[BMW3R]

Originally Posted by 3XTR3M3

I think this sucks and waters down the M brand. Every BMW is going to have an M badge on it. The cars we laughed at which slapped an M before the numeric designation like M750iL are coming true.

Unless this opens room for the real M cars to go balls to the wall and break away from the luxury market grip to become more hardcore sports cars, then I can't see ANY good coming from this to M enthusiasts or the M brand. M ALL THE THINGS!

I agree. Seems like pretty soon ALL of their cars will cary an M badge.

[mdoughty]

two press releases on consecutive days cheapening the m brand...why not stick an M on every car?

[WULFFZA]

Originally Posted by Jason

It doesn't turn it into the traditional "M" car, but it does makes it the new additional category of "M" car.

I see nothing wrong with this if it allows the traditional M models to be focused on even higher performance and being better than ever.

I agree. There is already a dilution of the M Brand with all the M Sport options and a 'legitimate' X5M and X6M. It is already difficult to explain the difference between M Sport and Mx models to most folks, but car guys know and I think that's all that matters.

I am for it as long as it means that the highest spec SUVs, automatics and diesels are M Performance models, but only petrol cars with manuals or DCTs can be M cars. Does the extra money and efficiency generated from M Performance sales mean we can get bespoke engines in an M car in the future again??

Update: I would also prefer this if it also meant that you lost the M-Sport body trim only option. Its Sport, or M Performance...
The risk with all these lines is dilution of value, how much of the cost of that package are you going to get back on trade in. The market wont decipher all these differences and added cost options will be pennies on the dollar on the back end because for one, the used value guides already have a hard time pricing these options or even listing them appropriately. So conceivably an F30 could be base, modern, luxury, sport, M Sport, M Performance or M3...geez

[sparoz]

BMW M is a subsidery of the BMW Group and a car manufacturer in their own right. If I am correct M will need to be self sufficient in the future and that's probably the reason for these M tuned cars coming out. I would say vin on these cars will have WBS rather than WBA. Profit in these cars will go towards the development of the fully fledged M cars.

[chsbmw]

The current M cars are suitable for day to day driving, comfortable and you can take one off the assembly line straight to a race track and have fun. I don't think the ga

[emathis]

Too late, now I bought the C 63 AMG T-Modell because no M3 Touring was available and expected to be available as an F3x.
But again, as they state, it's not going to be real ///M Hardcore.

[James T. Kirk]

///M Variant = Diet M = Nonsense

It's either ///M or it's not. Anything in between is simply a dilution of the badge for marketing purposes. Highly corrosive.
.

[Alumac]

The naming convention is clunky at best. However, I am happy to see them introduce a more hopped up version of their vanilla cars.

I gladly accept the "dilution" of the M brand if it means the traditional M cars become more performance oriented.

As for the people worried that others will not be able to tell the difference between a M335 and a M3; who cares?

[EdM5]

X6 plus uber diesel is a winning combination for sure.

[tirana]

How is this a dilution? If you worry that other drivers won't be able to tell whether you are driving an M5 or an M550d, you are driving the wrong car. BMW doesn't care whether a dick or an enthusiast buys their cars and having a dick drive an M car is a lot more toxic to the brand than pushing out a few more M badges. BMW is a performance brand and yet it sells a ton of vehicles that are low end. Should BMW abandon those sales? If there is a market for between a 335i and M3, they would be foolish to ignore it.

You know what car you are driving and you bought it for various reasons. Isn't that ALL that matters?

[JulieDriving]

This makes the model line too complicated and dilutes the M brand. Unless......

The M brand becomes a distinct brand under the BMW group umbrella,as has been rumoured.

[Auto Pilot]

Originally Posted by e92_m3

+1!

I didn't know that dropping the N55 engine from the 335is coupe into a 135i will turn it into an "M" car? Not really feeling the M135i name for some reason.

I know a lot will say that this is BMW's way of following Audi in the "S line" of cars, but IMHO exclusivity for the "M" vehicles are getting tarnished since the "M" badge is being used too much on a lot of BMW's new vehicle lineup nowadays.

