X5 M / X6 M First press reviews: BMW X6 M

[martinbo]

I just must add... this is the best darned thread in years! I'm lovin it...

 

[LaArtist]

Sad..and funny to see BMW creating such a rift amongst their own fans..with the new cars..

While we unite in the SLS thread..haha

PS
Personally if it wasent for all the BS talked by BMW fans for the past decade about M philosophy i wouldnt mind these SUV´s..
They are cool, FAT,Fast.. not very good looking (but thats personal)

 

[Mr Robert]

Sad..and funny to see BMW creating such a rift amongst their own fans..with the new cars..

But in a sense they are not. Some will be very happy with these un-M cars. Those will think that "M is tha shit". While we on the other side will think "oh, well, we still have one M cars, the M3".

I see a great risk in the SUV:s becomming a success, namely the demand from those customers that the real M-cars become more like the trucks.

 

[martinbo]

It is a bit funny really. And yes, if we break it down to mature objectivity the X6M is as right for the times as any new M car could be. Straight up - SUVs are big money spinners with their whole own take on prestige motoring. Business case closed.

But, on the other hand, life isn't just about the business case, bottom line and return on investments. These things often look after themselves when passion, commitment, vision and attention to detail are pursued unequivocally.

For many of us motoring is more than just sitting around in a luxury lounge and becoming a passenger in the whole process. We want to feel the joy of being behind the wheel of a car that inspires the enthusiast in us. If everything was just about numbers on paper then we'd all be looking forward to driving Daimler Teslas, Fiat Volts and Honda-Sony Insight 7s.

Being a motoring enthusiast is about being passionate about the most ubiquitous form of transport on the planet.

 

[Mr Robert]

I just must add... this is the best darned thread in years! I'm lovin it...

Many very good, well-founded, arguments... this is what it is all about. A high profile topic that almost everyone has an opinion on.

 

[Sunny]

For many of us motoring is more than just sitting around in a luxury lounge and becoming a passenger in the whole process. We want to feel the joy of being behind the wheel of a car that inspires the enthusiast in us. If everything was just about numbers on paper then we'd all be looking forward to driving Daimler Teslas, Fiat Volts and Honda-Sony Insight 7s.

Being a motoring enthusiast is about being passionate about the most ubiquitous form of transport on the planet.

I get all that too Martin, I honestly do. But what I don't get is this very narrow minded approach that everything needs to crater to that equation or else it is a "failure". It is a damn truck, if not your thing and it definitely is not mine, don't spend your money on it, but acknowledge the fact that it is the best in it's class and probably beats a few things from other classes too.

 

[Sunny]

Sad..and funny to see BMW creating such a rift amongst their own fans..with the new cars..

While we unite in the SLS thread..haha

Why is it sad or funny? It is not like we are some family or country or something that we should stand together on everything. If anything it shows, we are not just blindly following some brand and when there is a difference of opinion we voice it.

Oh, and you forget the raging debate on where the SLS door handle will be.

 

[LaArtist]

^Lol that door handle debate takes the price..

And yes its good to debate..i was just trying to get under your skin

 

[Mr Robert]

Why is it sad or funny? It is not like we are some family or country or something that we should stand together on everything. If anything it shows, we are not just blindly following some brand and when there is a difference of opinion we voice it.

Oh, and you forget the raging debate on where the SLS door handle will be.

Thank god we are not all of the same opinion. The fact that BMW enthusiasts now have everything from sportscars to trucks to adore, isn't that just swell I personally still think it is a bit sad that they use the M brand for these vehicles but money over matter, I guess.

 

[klier]

M3 offer space for 4 adults and its a sporty car, its not a "sportscar" like you can call a 911. M3 equals are C63,RS4,ISF. Cayenne and X6 both have the same foundation, so they are playing on equal terms.

Indeed they are, but the next gen Cayenne, the one that's going to 'humiliate' the X6 according to you, is based on the Audi Q5 and thus much smaller, lighter and agile than X6. That's like comparing E63 against an M3, aka not fair.

 

[LaArtist]

Thank god we are not all of the same opinion. The fact that BMW enthusiasts now have everything from sportscars to trucks to adore, isn't that just swell I personally still think it is a bit sad that they use the M brand for these vehicles but money over matter, I guess.

Sportscars?
What
Where

Have i missed something

LOL
Ile stop..im sorry

 

[Mr Robert]

Sportscars?
What
Where

Have i missed something

LOL
Ile stop..im sorry

Go back to from where you crawled

Ok, by my definition, the M3 E92 is a classic sportscar, or at least as classic as they get these days from Germany without it costing you an arm and a leg.

 

[Zafiro]

You know guys, it would be a lot easier to accept a X6M if it wasn't for the comments that it feels like a normal X6 to drive. Its the engine that seems to be the best part, unfortunaly there been complaints on the engine sound as well. Another boring thing is that weight for X6M is more than a X6 drive50.
X6M feels like a half-hearted project by BMW.
I guess I have to wait for a X6M CSL


When can we expect reviews about X5M ?

