[positiveions]

Man looks ssssssoooo goood. Gosh bring to the US and I will buy one.

[BimmerMat135]

Originally Posted by DarkstarZero

Not to say we can't make them sell us what we want. In the early 90s BMW had no plan to sell the e36 M3 in the US, however after a formal petition by the BMW CCA, they caved and brought it over - however nerfed with plastic headlights, but they did it. Nothing's impossible.

I've been trying to convince them everyday for the last year or so to bring the G31 and the G21 but nobody in the marketing departement seem to listen.

[LuisBoston]

Originally Posted by DarkstarZero

The US requires full crash tests and emission certifications for each chassis, each engine, each drivetrain. So for a car that comes in multiple engine specs and multiple drivetrains, that's enormous cost for something BMW doesn't think will sell well here in the states. So they either just don't do it or pick a spec that they think will sell the best and get that certified and that's it.

I'm so tired of this excuse - we should no longer let them get away with it by parroting it. After BMW tossed the low-selling Paceman, 5GT, 3GT and every X-iteration possible, they are no longer allowed to throw this excuse at us.

I see more F31's than X4s or 5GTs on the road.

If BMW sold the right combo wagon they would sell plenty.

[PARTS@STBMW]

Very nice!

[marcva]

Originally Posted by DarkstarZero

BMW NA said that they will no longer offer Touring (Wagon) models in the US. None. The F31 is the last one, ever.

However, if they did decide to bring over a 5 series wagon, it would only be available in the lowest spec engine possible - similar to the F31 only being offered in the 2 liter 4 cylinder - and only xdrive - and only automatic.

If you want a super sporty German wagon in the US, Mercedes-Benz is your only option from now on.

Maybe not a sporty option, but Volvo is going to have the v90 available to US customers. You'll have to custom order, but they'll sell you one. You can also get their " cross country" slightly lifted version starting later this spring.

[technik330]

///M is like Frank's Red Hot Sauce, BMW puts that shit on everything.

[3M TAPE]

Originally Posted by technik330

///M is like Frank's Red Hot Sauce, BMW puts that shit on everything.

Wrong thread bro

[c63er]

Bmw is all about easy money.

That's all there is too it.

If it's easy money such as slapping an m badge on something and charging 20% more for it they are all for it.

If it's something hard that requires a few years of investment to build up a new segment or redefine a segment that's failing they will run run run away. They used to be the opposite (creating the sports sedan market. Creating the high performance sport sedan segment. Creating the sports wagon. Creating the sports suv. Etc. )

The only exception has been bmwi. I believe they made that exception because in their world view they need to have electric for their very survival when looking down the road.

But otherwise right now, only look for more SUVs and the m badge to proliferate even more (m steaks, m water, m shoes, m underwear) because they can still extract profit from it.

To try and rebuild the sports wagon market in the USA is possible but bmw will not be the one to do it. No way this will come here until benz or audi makes the wagon cool

[Silververtu]

A 5 series wagon will bring me back to BMW family.

[technik330]

Originally Posted by BigMacMeal

Wrong thread bro

I was referring to the ///M badge on the "fender in the render" (damn, did you see my flow?!), but in general, the ///M badge finds its way on to almost (if not) every BMW.

I apologize though, couldn't help myself.

[DarkstarZero]

Originally Posted by technik330

I was referring to the ///M badge on the "fender in the render" (damn, did you see my flow?!), but in general, the ///M badge finds its way on to almost (if not) every BMW.

I apologize though, couldn't help myself.

M badge on the fender is a Euro spec thing, that's not optioned by default on all US-spec cars.

[Fabs///M]

That's really good to know Thanks for the info

[optimaxed]

I think the best chance of getting a wagon would be the 540 Xi - (comparable to the 535 xi on E61) its better than nothing !

Should we all be petitioning BMW USA and the BMW CCA ?

[technik330]

Originally Posted by DarkstarZero

M badge on the fender is a Euro spec thing, that's not optioned by default on all US-spec cars.

You're right, I remember on my ZHP I had ///M badges all over except outside of the car (short of the wheel center caps).

The larger point, I'm subtly trying to imply, is that BMW has progressively watered ///M down way too much, IMO, and it's left me feeling like ///M has grown in to marketing and shelved ///Motorsports. The GTS was proof they're still alive, but I just wish ///M was truly meant for M cars.

I'm really hoping the M4 CS turns out to be a special ///M, can't wait to read more about it.

[SCOTT26]

Originally Posted by E90Fleet

Think they would make it ?
Currently the G31 tech data only shows 520d, 530d, 530d xdrive, 530i, 540i xdrive.

Its a roll out similar to the sedan which is why you are just seeing the M550i just now and you will see the M550i Touring at Frankfurt in September.
If you look at the prototypes in the spy pictures you can see one has the squared off exhaust ports as the M550i. But there will also be the M550d like all G31 strictly for European contention.

[SCOTT26]

Originally Posted by technik330

You're right, I remember on my ZHP I had ///M badges all over except outside of the car (short of the wheel center caps).

The larger point, I'm subtly trying to imply, is that BMW waters ///M down way too much IMO and leaves me feeling like ///M has grown in to marketing and replaced ///Motorsports.

