M badged E30 325i"s 1988 -1991.

[pip]

Good evening to all from Christchurch New Zealand,i have some questions to ask all the fact informed members,not the guessers or the wanna be know alls,but factual answers.It is to do with the M badged E30 325i,1988 -1991 models.(1)What is the difference between the standard engine and the M engine if any ?(2)Is there any difference in the transmision and diff ?(3)What difference is there in the suspension and diff if any ?(4)Are the brakes any different to the standard 325i and if so what is the difference?The reason that i ask these questions is that i see several of these M badged 325i's on the forums and over here in NZ i spent over an hour scutinising one that was at our local auction yard and could not find any visible difference to the standard model.I have come to the conclusion that BMW would not have made these without doing some sort of modification,so does anyone informed have the answers?One possability is that previous owners or car sales have badged these cars for one reason or other,but in reality i could not find any difference even in performance driving one,in fact my car was quicker than the one i test drove.Give me answers,regards Pip.

[munky30]

The sport's had an lsd and closer ratio gearbox but the same engine.

They use mtech suspension which is 15mm lower than normal I think.

As far as I know the only other differences are cosmetic like kits, seats,headliner etc.

LOTS of normal 325's are badged up as sports by their owners.

But I am inbetween a guesser and an informed one so I may be wrong about the suspension.

[SDM]

everyone knows that an ///M badge adds 10bhp.

[Ziggy]

The sport's had an lsd and closer ratio gearbox but the same engine.

They use mtech suspension which is 15mm lower than normal I think.

As far as I know the only other differences are cosmetic like kits, seats,headliner etc.

LOTS of normal 325's are badged up as sports by their owners.

But I am inbetween a guesser and an informed one so I may be wrong about the suspension.

Yup, but even sports didn't come with an 'M' badge from the factory - they were fitted by some dealers & lots of loosers who wished they could afford an M3

[munky30]

woo... check me out with my immense e30 knowledge!

[BreadBin]

No such thing as an M-badged 325i - in this country anyhoo

[munky30]

I thought that, I'm guessing he means 325 sports...

[jog5000]

In South Africa, we have ///M Badged 325i's - its basically your standard 325 with ///M body kit and seats etc.... nothing engine wise or suspension wise. The ///M was a factory fitted badge out here. Mine has one. And no, it doesnt add 10 bhp's, I've checked

[snoops]

theres nothing wrong in adding an m tech grill badge, you cant really say its because people cant afford an m3, then you could say why put an m tech body kit on? because people cant afford an m3?

[Ziggy]

theres nothing wrong in adding an m tech grill badge, you cant really say its because people cant afford an m3, then you could say why put an m tech body kit on? because people cant afford an m3?

...no, I'm not even going to start that discussion - I'm sure someone else will bite!

[munky30]

http://www.e30zone.net/modules.php?name ... +etiquette

[jog5000]

*BITE!!!*

An M3 is an M3 - not a 316/18/20/25 with the grill.... you want the grill, have it, but when guys come along and laugh at you....... dont be nasty back!!

[Ziggy]

& now someone'll say "but it's an 'M' badge, not 'M3'" and I have an m-tech handbrake lever button, so it's justified. Leave it - it's all been said before!

[Chris-W]

What about Mitie vans - is it ok for them to have the M logo on them?

[march109]

What about Mitie vans - is it ok for them to have the M logo on them?

of course as long as its followed by "itie"

[hubble]

theres nothing wrong in adding an m tech grill badge, you cant really say its because people cant afford an m3, then you could say why put an m tech body kit on? because people cant afford an m3?

Completely agree with the above comment.

[march109]

theres nothing wrong in adding an m tech grill badge, you cant really say its because people cant afford an m3, then you could say why put an m tech body kit on? because people cant afford an m3?

Completely agree with the above comment.

seconded, why is an mtech bodykit available otherwise? M3 badges and M badges are breeds apart but some people don't understand the distinction between the two. and think they are the same.

[iDreamBeemer]

M3 badges and M badges are breeds apart but some people don't understand the distinction between the two

including BMW, who didn't put the M on their cars UNLESS it was a 'proper' one! i.e. M3 M5 M6 etc.... (in the UK at least)

Point most of us make is that you are claiming it to be 'something' when it is not. You have and M wheel and gear knob (as I do as standard on my iS) some say this means I am entitled to put one on but I dont see this as reason for doing it. Look back at the iS original marketing and it was done as the 'Baby M3'...I still don't think you should stick them on and in no way pretend my car is M! (ahem!)

Stick what you like on your car (anyone) its all up to you BUT it does make it look like you are bigging up you car cause you put a few bits on. Why not go the whole hogg and stick some decals on for the BBS, H&R springs and Pirelli tyres!

As Ziggy says this debate has been done to death. (I just dont want to do any work!)

Those who say NO - because it means nothing, if anything you are bigging up something that ain't

Those who say YES - because they feel it represents the mods to their car

Conclusion - do what YOU like, I'll keep my opinions and keep telling you about them on a public forum

[m3ben05]

oooooh this again

As has been said, do what you like, i reserve the right to laugh at your car in the same way i laughed at the fiat i spotted that had a ferrari badge

(they do share some common parts you know, so some of you would probably do the same)

[munky30]

Since this topic is so incredibly off topic now, I think now is as good a time as any to throw this into the mix (again) to illustrate a point... what the point is?.... who knows.... you decide.

