the last of the true M cars

Hi My name is Mark I am new to this forum, I have a 1993 E34 M5 and I consider it to be the last true M car and yes I know that this debate rages on.
But to me the "M" stands for a tradition of hand crafted personalised attention to detail that started with the E9 3.0CSL. So when BMW decided to drop this hands on approach in the mid 1990's and just speck up the performance and slap an "M" badge on general factory mass production models, that was a departure from what the "M" stood for.
Not to take anything away from factory mass produced M cars of today they are fast and they are competitive and I like quite a few of them very much, but the should carry a different insignia something like S (Sport) and not an M. As for the latest trend of slapping an "M" onto everything that moves with a BMW badge that is just not right.

The true M cars are something different. It is a way you feel about the hardness and uncompromising super performance. So yes by all means compete with the Audi's and the Merc's mass sport line offerings, but don't abuse a tradition to do this.

Ok now that I have possibly upset a few people let me offer an olive branch.

I love everything that is BMW and I am and have been a passionate BMW fan since I was 10 years old and saw my first 3.0CSL when a neighbour down the road passed me while I was waiting for a lift to school. And that was that I had to have one. I actually do have one which am busy restoring it too (See my post), but no collection is complete without a Proper M car and that brings me back to my 1993 E34 M5.
I purchased it up in JHB a year ago and drove it down to CT only to drop a valve half way down. We are presently searching for a new head to complete our rebuild of its engine. So if anyone can help please let me know.

Welcome to the forum bud.
Devon here! :rollsmile: love the car, now lets get your baby going again!

I agree partially with you especially on how BMW offers sport package for example on the 135i and then M door inserts and on steering wheel etc are added.. Its not an M, its a sport 135i, should NOT have any M branding on it!
1M is a M! M3 M5 M6 are M's..

On the hand-building issue, thats a business decision which I would have taken as well, they produce way too many M's to hand build certain parts etc.. Profits! And those profits can be ans are being used for future better development.

I do however feel that BMW is starting to "ride the M" so much so that they have this attitude of lets build the new M5/6 with normal steel chassis instead of aluminium because M people will buy it regardless.. (can you imagine new M5 100kg lighter!)

Good to see that they actually listened to some customer complaints and added the competition package. Maybe sales are reflecting the decision to start listening to customer demands..?

Now this looks extremely familiar :fencelook:

Nice E34 you have there :thumbs:

That does look familiar :fencelook:

I don't agree with it being the last true M car. The E46 M3 has it outclassed in every possible way except maybe rear legroom :biglol:

:fencelook::fencelook:

Nice ride and welcome bud!! :bravo:

Legacy said:

I don't agree with it being the last true M car. The E46 M3 has it outclassed in every possible way except maybe rear legroom :biglol:

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Subjective matter, but I tend to agree with Legacy.

My personal opinion:
Last true 4 door M was the E39 M5
Last true 2 door M was the E46 M3 CSL

Don't get me wrong. I really, really love the E34 M5, but to me it's not the last true M car.

Also, the E92 V8 also holds a special place in my heart too.

There are no wrong answers here...

Legacy said:

That does look familiar :fencelook:

I don't agree with it being the last true M car. The E46 M3 has it outclassed in every possible way except maybe rear legroom :biglol:

Click to expand...

But it was not hand built it was a mass produced factory item that had some extras added. As I said th3 E34 was the last Handbuilt M car with personal attention to detail. And as for the desicion to mass produce for commercial reasons I still believe the whole point of an M car is that it is special a limited edition and if you (BMW) chose to mass produce they should have given it a different insignia so as not to deminish the value of what the "M" stands for.

M stands for mass produced now

hey i agree with the whole "hand built" aspect ,but at the demand for the M cars and the extra cost it would add it wouldnt be practical. BMW spends alot of tym an effort in developing the M cars and it shows

Wait until the ///M135i boys get to this thread :fencelook:

+1

328ii said:

M stands for mass produced now

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markbsimon said:

Legacy said:

That does look familiar :fencelook:

I don't agree with it being the last true M car. The E46 M3 has it outclassed in every possible way except maybe rear legroom :biglol:

Click to expand...

