Quote:
Originally Posted by Straightsix
I am sure they would have sold "some" E46 M3 Tourings but whether they would have sold enough to cover R&D costs etc is another matter.
BMW have sold E34 M5 Touring and E61 M5 Touring.
Both never sold in great numbers at all
Why there wasn't a E39 M5 Touring ( well there was one for the head of BMW M) is I think something to do with development or handling and again sales projections.
If BMW really believed they could sell enough E46 M3 Tourings brand new they would have done but they didn't presumably because there was no business case.
No point making something even if tech fest if you can't cover costs and make a profit
You also have to ask if they thought not selling the E46 M3 Touring was a mistake why they
didn't sell a E9X M3 Touring
As for Audis a lot of ppl that want estates generally are Audi lovers any way
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All the development cost were in building the prototype, how much more development would have been be entailed, in sticking a S54 engine and drive train into a touring shell, reuse of existing production body panels to the front, only the rear arches and bumper to modify and whala an M3 Touring! Happy BMW enthusiasts with Touring needs.
Audi has the lead with the RS4 in Touring Class with the Avant, why? Quite simply because BMW didn't make a comparable car. The M5 Touring is too big for most peoples needs and hence poor European sales. Obviously aimed at the American market.
If they went on projected sales and profitability being their only criteria, for production, they would never have produced the M3 CSL, as their largest market is the States and as we all know they didn't get it
At one time, BMW used to have owners panels, where the viability of potential models under consideration was discussed prior to production, that's how the E21 evolved and the first M models came about, through driver/owner input.
(So I'm told) Now it's left to accountants and journalists to tell us what we're getting, C'est la vie - take it or leave it! Bring back the Driver panels
