Top Gear - BMW M cars: the hits and the misses

[RugbyBro]

This list is hilarious

[W///]

Originally Posted by Patrik

Top Gear seems to be written by some 12 year olds without driving licences. Continuously bash BMW solely because of their exterior looks, instead of providing information about something relevant, like how a car is to drive. Unreadable, childish content.

It’s a shame, because otherwise it gives a good overview of the more interesting, new entries to the automotive world.

Literally the only person at Top Gear with any sort of credibility is Chris Harris. I really value his feedback.

I go elsewhere for any good reading, such as Evo.

[///BYU]

Good read. Best takeaway was discovering that All of a Sudden I Miss Everyone by Explosions in the Sky (mentioned on p. 21) is a rad album. Had it on repeat all day while I work.

[Germanauto]

Originally Posted by NickyC

I’ve owned two F82 M4s, this after owning over ten different M models from prior years and models.

The F82 has been my favorite by far, they are an absolute bullseye on what a great car should be.

Something just feels "missing" compared to the E92. But I'm sure if I owned one and got used to it I'd fall in love. Inline 6, manual option, RWD, weight kept in check. Hallmarks of an M car.

[NorCalAthlete]

Originally Posted by NickyC

I’ve owned two F82 M4s, this after owning over ten different M models from prior years and models.

The F82 has been my favorite by far, they are an absolute bullseye on what a great car should be.

The F80/82 had no such compulsion about throwing you into the weeds, and the 3.0 turbo’s minimum of 400 horsepower made sure you got there before you knew what happened.

Having driven a 500 hp Camaro as a daily driver, with a friend who had a 1,200+ hp T/A as his daily...I'm just sitting here going "that sounds perfectly lovely to me, what's the issue here? TOO much power? Pah!"

[RugbyBro]

Originally Posted by Germanauto

Something just feels "missing" compared to the E92. But I'm sure if I owned one and got used to it I'd fall in love. Inline 6, manual option, RWD, weight kept in check. Hallmarks of an M car.

Honestly both very different and equally great cars. All M3s up through F80/2 have embodied the best of their respective eras IMO. Objectively the limits of each car have gone up over time - the F8X embodying the downside of having such high limits leading it to feel quite disconnected on the street compared to its predecessors which funnily enough makes it a great daily, just not a good backroad warrior tbh. Jury's out on the G8X... but on the "face" of it I'm not sold (~4k lbs + larger dimensions, torque converter, etc.)

[quick6]

Still love and miss the crazy motor in the E63 M6 I had, but the newer M^ now owned is a pretty and better car in every way. Especially tuned!

[Huz-Z]

“Derpy”??

Seriously? This from the guys who have no idea of what a dentist, barber or a comb is, with a prime minister who clearly dries his hair with an industrial strength leaf blower?

Wow.

[secretanchitman]

The list isn't bad but I would call the F80/F82 a hit because they sold well and it improved on every issue I had with the E90/E92 M3 IMO!

F82 M4 is just a fantastic overall car to drive - BMW totally nailed it.

[B-1Pilot]

It's pretty simple... odd number M, hit... Virtually M5/M3/1M/M1 is a hit.

If its an even M or anything with an X in it, it's a miss merely because it is BMW taking the core M car and ramjamming it into a different style of car to appease buyers.

Only two marked exceptions to this rule... the 635 and the new M2.

[gds52]

The writer is biased with his tunnel-vision thinking. He hates both Z's and probably never driven one. Other M cars he is ridiculing seems prejudiced.
He seems like a Mercedes driver working for Top Gear

[jmack123]

Predictably, the Top Gear "purists" rag on the SUV M lineup. Pretty sad if you ask me. There is plenty of room (and utility) for an SUV that can perform capably on the road. There is no reason an SUV can't (and shouldn't) have performance capability (unless of course you are a snob). Obviously, a car will almost certainly always out perform an SUV relatively speaking, but in the real world (where all these cars spend the majority of the time), there is a real need for something with sports capabilities and SUV utility. Ok, rant over. On another note, as a relatively younger BMW fan, I never knew about the M1. Beautiful piece of machinery. Its a shame that BMW abandoned that aesthetic and the mid-engine configuration. Wonder in the age of revamping, if this will be revived at some point.

[Douggefreshvt]

Originally Posted by Helmsman

Nice reading:
https://www.topgear.com/car-news/ret...YkzSc2hLnVSo#1

Thanks for sharing. I thought that was excellent.

[paquet]

Reminds me of that review Clarkson(?) did for Top Gear on the M5 many many years ago - and he was making fun of the time settings for the 'follow me home' lights (those that light up after you turn the car off) - supposedly, you could set it in increments of 1 second.

[BMWCCA1]

Originally Posted by jmack123

Predictably, the Top Gear "purists" rag on the SUV M lineup. Pretty sad if you ask me. There is plenty of room (and utility) for an SUV that can perform capably on the road. There is no reason an SUV can't (and shouldn't) have performance capability (unless of course you are a snob).

You can do whatever you want with your trucks but why feel compelled to call them "M"s? We always knew they were headed this way, and we implored BMW not to do it. And X6M is not a "sport" vehicle by any stretch. Is it fast? Yes! But is it a sports car? No. Can it perform on a track? Sure, but would it perform worse if it lost the "M" badge?

