general bmw question..

[elitesales305]

why is it than ive seen lately bmw models with the m badge and then a model number??
like this morning I saw a m435???
is this like a 435 from factory with some m parts??
also saw a m235 the other day...
figured it was some dude that didn't have enough for the m2.. and bought the badge .. but now im seeing more n more.. and I google image searched and its a thing..
so don't call me lazy for not doing the homework.. and give me the short of it ..hahah thanks..

esteban, swag.. I expect a quippy reply!!

[olds350]

Those are probably correct badging. Had a friend of mine that bought a '15 M235. The M2 wasn't available when he ordered it. Those are basically the standard cars with the M appearance package.

[swagon]

They're now putting little M badges on fenders of non-M cars with the M package. Not sure if that is a thing in the US, but in Europe, it's standard unless you opt for the delete option.

Also, M Performance cars are a real thing and you should look em up on the web before you go and wrongly accuse a poor dude of having a fake M car

[Esteban]

Why, you thinking of putting an M on your car? Only real factory M135i is the hatchback in Europe.

M235i comes from the factory with an M in the model name. There is no 235i as far as I know.

Never heard of an M435i from the factory. Owner or someone else must've added the M on the one you saw.

That said, an owner can add or remove anything they want imo, it's their car. Didn't always see it like that but I do now.

[doublevanosrc]

Posers!

[Captain Blood]

One way to know is to look at the exhaust. Tail pipe configuration will usually tell you all you need to know about the engine. For example, I saw a 328 with an m badge last week (the 328 badge had been removed).

[Matticus91]

Standard now, and kind of annoying. Exhaust also isn't the best indicator since you can order "M Performance" exhaust on most cars now.

[bagekko]

When I was in Scotland over the summer I noticed it too, almost every BMW had M label on the side for any car with an M package. Its like the Audi S-Line. I was upset to see they are cheaping the M name that way and following Audi in the marketing scheme.

Originally Posted by swagon

They're now putting little M badges on fenders of non-M cars with the M package. Not sure if that is a thing in the US, but in Europe, it's standard unless you opt for the delete option.

Also, M Performance cars are a real thing and you should look em up on the web before you go and wrongly accuse a poor dude of having a fake M car

[Esteban]

Yeah, when the M235i came out in 2014, it had 16 M badges on it. Do we think that's enough for a car that's not really a true ///M car? Besides, that's what the M2 is for. lol

http://www.roadandtrack.com/new-cars...014-bmw-m235i/

[elitesales305]

Originally Posted by swagon

They're now putting little M badges on fenders of non-M cars with the M package. Not sure if that is a thing in the US, but in Europe, it's standard unless you opt for the delete option.

Also, M Performance cars are a real thing and you should look em up on the web before you go and wrongly accuse a poor dude of having a fake M car

I thought some dude just slapped it on the first time I saw it o nthe m235i..
but when I saw the m435i 2 days ago and I looked at the driver (some old fart)
it seemed like the driver wouldn't go on ebay to slap a badge on the car..
anyways .. I figured it was like u say..
a 435.. with some factory installed m parts .. is the middle man between 435.. and m4.. ;(

[KNS]

Because BMW saw the M badge as a way to hike up profits across more cars. Of course it’s not so “exclusive” anymore (if that’s what you’re into).

Mercedes did the same thing with the AMG badge. You can get “AMG” anything now but what are the Uber rich folk to do without their exclusivity? Not so special anymore... Mercedes answered that with the “Black” badge. Ooooooh. The whole think is a bit silly. But people will pay.

[bagekko]

Well technically the M2 is not a real M either as it does not have a Motorsports S engine.

Originally Posted by Esteban

Yeah, when the M235i came out in 2014, it had 16 M badges on it. Do we think that's enough for a car that's not really a true ///M car? Besides, that's what the M2 is for. lol

http://www.roadandtrack.com/new-cars...014-bmw-m235i/

[swagon]

Originally Posted by bagekko

Well technically the M2 is not a real M either as it does not have a Motorsports S engine.

So, by that stupid logic, neither was the M1 with its M88 engine?

[bagekko]

Considering S engines did not exist in 1978 no that would not apply.

Originally Posted by swagon

So, by that stupid logic, neither was the M1 with its M88 engine?

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by bagekko

Well technically the M2 is not a real M either as it does not have a Motorsports S engine.

The M2 is my favorite M car that BMW currently makes. No, it's not perfect. Yes, I think it's a real M car.

Here it beats the M4 on the track: (go to 5:50 for the results if you don't want to watch)

[chris_flies]

Think Mercedes-AMG C43. The M240i has a sportier mindset than a 228i, but it doesn't take it to the extreme of the M2. Also think 2018 Ford Mustang GT with Perf. Pack 2, not quite a GT350/R, but much stronger than the normal GT.

[Cmoney135i]

Originally Posted by bagekko

Well technically the M2 is not a real M either as it does not have a Motorsports S engine.

and the 1m? It's highly regarded as one of the best drivers car... plus the n5x can make pretty good power for cheap

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by Cmoney135i

and the 1m? It's highly regarded as one of the best drivers car... plus the n5x can make pretty good power for cheap

Not a real M car either.

[Dackelone]

Those are the so called: "M light" cars...

Currently...

M135i now M140i,
M240i
M435i now M440i,
M550i
M760i and Li


X3 M40i
X4 M40i
X5 M550d
X6 M500d



Full ///M cars...

M2
M3
M4
M5

X3M
X5M
X6M


Those little ///M badges you see on the front fenders are available on all BMW's and designate the M Sport package. Something like over 65% of all BMW's sold have had the "M Sport" option ticked.

And to confuse you even more... you can get "M Performance" parts equipped(from the factory or PDI port) or installed at the dealer after you take delivery. Things like Exhaust. Spoilers, Suspension coil over kits, Steering wheels and wheels are just some of the M Perf parts you can order across the BMW line up.

Dackel

[Esteban]

Originally Posted by Dackelone

Those are the so called: "M light" cars...

Currently...

M135i now M140i,
M240i
M435i now M440i,
M550i
M760i and Li

Didn't know there was an M435i, and now an M440i.

[tock172]

The best comparison that comes to mind for me is Audi. Audi's S range competes the M-Performance cars, while Audi's RS line up is better positioned to compete with the (performance) range topping M cars.

Historically over the past 20 years or so this has applied nicely between the manufacturers, and it still applies today. The M760Li is slotted against the Audi S8, for example.

By the way, BMW has been sticking an M in front of a model designation for a long time. In fact, that's how the M cars came to be. The E12 M535i was the precursor to the M5, and the M635CSi was sold here as the M6.

[Dackelone]

Originally Posted by Esteban

Didn't know there was an M435i, and now an M440i.

You know what... now that I think about it... I think I was wrong. I just checked and I don't see a M440i listed. Maybe the car the OP saw had a ///M logo added after the fact. So BMW only offers the M lights on the 1er, 2er, 5er and 7er as far as I can tell.

Originally Posted by tock172

The best comparison that comes to mind for me is Audi. Audi's S range competes the M-Performance cars, while Audi's RS line up is better position to compete with the (performance) range topping M cars.

Historically over the past 20 years or so this has applied nicely between the manufacturers, and it still applies today. The M760Li is slotted agains the Audi S8.

And now Audi has a Performance after sales line called... Audi Performance.
I saw a TT-RS with all of their "Audi Performance" bits... the car has a 140K euro sticker! Base price was something like 70K euros. I was in shock. Audi also showed their "new" RWD R8 there. lol So much for Quattro Audi(understeer).

Dackel