[bavarianride]

Originally Posted by BMWCCA1

So, new M2: Not a real M-car?

SLP-built M2 true M has 3MF prefix.

The SLP-built non-M has 3MW prefix.

[BMWCCA1]

Originally Posted by bavarianride

SLP-built M2 true M has 3MF prefix.

I assume that makes it the real "MF"?

I think BMW once faced a legal challenge for producing "M" cars in Spartanburg and giving them WBS__ VINs. They lost, as you can see from this discussion.

[bavarianride]

Originally Posted by BMWCCA1

I assume that makes it the real "MF"?

I think BMW once faced a legal challenge for producing "M" cars in Spartanburg and giving them WBS__ VINs. They lost, as you can see from this discussion.

Yeah the first 3 characters of the VIN represent the world manufacturer identifier, so WBS is specific to German-built and can't be reused for US-built/SLP-built.

I would think it is fair to have multiple true-M VINs as they carry the same M DNA's(e.g. the reinforced chassis).

[bigjae1976]

What’s a real M car? Now it’s an M Competition I guess.

I’m ok with the M division going in a different direction but it should still be based on motorsports. Unfortunately BMW has killed most of its factory Motorsport efforts. BMW is already partnered with Toyota. Why don’t they do a collaboration on an F1 engine?

[georgebmwM3]

I saw a new M2 in Germany with a WBS. Was that German built?

[bavarianride]

Originally Posted by georgebmwM3

I saw a new M2 in Germany with a WBS. Was that German built?

Correct WBS is German built M car.

[bavarianride]

Originally Posted by bigjae1976

What’s a real M car? Now it’s an M Competition I guess.

I’m ok with the M division going in a different direction but it should still be based on motorsports. Unfortunately BMW has killed most of its factory Motorsport efforts. BMW is already partnered with Toyota. Why don’t they do a collaboration on an F1 engine?

I think WBS means that there is a separate M production line, or at least the same production line needs to be reconfigured/retooled to assemble a M car.

Interestingly, I read that E24 M6 and E28 M5 have WBA, and the designated WBS prefix started with E30 M3.

[jmg]

Originally Posted by DanG

Even worse is counting the i4 M50 as an M car.

I had one as a loaner, and while I don't consider it an "M" car in the traditional sense, it's a great car.

I hesitate to call any M Performance car an "M" car, but if that's what they have to do to make the profits they have to make to justify the continued development and production of current and future "M" cars than so be it. I have to admit, the i4 M50i, M340i and X3 M40i all seem much more appealing than an 340i, X3 sDrive40i or i440 and that M badge has to be helping sales.

[Fugly M3]

Originally Posted by georgebmwM3

I saw a new M2 in Germany with a WBS. Was that German built?

Would have to have been a prototype or press car assembled there. All the customer cars are 3MF.

Originally Posted by jmg

I had one as a loaner, and while I don't consider it an "M" car in the traditional sense, it's a great car.

I hesitate to call any M Performance car an "M" car, but if that's what they have to do to make the profits they have to make to justify the continued development and production of current and future "M" cars than so be it. I have to admit, the i4 M50i, M340i and X3 M40i all seem much more appealing than an 340i, X3 sDrive40i or i440 and that M badge has to be helping sales.

Sure, it sounds more appealing. But if you're the owner and saying that out loud to an enthusiast, you sound all the douche in the world and then some.

[bavarianride]

Originally Posted by Fugly M3

Sure, it sounds more appealing. But if you're the owner and saying that out loud to an enthusiast, you sound all the douche in the world and then some.

So u mean that owners of performance M340i's(e.g.) saying their cars are appealing can elicit complaints from "enthusiast" owners of high-performance M3(e.g.), right?

Well M340i/M3 can be substituted with 330i/M340i, and the "enthusiast" owners of M340i would declare the 330i as non-appealing(yet a great car!), while the M340i is almost a M3.

[Fugly M3]

Originally Posted by bavarianride

So u mean that owners of performance M340i's(e.g.) saying their cars are appealing can elicit complaints from "enthusiast" owners of high-performance M3(e.g.), right?

Well M340i/M3 can be substituted with 330i/M340i, and the "enthusiast" owners of M340i would declare the 330i as non-appealing(yet a great car!), while the M340i is almost a M3.

You can call it complaining if you wish. I don't have an issue with the M lite cars, but if I were to own one (I'd love the B58 wagon), I'd never call it by the M name. I'd just say I had an X3 or 340, for example.

[bavarianride]

Originally Posted by Fugly M3

You can call it complaining if you wish. I don't have an issue with the M lite cars, but if I were to own one (I'd love the B58 wagon), I'd never call it by the M name. I'd just say I had an X3 or 340, for example.

The following is a long thread of true M vs. M-lite, it appears some M-lite owners very much like the M car status that BMW bestows on the M-lite cars.

https://g20.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1979537