During M-day at BMW Manufacturing eons ago, none other than Hans Stuck thought it was hilarious and so appropriate to ask (yes, ask) to wear a hat a friend had designed to counter the BMW NA "Most Powerful Letter in the Alphabet" slogan. His design simply said, " M is for Marketing". How prescient, and appropriate. But the enthusiasts were over-ruled in the end.

When I had the opportunity to drive a then-new E39 M5 to attend the BMW victories at Le Mans, I wrote about how it was an incredible car, a fast car, a great cruiser. But we struggled with really embracing it as an M-car since our frame of reference at that point was the M1, M3, the E28 and E34 M5 and M635Csi. The E39 really didn't have that driving-shoe purposefulness of its predecessors. Fast and luxurious, certainly. Great car! M-car? I love my E39 530i Sport/Premium 5-speed, too, but it's not really of the same ilk as my E28 535is, or even my E34 M50TU 5-speed in terms of fitting like a glove and responding like a good polo pony. Sorry!

[jmack123]

Originally Posted by BMWCCA1

You can do whatever you want with your trucks but why feel compelled to call them "M"s? We always knew they were headed this way, and we implored BMW not to do it. And X6M is not a "sport" vehicle by any stretch. Is it fast? Yes! But is it a sports car? No. Can it perform on a track? Sure, but would it perform worse if it lost the "M" badge?

During M-day at BMW Manufacturing eons ago, none other than Hans Stuck thought it was hilarious and so appropriate to ask (yes, ask) to wear a hat a friend had designed to counter the BMW NA "Most Powerful Letter in the Alphabet" slogan. His design simply said, " M is for Marketing". How prescient, and appropriate. But the enthusiasts were over-ruled in the end.

When I had the opportunity to drive a then-new E39 M5 to attend the BMW victories at Le Mans, I wrote about how it was an incredible car, a fast car, a great cruiser. But we struggled with really embracing it as an M-car since our frame of reference at that point was the M1, M3, the E28 and E34 M5 and M635Csi. The E39 really didn't have that driving-shoe purposefulness of its predecessors. Fast and luxurious, certainly. Great car! M-car? I love my E39 530i Sport/Premium 5-speed, too, but it's not really of the same ilk as my E28 535is, or even my E34 M50TU 5-speed in terms of fitting like a glove and responding like a good polo pony. Sorry!

You do realize the label "M" is arbitrary correct? Or can you give me the exact performance specs etc that constitute a "true" M? They label the SUVs with the M badge because relative to their competition (including the other non-M SUVs in their lineup), they are geared toward higher levels of performance. In other words, relative to their competition, they are designed to outperform their class in the same way the sedans are. I guess we will agree to disagree here.

[antzcrashing]

Hard to argue with these assessments. But even if something is or isnt a hit doesnt mean you cant feel the opposite about it. I feel the M2 is a miss, but mostly because the 1M was so much better.

[Staszek]

I agree with most of their assessments save 2. The new X3M is fantastic, it should not be lumped in with the X4M.

And the E60 M5 was a miss. As much as I love the engine it was a wreck and the interior is awful.

My 3 favs on the list, E39 M5, E46 M3, and of course the E30 M3.

[FinalRenegade]

Originally Posted by SoManyBlueCars

I like how the F10 is kind of a hit, but the M6 is good because it's "prettier".

Same cars...

M6 is WAY prettier inside and out and a proper beast

[MachinesWithSouls]

Originally Posted by FinalRenegade

M6 is WAY prettier inside and out and a proper beast

A debatable point. You either need the 4 doors or you don't.

Either way, The cars drive the same.

[jmg]

Originally Posted by antzcrashing

Hard to argue with these assessments. But even if something is or isnt a hit doesnt mean you cant feel the opposite about it. I feel the M2 is a miss, but mostly because the 1M was so much better.

The 1M had its detractors when it came out, including myself. It wasn't a "real" M car, it looked like a distended cat dragging it's belly around etc... time has very kind to the 1M and it's a great car, but there is a lot of nostalgia there as well for the way cars used to drive before all the regulations and marketing started to cloud the waters. The M2 pretty much trounces the 1M in all aspects of performance driving save for the aforementioned driver experience. Maybe I am biased but I feel like the G8X is the first real step back in too many significant ways compared to its predecessor. I mean, every generation gets faster and bigger and heavier, but even the F8X and E92 I felt were at the limits of weight and size. At least the F8X trimmed the fat, but the G8X went up in both.

I think history will be kind to the M2 and F8X... unless BMW does some major soul searching, these will be the last of the traditional driver's M cars.

[AlexFL]

Originally Posted by jmack123

You do realize the label "M" is arbitrary correct? Or can you give me the exact performance specs etc that constitute a "true" M? They label the SUVs with the M badge because relative to their competition (including the other non-M SUVs in their lineup), they are geared toward higher levels of performance. In other words, relative to their competition, they are designed to outperform their class in the same way the sedans are. I guess we will agree to disagree here.

Apparently all the “purists” and “enthusiasts” here want a lightweight rear wheel drive M station wagon with a manual gear box.