[E92MP]

I have noticed a few differences of opinion over the use of the 'M' badge on a BMW, and a thread recently by bigbeemer titled “Finally got my Msport coupe in le mans blue” threw some interesting comments as bigbeemer has an ‘M’ badge on his 320d M Sport and many said loose it and some could not see the problem with it.

chrisbmwcy’s comment was “Also remove all the M badges from the wheels, door sills, take out the steering wheel that says M on it, also don’t forget the gear shift knob that has an M on it as well. Also write a letter to BMW M division that came up with the M-Sport vesion of this car and tell them that they suck!”

My thought is that M Sport refers to the specification,
‘M’ to ‘M Car’ performance i.e. M3, M5 etc.

Also seeing an ‘M’ badge in front of a 318i badge on an E90 this morning got me thinking about this again, and also BMW’s recent use of the ‘M’ badge on the new M135i.

So my question is “when is it appropriate to use the ‘M’ badge or is it’s usage down to personal choice, assuming you have a minimum specified M Sport car”?

[DUI Elite]

If you have M parts on your car.

[breathe3asy]

Personally I think one should buy a car with a manufacturers spec that ticks all their boxes from the off. If I wanted a chunky looking car I'd buy an M3 for example & not put wheel spacers or aftermarket arches on my SE.

The same applies with badges, if it comes with badges from the factory then thats the way it should be, otherwise it just devalues a car.

[Hotcoupe]

Newbs need some induction:

http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=379347

[verysideways]

I reckon the same - what did BMW put there?
On my car there are a few M's on things like the steering wheel and door kick plates and so on but the badge on the back (if it was still there) would simply say "330i", because it's an M sport model of a regular BMW, not an actual M car.

BMW themselves are no blurring the lines slightly with the M135i, but that doesn't change my opinion.

If BMW put an M on it at the factory, it's up to you if you want to keep it or not. If they didn't put it on at the factory, why are you trying to make it look like something it isn't?

Take what i say with a pinch of salt though, i'd rather have an M3 that looked like a 320d than a 320d that was trying to look like an M3...

[xPETEZx]

Originally Posted by ceaton88

Personally I think one should buy a car with a manufacturers spec that ticks all their boxes from the off. If I wanted a chunky looking car I'd buy an M3 for example & not put wheel spaces or aftermarket arches on my SE.

The same applies with badges, if it comes with badges from the factory then thats the way it should be, otherwise it just devalues a car.

I disagree partly. I dont see the issue in fitting parts your car did not come with. Especially if you didn't buy new.

Badges I do agree on. I never really understand why people fit badges to there cars that dont apply.
For example an M3 badge on a non-M3 car.
For whos benifit is that? People who know what "M3" means, will probably also know your car is not one.
The rest of the people wont know what it means or care.

[Ste133]

I think that these badge arguments only bug people that know their cars.

My nan couldn't care less if she had a GTi badge on her mercedes.. or an AMG badge on her non-AMG car.

I have an SE model. It is de-badged.

Should/do I care if someone thinks its a 318? Nope.
Should/do I care if someone thinks its a 335? Nope.

Everyone is different

[AlanYoro35i]

M-sport package badges that came with the car no problem to me. As the M sport models aren't in your face kind of thing and they are part of a premium pack called m sport package. BUT WHEN someone ADDS a ///M badge on to there car outside it's like sticking a apple sticker on to the back of a samsung phone or sticking a PS3 sticker onto an XBOX.

[bigbeemer]

I only wanted to show my car off, not cause war!!!

[E92MP]

Ha, ha, no war here mate, just opinions I hope, although ste133 referred to arguments, please no arguments!!

I am just interested in the yes have or no don't consensus.

Love your car, I have same colour, it was just when some said loose the badge, some said leave it on, then I saw a 318i this morning with an 'M' badge in front I thought of your thread.

Out of interest is the 'M' badge staying or going?

or

[bigbeemer]

I will leave it on as i don't want to chance the paintwork being scraped if i try and remove it. looks ok anyway.

