[M3JetPilot]

Originally Posted by carseatsm5

I feel for BMW (and the other car manufacturers). They’re in an impossible spot trying to manage this incredibly complex technological and brand transition, and it’s not on their timeline. Or even the consumer’s timeline.

Spend decades carefully iterating and developing your product and then it’s regulated away. If they manage to re-create the M3 magic in an EV this quickly it would be a total miracle.

This is true. I still wonder if we had put all our resources towards an alternative fuel ICE if we would have had a better result. EV’s are a net environmental positive (I think?) but there is still a lot of bad there, some of it new compared to ICE cars. I wonder what the end result will actually be. We might know in 50 years.

[KRS_SN]

I3, ix3,i4,ix
In terms of name IM3 im5 imx5 etc would be very recognizable to the bmw crowd.

[KoenG]

Originally Posted by JK479

You make a good point. I’m considering a 4s that retailed for 138,000- it’s 71,000 right now on the lot with 29,000 miles. And that’s with the 94 kw upgraded battery with 270 miles of range. Also- that’s Porsche certified. Which means on trade it just have come in under 50,000.00? WTH?


Is this a good deal now or is the EV market just a massive depreciating fleet?

Even when it's massively depreciating, there is no doubt that the Taycan is a magnificent ride. At this price, it's a steal. I'am just looking at offers of 70k€ for 10k mls 4s vehicles of s2/2020 with extended guarantee. It just seems unreal. Can't explain it though.

[KRS_SN]

Originally Posted by KoenG

Even when it's massively depreciating, there is no doubt that the Taycan is a magnificent ride. At this price, it's a steal. I'am just looking at offers of 70k€ for 10k mls 4s vehicles of s2/2020 with extended guarantee. It just seems unreal. Can't explain it though.

The only drawback of a taycan is tech and space. That's why I had to vote for the IX.
If I didn't need the space I'd have gone for the taycan

[JMD]

Originally Posted by Jason

BMW has trademarked the iM3 model name, which is surely the name to be used for the future quad-motor M3 EV. The trademark has been registered at:

European Union Intellectual Property Office
German Patent and Trademark Office

According to Frank Weber Member of the BMW Board of Management: The "Next BMW M3 [EV] will be a quad-motor all-electric Bahnstormer" on Neue Klasse.

So, does "iM3",...really mean, "I'm M3"? Hmm!!!

[thopwood4]

Originally Posted by Dgjo2022X5MC

I noted a long and colorful ad during football games for Taycans. When I see lots of ads, I often think sales are down and need a jump start. I could be very wrong, but...

Said that to my wife. “When do you ever see a commercial for a Porsche?”

[Blue Angel]

Originally Posted by M3JetPilot

Now a great interior and performance and maybe an EV M3 won’t be too bad.

In my 48 year old opinion, the interior is where the NK concept goes too far. The minimalist theme is ok when it’s used to make something objectively better. It fails miserably the moment it begins to look like a cost-cutting exercise (cough-Tesla-cough).

The NK exterior is decent looking in my view. Enough retro with forward-moving style. I’m a fan of the classic 3-box sedan, and I’m relieved it doesn’t look like a suppository from the side, all in the name of aerodynamics (cough-Mercedes-cough).

[KoenG]

Originally Posted by KRS_SN

The only drawback of a taycan is tech and space. That's why I had to vote for the IX.
If I didn't need the space I'd have gone for the taycan

Agree, but Taycan is an EV version of a 911 with 4 doors. Consequently honed for vehicle dynamics, not for ultimate practicality. I presume probably the iM3 won't be either.

IX is a totally different beast I assume?

[MassBimmer]

Originally Posted by forcefed

Only way to capture that is to keep the weight down, and since the i4 is 5000lbs I'm having doubts. It weighs as much as the model S plaid but it's as fast as the model 3. The new ev only platform will make or break the im3. If they can keep the weight down to model 3 numbers then it'll be a winner.

How much do you think an M340 weighs?

[Blue Angel]

Originally Posted by MassBimmer

How much do you think an M340 weighs?

Nearly 3900 lbs. Model 3 Performance is about 200 lbs heavier, almost 4100 lbs. That’s a decent step down from 5000.

[MassBimmer]

Originally Posted by Blue Angel

Nearly 3900 lbs. Model 3 Performance is about 200 lbs heavier, almost 4100 lbs. That’s a decent step down from 5000.

LOL. Try 4986. Not much different from an i4

[JK479]

Originally Posted by KoenG

Even when it's massively depreciating, there is no doubt that the Taycan is a magnificent ride. At this price, it's a steal. I'am just looking at offers of 70k€ for 10k mls 4s vehicles of s2/2020 with extended guarantee. It just seems unreal. Can't explain it though.

Demand is so low. Time to just try one out at a discount?

[forcefed]

Originally Posted by MassBimmer

How much do you think an M340 weighs?

What does that have to do with anything?

[KoenG]

Originally Posted by MassBimmer

LOL. Try 4986. Tired of people acting like EV’s are such pigs

Euh, my i4 edrive40 rwd is about 250kgs more than the "equivalent" M440i rwd, no?

