[Alpine300zhp]

Originally Posted by wtwo3

It's all a marketing ploy. They'll put them in the same general category as true M cars and people will eat that up and sales of these m-lite cars will explode to new highs. I owned an m340i and never once considered it an M car - to me it was just natural progression from the f30 340i. But the g20 forums would eat me alive for those comments

Agreed. Basically it’s a 340 M sport badged as an M. I have had many M sport BMW’s as well as the “real” M version of the same car and there is no comparison. Not even a little bit.

[Bimmerfun82]

How's AMG doing?
Go M!

[Alpine300zhp]

Originally Posted by Ibiza

Interesting that no sales numbers for the XM?

Such a marketing play on words between high-performance and performance, as it’s 💯 💩.

The sales of those are low. In a moment of temporary insanity, I considered a leftover all black XM that my buddy had in inventory. He offered me a smoking deal on it (20k plus off), and at the end of the day it just didn’t move the needle enough for me relative to its price.

[Alpine300zhp]

Originally Posted by DanG

What is the world coming to when the best selling M car is the i4 M50?

Let’s not forget how much incentive money is/was being thrown at that car. That is a big reason why it’s sales numbers are what they are. Take away that money and see what happens.

[tturedraider]

Originally Posted by Alpine300zhp

Agreed. Basically it’s a 340 M sport badged as an M. I have had many M sport BMW’s as well as the “real” M version of the same car and there is no comparison. Not even a little bit.

Well, now you’ve gone in the other direction, because that’s not correct. The G20 M340i is significantly more than an F30 340i M Sport. No one is saying the M Sport division hasn’t “massaged” the latest cars with the M badge in the front. That’s been happening for over forty years. But, it doesn’t make them true M cars whose sales should be reported in the same category.

[Alpine300zhp]

[QUOTE=tturedraider;30805493]Well, now you’ve gone in the other direction, because that’s not correct. The G20 M340i is significantly more than an F30 340i M Sport. No one is saying the M Sport division hasn’t “massaged” the latest cars with the M badge in the front. That’s been happening for over forty years. But, it doesn’t make them true M cars whose sales should be reported in the same category.

Perhaps we will have to agree to disagree. I see improvement in the G20 chassis over the F30 across the entire line. However, taking those improvements into consideration, I still think, had BMW chose to make a G20 340 m sport, that it would be the same as today’s M340. My opinion is the same for the M550 and x5 m50. But, that is just my opinion and we will never really know.

[MJBO]

Originally Posted by Needsdecaf

Now M lite cars have quad tips and double pillar mirrors, and more M badges than my M3.

Sad.

I’m racking my brain, but can’t think of any M Lite cars that have quad tips?

[tturedraider]

Originally Posted by MJBO

I’m racking my brain, but can’t think of any M Lite cars that have quad tips?

The only one I’m aware of is the new 2024 X2 that I posted about.

[MJBO]

Originally Posted by tturedraider

The only one I’m aware of is the new 2024 X2 that I posted about.

Fascinating, X1 M35i does too! X7 and X6 M60i kind of do as well.

(Gotta say, I do like the look of the X1 M35i)

[tturedraider]

Originally Posted by MJBO

Fascinating, X1 M35i does too!

(Gotta say, I do like the look of the X1 M35i)

There is no doubt the new X1 looks much better than the X2!! I think that’s the first photo of it I’ve seen with the quad tips.

Interesting. That’s definitely the first photo I’ve seen of the X6 M50i. Also interesting, the X1 tips look much better!!

[chicagofan00]

Originally Posted by MJBO

I’m racking my brain, but can’t think of any M Lite cars that have quad tips?

Originally Posted by tturedraider

The only one I’m aware of is the new 2024 X2 that I posted about.

My 2024 X5 M60i has quad exhaust. Although it’s a bit hidden and not clearly visible as a quad setup like the full M versions.

[chassis]

BMW is in a golden era, since the 2000-teens. Congratulations to them.

VAG, specifically Audi brands did well in 2023. Porsche and VW brand trailed the US market but grew unit volume.

MB in 2023 lost more ground and is descending ever further into a dark age, begun under Shrempp in 1995, continued by Dr. Z. and torch carried on by Källenius.

[deemo319]

Originally Posted by Ibiza

Interesting that no sales numbers for the XM?

They sold 2,315 XM’s with deliveries not starting until late spring so 2024 will be that models first full year.

[Fugly M3]

So, is there any breakdown of diet vs. full fat M cars?

[Btyler227]

https://g80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=2065307

Wait, so no i with an M car? I guess unless it boosts your sales figures, got it! 🤦🏻*♂️

[alex2364]

Originally Posted by tturedraider

Well, now you’ve gone in the other direction, because that’s not correct. The G20 M340i is significantly more than an F30 340i M Sport. No one is saying the M Sport division hasn’t “massaged” the latest cars with the M badge in the front. That’s been happening for over forty years. But, it doesn’t make them true M cars whose sales should be reported in the same category.

Other than the engine, there is nothing on the M340i that isn’t available on the 330i. It is no more of a M car than a 330i M Sport with adaptive M suspension. You could even order the 330i with a M differential in the early G20 days.

[secretariat]

Originally Posted by rereynol

I see a lot of complaints that the i4 M50 shouldn’t be an M, but it’s faster 0-60 than the M3 competition. I’m not sure what BMW is supposed to do when these electric cars are able to throw-out 600 HP effortlessly. Just have a bunch of non-M electric cars driving as fast as (or faster) than petro M cars?

Proves the point that an M car a "real" M car is not only about the damn 0-60 times. Have you driven an M3/M5? It's the way the M car drives under all circumstances that separates it from all non m cars.

[ASAP]

Originally Posted by uniqueMR

M vehicles are not M Performance vehicles.
BMW shouldn't dilute the brand.
BMW is becoming greedy and placing M badge on almost all models...


200k+ just for BMW M/M Performance: that's a lot...damaging exclusivity of M cars.

This started around 2008-2009 when the M sport package was released... which was really Sport package with M badges.... it's been more and more diluted since.

[Ibiza]

Originally Posted by chicagofan00

My 2024 X5 M60i has quad exhaust. Although it’s a bit hidden and not clearly visible as a quad setup like the full M versions.

Love that Java Green!!

[prei1978]

My 2 cents: If people expect M cars to be exclusive they are barking up the wrong tree. M was always supposed to be every man’s performance cars.

Also keep in mind that M has plenty of cars like the M635csi so what they are doing with M340i/M440i is not without precedent.

I have an M440i cabrio and it is a true performance car, even if the M4 Canrip will certainly take it a couple of notches up.

I take more issue with the XM than the Mxxx cars that we have available now.

[tturedraider]

Originally Posted by alex2364

Other than the engine, there is nothing on the M340i that isn’t available on the 330i. It is no more of a M car than a 330i M Sport with adaptive M suspension. You could even order the 330i with a M differential in the early G20 days.

Okay. With a four banger motor I can’t agree with you. (Not withstanding the original ///M3) In response to my post though I’m not quite sure what your point is.

[tturedraider]

Originally Posted by ASAP

This started around 2008-2009 when the M sport package was released... which was really Sport package with M badges.... it's been more and more diluted since.

Actually it started in Europe in 1979 with the E12 M535i. M Sport models have a long history. They are nothing new. Except this decision to start counting them as GmbH sales.