M Differences

A

alexman

Member
The obvious ones are of course quad exhausts, different front bumper, clear indicator lights/flat rear lights (althogh these two feature on "Sport" and "Si" models), but what other differences are there? First one I can think of rarely mentioned is:

- M Cars have ribbed front bonnet, std bonnets are flat..

Discuss!
 
Errr....the engine :)

Plus brakes, suspension, diff, M sport seats, M steering wheel, M White dials, M gearlever, carbon dash, STD xenons to name a few more.......
 
rear lights and clear indicators are not Sport or SI specific, they are facelift specific.

But as said the biggest difference has to be the engine.
 
M sport seats and M steering wheel not M specific, however the M steering wheel on the M has coloured stitching and the M seats has the M logo (unless you have individual leather like the champaign nappa leather).. :wink:
 
Breaker said:
M sport seats and M steering wheel not M specific, however the M steering wheel on the M has coloured stitching and the M seats has the M logo (unless you have individual leather like the champaign nappa leather).. :wink:
Click to expand...

M side bolsters on the base are also one panel, not two.

Distinct difference :)

The M seat panels for both top/bottom are unique to the M, probably a better grade leather in the first place tbh, along with the steering wheel (stitching is different, but I bet it's a better leather too)

Daave
 
Front suspension, rear suspension are specific (with parts from E46 and E36 M3's), diff, wheels and engine. Inside, the seats have the ///M print, and the steering wheel has the M coloured stitching. I am not sure that the carbon-look leather finished panels are M-only.

And don't forget that next to the engine, some other changes are also present under the bonnet, such as an hydraulic powered power steering and M3 CSL brake disks, calipers and pads.
 
M suspension is not M specific, rather an option or standard on 3.0i. That said the axle itself is narrower, different ratios, LSD

Wheels of course are a specific for the narrower track axle.

Battery is lumped up in the boot too, so less luggage space

BMW have blurred the margins over the last few years between M as a spost badge and M as a marketing badge
 
Mr Whippy said:
Breaker said:
M sport seats and M steering wheel not M specific, however the M steering wheel on the M has coloured stitching and the M seats has the M logo (unless you have individual leather like the champaign nappa leather).. :wink:
Click to expand...

M side bolsters on the base are also one panel, not two.

Distinct difference :)

The M seat panels for both top/bottom are unique to the M, probably a better grade leather in the first place tbh

Daave
Click to expand...

Well the Z4M with champaign nappa leather seats I looked at a while ago had the same looking seats as the one I have now. :wink:

Z4M seats from a pic from the gallery:

DSC_2674.jpg


my 3.0si:

IMGP1434Small.jpg
 
Breaker said:
Mr Whippy said:
Breaker said:
M sport seats and M steering wheel not M specific, however the M steering wheel on the M has coloured stitching and the M seats has the M logo (unless you have individual leather like the champaign nappa leather).. :wink:
Click to expand...

M side bolsters on the base are also one panel, not two.

Distinct difference :)

The M seat panels for both top/bottom are unique to the M, probably a better grade leather in the first place tbh

Daave
Click to expand...

Well the Z4M with champaign nappa leather seats I looked at a while ago had the same looking seats as the one I have now. :wink:

Z4M seats from a pic from the gallery:

DSC_2674.jpg


my 3.0si:

IMGP1434Small.jpg
Click to expand...


Hmmm, thats odd.

Note how these side bolsters are single panel (M Roadster)
EX10.jpg

Hmm, looks like Coupe's share seats irrespective of M or Si, while Roadsters get unique seat side bolsters?!

Mmm-five M Coupe
page10-1005-full.jpg


Then again,
1008.jpg


A coupe with one panel seat base bolsters.


Is this maybe superior panelled seats on extended leather? Doesn't look like it... Hmmmmm :?


Dave
 
I think colours like the champaign etc are not standard and were the "individual" option, therefore they are probably all the same seats in those colours.
 
But then why were the red/black ones single panelled on the M, but twin panelled in the same colours on the Si/pre-facelift!?

Just an interesting difference :)

I wonder what the part numbers say on real OEM... :)
 
Hmmm, but no pre-facelift sport have one panel side bolsters. It's like they came in for M's only... but were quickly forgotten for two-panel to share the same coverings as the Si's...

Loads of part numbers for covers.

It'd be interesting to see if the single side panels only came out for a certain amount of time (ie, early M models) only... hmmm

Dave
 
The split side panel thing is only on cars with extended leather. Those cars also don't have M embossed headrests whereas the standard (poor man's) seat option have two more M logos!
 
outrun said:
The split side panel thing is only on cars with extended leather. Those cars also don't have M embossed headrests whereas the standard (poor man's) seat option have two more M logos!
Click to expand...
Incorrect.

One of the pictures that was posted on the last page is Starscream's M Roadster WITH extended leather. His also has the M embossing. This one:
EX10.jpg

I just checked my own seats. Single panel, M embossing present, no extended leather. The differences must be due to materials available at the time. mine's an '07.
 
outrun said:
The split side panel thing is only on cars with extended leather. Those cars also don't have M embossed headrests whereas the standard (poor man's) seat option have two more M logos!
Click to expand...

I think you meant Individual leather, I've got extended leather and have still got the single panels and embossed headrests, it's the cars Individual colours that seem to miss out.
 
cj10jeeper said:
M suspension is not M specific, rather an option or standard on 3.0i. That said the axle itself is narrower, different ratios, LSD
Click to expand...

Not true, the M's use totally different hub carriers and strutts at the front, not forgetting the thicker anti roll bars different bushes top mounts etc. I think the only main component they share is the lower front arm.
 
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