The inherent problem with M-Sport

"4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30" (4muddyfeet)
05/16/2016 at 04:31 • Filed to: None

A friend of mine recently asked me advice on BMW engines and which one I’d buy for a DD. He was looking at the 4 series so I recommended the 420d; good tax band, decent power and economy, etc. etc.

Anyway, we met up in the pub last night and after some regular chit chat he says,

‘Hey, I bought that M4 ya know.’

‘What?! You bought an M4? I didn’t even think that was on the cards?’

‘Yeh, you know, the one with the 2 litre diesel. ’

‘That’s not an M4, is it the M-Sport?’

‘Yeh, the 2 litre diesel M4. It’s got the badges on it.’

‘It’s just called the 420d M-Sport. The M4 is a different beast altogether.’

‘So it’s an M4M?’

I advised him to check Craigslist and find out what M4M actually stands for, and if he absolutely has to refer to it by something other than it’s proper spec, then M4 probably isn’t such a bad thing. I guess the people who know, know - and the people who don’t, don’t care.

DISCUSSION (25)

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30
05/16/2016 at 04:38

Well most people just want the image of the top of the range stuff the performance is secondary, which is fair enough I suppose. Hence why there’s hundreds of Corsa VXR replicas around here based on 1.2 boggo spec cars.

Tareim - V8 powered > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30
05/16/2016 at 04:40

I was a bit confused when I read the title and saw a BMW as the first thing that popped into my mind was this

Kinja'd!!!

I keep forgetting BMW has become lame and started calling a lot of their cars M Sport when all it gets is some fancy body kit additions

Cé hé sin > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30
05/16/2016 at 04:41

All show and no go (although a 420d is quick enough for most people)?

That suits a lot just fine.

Svend > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell.
05/16/2016 at 04:43

God yes with large exhausts, seats almost fully reclined and loud obnoxious music playing. It’s comical and I openly laugh when I see them.

Chuck Finley > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30
05/16/2016 at 05:03

With the various levels of the AMGness of Mercedes cars, I don’t even know what to think and expect from any brand. AMG interior, AMG exterior, 3-numbers-AMG, 2-numbers-AMG (I guess these are the proper AMGs), Mercedes-AMG GT (but then what is this? too much AMG?) and all this crap... it’s annoying for me, misleading for someone who doesn’t know anything about cars.

Flynorcal: pilot, offshore sailor, car racer and panty thief > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30
05/16/2016 at 05:18

Hey, M-Sport isn’t so bad! I have a 540i M-Sport 6-speed manual (note that detail) and I’ve driven several 540iA non M-sport and my manual transmissioned M-sport seems waaaaay faster. Seems.

Both are fireplugs compared to my M5 so I don’t think it’s just perceived speed from shifting gears but it’s gotta be a huge influence. There’s no automatic tranny I know of that keeps it in first all the way around a turn and sometimes a little drift makes it feel faster.

While it’s certainly not even a stone’s throw from a proper M, the price is 1/3 cheaper and keeping it running is far, far less. Also, despite the brand confusion (and I get and agree with your complaint), aren’t we all glad that they went for the M-sport rather than just the diesel?

Worst case: The more BMW sells the cheaper it’ll be for the next owner who will hopefully will have purchased it by design.

AndyG_UK > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30
05/16/2016 at 05:51

This made me chuckle!
Is also rather something I’m going thru with my brother at the moment.
He is looking to sell his new Defender Landmark that he got just before Christmas as it’s not really getting used much for it’s intended purpose (carrying his mountain bikes, the dog etc) as it’s just too plush for a Defender and he’s worrying about damaging it and it’s value, it basically sits most of the time.
Plus my sister in law doesn’t like driving it and it’s not very good as the big family car, not all that comfy, not good on the motorway etc. He’s worried as well as they are being stolen to order and it is worth a good deal more than he paid for it (he got employee discount and the values of the last ones made are going up!).
So his plan is to buy himself a 5-6 year old Discovery, they are getting rid of the leased diesel Astra that his wife used to use for going to work (used to be 45 miles each way) as she now works from home and get her a 4 series (pref convertable), he keeps going on about a 420d but I’m trying to steer him away from diesel (I think their days are numbered in cars) and get a 428i (obviously will be an M-Sport and he at least knows that does not make it an M4!).

