[Vel]

Originally Posted by brucec32

You see, heterosexuals often breed, and that causes them to often need more than the 2 seats in your adorably cute car. They also sometimes have friends. And since a 325i auto is already fast enough to get you arrested, heteros who don't have wee-wee issues don't necessarily feel the need to prove anything by buying more car than they can afford or need. And since they're not wreckless insane maniacs they realize that they're unlikely to need to drift around corners in suburban traffic, so they decide to go with the conveniences of an automatic as a compromise. Some may have knee issues from playing football, or wide lats, something males too big to fit in your adoreable cute car often suffer with in small cars. So forgive them if they don't all wear scarves and driving gloves. But they still might appreciate a simpler, lighter, more basic car that handles well.

Such jealousy!! And here I thought only women threw hissy fits.

Anyway, if you want a light car that handles well, buy a go-kart if you're broke, or a Porsche if you have money - BMW ain't about to change their model for success anytime soon.

[esqu1re]

One day BMW will be making all hybrids or electric cars with safety features galore, and people will be complaining that BMW needs to go back to the basics, when cars were made to run on dinosaurs---the days of the X5M. It's all relative.

[e46e92love]

Originally Posted by The HACK

BMW has two types of customers. Buyers who wants a sports car, and any luxury on top is just cherry. And buyers who wants a luxury car, and any sports on top is just cherry.

They are the two opposing forces at work here. On one hand, the Sporty buyers are the vocal buyers. The influencers. The elitist who all think what they want should be what everyone else gets. They're the type to write to BMW NA in a mass email campaign threatening to boycott BMW if they don't bring the E36 M3 over. They're the ones that tell all their friends and families that they must buy BMWs regardless of their situation and need.

However they're the MINORITY. There's probably one sporty buyer for every 10 luxury buyers out there. And BMW knows it. So what do you do, when the VAST majority of your customer base probably don't know what an apex is from a hole in the ground? Simple. You build cars that are bigger, heavier, more luxurious, but with better engine and more technology crammed into the suspension and chassis than anyone has a right to shake a stick at. That way, the sporty buyers are happy that they get a car that handles like no other sedan does, while the luxury buyers get a car with dual comfort climate control that massages your back and shakes your d*ck when you pee.

But that formula is not sustainable. With every feature added, and every inch increased and every pound heavier, it takes double the amount of horse power and suspension wizardry to keep the same "performance." So what do you do, again, if you're BMW? Well, formula is simple. You build bigger, faster, and more luxurious cars with more features, and come up with this "magical" entry level 1 series that weighs 200 lbs more than the last generation 3 series and call it the "sportier, lighter" alternative.

Unfortunately that hasn't worked as well to BMW's advantage. And the last lightweight, sporty BMW built, BMW sold all but 1,700 units in 3 years, with a $10,000 incentive on top. They just couldn't give it away. So what does that say about BMW's customers again?

So for those of you who wish BMW would go back to the "golden" age of building what made BMWs BMWs, those days are long gone. You're better off buying a Porsche. Or a Subaru if you need more practicality. Because BMW stopped building BMWs long time ago. They're now intent on building Lexuses that sort of drive like BMWs.

Point. Set. Match. Thanks for coming out and don't forget to tip your bartenders.......

Cheers,
e46e92

[Vel]

Originally Posted by esqu1re

One day BMW will be making all hybrids or electric cars with safety features galore.

And one day a video will surface with Angelina Jolie getting a cleveland steamer from Rosie O' Donnell on the ABC Family channel

[graider]

Originally Posted by VTECaddict

Windows 7 is still Vista, just running more smoothly. If you want unbloated, you need to go back to WinXP

xp is still bloated, back to 2000. wait, 3.1 is even better.

