M on 35is?

B

Busterboo

Veteran
My 35is has an M badge on the steering wheel and on the sill kick plate. Is this just decoration? I assumed every 35is was as M as it could be.
 
That's just from the m-sports styling kit, which every 35is has :)

although if you want to feel better about your engine, it's used in the m135i, m235i which did get a sort of half way house 'm' classification. Not sure why BMW didn't do the same, maybe 'mz4' sounded rubbish :)
 
Busterboo said:
My 35is has an M badge on the steering wheel and on the sill kick plate. Is this just decoration? I assumed every 35is was as M as it could be.
Click to expand...

Yep just decoration/a trim level. There were tiny changes to suspension like a slightly shorter spring but it's trim other than that.
 
willgill said:
Not sure why BMW didn't do the same, maybe 'mz4' sounded rubbish :)
Click to expand...

At that time when the e89 platform came out there were only 135i and 335i cars.
The m performance label wasnt thought up yet at that time
 
Sorry OP, primarily just decoration!

My E86 3 litre Coupe has them on the sill covers, steering wheel and each wheel because it is the Sport model, but it isn't an M. :(

They plaster M badges all over all sorts of models now - I had a 114d courtesy car a couple of years ago and that had them in all the places mentioned because it was an M Sport! :cry:
 
It's a bit disappointing that the M badges on the steering wheel & sill plates of the 35is don't contribute anything to its 0-60 time (4.6 with DCT) and 369 ft/lbs of torque.

That said, its Adaptive Suspension is M, isn't it?
 
ronk said:
Are the M5's proper M cars?
Click to expand...
tbh I think only the M2, M3, M4, M5 and M6 are proper M cars (and in the past of course M1, 1M, z3m, z4m and m635csi (first M car for the public!))
No love for a x5m or such here :roll:
 
Busterboo said:
It's a bit disappointing that the M badges on the steering wheel & sill plates of the 35is don't contribute anything to its 0-60 time (4.6 with DCT) and 369 ft/lbs of torque.

That said, its Adaptive Suspension is M, isn't it?
Click to expand...

4.3s 0-60 on the 35is according to Car and Driver
 
Shame they cancelled the e89 Z4M, due to the recession apparently. Would love a go in a 35is though, 4.3 to 60 is bloody quick!
 
bmwaddict said:
Shame they cancelled the e89 Z4M, due to the recession apparently. Would love a go in a 35is though, 4.3 to 60 is bloody quick!
Click to expand...

Always wonder how much faster they could have made an M version. Perhaps it would have just been an N54 tuned to 400bhp as a base
 
bmwaddict said:
Shame they cancelled the e89 Z4M, due to the recession apparently. Would love a go in a 35is though, 4.3 to 60 is bloody quick!
Click to expand...

How does that compare to a Z4 M?
I do accept that there is more to the M than acceleration!
 
bmwaddict said:
Shame they cancelled the e89 Z4M, due to the recession apparently.
Click to expand...

I think its due to its back axle :wink:
No M possible and that decision was made when they designed it.
 
GuidoK said:
bmwaddict said:
Shame they cancelled the e89 Z4M, due to the recession apparently.
Click to expand...

I think its due to its back axle :wink:
No M possible and that decision was made when they designed it.
Click to expand...

Ah ok, I read somewhere there was to be an M originally before the financial crisis but maybe they were just speculating then.
 
With the e89 having a rear axle based on the X3, there is no way bmw could transfer a contemporary m3 (e90) or m5 (e60) rear axle. And the e46 rear axle with diff wasnt made anymore (not in those numbers.). So no realistic way for bmw to put a rear axle under it with LSD and handeling more power.
And I dont think bmw would bring out an m car with huge power but not the handling to match (the press would kill it....).

Really a shame because they raced the e89 so succesfully, winning everything they entered.
Obviously the e89 gt3 car has no technical resemblance with the e89, but why spend all that racemoney and not being able to market it into a consumer model.....
 
there's a guy on here with a Valencia Orange 35is with a claimed 400bhp, can't remember his name now, I wonder how that handles, assuming it has no LSD fitted?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom