[r20]

Background: I was on a streak of 9 straight BMWs. We did all the major parts of the line. 3 (loved), 4 (eh) , 5 (hated), 7 (liked), x1 (LOVED), x3 (eh), x5 (loved), x5e (really hate), x7 (hate). --> i seem to love the analog BMW's. the more advanced they get, the less driving pleasure they give me.. i like a heavy steering wheel, the tactile buttons.. I wish BMW would do what Porsche did with the 911 T. Give me 1980-90s dynamics with modern tech.

My wife and I both had m3's on our wall growing up. Now we're in our early 40's.

We love the brand. Now that my kids are older, i wanted to get myself a M3.

Then i got my Tesla (wow), and just recently test drove the Model X Plaid. Tesla rewrote what luxury and advanced tech means for me (not my wife, shes still likes the ICE rumble).

But that Model X, when i punched it, i thought we were rear ended. All our heads hit the headrest.

I am just disappointed with where BMW is going. I hate that my x7 doesn't have nobs for HVAC. My x5e feels soul-less.

So i kept asking myself... why get an m3? really for pop pop pops' and looks, and sacrifice on tech, performance and convenience of home charging....

I wanted to figure out... why do you guys M? Are you like me - just loyalists? Looks? Not sold on EV?.

Thanks.

[kgelfen360]

I don’t really mean any disrespect and obviously I am BMW fanboy and have an M3. But Tesla is NOT luxury to me. Tech sure but Tesla build quality is terrible and interior is as basic as they come with no luxury IMO.

[r20]

Originally Posted by kgelfen360

I don’t really mean any disrespect and obviously I am BMW fanboy and have an M3. But Tesla is NOT luxury to me. Tech sure but Tesla build quality is terrible and interior is as basic as they come with no luxury IMO.

sorry i should clarify. You are 100% correct. No disrepect felt at all!
The worst part of the Tesla is the build quality and crappy interior.

But heres what i mean about luxury:

It took me 3 weeks to get an appointment for my oil change. I was at BMW, and i opened the tesla app to schedule a tire rotation. They came to my driveway the next day and did it. No other services of owning it.

The buying experience, i did everything on the app, no wasting time with the dealer.

If i'm home, and i need to go somewhere, i pull it up on my google maps at home and click "send to tesla". I jump in my car and its already there, cars already cooled, etc...

Other times, when i have a work meeting, i jump in my car, it knows from my calendar where i need to be.. same deal.. cars ready to go, maps on it.

Not having a key, sharing keys via text message.

Never having to see a gas station again.

Waiting at my kids sports practice, and being able to pull up netflix on the big screen monitor.


So daily creature comforts.

I really really really wish, BMW and Tesla merged. Where BMW designed the car, and Tesla did the software. To me, there would be nothing better...


What made you M? and not 911 or 330, etc..

i don't know. maybe i'm to blame for my bad selection of models. I am just done with with light steering wheels and stupid gesture gimmics.

[ratedpg909]

My G83 is my second M car. Love it for the driving experience, the looks, and the fact it’s not that common. My Tesla on the other hand is by far the most common car on the road here in So Cal. I love the tech in the Tesla and charging at home, but I love my M more. Thankfully I get to keep both and enjoy them each for their strengths.

[BackOnBlack]

This is my story of ///M: https://g80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...&postcount=453

I had many cars in my life time, including one of the best EVs on the road today, but I had to get an M3. Today is my first week in my first M3, and I am very happy with my decision.

BMW has its unique feel, particularly the M cars. However, even my wife's 18-year old 645 has the same unique BMW feel when driving. Despite all the negatives with today's Ms, that unique driving feel is there and it is even better than before IMHO. I am not a fanatic of any brand, I changed many brands over the years and I have no loyalty. I just love driving cars. The M driving experience is the one that satisfies me the most out of all the brands and models.

[mcsquared]

I personally wanted a sedan with a manual in it. Not in it for the races/shenanigans. Just the engagement that manuals bring to the driving experience. I don’t listen to music all the time, or care about maps/carplay/etc. Just listening to the sound of the engine, the interaction with the clutch and gears, and all that go along with perfecting those transactions is what caused me to get an M3. My first ever BMW, and an M car, at that.

I’ve enjoyed all 900 miles, so far, and am learning the car more and more, each time I drive it.

[bmwdrive]

Originally Posted by r20

I am just disappointed with where BMW is going. I hate that my x7 doesn't have nobs for HVAC. My x5e feels soul-less.