[graider]

Originally Posted by patrickch

personally, I like having no dipstick and let the sensors do their work, why going old school instead pf embracing the new technologies

i agree. i personally don't bother with dip sh1t. lol
if it's leaking, no amount of checking will help.

however, i think bmw done a half ass job on the electronic dip stick. it should be more detail such as telling you exactly where the oil level is instead of just saying it is full or not. I like to know exactly weather the oil is at min or max mark.

same goes for TPS. I want to know exactly what PSI is on each wheel at any given times.

more sensors is better. I want to know exact temp of oil, engine, coolant. I think sensors should be more reliable or atleast the computer should give a warning that a sensor fail instead of light up something on the dash that freak you out such as a transmission light, but in fact it just a temp sensor failing. that's just stupid IMO.

[HBspeed]

Originally Posted by The HACK

BMW has two types of customers. Buyers who wants a sports car, and any luxury on top is just cherry. And buyers who wants a luxury car, and any sports on top is just cherry.

They are the two opposing forces at work here. On one hand, the Sporty buyers are the vocal buyers. The influencers. The elitist who all think what they want should be what everyone else gets. They're the type to write to BMW NA in a mass email campaign threatening to boycott BMW if they don't bring the E36 M3 over. They're the ones that tell all their friends and families that they must buy BMWs regardless of their situation and need.

However they're the MINORITY. There's probably one sporty buyer for every 10 luxury buyers out there. And BMW knows it. So what do you do, when the VAST majority of your customer base probably don't know what an apex is from a hole in the ground? Simple. You build cars that are bigger, heavier, more luxurious, but with better engine and more technology crammed into the suspension and chassis than anyone has a right to shake a stick at. That way, the sporty buyers are happy that they get a car that handles like no other sedan does, while the luxury buyers get a car with dual comfort climate control that massages your back and shakes your d*ck when you pee.

But that formula is not sustainable. With every feature added, and every inch increased and every pound heavier, it takes double the amount of horse power and suspension wizardry to keep the same "performance." So what do you do, again, if you're BMW? Well, formula is simple. You build bigger, faster, and more luxurious cars with more features, and come up with this "magical" entry level 1 series that weighs 200 lbs more than the last generation 3 series and call it the "sportier, lighter" alternative.

Unfortunately that hasn't worked as well to BMW's advantage. And the last lightweight, sporty BMW built, BMW sold all but 1,700 units in 3 years, with a $10,000 incentive on top. They just couldn't give it away. So what does that say about BMW's customers again?

So for those of you who wish BMW would go back to the "golden" age of building what made BMWs BMWs, those days are long gone. You're better off buying a Porsche. Or a Subaru if you need more practicality. Because BMW stopped building BMWs long time ago. They're now intent on building Lexuses that sort of drive like BMWs.

I agree with everything you are saying, and like you I am one of the lucky few to buy the Z4M Coupe.

I loved that car for a year and a half but after it was totaled I replaced it with an E46 M3 ZCP w/ no sunroof. The problem with the Z4M was that while it was probably the best car BMW could have made at the time with the available platforms/engines, it was still not enough to compete with the competition. The car was too heavy for something so small and cramped, weighing in around 3250-3300 lbs. It was a unique experience to own and I loved every second of it, but it was not a rational purchase in any way. I only bought it because of the $10,000 off like many others.

It makes little rational sense to use the S54 engine in such a small car in 2006 when its the S54's power output is so poor in relation to its huge size and weight. While the S54 is a legend for its characteristics, everyone knows the iron block is not the pinnacle of power/weight for an engine. It seems to me to better suit the character of the E46 M3 and the time period it came from. Therefore I came to the conclusion that the S54 was an odd choice for what was supposedly one of the most focused BMW sports car ever.

The problem is BMW has never been all that great at 2 seaters, and I don't think they have any desire to actually compete with the likes of Porsche or even Chevy in this arena. What they are legendary for are their 2 door sedans. The 2002 and E30 M3 are really the essence of BMW, and define what they do better than anyone else. The spiritual successors in the E36 M3 and E46 M3 have become like you have said Hack, increasingly about luxury and catering to the majority of their consumer base.