Originally Posted by E92MP

Ha, ha, no war here mate, just opinions I hope, although ste133 referred to arguments, please no arguments!!

I am just interested in the yes have or no don't consensus.

Love your car, I have same colour, it was just when some said loose the badge, some said leave it on, then I saw a 318i this morning with an 'M' badge in front I thought of your thread.

Out of interest is the 'M' badge staying or going?

or

[E92MP]

Originally Posted by bigbeemer

I will leave it on as i don't want to chance the paintwork being scraped if i try and remove it. looks ok anyway.

Well that's a big



from me.

I think I have changed my thoughts to that of a lot of people. It is an M Sport so why not.

Enjoy your wheels mate, had mine 8 months now and I love it.

[Sir_Pigley]

You should run a poll along the lines of "Does inappropriately displaying an ///M badge make you think I'm a tosser?" Yes or No"

Then you would see what % of BMW owners think. I reckon about 70% would say "Yes"

Personally I would not want to drive around in a car that marked me out thus in the minds of 70% of other BMW enthusiasts.

There's no chance of you scratching the paint by removing the ///M badge, if you follow the usual instructions on here of using floss and then gently teasing off the sticky residue.

[E92MP]

Originally Posted by Sir_Pigley

You should run a poll along the lines of "Does inappropriately displaying an ///M badge make you think I'm a tosser?" Yes or No"

Then you would see what % of BMW owners think. I reckon about 70% would say "Yes"

Personally I would not want to drive around in a car that marked me out thus in the minds of 70% of other BMW enthusiasts.

There's no chance of you scratching the paint by removing the ///M badge, if you follow the usual instructions on here of using floss and then gently teasing off the sticky residue.

Ouch!! that wasn't the response I was hoping for but heh it's your opinion!

[FRG]

I've posted in the clownage thread regarding this I'll admit but, the badges that people fit to the front/rear of their msport cars are simply a bigger version of what is on the steering wheel, door sills, etc.. from the factory and not ///M3 badges which are as they state, badges for an M3 and that only. The msport badge is different, no number so denotes msport package.

I've kind of talked myself into not seeing a problem with them now albeit I still have no desire to fit one

[E92MP]

Originally Posted by FRG

I've posted in the clownage thread regarding this I'll admit but, the badges that people fit to the front/rear of their msport cars are simply a bigger version of what is on the steering wheel, door sills, etc.. from the factory and not ///M3 badges which are as they state, badges for an M3 and that only. The msport badge is different, no number so denotes msport package.

I've kind of talked myself into not seeing a problem with them now albeit I still have no desire to fit one

I'm with you on the last bit.

If I ever stick a turbo badge on I'll phone for help!!

Know your limits, lol

[Woody80]

I did see a lovely E60 530d with quad pipes and an M5 badge yesterday. Kicking myself for not taking a photo. Good strong clownage...

[BoondogUK]

I think there is a blurring of the lines in this post.

For the record, putting an M badge in front of your 3xx is just daft in my opinion. However, saying that people with 320s shouldnt put M kit on their cars is ridiculous. People have been tuning, upgrading, modding (call it what you want!) cars since they were invented. To say you shouldnt because its a BMW is just arrogant. I can't afford an M3, but that doesnt stop me from taking styling cues from it. I dont pretend its an M3, but look to upgrade bits and pieces to M sport pieces, because they are better/more stylish, and they fit.

Making your bmw look like you've driven through halfords is a far bigger crime than putting an M badge on your car.

[mob17]

Originally Posted by bigbeemer

I only wanted to show my car off, not cause war!!!

Haha too late now!

[A_P]

I don't like arogant people.

[A_P]

The above comment and its random pointlessness is directly comparable to the title and content of this thread.

[A_P]

Put a badge wherever the hell u want. Its not as if someone will punch u in the face is it? You will however get rinsed the clown section.