[jphughan]

So a while back, BMW announced that its line of "M Performance Vehicles" that began in Europe with the M550dX would eventually come to the US and with gasoline engines, intended to fill the gap between the series cars and full-on M cars. I've been kicking around a potential design for such a car in my head that I think would fill a niche that would attract a lot of people, but I'm curious what you all think. The way I see it based on my experience with my own car, M cars by design are models that really have to be tracked to be fully appreciated and understood for what they are -- but there are still a fair number of M car elements that create a more engaging driving experience compared to the series cars even on regular roads. So why not offer a model that has many of the parts necessary to deliver that experience, without the extra cost and potential downsides of the elements that are meant more for the track?

I'm imagining a model along these lines:

• Engine: From the 435i (with maybe a small power/torque bump), to retain the fuel economy benefit compared to the M4 and because it has more than enough horsepower and torque for spirited road driving. This would have been especially true if such a model were being contemplated when the choice would have been between the N54/55 and the S65.
• Suspension: From the M4, or at least a setup closer to the M4 than to the 435i, because the extra handling prowess would be a key benefit of this type of car.
• Brakes: From the 435i, because its brakes are plenty capable of dealing with spirited road drives. The M4's extra brake capacity only becomes necessary at the track, which means road-only drivers enjoy less expensive brake service costs without encountering any of the limitations.
• Differential: From the M4! An LSD helps most on track but still delivers a noticeable benefit on fun roads. Or perhaps maybe not the M4's new electronic locking diff, but rather the diff from the E9x M3. That would create a bit more of a gap between this car and the M4 while still providing far greater ability to power through corners than the 435i, all while costing less than the M4's diff and giving BMW a few more years to profit from the R&D that went into making the E9x diff.
• Steering: From the M4, because improved steering feel can be appreciated even at lower speeds.

Certain other things would remain M-exclusive, such as carbon ceramic brakes, EDC, MDM, the more aggressively bolstered seats, and the more expensive weight reduction measures to retain model differentiation and price separation -- but much of that wouldn't be beneficial for this model's intended purpose anyway.

Of course this is somewhat what BMW did when they created the 1M: the engine from the 335i tuned for more power, the suspension from an M3 (albeit a mix of E9x and E46 bits), and M-type steering -- though they chose to go with M3 brakes on the 1M.

Am I way off here or is this a car that would appeal to people who didn't track but wanted something edgier than the regular series cars? Surely such a market exists. I think the savings on the engine, brakes, (possibly) different LSD, and (possibly) somewhat detuned suspension compared to the M4 would drop the price enough to appeal to people, while the other elements would create enough of a step up from the 435i without encroaching on the M4's territory. The more I think about this, the more I think this is what BMW should have done with the 335is.

Thoughts?

[Vitoco]

Can I just ask what the point is with this idea, I mean do you work for bmw or will any of these features somehow be taken into consideration by them? No offense but I see it as pointless to come up with such an elaborate idea and then ask for feedback as if it will lead anywhere. It wont lead anywhere, right?

[IM2C]

Originally Posted by jphughan

[*]Steering: From the M4, because improved steering feel can be appreciated even at lower speeds.

How about hydraulic steering?

[DesertSmokeBBQ]

435is much?

[jphughan]

Originally Posted by Vitoco

Can I just ask what the point is with this idea, I mean do you work for bmw or will any of these features somehow be taken into consideration by them? No offense but I see it as pointless to come up with such an elaborate idea and then ask for feedback as if it will lead anywhere. It wont lead anywhere, right?

I don't work for BMW, but there are BMW employees who are known to peruse these boards, including Matt Russell, Brand Manager for M in BMWNA. I was purely curious whether this would appeal to others or whether there was some reason other could think of for why something like this hasn't happened (or might not in the future).

Besides, it can hardly be argued that every topic discussed among enthusiasts of any type online or anywhere else has (or must have) some sort of practical merit. Lots of threads here are simply open discussion and opinion sharing. Nothing wrong with random chats by the online watercooler IMHO. But if you're not interested in sharing your take, then no harm done.

[jphughan]

Originally Posted by e90im

How about hydraulic steering?

I figure if BMW can make that happen on the M4, then asking for the M4's steering in this model would net hydraulic steering. If they can't/won't do it on the M4, then no chance they'd do it here. The M5 and M6 got it (though they're both criticized for numb steering nonetheless), so I'm holding out that the M4 will too. On the other hand, Porsche apparently pulled off an electric power steering miracle with the GT3 through nothing but software changes between it and the regular 991's steering, the latter of which has also been dinged for lack of feel -- but apparently not the GT3!

[alex2364]

Have you not paid attention to the M235i? It's basically a 235i with M Sport and MPPK. And optional port or dealer installed LSD. So if BMW brings out a M435i, which I doubt, it'll be very similar.

[jphughan]

Originally Posted by alex2364

Have you not paid attention to the M235i? It's basically a 235i with M Sport and MPPK. And optional port or dealer installed LSD. So if BMW brings out a M435i, which I doubt, it'll be very similar.

Hmm, I haven't been following it closely. Most of my time on the forums has been following the thread about bearing failures on the S65. That sounds intriguing though, but it's a bummer that LSD is an option, and I'd still be curious what (if anything) they do differently for the suspension and steering since those are key factors to delivering a fun ride. But maybe that wouldn't be feasible while retaining enough separation with an M2, assuming one is in the works and depending on what it would bring to the table.

[Vitoco]

Originally Posted by jphughan

I don't work for BMW, but there are BMW employees who are known to peruse these boards, including Matt Russell, Brand Manager for M in BMWNA. I was purely curious whether this would appeal to others or whether there was some reason other could think of for why something like this hasn't happened (or might not in the future).

Besides, it can hardly be argued that every topic discussed among enthusiasts of any type online or anywhere else has (or must have) some sort of practical merit. Lots of threads here are simply open discussion and opinion sharing. Nothing wrong with random chats by the online watercooler IMHO. But if you're not interested in sharing your take, then no harm done.

Good answer

[DesertSmokeBBQ]

Originally Posted by alex2364

Have you not paid attention to the M235i? It's basically a 235i with M Sport and MPPK. And optional port or dealer installed LSD. So if BMW brings out a M435i, which I doubt, it'll be very similar.

BMW makes this already & adds "is" to the badge