Genuine M3/M5

[jasonybu]

Is there a way to tell if an M3 or an M5 is a fake or if its the real thing. I have a feeling that a lot of people just buy the emblem and put it on their car.

[Oldskoolbeat]

its pretty easy, usually you can tell. on e36's, on the control arms, there is an ///M engraved on them.

[bmw4life]

M3's have a lot of different parts from a regular 3 series like bumpers, mirrors, seats, the list goes on but it is easy to put these things on a regular 3 series car

[jasonybu]

what about the guy driving beside me? can i tell if its the real deal or just some low life phony?

[komodo]

The easiest way is the mirrors. M3 mirrors are rounded and sporty, 3-series mirrors are square and boxy. Some 3-series mod the m3 mirrors on (I did), but they're pretty expensive so it's rare.

[Addicted?]

when im in doubt of whether it is an m next to me ill check the wheels (lots of people have the m wheels) rear diffuser (not so common) front bumper (common) side skirts (some forget to get em...) mirrors are a pretty good give away, check to see if it has the m3 exhuast (lots upgrade to this) another good way is to toy with him a little.... if he takes off and is faster than say your 325... theres a chance it might be real. If you arent driving by them... check as oldskool said control arm (i didnt know this one) or you can check the whole interior (expensive to swap) or run avin check?

david

[SHAHAB323IS]

open the door and look at the vin number, voila!

[Joey]

E46es, of course, have very distinctive fins built into the fenders, and two mufflers. It's a rarity to find someone who can afford an E46 and then buy all the parts necessary to fool someone into thinking it's an M3. E39 M5s have two mufflers as well, I don't think any other in that 5 generation did.

[Phat Ham]

On the e39 the main differences are front and rear bumpers, quad exhaust , mirrors, and rims. The '03 540 sport package has bumpers very similar to the m5. The mirrors and quad exhaust are the biggest giveaways. Starting in 2001 all the non M e39s came with painted moldings, while the m5 (and the '03 sport package) retained the black moldings.

[spiff]

for E36, you can tell by the exhaust hangs abit lower, mirrors, bumpers the usual. id list more about other cars but i am very lazy

[Rooz]

Mirrors, moldings, and bumpers I would say are the most obvious ones

[B3M2W5i]

Originally Posted by Joey

E46es, of course, have very distinctive fins built into the fenders, and two mufflers. It's a rarity to find someone who can afford an E46 and then buy all the parts necessary to fool someone into thinking it's an M3. E39 M5s have two mufflers as well, I don't think any other in that 5 generation did.

yeah i have an uncle in the philipines who bought a new e46 316 and made it look like an m because its cheaper to have a 4 cyl in the philipines and the traffic there is massive

[cainchapman]

The mirrors, wheels, indicators and exhausts are the best way to spot it.

However, it's fairly easy to buy and put on your car.

The genuine M cars have an M in their instrument cluster and the gear knob too.

[Turbodefrost]

here is an example of a fake M3 i saw at lunch last week. it has the emblem, rear diffuser, exhaust, mirrors, but notice the side skirts. those are regular e36 skirts, the m3 ones look different.


M3 side skirts:

[B3M2W5i]

^at least the original e36 sideskirts still flow well with the front/rear m3 bumpers