Finally made a purchase

[StuBeeDoo]

Like an M3 badge on a 316i

Like no one would notice!

Sad people, just deluding themselves.

Getting a bit off-topic here, but I'm going to post this anyway. I posted these thoughts on another forum recently.........

I can remember when GT badging on a car (well, at least here in the UK) denoted, amongst other things, a higher-performance engine. It meant something! Cortina GT, Avenger GT, Escort GT, 1275GT, Viva GT etc, etc - all had better performance than other cars with that body style. And, of course, they had suspension tweeks, interior upgrades, in a lot of instances unique wheels.
Somewhere along the way, it got watered-down. The higher-performance engine got dropped but the cosmetics, and in some instances the suspension, remained. Does anyone bat an eyelid anymore? I certainly don't. As a lad, I can remember seeing a [insert model name here] GT and thinking "cool".
These days, I see the 2020s "sporty" variant - with its 20inch wheels, huge dummy scoops/vents, 4 huge fake chrome exhaust trims - and I want to throw-up.

An ///M badge on a 116d is just plain wrong.

[X5Sport]

Does it say something if I say that I remember all of those models, and worked on more than a few?!!

The ///M badge is at least a little different still. It should provide different suspension and seats, plus exterior trim. More of a look on many though, rather than as you say above. That IMHO has devalued the M badge

At least on the M50 I get almost 260bhp extra over the MSport trimmed e35/e40 versions. It might not be a ‘true //M’ but at least it’s an M-Performance and was developed by BMW’s M-Division.

[StuBeeDoo]

As I have posted elsewhere on the forum, I recently kerbed one of the Borbet CC wheels.
Since I had the Michelin CrossClimate+ tyres fitted to them I have been aware that, despite being the correct size, on the 8J Borbets they seemed stretched and the rim flange looked a bit vulnerable. Conversely, the Avon summer tyres (same size) on the 7.5J BMW Style 305 wheels looked a little "balloony".

The Avon tyres needed to be replaced, so I had new ones fitted to the Borbets after the one I kerbed was repaired and the Michelins swapped to the BMW wheels for emergency/winter use. A small bonus is that the Avon tyres have a rim protection lip - although it doesn't look very substantial.

[StuBeeDoo]

It's been an expensive few weeks.
First an MOT fail needing a new pair of rear springs. Today the car had had its third transmission/diffs/transfer box oil refresh.
Currently on 133k miles, and on the road 12 years this week.

[StuBeeDoo]

on the road 12 years this week

.......And in my ownership 7 years today.

Yesterday it went in to have the tension struts (in BMW-speak) aka front front suspension arms polybushed and a full alignment. I've been plagued with a judder through the car under moderate-heavy breaking, which new discs & pads didn't cure. It occurred to me that I had similar issues with both my E30 and E46, and both times poly bushes on the wishbones cured it.