That's gonna leave a mark! > Cé hé sin
05/16/2016 at 06:48

Realistically how often does anyone get the opportunity to go above 100 mph?

jasmits > Tareim - V8 powered
05/16/2016 at 06:52

Not really ‘become,’ they’ve been doing it since the e36 era.

jasmits > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30
05/16/2016 at 07:07

I was looking at an e36 328i with the M-sport package or M-appearance package, whatever they were calling it back then, no less at the used arm of a huge BMW dealership. The salesman was absolutely convinced that he was showing me an M3 and would not budge even when I showed him their own door card that clearly stated “328i” and in the options list “M-appearance package.” He then went on to explain how that was the only ever two-door M car. Like ever, no E30 M3, no E46 M3, no E92 M3, no M4, no 1M(M2 was actually not a thing yet). Like I get you’re a salesman who’s been in the industry for many years being told you’re mistaken by a 20 year old kid looking at one of the cheapest cars on your lot but if someone shows they know a particular generation of a vehicle better than you and starts going on about how it can’t be the M3 because it has the 2.8 and not the 3.2 you could stand to learn a bit about your product.

Every time I’m car shopping something that looks nice lures me into a dealership until I remember how bad it is working with most car salesmen(not trying to offend anyone, I’m sure any Oppo salesmen are great) sending me back to craigslist where I can actually go talk to real people about their cars. Even better the enthusiast centered cars that I’m looking at usually end up sending me to other car people so even if the car doesn’t end up being what I’m looking for I’ve still gotten to talk car and hang out in someone’s garage for half an hour. End rant, Craigslist has its issues but I’d still rather buy my car from a person and not a dealership.

RamblinRover Luxury-Yacht > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30
05/16/2016 at 09:30

Well, at idle you’ve got something of an “M-m-m-m-m-m-M-M-m-m-m”, being a diesel.

Galileo Humpkins (aka MC Clap Yo Handz) > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30
05/16/2016 at 13:02

I think...but...wait..no...just, no.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > Svend
05/16/2016 at 16:49

Yeah same here, the worst is the ones who put a fart can on a diesel.

Svend > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell.
05/16/2016 at 17:01

Lol. I was asked once by an idiot (friend’s son) why when he kept revving his diesel engine hard for a while the engine management light would come on. He’s since been banned for drink driving and sold the car his parents got (without them knowing) and he was supposed to be paying them back and took a few stoner friends on holiday for a week.

4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 > Flynorcal: pilot, offshore sailor, car racer and panty thief
05/17/2016 at 07:15

I have no problem with the M-Sport moniker, or whatever additions it provides to a vehicle model. Rather it was (and is) when people mislabel M-Sport models as M cars so that they can sound better in front of an audience. This dude has a history of embellishment, and as Calling upon my years of experience, I froze at the controls said, you would think that after recommending the guy the car he would understand what it was he was purchasing.

4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 > Cé hé sin
05/17/2016 at 07:16

I think it’s got fair power with little trade-off at its price point, and I would never not recommend the M-Sport trim to someone, it’s totally personal.

4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 > AndyG_UK
05/17/2016 at 07:18

I would agree that diesels are on the decline, but it’s hard to predict and as it stands the 20d is a good motor all-round.

I can look after your brothers Landy while he decides?? You know, for safe keeping and whatnot or something.

4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell.
05/17/2016 at 07:21

Wait... what’s wrong with that...?

I have plans.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30
05/17/2016 at 08:51

I don’t like the sound of these plans...

4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30 > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell.
05/17/2016 at 08:56

Kinja'd!!!

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > 4muddyfeet - bare knuckle with an EZ30
05/17/2016 at 09:51

Looks like a jet engine outlet more than a car exhaust...

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > Svend
05/17/2016 at 09:55

Sounds like one of the tools who frequent the car park behind my house. Revving their engines pointlessly for hours at a time.

Svend > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell.
05/17/2016 at 10:29

I don’t see the point, “ye’, well done sunshine, you put your foot on that pedal and the engine makes a noise”. It’s the look on their faces as well. They look so pleased with themselves.

Sometimes I think the gene pool needs a little chlorine.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > Svend
05/17/2016 at 10:39

Me and you both. I’m not sure who thinks the exhaust note of an 11 year old 1 litre Corsa is nice, but they need to be deposited in the ocean.

Svend > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell.
05/17/2016 at 10:52

Wearing cement boots.