[VGR00]

Here is a question that is garanteed to get mixed reactions. I was having a conversation with my brother last night and I said to him I might put on an "M" badge on the boot since I took off the 320I and now I think it needs something. (ala - LEA69).

Now my car is an M - Sport and my interpretation of having the "M" badge there meets with the model designatin of the car. My brother said it's not an M3 so you would be trying to fool people.

So people ..... what's your views ..... to "M" or not to. That is the question.

[astra]

i see your point, that it is not an M3 badge, so you wouldn't be trying to be an M3... but it's what people will think...

personally i wouldn't do it, but that's just me

here's another car with the M badge on...

[normtrum]

I'm against it. The M should be reserved for what it was intended, M series BMW's. I mean it's your car, you can certainly do what you want, but I just think it's tacky. No offense intended.

[akhbhaat]

Originally Posted by normtrum

I'm against it. The M should be reserved for what it was intended, M series BMW's. I mean it's your car, you can certainly do what you want, but I just think it's tacky. No offense intended.

The M badge is all about marketing and nothing else. People worship it as a false idol.

Cars in the M sport trim line actually come from the factory with the tri-color M badge in some markets. You're less likely to see it in markets where the M3 sells relatively well (e.g. the US), as BMW does not want to risk diminishing the image of that profitable model. In any case, whenever BMW can exploit it to improve their bottom line, they will.

[1q2w3e4r]

No, it's for M cars. An M kit doesn't make it an M car. Nothing about a base BMW is even remotely simular to their M range apart from a nice body kit. If it's never been worked on by BMW Motorsport, it's not an M IMO.

[e92phreak]

Respect the M... Do not badge unless you are driving the M.

[e92phreak]

Originally Posted by 1q2w3e4r

No, it's for M cars. An M kit doesn't make it an M car. Nothing about a base BMW is even remotely simular to their M range apart from a nice body kit. If it's never been worked on by BMW Motorsport, it's not an M IMO.

GREAT signature

Need milk!

[astra]

Originally Posted by akhbhaat

Cars in the M sport trim line actually come from the factory with the tri-color M badge in some markets. You're less likely to see it in markets where the M3 sells relatively well (e.g. the US), as BMW does not want to risk diminishing the image of that profitable model. In any case, whenever BMW can exploit it to improve their bottom line, they will.

my car came with the M door sills, although it is an individual... i would of thought i would get the individual door sills? i know someone else with a car very similar to mine, and they got the individual trims and not the M ones i was thinking ofchanging mine actually

Originally Posted by 1q2w3e4r

No, it's for M cars. An M kit doesn't make it an M car. Nothing about a base BMW is even remotely simular to their M range apart from a nice body kit. If it's never been worked on by BMW Motorsport, it's not an M IMO.

i agree completely

[normtrum]

Originally Posted by akhbhaat

The M badge is all about marketing and nothing else. People worship it as a false idol.

Well I think an M3, 5, 6, has a bit more going for it then marketing, and I don't agree either that it's a false idol. I really don't know how sports packaged BMW's are marketed worldwide, if they in fact come with "M" badges, but in the US the M3 for example is considered one of the most reveared sports cars available. It's an icon. Does that come strickly from the "M" badge? Take the badges of a stock e46 M3, and a stock E46 330i. When the debadged M3 leaves the 330i in the dust, waves goodbye in some turns, and rips it to shreads on a racetrack, how much does marketing really factor in?

[LEA69]

Oh O! The claws are out!

BMW debadged my car from delivery and since the day after, ive had the ///M badge on my boot, just ///M and NOT ///M3.

I like it and do not see it as me trying to be an M3 as anyone can tell straight away that it's not - it aint a coupe to start off with, nor has sidevents or have quads. I paid extra for my car upgrade as it is an M-Sports and I am proud of that as more E90s are stockies with no kits on them.

I have genuine factory BMW ///M emblems on my steering wheel, gearknob, door sill, wheels...and now also on my boot. Im not going to remove my little ///M emblems on the steering wheel/ wheels etc that came from factory just because its not an ///M3.

It's personal preferenace, I do not pretend when someone asks if I drive an M3 but rather am proud of the fact that I drive an E90 M-Sports. I think my car looks hot on the road!

