OT: BMW help

[Racer X]

I will freely conceed that any M-series is one hell of a machine, and engineered extremely well, but I still stand by my belief that the 3 series as a whole is a poseur Buffymobile.

But an M3 is about as similar to a 318 as a GNX is to your grandma's 4 door Regal. All the really cool stuff was done by an outside company. (in both cases)

I have a good friend who is an Automotive Engineer, and most of my impressions have come from observations about how he felt and interacted with his wife's 318i, and about all the grief my family has had over the years with our 5 series. The earlier 2002s and the bavarias were a different story, but that was before BMW went for mass market sales.

[davester]

Yeesh, put a sock in it RacerX. You really don't know what you're talking about. The only distinguishing factors for the M-series and 328i/330i are bigger engine, stiffer springs/bigger wheels/brakes, and snazzier seats and plastic body bits. Otherwise they are identical vehicles. The M cars started out as factory homologation models and still remain factory designed and built...not outsourced as you imply. For most people, the ride comfort sacrifice for the M-series makes them poor everyday cars, whereas the standard models still have near unbeatable handling (especially in the twisties) and plenty of power, as shown by innumerable road test reports. I've driven plenty of sports cars and sedans, and have never driven a car that is better balanced.

[Racer X]

I respect your opinion, and I am allowed to have my own. I have a recently departed friend who had a 2002 M3, so I have had some experience with them. His was most certainly a daily driver, but everyone has different wants and needs in a daily driver. I delivered pizza in my GSX for about a year before I realized what it was. For me, it was a great daily driver.

I would like to point out that I got in a wreck with my old '72 Skylark and a mid '80s 528i back in '87. I drove away, and his was totaled.

I may have been incorrect about the work being farmed out. I was under the impression that they farmed them out to AMG. Or is that just the custom Mercedes that AMG does?