[Winter.M3]

Kinda controversial but I couldn't find anyone else's input. I see 3 series with the M sport package with M badges, M stickered calipers, M color stripes, etc. In my opinion, it's excessive.

Now, would you consider this upbadging? I would say yes, but I'm not sure. What's your opinion?

However; I still think it's cool to an extent to do it to some BMWs, especially if you have some performance mods. So don't get me wrong there.

Update: I got it now thanks guys... I knew it wasn't a real "M" but didn't know if it still counted as one by other people. A friend and I just didn't know others opinions. Seems like we're all on the same page.

[roastbeef]

No, it's not.

[Siajoon]

No no no and no and no no no

[Redd]

No. Never. Not in a million years.

[MPizza]

M-Sport already has M logos that are acceptable (door sills, steering wheel, rims). Anything else added by the owner is unacceptable.

[GORDON.M3]

Personally, I think BMW has ruined the ///M branding by adding these cars that aren't true ///M cars, like the M340i, M235i, etc...

[skillets]

Originally Posted by GORDON.M3

Personally, I think BMW has ruined the ///M branding by adding these cars that aren't true ///M cars, like the M340i, M235i, etc...

COULDNT AGREE MORE! It frustrates me to see these said cars, let alone their owners who think they actually own a M car. I owned a 2017 x5m and my neighbors brother showed up one day bragging about his X5M. His X5 was actually just an M sport. He argued with me on and on. Little did he know I actually owned a real x5m and it was sitting in the garage next door. He was humbled very quickly!

[nrubenstein]

It's not upbadging if BMW does it.

But they aren't M cars either.

The reality is that BMW "M" cars aren't really M cars anymore, either. So who cares? If the only transmission available is a slushbox, it's not an M car. M8? Nope. X5M? Nope. X3M? Nope. M5? Nope. What does that leave? The M3 (kind of) and the M2.

It's not brand dilution if there's no brand left in the first place.

[amrazM]

nothing has really been an true motorsport car since the E34 which was built by the M division and most of them still run with 300k miles.

dont let the m cladding get to you its not that serious.

[Richbot]

Originally Posted by amrazM

nothing has really been an true motorsport car since the E34 which was built by the M division and most of them still run with 300k miles.

dont let the m cladding get to you its not that serious.

lol what the E34 was never homologated for anything, and it's a nightmare unless you're truly dedicated to the car these days. PArts availability, plastic and rubber...90's euro car wiring...yeesh M-stripe colored glasses. Any car will last when it's well cared for, the only ones left are owned by people who give a crap.

The only real M3 is the Tesla Model 3 - it's the only M3 available with a manual. 1 on the tree baby

[Dagamus_NM]

No. It is simply an option code at this point.

[Helmsman]

M Sport is.... M Sport. A nice package that does things to the car versus non M Sport. Opted for it myself on earlier 325i and 335i.

Clearly doesn't make it an ///M car though.

[hotbmwfan]

Originally Posted by GORDON.M3

Personally, I think BMW has ruined the ///M branding by adding these cars that aren't true ///M cars, like the M340i, M235i, etc...

This hits the nail on the head for me. I cant even walk through a BMW showroom any more without getting frustrated. I asked a salesman about a year ago if the M235 on the showroom floor was an M car. He said yes, I walked away. BMW seems to be putting an M badge on everything. Used to be that you could pay extra for something special, not any more. This, combined with that disgusting front end on the G8X, will mean that I will likely never buy another new BMW. Glad that I have one of the last truly special M3's - it better last forever.

[SYT_Shadow]

Originally Posted by Winter.M3

Kinda controversial but I couldn't find anyone else's input. I see 3 series with the M sport package with M badges, M stickered calipers, M color stripes, etc. In my opinion, it's excessive.

Now, would you consider this upbadging? I would say yes, but I'm not sure. What's your opinion?

However; I still think it's cool to an extent to do it to some BMWs, especially if you have some performance mods. So don't get me wrong there.

This has been the case in Europe since before dinosaurs were extinct. The world is full of shit spec 320ds that somehow managed to get the 'M Pack' and have M badges all over from the factory.

I could literally care less. I think it makes a lot of sense to have baby M and full M cars concurrently. It's obvious which ones are real Ms and which ones are not for everyone with a brain, so I take no offense.
Just like Porsche owners have to deal with some shithead saying 'I have a Porsche Turbo' when they have a base 911, that indeed is now turbocharged, we have to contend with idiots who have 328s with 'M Packs' and say they have an M.

Real story, at physical therapist
Mensa member: hey is that your blue M3?
Me: yes
Mensa member: ah that's cool. I wanted one but my wife wouldn't let me get it, so I got a 328 convertible M
Me: that's awesome

Audi has the 'S' models for their equivalents to the baby M, I think it's just fine.

[pedro2u]

Originally Posted by MPizza

M-Sport already has M logos that are acceptable (door sills, steering wheel, rims). Anything else added by the owner is unacceptable.

+1. As an M3 and a ZHP owner, I've never heard anyone who thought their ZHP was an M car. And I've never seen it mentioned over on ZHPMafia. Still a fun car to own though. But it's not an M3

[Richbot]

Originally Posted by SYT_Shadow

This has been the case in Europe since before dinosaurs were extinct. The world is full of shit spec 320ds that somehow managed to get the 'M Pack' and have M badges all over from the factory.

I could literally care less. I think it makes a lot of sense to have baby M and full M cars concurrently. It's obvious which ones are real Ms and which ones are not for everyone with a brain, so I take no offense.
Just like Porsche owners have to deal with some shithead saying 'I have a Porsche Turbo' when they have a base 911, that indeed is now turbocharged, we have to content with idiots who have 328s with 'M Packs' and say they have an M.

Real story, at physical therapist
Mensa member: hey is that your blue M3?
Me: yes
Mensa member: ah that's cool. I wanted one but my wife wouldn't let me get it, so I got a 328 convertible M
Me: that's awesome

Audi has the 'S' models for their equivalents to the baby M, I think it's just fine.

lol once had this same parking lot conversation with a guy who got a Ford Taurus instead, after he had previously asked me about the E90 and whether he should get one. It has about 300hp so it's pretty quick. Yeah man awesome!

I'm sure he hit his head on the roof less when he was strapping his kids in, and got kicked by his kids less in that thing, heh

[Denny347]

Originally Posted by GORDON.M3

Personally, I think BMW has ruined the ///M branding by adding these cars that aren't true ///M cars, like the M340i, M235i, etc...

They have really blurred the lines between the M Sport and true M cars. More than that, BMW has watered down their entire line up with like 20 different vehicle Series between Suv, Roadsters, Sedans, etc with 90 different vehicles within those Series.

[bstone801]

Guess what.... It is only going to get worse. Gotta appeal to the cheapskate that can fool his golfing buddies that he bought the latest and greatest that BMW has or had to offer.

[timothy2001]

Used to bother me but now I realize that it just makes true M cars more desirable/valuable. Those up badged cars are just that. The general public has no idea and they don't matter anyway, what matters is the performance and drivability we've got and let the folks who want to drive what they think is a cool car buy them up.

[Siajoon]

I've taught my wife well.. We will be driving and she's like.. HEY!! That's a fake M it doesn't have bulging fenders and doesn't have quad exhausts what a poser. And I just smirk at her.. so proud

[drwankel]

Not upbadging if it came that way from the factory...

[timothy2001]

Originally Posted by drwankel

Not upbadging if it came that way from the factory...

Correct you are....still a poser.