But it was not hand built it was a mass produced factory item that had some extras added. As I said th3 E34 was the last Handbuilt M car with personal attention to detail. And as for the desicion to mass produce for commercial reasons I still believe the whole point of an M car is that it is special a limited edition and if you (BMW) chose to mass produce they should have given it a different insignia so as not to deminish the value of what the "M" stands for.

Click to expand...

I don't think because it is hand built it automatically a better car. The E34 M5 has some problems which the E46 and some other M cars don't. Key among is the 540i/6. The 540i/6 is more rare than the M5 (72(5) 540i's vs 265 M5's), it is more economical (strange but true) and has almost identical handling prowess. If the M5 has "hardness and uncompromising super performance" that you speak of the 540i/6 has it as well.

I can never understand why people would like something to be hand-built when you can have it perfected by machinery...every single time...as you'd like it to be.
Perhaps someone can shed some light?

Agree with you in terms of giving the M135i a S badge and not ///M as it really isn't a true ///M car. Sure its fast as hell, doesn't mean its an ///M. I agree with you on most aspects, but cannot disagree with you more about your car being the last ///M car, sorry.

There is such as massive gap in performance, look and feel between an e46 330i and an e46 M3 just to give an example. Even the feeling of closing the doors is completely different. Where the 330i is comfortable and quiet in terms of a door closing, the M3 is heavy and loud. It makes you realize you are getting into an entirely different beast. To say the e46 M3 should be branded with an S badge is ludicrous. The same goes for the previous two generation M3's.

Now as I was saying... this branding of the M135i as an ///M car.... Not cool.

Great car. But its kinda like BMW are just giving away ///M badges to anyone who beats the 200kw barrier.

Oooh. here have a badge... you too, oh an you!!!

///M doesnt just stand for power and straight line speed. ///M was built during the trials of motorsport when cars had to compete with CORNERS...

That is what ///M is known for. Being one with the car and road. THe car speaks to you. Feeling every bump in the road and knowing where the car is going.

Welcome to the Fanatics... Look forward to seeing more with your car. :thumbs:

msm@Promotec Performance said:

Legacy said:

I don't agree with it being the last true M car. The E46 M3 has it outclassed in every possible way except maybe rear legroom :biglol:

Click to expand...

Subjective matter, but I tend to agree with Legacy.

My personal opinion:
Last true 4 door M was the E39 M5
Last true 2 door M was the E46 M3 CSL

Don't get me wrong. I really, really love the E34 M5, but to me it's not the last true M car.

Also, the E92 V8 also holds a special place in my heart too.

There are no wrong answers here...

Click to expand...

+10000 and the e36 M3 3.2 :thumbs:

Photokid said:

I can never understand why people would like something to be hand-built when you can have it perfected by machinery...every single time...as you'd like it to be.

Click to expand...

Apparently blow up dolls are mass manufactured by machinery and if you compare it to the real... never mind, I'll stop there!

That analogy is going to get me into trouble :fencelook:

Legacy said:

markbsimon said:

Legacy said:

That does look familiar :fencelook:

I don't agree with it being the last true M car. The E46 M3 has it outclassed in every possible way except maybe rear legroom :biglol:

Click to expand...

But it was not hand built it was a mass produced factory item that had some extras added. As I said th3 E34 was the last Handbuilt M car with personal attention to detail. And as for the desicion to mass produce for commercial reasons I still believe the whole point of an M car is that it is special a limited edition and if you (BMW) chose to mass produce they should have given it a different insignia so as not to deminish the value of what the "M" stands for.

Click to expand...

I don't think because it is hand built it automatically a better car. The E34 M5 has some problems which the E46 and some other M cars don't. Key among is the 540i/6. The 540i/6 is more rare than the M5 (72(5) 540i's vs 265 M5's), it is more economical (strange but true) and has almost identical handling prowess. If the M5 has "hardness and uncompromising super performance" that you speak of the 540i/6 has it as well.

Click to expand...

I would have to disagree, the 540i/6 is in no way more economical after comparing Nic_s and mine his uses around 4L/100 more than my M5, and the handling is not the same. The M5 for example uses rotary slide bearings in the rear suspension where the 540i/6 uses stock rubber. After driving both one Saturday I have to agree the 540i/6 is awesome but not nearly as tight as the M5

Just my 2 cents, and personally Hand built cars are a lost tradition and although the E34 was not BMW's best effort at quality, the hand built one is by far the best built of all my E34's I have owned