So i kept asking myself... why get an m3? really for pop pop pops' and looks, and sacrifice on tech, performance and convenience of home charging....

I wanted to figure out... why do you guys M? Are you like me - just loyalists? Looks? Not sold on EV?.

Thanks.

I've been wondering about this as well. Do people buy M cars for the tech or the luxury? Or is it about 0-60 times?

I thought an M was about handling, suspension, steering, power and practicality melded into a package that is usable day to day. I thought it was having a car that can double as a practical family car and a car that you can toss around for fun on a backroad or take to the track.

Isn't it about the joy of driving? That's why there are endless comparisons to Porsches. Otherwise, just get a Tesla or an 8-series.

[bri1042]

I bought mine to fulfill my need to balance performance, luxury, usability as an only car solution, and price. I also got bewitched by the Isle of Man Green paint.

[Needsdecaf]

I owned two model 3's (a LRAWD and a Performance) for a total of 4 years. I sold the Performance last December. There is very, VERY little I miss about it. Let me address some of your points.

Tesla I like to call a company of fantastic ideas poorly executed. Some examples.

Originally Posted by r20

I was at BMW, and i opened the tesla app to schedule a tire rotation. They came to my driveway the next day and did it. No other services of owning it.

That ship has SAILED. The last issue I had with my Model 3 was for an HVAC issue that Tesla bumped TWICE. And when I came in for service, they told me that it might be a problem that I had experienced the issue so long ago because the logs only go back so far. I'm like...YOUR company bumped ME twice.

Customer service there is an absolute JOKE.

Originally Posted by r20

If i'm home, and i need to go somewhere, i pull it up on my google maps at home and click "send to tesla". I jump in my car and its already there, cars already cooled, etc...

Other times, when i have a work meeting, i jump in my car, it knows from my calendar where i need to be.. same deal.. cars ready to go, maps on it.

Not having a key, sharing keys via text message.
.

Waiting at my kids sports practice, and being able to pull up netflix on the big screen monitor.

My Cayenne PHEV does the "share to nav" and preconditioning. It also can drive about 25 miles in EV mode (not super fast) and then can drive quite fast with the ICE engaged.

Netflix on the big screen is fun when it works. Which it doesn't always.

BMW has phone as key as do others.

Yeah, Tesla does software really well. Will not dispute that. It's spotty at best. You know what they don't do well? Make cars that work. Eliminating stalks so you can push buttons on the wheel for turn signals...dumb. Swiping the screen to go...dumb. Eliminating the best parking sensor IN THE BUSINESS to rely on cameras....SUPER DUMB. Vision based active cruise? Hilariously dumb. Vision based intermittent wipers? Total fail. No car play when the streaming service shows you the "loading" wheel for an hour? Bad. Lying about range? Really bad. Suspension that bounces my kids off the back seat? Not good.

Fast? Yes. Lots of cool goodies? Yes. TACC / Autosteer? Used to be the best, not any more.

Do I miss plugging the car in and not visiting the gas station? Yes. Do I miss the "fun" of planning charging on road trips? Actually sometimes yes.

DO I miss dealing with software updates that take away features? Nope. Idiotic customer service? Nope.

So yeah, I don't miss it much.

THere will be more EV's in my future, and I welcome them. But I'm not done with ICE. And this G8X is a REALLY good ICE, and that's what I wanted. The form factor, tech and performance all fit my needs.

['Cane]

I’m sure I’ll have an EV within the next decade, but it will NEVER be a Tesla. Until then, I’ll enjoy my M4.

[Th3DarkSide]

Did OP just put Luxury and Tesla (coal powered golf cart) in the same sentence? Haha

We enjoy driving REAL cars. Plain and Simple.

[mcsquared]

Originally Posted by 'Cane

I’m sure I’ll have an EV within the next decade, but it will NEVER be a Tesla. Until then, I’ll enjoy my M4.

Polestar? I considered one, really nice drive, but, ultimately not for me till it’s absolutely necessary.

[chicagofan00]

Originally Posted by r20

I am just disappointed with where BMW is going. I hate that my x7 doesn't have nobs for HVAC. My x5e feels soul-less.

This line is strange to me. You lament the direction BMW is going for not having physical buttons and yet you love the tech of the Tesla which just about all functionality is controlled via a giant iPad on the dash.

I test drove a Model 3 and Model X the other month as I was curious about those. Found the tech cool and the instant torque to be very fun but I’d put both of them in the soul-less category for sure.

Just my two cents FWIW.

