made sure my son bought a manual transmission car for his first. I bought him a t-shirt that says ‘real cars don’t shift themselves’. I had to drive the car home for him, but he was driving it the next day.

I did the same…2023 manual WRX Subaru for him and HPDE and rallycross planned in the spring.

[bandwagn]

Comp or no Comp, manual is dead from a technology perspective more so than any other reason - it just isn’t compatible with today’s modern safety and comfort features.

The Manual is Dead - Long Live the Manual

[My M3]

Originally Posted by moonluv810

This 100%!

Competition used to be a package, not a model trim.

BMW Marketing needs to stop over marketing and diluting the true essence of what an M model should represent.

Agree 100%
Stop diluting the true "M" meaning & what it stands for.
Accountants & Marketing people will be the death of anything of meaning

[kgelfen360]

This probably won’t affect current generation cars. It be weird they suddenly made base M3 equal to comp in G80 line up

[Stin6er]

Originally Posted by 19M5

In all honesty, how many people here actually know how to drive a stick? Of all the people I ever met, besides me, I think I’ve known only 4-5 others. And they were “older in age” like me! lol

I can drive a sticky, but I’m 63, I grew up driving MT. All my kids can drive stick because I made it a mandatory part of there drivers education!

[gemini.m3]

Feel lucky to have got my 25 m3 - specced out in individual LSB and every other checkbox except carbon ceramics and have it in manual.

It may not be as fast a "competition" but with a tune I could get close or exceed a stock one from a roll, which is fast enough for me. I can keep a purer driver experience (albeit with all the other electronic stuff) and get a newer (maybe new LCI next-gen m3) fully automatic with all the bells and whistles and have the best of both worlds.