[orangecurry]

Good evening to all from Christchurch New Zealand,i have some questions to ask all the fact informed members,not the guessers or the wanna be know alls,but factual answers.It is to do with the M badged E30 325i,1988 -1991 models.(1)What is the difference between the standard engine and the M engine if any ?(2)Is there any difference in the transmision and diff ?(3)What difference is there in the suspension and diff if any ?(4)Are the brakes any different to the standard 325i and if so what is the difference?The reason that i ask these questions is that i see several of these M badged 325i's on the forums and over here in NZ i spent over an hour scutinising one that was at our local auction yard and could not find any visible difference to the standard model.I have come to the conclusion that BMW would not have made these without doing some sort of modification,so does anyone informed have the answers?One possability is that previous owners or car sales have badged these cars for one reason or other,but in reality i could not find any difference even in performance driving one,in fact my car was quicker than the one i test drove.Give me answers,regards Pip.

A perfectly innocent question - I bet you never thought it would bring all of these psychotics out of the woodwork.

I can see the newspapers tommorrow - BMW owners come to blows over tiny badges

[pip]

Thanks orangecurry,you are spot on.Of the 20 reply's, only 6 had some semblence to the question and the others are exactly what i asked not to reply.People do not just read what is put before them,or digest what has been written,but go off on some tangent not relevant to the questions.My questions were based on this Zones Photo Gallery Section as i found several posted,so come on you guys you are making idiots of yourselfs by posting Crap when all we wanted was logical replys.

[munky30]

you got your logical reply. It was the first reply. The topic had been resolved.

Hence becoming a free for all.

[jog5000]

Munky, it wasnt the 1st reply - he wasnt asking about the sport - he was asking about an M badged 325i - there is a difference.....

[munky30]

He hasnt clarified that really though, as he is asking on an english forum, where we dont have m badged 325i's, so it is the natural response to assume he means the sport's, which we do have.

Why come onto an english forum, ask a question about south african cars in new zealand, then get sh*tty when he doesnt get exactly what he wants?

If he wants to know about mtech e30's, there's a great place to find out without having to deal with the immaturities and tribulations of the e30zone, its called www.google.com

[iDreamBeemer]

The reason that i ask these questions is that i see several of these M badged 325i's on the forums and over here in NZ i spent over an hour scutinising one that was at our local auction yard and could not find any visible difference to the standard model

And we see them too, people stick em on and they dont mean anything to us, might be different where you are but as Munky points out this is a UK site and you got a UK answer - over here there is no such car as M325!

have some questions to ask all the fact informed members,not the guessers or the wanna be know alls,but factual answers

guess I should shut up really....

[Ziggy]

have some questions to ask all the fact informed members,not the guessers or the wanna be know alls,but factual answers

How to make friends & influence people...

I am so surprised that this thread turned out like it did...

[munky30]

[jog5000]

Munky, good point on the the clarification - although, I am here, being a South African, for the knowledge and geniousness of the Brits, who know their E30's better than the rest of the world....

[lenny-d]

someone told me that the sports weren't built by it the bmw farctor but in an m-tech one.

Bull or not

I'll quite happy to hold my hands up and say i have an ///m badge on my sport, didn't put it there but i like it

[munky30]

Flattery will get you everywhere

I agree with ziggy though, his attitude was pretty off from the start and pseudo insulting 90% of the members on a forum isnt going to get you a very good response. Incidentally, as he doesnt know something, and wants to know it, does that put him in the bracket he so casually demeaned; the 'wannabe know alls/guessers'?

My comment about it being answered in the first reply was misplaced, but it was answered in your first reply, which was early on. So my point about the topic having been resolved and therefore rightfully becoming a free for all that has followed the natural course of any conversation and wandered onto a slightly different topic still stand. There is no need for him to climb up on his high horse and get sh*tty.

[Ziggy]

someone told me that the sports weren't built by it the bmw farctor but in an m-tech one.

Bull or not

I'll quite happy to hold my hands up and say i have an ///m badge on my sport, didn't put it there but i like it

Bull, I'm afraid...

Your M badge was probably put there by the dealer that sold it & if you like it, keep it!

[Ziggy]

Munky, good point on the the clarification - although, I am here, being a South African, for the knowledge and geniousness of the Brits, who know their E30's better than the rest of the world....

Hmmm... sarcasm's difficult to get across in writing ain't it!

[pip]

Hey munky please read my reply to orangecurry,read it man.I was brousing through our e30zone photo gallery and a UK members M325i photo spread turned up and on going through archieves there are plenty of these cars floating around the UK.Does it matter wether i live in New Zealand the UK,Russia or the USA we are all members of this zone and i don't appreciate your conotations with respect to the questions put forward,i'm not the one getting upset,it's you.The question pertains to M badged 325i's not 325i Sports,as i say there are plenty on the zone photo gallery hence the question.

[SDM]

The question pertains to M badged 325i's not 325i Sports.

well then the answer is fuck all (except 10bhp).

now lets all have fun and insult each other.