BMW releases M Sport Packages for U.S models

yes here comes all the posers...I hate when people do it now and fake the funk, pretending to have a M3 when they really have a 328...or when they just take the badges off a 525i and tell the ladies its a M5...Audi people do it also with with a 2.0t A4 with S4 or RS4 badges...bad enuff MBenz puts AMG packages on everything also...M badge and AMG badge should only be put on the cars that deserve that prestigeous badge...thats how I see it

I'm sorry this upsets you so much 350zdon, but I don't see anything wrong with it. These are authentic factory packages not aftermarket garbage, and why shouldn't you be able to get an M body kit without having to go for some monster engine? Striping a 528 badge and replacing it with an M5 badge pisses me off as much as the next guy but just take pleasure knowing you can spot the little differences between the 2 real cars.

Well... I currently drive a "non-poseur" version of these cars and have to say that it doesn't bother me that BMW/Audi/Merc offer "sport packages". The packages are well-conceived and generally offer better handling in addition to the appearance upgrades. I would consider this very different than slapping an "M" badge onto a 525.

Judging from the proliferation of these vehicles on the streets, it would seem that the business model makes sense for the automakers.

Furthermore, it usually quite easy to tell nature of the beast outside of the badging... my favorite clues are exhausts and brake calipers (both of which are expensive to change out).

If you need a vehicle to impress the ladies, perhaps you're making up in other areas of your short comings.

That too!

Kaner +1. Best post on Autospies this week.

It's just another option on the list to check for potential owners, instead of searching the world for different parts and creating a Frankenstein, they now have an all-in-one option straight from the factory which looks much cleaner.

With the kit you get M Aerodynamic body styling, M Sports suspension (stiffer and lowered), a high-gloss shadow line No chrome around the windos), M Sports steering wheel (much thicker than the standard steering wheels), sports seats, an M gear knob, M Sports door sill kick plates, M interior trim and anthracite headlining. I have it on my 530d Touring and it looks fantastic.

BMW has been doing this for years. How people are getting surprised or even upset by this is beyond strange.

It's about time.

In Europe you can get an M sport package on any BMW from the 116i to the X5 4.8i. The 7 series has a different package I think, it's not the same deal...

The 7 series has an alpina version, and yes different from the M.

I mean there's no M7, obviously, but equally you can't get an M styling package like you can on other models, it's just a 'sport' package. No M branding.

I'll take my M5 in Interlagos Blue. Thank you.

I'm ecstatic this is now an option. I've always been bothered that it's been available in Europe for years, but not here, because "it dilutes the M brand" according to BMW NA. The E46 330i Performance Package model was essentially the same as a 330i M Sport for America and I've been disappointed there isn't something like that for newer models. The 135i has some of the M Sport bits by default and that is what I'm leaning toward getting in the fall. Now with the M Sport package and Le Mans Blue availability, that is what I will be getting assuming I don't change my choice of car by then. I'm curious to see what they make available for the 3 series. I just wish I could get Alcantara seats like on the old 330 Performance Package.