BMW has basically admitted that the E92 3 series is so far from the spirit of the 2002 and E30 M3 that they had to create an entire new series. The 1 series has inherited this legacy, the 3 series is now just another Lexus wannabe. We can only hope that some version of the 1 series will be able recapture the purity of BMW's old self.

[The HACK]

Originally Posted by Matski

I think directing the criticism towards BMW isn't fair, pretty much EVERY car makers cars are getting bigger, heavier, and more complex through every generation... this is just progress.

.. also, dipsticks aren't infallable, and probably weigh about the same as the sensor?

Just so you know, the current generation Hyundai Tucson (2010+) is 61 lbs lighter than the previous generation Tucson while being bigger in nearly every dimension AND comes with a more powerful engine and more efficient engine.

It can be done.

[ENINTY]

Originally Posted by HBspeed

I agree with everything you are saying, and like you I am one of the lucky few to buy the Z4M Coupe.

I loved that car for a year and a half but after it was totaled I replaced it with an E46 M3 ZCP w/ no sunroof. The problem with the Z4M was that while it was probably the best car BMW could have made at the time with the available platforms/engines, it was still not enough to compete with the competition. The car was too heavy for something so small and cramped, weighing in around 3250-3300 lbs. It was a unique experience to own and I loved every second of it, but it was not a rational purchase in any way. I only bought it because of the $10,000 off like many others.

It makes little rational sense to use the S54 engine in such a small car in 2006 when its the S54's power output is so poor in relation to its huge size and weight. While the S54 is a legend for its characteristics, everyone knows the iron block is not the pinnacle of power/weight for an engine. It seems to me to better suit the character of the E46 M3 and the time period it came from. Therefore I came to the conclusion that the S54 was an odd choice for what was supposedly one of the most focused BMW sports car ever.

The problem is BMW has never been all that great at 2 seaters, and I don't think they have any desire to actually compete with the likes of Porsche or even Chevy in this arena. What they are legendary for are their 2 door sedans. The 2002 and E30 M3 are really the essence of BMW, and define what they do better than anyone else. The spiritual successors in the E36 M3 and E46 M3 have become like you have said Hack, increasingly about luxury and catering to the majority of their consumer base.

BMW has basically admitted that the E92 3 series is so far from the spirit of the 2002 and E30 M3 that they had to create an entire new series. The 1 series has inherited this legacy, the 3 series is now just another Lexus wannabe. We can only hope that some version of the 1 series will be able recapture the purity of BMW's old self.

I find this quite interesting. Many on this forum, when discussing the 2011 Ford Mustang GT chastise Ford for continuing to build (what they think) is a POS '60's muscle car wannabe. They think it is still just a straight line-go-fast-doesn't-corner-worth-shit solid axle '60's lookalike. In their minds Ford has made no advancement in performance nor design. But oh God, show them that it matches the performance of an M3, and the fanboyism pours out even more.

Then we have this type of post where BMW is chastised for NOT keeping to it's small, lightweight, good handling sports sedan formula, and it has just turned the 3 Series into an overweight luxury Lexus wannabe. However, Car and Driver just tests all M3's from the E30 on up, and low and behold the E90/92 M3 roasts the E30 around the track. It's called progress. The current M3 is 25 years advanced in engineering and performance. It is bigger, handles better, stops better, is way safer, and gets better or at least comparable fuel mileage to the 4-cylinder E30 M3. If it gets around the track faster but has more luxury than the E30 version, who really cares? If you want the rawness and less luxury of the E30 M3, then get the ’11 Mustang GT.

[Sniz]

well guys thats why when my 335 was totalled I went and bought a turbo e36. back to the unbloated BMW times with some serious power, handling, and IMO style to boot.



oh, and my 335 oil level sensor WAS failing for sure, i didnt trust it at all. 1 day, -1 quart, stop and restart and i'm fine, then the next time i'm +1 quart. yeah that makes you feel ALLLLLLL warm and fuzzy inside.