I have a E46 330i ZHP that is delivered everywhere else in the world with the badge shown below. I suppose that it's not done here for branding preservation. I think they sell more M3's in the US than any other country.

At any rate, before you flame, you should know that the ZHP package was crafted my the Motorsport Group. However, having owned a 98 M3/4 and currently racing a 95M, I dont want to appear to be "trying too hard".

At any rate, I think I just might....

(be nice)

I wouldn't do it, but that is my personal opinion. The ///M badge is not as bad as putting on an ///M3 badge, but you are still running the risk that someone will rip it off your car. Also, it is going to call more attention to your car and that could make you a bigger target for being keyed.

Why don't you just go unbadged? Understated power is a much better statement.

It's your ride...If the m badge is what you want to do..go for it..As long as you like it, there's nothing else that matters.

Do it :) -- don't worry about what other people think.

No way, I saw a 330 ZHP in Cancun with the ///M and I thought he was a poser. You mean BMW puts them on there??????

Do it :) -- don't worry about what other people think.

Right, worry about what they'll do. ie, the drunk purist who happens across your car while leaving the bar.

My wife called me the other day (who's not real car conscious) and says "I'm following a 525i with an ///M plate holder - should I tell him?" I laughed and said, "While I would never run it on a 525i, the plate holder does not constitute neglilence, it may have been a gift and the recipient felt obligated to run it - to cross the line requires non-factory badging or an ///M5 plate holder, now that is negligent."

No way, I saw a 330 ZHP in Cancun with the ///M and I thought he was a poser. You mean BMW puts them on there??????

Yep - In every other country other than the USA.
The car was re-visited by the M Division when the ZHP package was crafted.
Technicaly, it's correct. But I might look like a chump here in the US.

Right, worry about what they'll do. ie, the drunk purist who happens across your car while leaving the bar.

My wife called me the other day (who's not real car conscious) and says "I'm following a 525i with an ///M plate holder - should I tell him?" I laughed and said, "While I would never run it on a 525i, the plate holder does not constitute neglilence, it may have been a gift and the recipient felt obligated to run it - to cross the line requires non-factory badging or an ///M5 plate holder, now that is negligent."


So this puts me back where I started. It's factory everywhere else in the world. Guess I need to move to Japan to run the badge.

Strange because I have never seen it on a 330 :dunno

Saw a E36 sedan with M badges oce but also thought it was a poser... ///M was where it would normally say 325 or so.

So this puts me back where I started. It's factory everywhere else in the world. Guess I need to move to Japan to run the badge.

Tell that to the guy leaving the bar a 1:00am - that would be enough of a deterrent for me. You should do what you want, just be aware of the risks.

So this puts me back where I started. It's factory everywhere else in the world. Guess I need to move to Japan to run the badge.

I have a ZHP also.

BMW Individual created the car, not motorsport.

Look in BMW Magazine (available to all BMW dealers) Jan 2003 edition page 14. The head of the Individual program talks in the article about how this was Individual group's favorite project to date as they finally got to work on an engine as well.

It also has this info in the 05 3-series dealer literature.

If it was true motorsport your VIN would start with WBS not WBA.

Not flaming, I have a ZHP also, and used to have two E36 M3s.

Interesting that it's badged that way in the rest of the world. Do you have any pics?

I have a ZHP also.

BMW Individual created the car, not motorsport.

Look in BMW Magazine (available to all BMW dealers) Jan 2003 edition page 14. The head of the Individual program talks in the article about how this was Individual group's favorite project to date as they finally got to work on an engine as well.

It also has this info in the 05 3-series dealer literature.

If it was true motorsport your VIN would start with WBS not WBA.

Not flaming, I have a ZHP also, and used to have two E36 M3s.

Interesting that it's badged that way in the rest of the world. Do you have any pics?

No pics but with this info - my desire to do this is over (as quickly as it started). Thanks for the facts.

How about a M5 badge?




Just kidding..... :rolleyes

No pics but with this info - my desire to do this is over (as quickly as it started). Thanks for the facts.

How about a M5 badge?




Just kidding..... :rolleyes

Hey man, do what you want to. If a ///M badge is what you want do it. Don't listen to others.

That said, most people would just be ignorant about seeing it on the car and act like you were posing.

Tell that to the guy leaving the bar a 1:00am - that would be enough of a deterrent for me. You should do what you want, just be aware of the risks.

