Videos BMW's M division, and their process of developing an M car

[Zafiro]

The BMW M Process- Video

 

[Deutsch]

That was sick. The difference between M and AMG products appears to be that the M's are bespoke purpose built machines....doh't know about AMG's but I imagine its somewhat similar though no where near the same.

 

[ateekt]

No doubt, ///M-cars are among the best crafted cars on this planet! I'll let my favorite smiley, do the talking here!

 

[Mr Robert]

I love the commitment! How sad they must have been when they were forced to work on cars like the X5M...

 

[LaArtist]

M are wizards..
I wish they get somethign spectacular to work with..

As of now its a waste of talent...

 

[Mr Robert]

M are wizards..
I wish they get somethign spectacular to work with..

As of now its a waste of talent...

I agree, but on the other hand, going from a car like the M3 to a car like the X5M, that can't be easy. Must have been a real challenge since everything about the latter is anti driving enjoyment, at least if the M3 is anything to go by.

 

[Cashmere]

btw, I was just wandering, are all ///M cars made in one factory?

How does it work with the X5/X6? Do they just send all the M garnish down to Spartanburg and slap them on or are all the M cars built from start to finish within one factory?

 

[Ultimate Car Guy]

btw, I was just wandering, are all ///M cars made in one factory?
quote]

No. It's not economically viable to have 1 factory for multiple product lines which when combined, have a relatively low volume.

The manufacturing of all M vehicles are completely integrated to the BMW international production network. That is, engines are made in Munich/Landshut before being transported to the factory where complete assembly takes place. So M3 are made in Regensberg, M5/M6 in Dingolfing and X5/X6 in Spartunburg.

 

[coolraoul]

Yeah, that makes sense.

 

[Deutsch]

Must have been a real challenge since everything about the latter is anti driving enjoyment, at least if the M3 is anything to go by.

If you're talking about what I think you are you've just pulled a thorn from my side. I've been greatly troubled for quite sometime by all these gizmos coming from car makers such as EDC from ///M. I understand this helps in generating more market share and making these cars more livable on a day to day basis. Thus broadening the appeal of the M3 and other cars of its ilk that use similar suspension technology. At the same time if you want a softer but quick means of driving from one point to the next there's the 335i available without sports suspension, or an E550 and so on. These cars are suppose to deliver a unique and highly tuned driving experience similar to something you might find on a track but a little less brutal. Its time to return to basics and technology of simplicity and durability. Such electronics are bound to fail and at that point these cars may not even be worth the expense to preserve as classics. There's something to be said about a high a car that rides and handles well on an all mechanical suspension setup with no electronic manipulation. The engineers did a damn fine job.

 

[Mr Robert]

If you're talking about what I think you are you've just pulled a thorn from my side. I've been greatly troubled for quite sometime by all these gizmos coming from car makers such as EDC from ///M. I understand this helps in generating more market share and making these cars more livable on a day to day basis. Thus broadening the appeal of the M3 and other cars of its ilk that use similar suspension technology. At the same time if you want a softer but quick means of driving from one point to the next there's the 335i available without sports suspension, or an E550 and so on. These cars are suppose to deliver a unique and highly tuned driving experience similar to something you might find on a track but a little less brutal. Its time to return to basics and technology of simplicity and durability. Such electronics are bound to fail and at that point these cars may not even be worth the expense to preserve as classics. There's something to be said about a high a car that rides and handles well on an all mechanical suspension setup with no electronic manipulation. The engineers did a damn fine job.

I'm with you on this.

My point was that they must have taken some extreme measures in order for the X5M to even behave remotely like a M car should. Looking at the basic recipe of the M3, it has everything talking for it. Light-ish body, RWD, N/A engine and a manual gearbox (this is where things get a bit though, because the X5 has nothing of this). Nice and simple. But they did throw in a few gizmos, for a little added taste, or whatever... question is, was it necessary? Maybe. In the X5M? No doubt, it will need all the magic it can get...

 

[Deutsch]

In my mind the purpose of M isn't to create an M car of every conceivable body style a la AMG. The mission is to take a series BMW car that from the most basic principles aligns itself more closely with the core philosophy of M and create a purpose built performance car. What an X5/6 is not. Though they have been tuned to attempt the duty if prompted.

 

[Mr Robert]

In my mind the purpose of M isn't to create an M car of every conceivable body style a la AMG. The mission is to take a series BMW car that from the most basic principles aligns itself more closely with the core philosophy of M and create a purpose built performance car. What an X5/6 is not. Though they have been tuned to attempt the duty if prompted.

Exactly, the cars, like the X-vehicles, are forced to try and do something that is completely against their nature.

Cars like the M3 and maybe the M5 is what it is all about. Not to mention the Z4M (rest in peace). The fact that there has been a change in execution regardin these models is, in a sense, to be expected... but not that the badge should be slapped on just about anything. They make money from it, much more than if they would call the cars "iS" or something appropriate, but the result is only that "BMW goes AMG with M".