Basically I have been in love with BMW's my whole life I bought myself a 1991 318is and love it with a $4,256 paint job and eibach pro-kit springs and bilstein shocks. With a whole bunch of parts still on order. Basically I love the car and everything it about it. So why am I here basically to ask your opinion on one thing that annoys the hell out of me. When people put M badges on non-M cars I know I dont have one, and I wish I did, but I refuse to ruin the good name of BMW Motorsport.
So the question is,
Do you think that at any point a non-M car is allowed to bear the sacred M badge?

In my opinion no the vehicle has to be made by the Motorsport division of BMW in order to have the badge.

Thats just my opinion anyone else.

99.9% of the time I say absolutely no. It looks absolutely terrible in my opinion. You shouldn't pretend that your car is something that it isn't. Just be happy with what you have. It ruins the car and makes the driver look like an absolute tool. If you arn't happy with what you have just debadge it.

I might waver a little bit if someone did a complete, down to every detail conversion. I'm not talking about just a body kit or just an engine swap. I mean absolutely everything. If there was no way of distinguishing your 3-series from a M3, then I might be willing to put up with the badge. The problem with this is that for the money you would have to put into a 3-series to do this, you could easily just go out and buy a M3.

Maybe I am being a little elitist. Its easy for me to say this because I own an M3.

Yeah, if its not an M, then there shouldnt be an M badge. I suppose if you drop an M motor in it and do all the modifiactions to make it an M, then it would. But just about no other situation.

Most of the time the badges are only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to people and their parts swapping. I happen to enjoy looking at used BMWs for sale (as well as other favorite cars) and I think the badge swapping makes it easier for me to filter out the cars that I don't want anything to do with. Half the time I can spot the swapped parts/badges from the internet pictures and save myself a trip. It's like when you see an M on a car with 4 lug wheels it really stands for MORON. As far as making excuses for badge swappers, unless the car was born an M you could never say it was an M without lying so don't bother with the badge. Most guys who really build custom BMW hot rods name them according to what it is now made of, just like the factory does. For example: a 325is with a v8 becomes a 340is or a v12 with a turbo, 350ti. But M cars are ALWAYS M cars. Thanks.

or a v12 with a turbo, 350iT.

Fixed. :)

The only one or two M-mods that seem acceptable is the M-Steering wheel and M-Shift Knob.

I say no M badges unless it's a real M car or has at least an M engine swapped into it. And IMHO a swapped car should have something on the back more indicative of what it is, like "M332ti" or similar.

I am thinking about going the opposite way with mine, taking the M3 badge off the back and putting "318i" on there. :grinno:

Jon

If it doesn't say that it's a M in the car production papers, and menual, then I better not see a god damn M badge on that car...
Or else...

Sticking an M on a non M is like wearing a fake Rolex. If you need to drive an M go buy a used one and work your way up to a new one.
Sometimes "fake it til you make it" doesn't work.
I have a 4door 325i and its almost the best thing around this area. I used to have the only Audi CQ, but a buddy's folks bought a 95 M and I told him to let me know when they get too old for it ;)

The only one or two M-mods that seem acceptable is the M-Steering wheel and M-Shift Knob.

What about the M Bumpers? M wheels? Or the S52B32? To name a few

I say no M badges unless it's a real M car or has at least an M engine swapped into it. And IMHO a swapped car should have something on the back more indicative of what it is, like "M332ti" or similar.


A few friends of mine have 332is on their cars that have S52B32's in them. I like that idea more than the M badge.

What about the M Bumpers? M wheels? Or the S52B32? To name a few



A few friends of mine have 332is on their cars that have S52B32's in them. I like that idea more than the M badge.

That sounds reasonable... The S52B32 is alright if you ask me... I see that as trying to get a sleeper car, rather than sticking a M badge, and trying to make it something it's not...

That sounds reasonable... The S52B32 is alright if you ask me... I see that as trying to get a sleeper car, rather than sticking a M badge, and trying to make it something it's not...

Or in one of my friends case he used the Denso Quadprong plugs, one of the prongs broke off in the cylinder and did a hell of a lot of damage. Now it could have been repaired, but he just saw it as excuse to swap an S52B32.

Oh, he sticks to the stock plugs now, actually has gotten the best dyno with the stock plugs instead of performance plugs.