[docbeemer]

My 2c worth. Save your money. Unless your engine AND suspension have been "worked" by BMW M division, the "M" on the back would be nothing more than an advertisement of the cosmetic changes to the car- akin to the rice boy honda civics stickers that say "powered by mugen". Whether it will be mistaken for a M3 wannabe- only by those who can't recognize an M3 in the first place (there are NO E9x M3's yet anyway).

But that's just my opinion so, my friend, it comes down to whatever floats your boat. If you feel proud and happy with whatever you do to/on your car, (like LEA) then power to you!

[VGR00]

I knew this topic would get some reaction. I'm with Lea. We have the same M-Sport branded cars and it already has "M" badges from the factory in lots of places but not on the boot. From an asthetic point, I think the badge looks good but I'm not tryin to fool anyone whatsoever into thinking the car is an M3.

Maybe BMW should have labled the M-Sport packages something different but they apear to be happy to extend the "M" monica to lesser models in the first instant. Mercedees have a sports range but they don't put the AMG monica on non AMG cars. It's all marketing.

[astra]

Originally Posted by vgr02

Mercedees have a sports range but they don't put the AMG monica on non AMG cars. It's all marketing.

Yet people can buy the AMG packages... just like with BMW they can buy the M packages...

have you seen Mercs rolling round with those AMG badges on the back? (when they don't have an AMG) haha i have, on George st of a Saturday night!

personally i think you shoudl only badge the car a certian way, say for example, an Hamann badge, if you have built teh car up to that standard, i.e. how Hamann sells their cars

[LEA69]

[1q2w3e4r]

Originally Posted by docbeemer

the "M" on the back would be nothing more than an advertisement of the cosmetic changes to the car- akin to the rice boy honda civics stickers that say "powered by mugen".

Agree totally, everyone gives stick to others about it.

M=Motorsport, having a body kit or emblem on your steering wheel doesn't classify it as an M car. Also the Merc's with AMG badges on them that aren't AMG cars don't come like that from the factory.

Its everyone's own choice at the end of the day and thats all that really matters. But I look at it that if you want the M badge on the boot you should have forked out the coin for where it counts, under the hood.

[LEA69]

If I had eneough coin, I would have bought a '3' too to go next to the ///M ! ahhahhaha

[eml]

Originally Posted by 1q2w3e4r

If it's never been worked on by BMW Motorsport, it's not an M IMO.

Originally Posted by docbeemer

Unless your engine AND suspension have been "worked" by BMW M division, the "M" on the back would be nothing more than an advertisement of the cosmetic changes to the car ...

There were cars in the BMW range which were worked on by M -- X5 4.6is/4.8is and 850CSi -- but never got the M badge.

Originally Posted by normtrum

I really don't know how sports packaged BMW's are marketed worldwide, if they in fact come with "M" badges ...

Some models sold in Asia (which were also sold here) came with the M badge. These were the M Sport models (i.e., 318i M Sport, 325i M Sport, etc.) which came with the body kit, M wheels, sports seats, anthracite headlining, M steering wheel, etc.

[oneshare325]

It has already been said very well, but I agree that the M badge is for M cars!

[remmib]

I vote no

[e93]

Ahhhh! May as well put an "M' badge on my wifes 318i. Well - maybe not. Who am I trying to impress anyway?

[VGR00]

Originally Posted by oneshare325

It has already been said very well, but I agree that the M badge is for M cars!

Well that's my point !!! But what constitutes an M car. If taking sides with the people that say not to put on the badge then, are BMW as a company, guilty for disrespecting their own products by putting on M badges on steering wheels, gear nobs, wheels, door sills and even market M-sport packages when their not a real M car.

At the end of the day, it's a personal choice what one does to their own car so I'll throw this debate over to the merits of whether BMW are over exposing their M monica.

Oh I love a good debate.

[BMW //MPOWER]

Anyone who puts an //M on the back of a 3series which is not a real M3 is a pretentious wannabe hack who should be driving a nissan/toyota/honda around with some HKS sticks and shit up the side! In my opinion it's the ultimate insult to the real M3's.