[Pool Shark]

I have always wanted to own (realistically) three cars "when I grew up": M3, M5, and 911. Of course, there were the dream cars of the Italian variety, but definitely out of reach. Now, with the 911 having both obscene limited allocation and extreme ADM of $20k+, sadly the 911 is starting to creep into that out of reach territory.

My 2017 Accord 6MT will be my daily driver during winter time (until I find decent all-season tires to put on the M3) and my wife's 2022 Tesla 3 LR AWD is her commuter car (she commutes about 90 miles/day). We've taken 1 road trip in the Tesla to Niagra Falls Canada which was fine...and are contemplating another road trip to FL.

Since I mostly work from home and the fate of 6MT is likely to diminish across all brands (eventually), this is what motivated me to make the move now a pick up a 2024 M3 6MT.

[2SG5]

Originally Posted by chicagofan00

Found the tech cool and the instant torque to be very fun but I’d put both of them in the soul-less category for sure.

Exactly This. EV's are soul-less. I had a model 3 performance, it's was a great commuter car, but totally devoid of all of the theater that should come with driving a performance car. Everyone can infer at this point that end game is electric but until I absolutely have to, im going to stick with an ICE as long as I can.

This is probably just a me thing, but I really don't like having the same car as 7 other people on my block.

[kgelfen360]

Originally Posted by 2SG5

Exactly This. EV's are soul-less. I had a model 3 performance, it's was a great commuter car, but totally devoid of all of the theater that should come with driving a performance car. Everyone can infer at this point that end game is electric but until I absolutely have to, im going to stick with an ICE as long as I can.

This is probably just a me thing, but I really don't like having the same car as 7 other people on my block.

Totally agree with you. But I also think that majority of people do not care about “soul” of the car. They want to get in and go to work and the more mindless it is the better. That’s why so many people love them. Which I get it. It’s just not for me. Of course as you said we all gonna have one eventually

[evoi19]

Part of the reason why, my older brother always loved the m3 but couldn’t afford one and never did since he passed away. As a sort of a tribute I guess, I bought one to keep my brother’s love of cars close to me. Kind of hard ti explain, but I keep his pic in my visor as a reminder. I’m into car culture and cars because of him. Sharing that hobby growing up was a lot of fun and something I won’t forget. So whenever I obtain a new car I drive it up to where he rests and just share the specs and talk shop. Lol

[TopJimmy]

I love the Ms because they’re sturdy well-built platforms from the factory, and easily buildable into monsters that you can still daily.

My most fun-to-drive M was my tuned F80 MT6. Great response and hand control.

My most-fastest was my F82 DCT that was fully built for straight line drags, but after 10.0sec 1/4 miles the 900+ horsepower staying straight became a problem.

Hopefully this G80 Comp X can stay straight and get me an 8.xx second pass! We will see. Big build coming…

[wtwo3]

This post is bizarre. You're disappointed that the X7 has no physical HVAC controls.... yet you love the tesla.... which has no physical controls...

You lost me there

[DFW_M]

Originally Posted by r20

I wanted to figure out... why do you guys M? Are you like me - just loyalists? Looks? Not sold on EV?.

Thanks.

I love the BMW brand, however, would go with the Porsche if they were easier to get...maybe next.

After 9 months in a M340i, I realized I will drive the 6MT as long as they make them, therefore the EVs/Hybrids are out and the only available BMW option is an M. Do I need the performance of a true M (and there is a huge difference between the true M and M340i...) - absolutely not, however, I really enjoy the whole package with the 6MT.
I must admit that so far, my favorite M was the F87 M2C. Miss the wild factor of it, rawness, simple but all available tech/display, loudness.
The G80 is definitely a step up in interior, tech, etc., however, I miss the low down wild response of the S55 more than I missed the top end lack of power of the S55 (vs. S58).
Once you go the M route, it is really hard to go back to the non-M car

[vbb]

I've owned a lot of vehicles. My favorite ones were always a blend between luxury and sport, with more emphasis on the sport. Pure sports cars are more one-trick ponyish and can't be used all that well for regular stuff. Pure luxury cars are nice but boring. I'd rather give up a little bit of tech and comfort for more sport, but don't want the car to feel cheap. I want something nice to commute in that also is fun to take on the backroads and could handle track duty without being stupid.

My 335i, ISF, RCF and now my M4 are among my favorites of all the cars I've owned and they all have that same common theme going. The M4 with the manual transmission is perfect.

[Tyga11]

Tesla is just an iRobot car. They all look identical. You can get a plaid for around $80K now...they can't get rid of them.