 

[LaArtist]

^Lol and im waiting for Megan Fox..
lets see who gets his wish first..

 

[SKY]

Its the engine that seems to be the best part, unfortunaly there been complaints on the engine sound as well.

I´m confused because of this you remark. Why they say the engine doesn´t sound that good?, I have a friend who owns an E55 AMG and sounds incredibly good. It´s true that the E60 M5 is a so quiet car, but this new V8 doesn´t seem as M worthy.

 

[Betty Swollocks]

I but acknowledge the fact that it is the best in it's class.

Judging by the first reviews this isn't a certainty either.

 

[Betty Swollocks]

I´m confused because of this you remark. Why they say the engine doesn´t sound that good?

You obviously haven't read the reviews.

 

[PC Valkyrie]

Not so long ago, I would have jumped into this glorious debate, but I simply don't have the time/energy to post prolonged posts any more to debate Sunny, Justme, etc, etc. But I will make an exception this time.....

"Back in the day", many BMW M fans ridiculed AMG for slapping an AMG badge on almost all their products (like the ML55/63, R63, G55, S55/63/65), and praised BMW M for limiting their M products to only cars that "deserve" tweaking to make into a high performance machine. They said M will not and should not make a M version of the 7 series or X3/X5. In fact, BMW M marketing also sang the same tune, saying that only certain models would fit the M philosophy.

In reality, BMW M has already been "diluting" the M image ever since they made a M5. Sure, the E39 M5 and E60 M5 are awesome sport sedans (heck, they even make a M5 Estate, right?...), but how does a super high performing 5 series sedan/wagon differ from a high performing X6 or X5 now?? The M5 is heavy, the M6 is heavy, the X6M/X5M are heavy, they all have 4 doors and bigger than necessary trunk (for a performance car).......the only difference is the X6M/X5M are elevated SUV's.

And Sunny's point is correct in that the preliminary results suggest that the X6M handles remarkably well when turning, which is a hallmark of all M cars. Is this really that bad? Also, today's performance tuned automatic transmissions shift pretty damn quick too, far quicker than most people need to them to shift.

Live I've said before, AMG and M are all converging to some degree. In fact, Audi RS is the only one that stands out because they keep making performance cars with quattro AWD.

AMG started off by making a performance version of many of their standard models. AMG always stood for either forced induction or big displacement engines for high torque/low rpm concept. Now, they also want to emphasize handling as well.

BMW M started off by making performance versions of the 3 series only. With time, this expanded to the 5 series and their small roadsters/coupes, and now their SAV/SUV's. They used to insist on high reving inline 6's, now they embrace V8's, V10's, and now forced induction V8's. M cars always have handled well compared to the competition, and that is the only thing that seems to have stayed the course......everything else is merging with AMG's concepts.

What's my bottom line? I agree with Sunny's stance. You may or may not like the idea of a X6M/X5M/M5 Estate/M6 convertible, etc, etc,......but it doesn't mean M shouldn't make them if they think there is a good business model that supports the product. If they don't succeed, things will correct themselves (just look at the R63 AMG).

This really is not new. Does the Porsche Cayenne or Panermera make you look negatively about the 911 GT3??? For me, the fact that Porsche can make such an awesome car like the 997 GT3 is proof to me that they haven't sold their soul. I suspect BMW M will not sell their soul either in the same way.

 

[Merc1]

I'll take this one.




Just looks so mean and road ready.


M

 

[Mr Robert]

In reality, BMW M has already been "diluting" the M image ever since they made a M5. Sure, the E39 M5 and E60 M5 are awesome sport sedans (heck, they even make a M5 Estate, right?...), but how does a super high performing 5 series sedan/wagon differ from a high performing X6 or X5 now?? The M5 is heavy, the M6 is heavy, the X6M/X5M are heavy, they all have 4 doors and bigger than necessary trunk (for a performance car).......the only difference is the X6M/X5M are elevated SUV's.

Well, the E12 M535 (1979) was the fist "M" car after the M1. After that the the E28 M5 (1985, I think). The E34 came in both sedan and toruring.

Also, today's performance tuned automatic transmissions shift pretty damn quick too, far quicker than most people need to them to shift.

Speed and what makes M special does not always go hand in hand. Like I have said so many times before; fun before efficiency and in my world they have still to come up with somehting that is as involving as a good manual gearbox in a car.

BMW M started off by making performance versions of the 3 series only.

Well, M started out making sort of a supercar, the M1, and the next car they produced at a large scale was the 5-sreies M535. M was very small at this time and there was no way they could procude a lot of models side-by-side.

What's my bottom line? I agree with Sunny's stance. You may or may not like the idea of a X6M/X5M/M5 Estate/M6 convertible, etc, etc,......but it doesn't mean M shouldn't make them if they think there is a good business model that supports the product. If they don't succeed, things will correct themselves (just look at the R63 AMG).

I agree, they should make them and push them to the market. However, I will never consider them true M cars and I guess I'm free to do that