Wow, you guys must hang out the the "Angry, Drunkard's Pub". :eek:
I've seen ///M badges on Hondas and the car is untouched. Laughed at, yes, but untouched. If you can afford the M3, maybe it's time to start hanging out at nicer places :D

i say debadge everything. let people guess what kind of car you have until you rocket past them. :)

oh, i saw a "318" badge on an old integra yesterday. go figure.

-mike

i say debadge everything. let people guess what kind of car you have until you rocket past them. :)

oh, i saw a "318" badge on an old integra yesterday. go figure.

-mike

haha, rocket past them in a pp. :stickoutt good one ;)

I personally wouldn't put one on the back of my car. Even if you change every part to M3 parts the VIN is the one that tells it all IMO.

i raced a guy in a 330 vert with an M license plate holder. smoked him pretty bad. pulled up and asked him if that thing had an M motor? he said "no". i said "funny this does but i dont have a badge."

i say debadge everything. let people guess what kind of car you have until you rocket past them. :)

oh, i saw a "318" badge on an old integra yesterday. go figure.

-mike
I want to put that on my car... I was toying with the idea, but never did it... :D

I want to put that on my car... I was toying with the idea, but never did it... :D


Atleast go for the euro 316... :rolleyes




:stickoutt

Yep - In every other country other than the USA.
The car was re-visited by the M Division when the ZHP package was crafted.
Technicaly, it's correct. But I might look like a chump here in the US.
Except in the countries where ZHP is not even available... (such as Japan, for instance). ;)

I wouldn't worry about what other people think, but if I were you, I would not run the risk of standing out more than necessary, either.

i seen ///m5 badge on 5 series,i hate it so much :mad .
oooo i know ///M5 badge= 10 bhp per wheel :buttrock .
:lol

I wouldn't worry about what other people think, but if I were you, I would not run the risk of standing out more than necessary, either.


The whole point of this thread is that he IS worried about what others think. Why would you even put an M badge on your car unless you wanted people tho think that you had an M3? :dunno

The whole point of this thread is that he IS worried about what others think. Why would you even put an M badge on your car unless you wanted people tho think that you had an M3? :dunno
He wants to put an M badge, not an M3 badge. He at least wants to show the world that his car is tuned by BMW M. ;)

If your engine has an M on it from the factory, then you can have the badge on it...I don't care if BMW does that badge from the factory. If the engine has it on there, then alright.

If your engine has an M on it from the factory, then you can have the badge on it...I don't care if BMW does that badge from the factory. If the engine has it on there, then alright.
If you want to be picky about the origin of the engine, you might as well go all the way to the car itself. Let's consider the car to be an M if the VIN starts with "WBS," meaning it was manufactured by BMW M.

The fact of the matter is that the 330 ZHP engine is an enhanced version of M54 and is labelled as M54. And as far as I know, it hasn't got an M logo on it.

Sure the ZHP has a couple of other M logos about the car (shifter, steering wheel, wheels, etc...), but I think that the putting an ///M badge on the trunk lid when you do not actually have an M car is just not right. I am not sure why for me it takes actually badging the trunk lid to "step over the line", but it does.
Do whatever you want with your car, but when I see non-M cars with an ///M badge, it makes me roll my eyes...Why not have a badge made up that says ZHP instead? It would seem a bit more acurate to me, plus the ZHP itself is cool enough car as itself, without being confused by the lay-person as an M3.

He wants to put an M badge, not an M3 badge. He at least wants to show the world that his car is tuned by BMW M. ;)


What is the difference? He still cares what people think..... ;)

Actually this thread was over @ post #12.

Why you guys are rehashing the whole deal is funny.

To summarize (since no one reads threads before posting anymore) :confused

VIN is not WBS, not an M
ZHP build by BMW Individual, not M
original poster said with that info, he would not do it.

Yep - In every other country other than the USA.
The car was re-visited by the M Division when the ZHP package was crafted.
Technicaly, it's correct. But I might look like a chump here in the US.


Andrew you are always going to look like a chump no matter what you do :stickoutt .....JK bro. Seriously though, leave it off. You already have that sweet M3 for the track :buttrock

To summarize (since no one reads threads before posting anymore) :confused

VIN is not WBS, not an M
Heh... at least I got to the same conclusion by myself. :redspot