Future of BMW's M Division

[Betty Swollocks]

Your are not exactly paying for the engine alone. 1M use the same chassi, brakes, mechanical diff as M3. And then we have the bodykit and extra power.

It doesn't matter if it's got all the other stuff. Without the unique engine it's irrelevant and not a proper "M".

But I agree that M could have built the engine from scratch but BMW claim it would cost too much to develop and the price would be much higher than it is today. I dont think people would pay the price of a M3 to get a 1M.

Which is why they could have still built the car as it is now, but not call it 1M. By using the M badge they are setting their stall out for people to be disappointed when they realise it's got a mundane engine. By calling it a "tii" or something, people would still have been impressed but without the disappointment of it not having an M engine.

By using the M badge they are simply creaming off profits to the detriment of the brand. It certainly puts me off the M5. The reason is that I always thought of M as pure and not about profit at all costs. Sure, they need to make a profit, but they are ruining the brand with all the SUV M's, auto transmissions etc. This is obviously history. Therefore I can't guarantee the M5 will be buillt along the same lines and with the same ethos as other M models in the past.

 

[Zafiro]

I'm not supporting M SUVs but I think BMW know what they are doing. Also they need something to compete with AMG and Cayenne.

As far as I know, regular bimmers do not have a mechanical diff. If they started to offer that to regular bimmers then M wouldnt be special for that reason either. You cant use M3 chassi, brakes , diff and name it something else, that wouldnt be right either. Pure or profit, its how the car goes, handles and perform that matters the most. To be honest, I dont think majority of M owners care if the engine is developed by M or not. Only the hardcore enthusiasts care but they are a minority. Dont forget the word M is more significant and its going to help selling cars, moreso than calling it Tii.

Anyway, with or without a real M engine, 1M wants me.

 

[chonkoa]

To be honest, I dont think majority of M owners care if the engine is developed by M or not. Only the hardcore enthusiasts care but they are a minority. Dont forget the word M is more significant and its going to help selling cars, moreso than calling it Tii.

Anyway, with or without a real M engine, 1M wants me.

I think the engine is the soul of a car, and car enthusiast typically start from the engine and move on to other aspects.
A high percentage of the people that purchase "M" cars, "AMG" cars or "RS" cars are not your everyday drivers but I believe are what you call "enthusiast"
So I think it is an epic fail if the starting point for an enthusiast is uninspiring as with the 1M engine.

Like Betty said it isn't that unique of an engine vis-a-vis a standard 135.
With the X6M and the X6-50i, there is definitely a clear differentiation for enthusiast to see, we know a lot of work went into improving the base engine- I can't say the same for the 1M engine.

 

[Betty Swollocks]

As far as I know, regular bimmers do not have a mechanical diff.

They have done in the past.

If they started to offer that to regular bimmers then M wouldnt be special for that reason either. You cant use M3 chassi, brakes , diff and name it something else, that wouldnt be right either.

Fair point.

 

[Zafiro]

I think the engine is the soul of a car, and car enthusiast typically start from the engine and move on to other aspects.
A high percentage of the people that purchase "M" cars, "AMG" cars or "RS" cars are not your everyday drivers but I believe are what you call "enthusiast"
So I think it is an epic fail if the starting point for an enthusiast is uninspiring as with the 1M engine.

Like Betty said it isn't that unique of an engine vis-a-vis a standard 135.
With the X6M and the X6-50i, there is definitely a clear differentiation for enthusiast to see, we know a lot of work went into improving the base engine- I can't say the same for the 1M engine.

Engine is important yes but I dont agree that people care if the engine is developed by M or not. If the car goes fast and sound good then they will be happy with the engine, whoever built it.

I dont see how we can dismiss 1M without even a testdrive. Reading a piece of paper isnt the same as real world testdrive.

 

[bmer]

Hardly news anymore but I think this is pretty much an official confirmation for what we've been suspecting for some time already.

Albert Biermann, Head of Development, BMW M GmbH: "An M version of any BMW is possible."

http://www.germancarforum.com/5-series/37060-official-bmw-concept-m5-16.html#post512603

So what we used to know as the "M philosophy" is now officially abandoned (in practice it was dead a long time ago).

As for what M models we might see in the near future, I think X1 M and X3 M are given, they are both big sellers. Z4 M & M5GT are perhaps less likely, they don't sell enough to justify an M model. M7? Maybe, it depends on the projected sales in markets like US, Middle-East and Asia.

 

[Palbay]

The End of the Road For NA V8 & V10 Powerplants At The Performance Center "M" School

Slow ride outta town.Is this the beginning of the end for NA powertrains at the BMW Performance Center "M" School.I'm afraid it is.I said on some of these forums many years ago we would be paying money for admission in the not to distance future to look at V8,V10 and V12 engines in car museums.Many many people laughed and scoffed.That day is upon us....sad very sad. Thanks. PalBay

 

[hoffmeister_fan]

Slow ride outta town.Is this the beginning of the end for NA powertrains at the BMW Performance Center "M" School.I'm afraid it is.I said on some of these forums many years ago we would be paying money for admission in the not to distance future to look at V8,V10 and V12 engines in car museums.Many many people laughed and scoffed.That day is upon us....sad very sad. Thanks. PalBay

So sad. So very sad.