Just because the 135i acquired the N55 engine from the 335is, it does not mean it deserves the "M" name. They should call it a 135is.

Just my $0.02.

- the 335is has an N54 engine in it
- "S line" cars are only suspension, bodykits and badging

considering that BMW's top non-M vehicles can hang with Audi's S versions (i.e. 335 - S4/5), the M Performance lline provides additional performance which is great

[Auto Pilot]

Originally Posted by tirana

How is this a dilution? If you worry that other drivers won't be able to tell whether you are driving an M5 or an M550d, you are driving the wrong car. BMW doesn't care whether a dick or an enthusiast buys their cars and having a dick drive an M car is a lot more toxic to the brand than pushing out a few more M badges. BMW is a performance brand and yet it sells a ton of vehicles that are low end. Should BMW abandon those sales? If there is a market for between a 335i and M3, they would be foolish to ignore it.

You know what car you are driving and you bought it for various reasons. Isn't that ALL that matters?

[mshab356]

If it isn't an M car, it should not rock the M badge. Plain and simple. This new model line should be coined "is" instead of M (135is, 550is/d, etc). Isn't that what the 335is was created for? Something kind of between the 335i and the M3?

[hks786]

Over on GCF Scott has confirmed there will be a M750d in 2012 and a M650d coupe/cabrio/GC next year.

*insert facepalm*

[liang]

Originally Posted by 3XTR3M3

The cars we laughed at which slapped an M before the numeric designation like M750iL are coming true.

Exactly!

The performance upgrades look Infiniti IPL-esque...

[Mako]

I was supporting BMW when the X5M and X6M came out and love the idea of a X3M. I also like the M sport upgrades (have it on our X3) but a new line between the base and full blown M is going too far. What was wrong with the "is" badge? Sure it will probably help sales by calling it M something instead of "is" but they are really going to piss off real M buyers. The average person will think a M135 is the same as a 1M or a future M335 and an M3... Maybe they should do what Audi does and add another letter to real M cars (like Audi with RS) haha. There should never be any outside emblems that say "M" anything unless it's a full blown M.

[erio]

Marketing baby...that's what this is all about. I don't think they really care about preserving the M badge for the true enthusiasts. They care about the masses. They know the M badge sells and they want to create an affordable M that's available to more consumers. First it was the damn x5/6m and now this..... I don't buy this rational of how it will make the regular M better by providing more development funding. They have plenty of resources to accomplish that task without diluting the M badge. Pretty soon the M badge will be a factory option for all cars. By diminishing the exclusivity of the M badge, I really think they will loose a lot of us because people who drive M cars as a general rule like the exclusivity. However, by sacrificing loyal customers along with the M heritage they will in turn gain enough new customers to more than make up the difference. I guess they feel it's worth it.....sad.

[stefan]

How else can M division cop out?
- "We won't build SUVs" - enter X5 and X6 "M"
- "We won't turbocharge" - enter M5, 1M
- Bespoke engines - 1M uses N54

For hardcore M fans, it's a disappointment. Build quality is dropping, and the ubiquitous nature of the M brand is disappearing. M is becoming AMG. Let's slap the badge on everything.

I'm not talking about M badge exclusivity either. My concern is the effort and quality that is put into thoroughbred M cars and whether those will even exist anymore.

[Alicate]

I purchased my two M cars (E86 and E90) for performance reasons. But there will be so many Ms on the street that I would rather remove the M badges from both (I was tempted to do that anyway, but this is the final straw).

[stefan]

Originally Posted by Alicate

I purchased my two M cars (E86 and E90) for performance reasons. But there will be so many Ms on the street that I would rather remove the M badges from both (I was tempted to do that anyway, but this is the final straw).

Maybe it's time for a 340is badge.

[Mr. Nice]

This is so lame. And yes the 135i has had the n55 for 2 years now and the 335is and 1M have the n54. It's official, BMW only cares about money now.