I'm really hoping the M4 CS turns out to be a special ///M, can't wait to read more about it.

Its not about watering down anything. BMW,Mercedes-Benz and Audi are simply stretching their brands to accommodate customers who want M or AMG exclusivity but cannot stretch to the full blooded M models.
It has been a feature offered within many markets for a long time and does no harm to the brands themselves and of course is significant to sales.
M Performance is to offer the models normally considered taboo for BMW. M but mainly to take advantage of Performance cars that are taxed too highly in certain parts of Europe.
A first time BMW customer could have a 114i or 116d with M Sport packet and vehicle insignia removed that on visual aspects could be looked upon as a more expensive 120d or 125i.

[technik330]

Originally Posted by SCOTT26

Its not about watering down anything. BMW,Mercedes-Benz and Audi are simply stretching their brands to accommodate customers who want M or AMG exclusivity but cannot stretch to the full blooded M models.
It has been a feature offered within many markets for a long time and does no harm to the brands themselves and of course is significant to sales.
M Performance is to offer the models normally considered taboo for BMW. M but mainly to take advantage of Performance cars that are taxed too highly in certain parts of Europe.
A first time BMW customer could have a 114i or 116d with M Sport packet and vehicle insignia removed that on visual aspects could be looked upon as a more expensive 120d or 125i.

Scott, respectfully, how far has the stretching gone when you can get an M Sport X1?

Attribute the stretching to sales, to fund the development of true M cars, but you get to a point where it just becomes somewhat silly and I can't help feeling like a kid asking: are we there yet?

What good is M exclusivity if the badges, logos, are on everything BMW makes? I mean, didn't Car & Driver bash the M235i for having something like 40+ M logos on the car? I think an e46 M3 would be envious.

[Dackelone]

Originally Posted by c63er

Bmw is all about easy money.

That's all there is too it.

If it's easy money such as slapping an m badge on something and charging 20% more for it they are all for it.

If it's something hard that requires a few years of investment to build up a new segment or redefine a segment that's failing they will run run run away. They used to be the opposite (creating the sports sedan market. Creating the high performance sport sedan segment. Creating the sports wagon. Creating the sports suv. Etc. )

The only exception has been bmwi. I believe they made that exception because in their world view they need to have electric for their very survival when looking down the road.

But otherwise right now, only look for more SUVs and the m badge to proliferate even more (m steaks, m water, m shoes, m underwear) because they can still extract profit from it.

To try and rebuild the sports wagon market in the USA is possible but bmw will not be the one to do it. No way this will come here until benz or audi makes the wagon cool

You hit the nail on the head! I remember BMW AG saying at the last Frankfurt Autoshow (press day)... that over 65% of non ///M models get the M=Sport option box ticked. This is a huge number that keeps going up and up each year. I believe at Geneva or maybe it was the previous Frankfurt show... that percentage was only 45%-ish.

Its no wonder you see an increase in BMW Performance and ///M Sport options growing longer each model year. Those M badges are a cash cow for BMW. But its too bad BMW isn't listening quite so well to their "core" enthusiast. I feel like BMW is going after Mr and Mrs Camry(or Audi) than going back to their roots. Although the M2 is a good sign that someone IS listening at BMW. I just wish that voice was a little bit louder these days.

[dmboone25]

Originally Posted by remmib

They did made 1025 of the e61 M5.

Let's hope they make it again then.

[BimmerMat135]

Originally Posted by SCOTT26

But there will also be the M550d like all G31 strictly for European contention.

The ultimate shareholders pleasing machine! The GT models don't sell well but this is not a problem what's wrong with the Touring? It seem like bmw is working hard to kill them. No publicity, no rebate, no lease special etc etc. The Touring is never going to sell like the sedan but it will at least sell as good if not better than the GT. Mercedes and Volvo found a business case in a mid size luxury wagon, how come you can't?

[brad850csi]

E28 = sedan only
E34 = sedan and wagon
E39 = sedan only
E60 = sedan and wagon
F10 = sedan only
F90 = sedan and wagon? PLEASE! As you won't sell me a 6 or 8 cylinder wagon with a manual or a DCT this is all I can hope for!

[Paul-Bracq-BMW]

Originally Posted by Dackelone

You hit the nail on the head! I remember BMW AG saying at the last Frankfurt Autoshow (press day)... that over 65% of non ///M models get the M=Sport option box ticked. This is a huge number that keeps going up and up each year. I believe at Geneva or maybe it was the previous Frankfurt show... that percentage was only 45%-ish.

Its no wonder you see an increase in BMW Performance and ///M Sport options growing longer each model year. Those M badges are a cash cow for BMW. But its too bad BMW isn't listening quite so well to their "core" enthusiast. I feel like BMW is going after Mr and Mrs Camry(or Audi) than going back to their roots. Although the M2 is a good sign that someone IS listening at BMW. I just wish that voice was a little bit louder these days.

I concur. In Australia for example the majority of 3 series are ordered in the M Sport version. I rarely see the other lines... Cash cow for BMW indeed.

Mind you putting an M badge on a car fitted with M parts has been a practice for BMW for a long time. However, marketing wise, this has reached a brand new level.