What is this ///M for?

[jog5000]

I own a 325i, 1989 model. Its a South African car. And it has a ///M badge.
Now I know how you guys feel about cars showing the M when it doesnt deserve it. The problem is, I have yet to see a 325i here in SA that DOESNT carry the ///M. Do you think that the M was a standard badge, added to our cars? Or was it a small request by the origional owner.

I've seen VERY VERY MANY 318iS's, and 325i's with the badge. The badge does look legit, as in perfectly placed on all the cars, and perfectly aged, matching the 318 or 325 badge.

Any clues?

[Lennerd320i]

you have the possibility to see it in 3 different ways:

- the original (2 ways):

///M : M-Technic (as your one is an M-Tech1 it might carry the ///M badge)
///M3 : Motorsports car or used on M3's

- the non-original (1 way):

guys who just love to have it on their car, even if it's not a M3 or a M-Technic

[jog5000]

Sorry Lennerd, my fault, should actually change my sig - thats my 320i I owned while in the UK. MY 325 can be seen here: http://www.geocities.com/jogsbmw320i/bimmerfront.jpg or http://www.geocities.com/jogsbmw320/bimmerrear.jpg

Thats the 325i on the geocities site.

[WillG]

every 325 and 318is made in SA must of had an M badge then you answer your own question really, if they all in same place and faded on over 75% on the cars you seen then its got to be like that from factory, did they make sports in SA?, im pretty sure that even the sports in america never had the M-badge so it just depends on the country. Worst badge ive seen where I live is a M3 badge on a baur

[jog5000]

They did make sports here, but they are EXTREMELY rare, as are M3's.

Reason I'm asking is, as you guys probably know, SA isnt the most "savoury" of places when it comes to car theft etc. which stands to reason that some kid might like the ///M look and rip it off a now dead M3 (way back then) and stuck it on his 325i, which eventually ended up in my hands.

[WillG]

maybe, but if you see them on every other 325 and 318is in the same place and faded like you said then it must of been from factory or stuck on most of them using a template when they were nearly new

[jmc330i]

They did make sports here, but they are EXTREMELY rare, as are M3's.

Reason I'm asking is, as you guys probably know, SA isnt the most "savoury" of places when it comes to car theft etc. which stands to reason that some kid might like the ///M look and rip it off a now dead M3 (way back then) and stuck it on his 325i, which eventually ended up in my hands.

The SA 'Sports' (325iS) are different to our UK Sports though, so cant really compare I guess. IMO the SA 325iS is what the UK 325i Sport should of been to set it aside from the rest of the 325i range.

The ///M3 badge is not a ///M badge though - if your 325i has the ///M badge then fair enough (same with the 318iS) but if it has the ///M3 badge....

[jog5000]

No, just plain ///M.
If it was the ///M3, trust me, it would have come off LONG time ago... either by my own hand, or the little pieces of crap who roam our streets, looking at helping themselves to tasty little badge tidbits.

[pacerpete]

Maybe you have lots of council types in SA ?

[Hyperion]

Hi jog5000, it was a add-on that people got on the car. it was not standard fitment.

[jog5000]

Hmmm, I can imagine we would all want that as an add on, down here in Cape Town, must admit.