[MassBimmer]

Originally Posted by forcefed

What does that have to do with anything?

People are only in favor of an iM3 if BMW “keeps the weight down”, insinuating EV’s are dramatically heavier than their ICE counterparts. Weights between ICE & EV models are a lot closer than people think

[Dgjo2022X5MC]

Originally Posted by thopwood4

Said that to my wife. “When do you ever see a commercial for a Porsche?”

Exactly!!! I said same thing to my wife. lol. They were trying to sell them like an iPhone. Starting at 90k. lol.

[forcefed]

Originally Posted by MassBimmer

People are only in favor of an iM3 if BMW “keeps the weight down”, insinuating EV’s are dramatically heavier than their ICE counterparts. Weights between ICE & EV models are a lot closer than people think

1000lbs is not a lot closer.

Originally Posted by M2siast

M440i = 4,019 lbs
i4 = 4,680 lbs

Both on the same platform. Neither is 5,000 lbs.

Both have a 700 lbs spread (not a “not much different” weight), or 17% more weight for the electric model. (1/6 of the weight MORE)

The single motor i4 is 4700lbs, dual motor i4 m50 is 5000lbs.
https://ev-database.org/car/1519/BMW-i4-M50
https://www.edmunds.com/bmw/i4/2023/...eatures-specs/
https://insideevs.com/news/601827/bm...ain-road-test/

[Blue Angel]

Originally Posted by MassBimmer

LOL. Try 4986. Not much different from an i4

I checked three places, including Tesla’s website. 1836 kg, or 4048 lbs.

I was wrong about the M340i XDrive; apparently it weighs 3951 lbs, so less than 100 lbs difference.

All else equal, a BMW EV will weigh more than a competing Tesla because it actually uses proper materials and good build quality, neither of which favor lightness.

[M3JetPilot]

Originally Posted by Blue Angel

In my 48 year old opinion, the interior is where the NK concept goes too far. The minimalist theme is ok when it’s used to make something objectively better. It fails miserably the moment it begins to look like a cost-cutting exercise (cough-Tesla-cough).

The NK exterior is decent looking in my view. Enough retro with forward-moving style. I’m a fan of the classic 3-box sedan, and I’m relieved it doesn’t look like a suppository from the side, all in the name of aerodynamics (cough-Mercedes-cough).

The interior is so important and I hope someone at BMW is listening. Physical buttons are not bad. Having something to look at and mod on the inside is good. Just glass, dash and a screen is horrible. Leather is good, lots of plastic bad. Buttons on a screen don’t work in a car as well as they work in other areas. Take for example the Apple remote. All the glass on their other devices but physical buttons on the remote. Why? Because some interfaces work better when it isn’t virtual. I’m sure BMW realizes this and I hope they don’t go down the Tesla design path. Tesla’s interior is total crap and they aren’t really competition to BMW.

[Nahlem]

I am not sure BMW will release the iM3 until they get the solid state batteries in place, they are talking about Neuclasse in 2030 getting the solidstate batteries. But before that it will be cylindrical batteries first, The new M3 that will come after this generation will probably be some form of hybrid then after that we will see a full blown iM3 but that is a couple of years away. So i wouldn't expect any major breakthroughs in battery tech now a lot of companies are talking about 2030 as the stepping stone that will change their focus completely not only because of the forced stop stale of new ICE cars (EU) but it seems like many companies are talking about 2030 when there battery tech will reach some form stage that will either make them very cheap and far better then today's batteries so companies will be able to target a wider market and not only cars that hits the 80 000€ mark price. But cheaper.

But then again i checked the new prices ICE cars and damn the prices are not that different compared to EVs these days, depending on brand name and so on ofcourse. The i5 e40 starts at close to 66 829€ while the closest competitor if we look at power levels is the 530e sdrive starts at 54 168€ they are not that far apart any more. They you start adding stuff to the cars and boom both are at close to 80 000€ mark fast. Its like the new benchmark price for cars equipped to reach the 80 000€. I have noticed this a lot across the board not just from BMW but a lot of manufactures are trying to make cars that comes close to those prices just look and both Volvo and their sister company Polestar.

Interesting to see if we will hit a development curve with EVs like we once did with ICE where prices just plummets down because the tech gets easier to deal with and the production ramp up gets easier.

[BMW-ALPINA]

Originally Posted by 440i6MT

Wouldn't "M3i" look and sound better?

I think BMW should do some work about their naming strategies these days. Everything is just confusing now.

Scrap the "BMWi" name and let the i´s be e. Let a 3-series be a 3-series, not the 3er/i3 thing.

"iM3" -> M3e
330e -> 330ie (injection + electric)
"iX3 M50" -> X3 M50e
"i3 M50" -> M350e
"i3 xDrive30" -> 330e xDrive
"i3 eDrive30" -> 330e

And if the still want to have the "BMWi" trademark, they should leave it as a BMWi.

"iM3" -> i3 M

[EthanEJC]

Originally Posted by Quadruple VANOS

So you’re envisioning BMW offering two different 3 Series platforms simultaneously? One ICE and one EV?

it’s not like this is impossible BMW all ready do this..