Just Saying.....

[Havard]

I have said this before, but that's not going to stop me saying it again:

Why oh why do the manufacturers do this? Once they have the concept car built they know damn well what the finished version is going to look like. All this serves to do is to disappoint when the final version is released. Do the manufacturers really think that the publicity around the concept outweighs the disappointment when we see the finished article. I am not interested in how clever & creative their designers are, I want to see how they can combine their cleverness and creativity with actually making a real car!

The concept car had me counting the contents of my piggy bank. The finished version means that I revert to plan A - to keep the Z4MR for ever.

Nail and head. We were ready to get the moths out of my wallet and get the new Supra when it came out. After having two MKIV Supras I was going to swap the MR for the new model. Looks like it is going to be not even close to the concept and no manual so I am out.

H.

 

[warmasice]

Marketing material keeps showing the m40i. Wonder what the standard m-sport will look like and also the non-msport (if they'll be having one).

 

[Nictrix]

Marketing material keeps showing the m40i. Wonder what the standard m-sport will look like and also the non-msport (if they'll be having one).

I thought I read somewhere that the msport would be the standard model.

 

[Anonymous]

Marketing material keeps showing the m40i. Wonder what the standard m-sport will look like and also the non-msport (if they'll be having one).

I thought I read somewhere that the msport would be the standard model.

Here are your answers for the UK!

https://www.bmw.co.uk/bmw-cars/z4

 

[warmasice]

Marketing material keeps showing the m40i. Wonder what the standard m-sport will look like and also the non-msport (if they'll be having one).

I thought I read somewhere that the msport would be the standard model.

Here are your answers for the UK!

https://www.bmw.co.uk/bmw-cars/z4

Thanks for that! Looks like there will be a 'Sport', an M Sport and then the M40i.

The Sport looks like a real let down - that front bumper doesn't do it for me. And visually, I don't think the M40i differentiates itself enough from the M Sport.

 

[Marlon]

I have said this before, but that's not going to stop me saying it again:

Why oh why do the manufacturers do this? Once they have the concept car built they know damn well what the finished version is going to look like. All this serves to do is to disappoint when the final version is released. Do the manufacturers really think that the publicity around the concept outweighs the disappointment when we see the finished article. I am not interested in how clever & creative their designers are, I want to see how they can combine their cleverness and creativity with actually making a real car!

I've had similar thoughts

 

[RickRob]

And whilst I am in ranting mode, when will BMW wake up and realise that their use of "M" has a) caused confusion and b) devalued the real "M" brand?

Indeed they lost the plot with the advent of turbos. You knew/know where you are with the E85/86. If they haven't lost the plot, then I certainly have! I cannot accept that a 40i hasn't got a 4 litre engine. Or am I simply failing to keep up?

 

[dans6490]

And whilst I am in ranting mode, when will BMW wake up and realise that their use of "M" has a) caused confusion and b) devalued the real "M" brand?

Indeed they lost the plot with the advent of turbos. You knew/know where you are with the E85/86. If they haven't lost the plot, then I certainly have! I cannot accept that a 40i hasn't got a 4 litre engine. Or am I simply failing to keep up?

Totally agree, what does the 40 represent? A 335 is a 330 with an extra turbo. So does the 40 represent the 3.0 plus 2 x 5 for each turbo?

The ///M situation is a farce and has devalued the “real ///M” cars imo. You see the badge everywhere now, it’s crazy.

A friend of mine has just bought a 116 M-sport, really nice car. Whilst talking in the pub, I asked if he’d ever seen a 1M, as it’s a car I really like. He replied that his car is 1M, just with a smaller engine :headbang

 

[Angelus666]

Almost all my friends/colleagues seem to think they have an M car or AMG if it has the badge on the back. When I had the CSL my mate genuinely thought his MSport 320 convertible was the same car as mine, but in convertible form. I guess from a marketing perspective, they've done a great job increasing sales by simply sticking a badge on a bog standard car, but for enthusiasts, it does make you want to leave the brand in search of something more unique.

 

[Angelus666]

And ref those images/versions above....they look so dull and boring, I don't think I'll even bother to test drive one of the new ones. Shame.

 

[Smartbear]

I think I prefer the front end on the basic sport model, it looks lighter & less fussy than the M sport versions? :?
Rob

 

[warmasice]

And whilst I am in ranting mode, when will BMW wake up and realise that their use of "M" has a) caused confusion and b) devalued the real "M" brand?

Indeed they lost the plot with the advent of turbos. You knew/know where you are with the E85/86. If they haven't lost the plot, then I certainly have! I cannot accept that a 40i hasn't got a 4 litre engine. Or am I simply failing to keep up?

Totally agree, what does the 40 represent? A 335 is a 330 with an extra turbo. So does the 40 represent the 3.0 plus 2 x 5 for each turbo?

The ///M situation is a farce and has devalued the “real ///M” cars imo. You see the badge everywhere now, it’s crazy.

A friend of mine has just bought a 116 M-sport, really nice car. Whilst talking in the pub, I asked if he’d ever seen a 1M, as it’s a car I really like. He replied that his car is 1M, just with a smaller engine :headbang

Wait are you telling me my msport isn't a real M car?!

 

[idej_z4]

And whilst I am in ranting mode, when will BMW wake up and realise that their use of "M" has a) caused confusion and b) devalued the real "M" brand?

Indeed they lost the plot with the advent of turbos. You knew/know where you are with the E85/86. If they haven't lost the plot, then I certainly have! I cannot accept that a 40i hasn't got a 4 litre engine. Or am I simply failing to keep up?

Totally agree, what does the 40 represent? A 335 is a 330 with an extra turbo. So does the 40 represent the 3.0 plus 2 x 5 for each turbo?

The ///M situation is a farce and has devalued the “real ///M” cars imo. You see the badge everywhere now, it’s crazy.

A friend of mine has just bought a 116 M-sport, really nice car. Whilst talking in the pub, I asked if he’d ever seen a 1M, as it’s a car I really like. He replied that his car is 1M, just with a smaller engine :headbang

PMSL at the last bit of this. There is a guy at work who swears is car is an AMG Merc...and it’s a diesel.

One of my personal missions with my Z4 coupe has been to remove all the ///M references on the car, e.g gear stick, steering wheel because it isn’t an ///M - but shows they’ve have been doing it for years. It massively devalues the ///M brand, except to those who know the difference hence the fact ///M cars even of old still demand good money.

I actually think Audi (dare I say that on here) did a pretty good job of differentiating their models / brand. All carry the S mark (which I assume means sport) but at least have a different name. S-Line, S3, RS3.

That said, the ///M brand as a stand-alone makes them a s**t ton of money just in merchandise so you could argue that BMW have it right...if you’re looking at it for a business perspective.

Back to the car though, the long slung bonnet is the biggest let down for me. And the lack of differentiation between the lower end models and the M40i which on another thread was my original worry when I saw the M40i for the time - couldn’t see how they could dumb it down as it was already pretty flat.

 

[warmasice]

The yanks are getting happy. And rightly so..

https://carbuzz.com/news/take-that-europe-the-us-market-bmw-z4-is-more-powerful

 

[Nictrix]

The yanks are getting happy. And rightly so..

https://carbuzz.com/news/take-that-europe-the-us-market-bmw-z4-is-more-powerful

Just realised after reading that that the M40i will be the only 6 cylinder.The 30i will be a 2 litre!