I just recently bought my first BMW a 2000 328i. And i'm starting to put stuff into it. I started by clearing the front end by replacing the yellow side markers and corners with black ones.

In my opinion I will say no to the whole M badges on regular bimmers. Is like putting a SUPERCHARGED badge on your car when you don't have one. The whole point is having the supercharger. If you don't have an M, well maybe then you should've saved your money until you can afford it.

But swapping parts from the Ms to regular cars, i think tastefully it can look ok. Taste is everything.

I want to upgrade my wheels, and i do not want to go to the aftermarket.So i'm hunting for a set of M3 or M6's not because i want my car to look like an M. Just because i wanna upgrade my wheels and i rather keep it clean with BMW factory wheels than with some other aftermarket. Sure L-harts and such are great wheels, but i can't afford a 3k-4k for a set of wheels so i rather get some M wheels. In my opinion wheels are fine, because they don't sport the M badge, plus they look right at home.

I recently met a guy who owns a 2000 330Ci, and he is trying to build it like the one in the videogame NFSU: Most Wanted. He has the vynils and everything, he just ordered "The whole M3 body kit and M badges". So i told him, "You do realize that the M3 from the game was an M3, right?, You're just going to look dumb" Well he doesn't care, and neither do i. I keep mine clean, simplicity is better.

I recently met a guy who owns a 2000 330Ci, and he is trying to build it like the one in the videogame NFSU: Most Wanted.

Please do us a favor and steal his car so he can't ruin it.:shakehead

Please do us a favor and steal his car so he can't ruin it.:shakehead

I wish i would've gotten to it sooner. He's riding with some ugly aftermarket rims on the back and steelies on the front, Ugly vynils on the side, bondo all over the hood and trunk :banghead: . I told him "You do that with a Honda (Not hating on hondas, i like them)...Not a BMW" I'll see if i can get a picture. Some people just don't appreciate good german engineering

Give me his address, and I with Rob (CassiesMan) will hunt him down...

I have no respect for anyone who does this to any Bimmer...
Ruining and disrespecting the sleek German BMW stylizing of the cars.
I'm disgusted just hearing this, I don't even think I want to see the pictures...

I want to upgrade my wheels, and i do not want to go to the aftermarket.So i'm hunting for a set of M3 or M6's not because i want my car to look like an M. Just because i wanna upgrade my wheels and i rather keep it clean with BMW factory wheels than with some other aftermarket. Sure L-harts and such are great wheels, but i can't afford a 3k-4k for a set of wheels so i rather get some M wheels. In my opinion wheels are fine, because they don't sport the M badge, plus they look right at home.

Yeah, they do have the ///M logo on them, and please, for the love of all things Bavarian, don't swap M3 or M6 wheels to a 328i. Its not gonna look good.

I've seen M6 wheels on a 325 and they look awesome

Eh, I still think O-Z Superleggera III 18" would do... Black with chrome lip, no questions...

Anything bigger than an 18 on a non M car has always looked stupid to me. Like I said, we got some kid up here at my school in a E36 325i sittin on 18in 10 Double Spokes...looks like massive ass. The wheels are too big for the car, and so it looks like its lifted.

Honestly, on a non M 3 series, the best are the Cross Spoke Composite II (Style 42), the Radial Spoke (Style 50), M Double Spoke (Style 135), and M Double Spoke (68). Those are the only BMW OEM wheels that I would put on a non M 3 series. BBS, HRE, and O-Z are some good ones for aftermarket wheels as well.

Anything bigger than an 18 on a non M car has always looked stupid to me. Like I said, we got some kid up here at my school in a E36 325i sittin on 18in 10 Double Spokes...looks like massive ass. The wheels are too big for the car, and so it looks like its lifted.

Honestly, on a non M 3 series, the best are the Cross Spoke Composite II (Style 42), the Radial Spoke (Style 50), M Double Spoke (Style 135), and M Double Spoke (68). Those are the only BMW OEM wheels that I would put on a non M 3 series. BBS, HRE, and O-Z are some good ones for aftermarket wheels as well.

BBS and OZ, FTW... Never really looked into HRE... But they look really good also...
Finding a good rim that fits the car you're driving could get real tricky at times...
It's just a matter of finding the right wheel, and once you'll find one, you'll know what it is...