Why BMW Dropped Competition – The Bold Move That Changes M Cars Forever

Why BMW Dropped Competition Badge – 3 Key Reasons That Change the Future of M Cars

BMW enthusiasts are asking one big question — Why BMW Dropped the Competition Badge from its iconic M lineup. The answer, straight from BMW M CEO Frank van Meel, is that more than 80% of customers were already choosing Competition-spec models. But this strategic move signals more than simplification — it marks the slow fade of manual BMW M cars.

The Competition Badge Becomes Redundant

The decision to eliminate the Competition badge reflects the preference of the vast majority of BMW M customers for the highest level of factory performance.

• Customer Preference: BMW M CEO Frank van Meel explained the move simply: “More than 80% of our customers went straight for the Competition”.
• New Standard: The M division’s response was to “just make that the standard one,” meaning “every BMW M model today is a Competition,” even without the badge. (BMW M Is Dropping the Competition Badge)
• Models Affected: This applies to future BMW M cars, including the G87 BMW M2 (which never received the badge) and the upcoming G90 M5.

More Bad News for Manual Transmission BMW M Cars

The shift to a standard Competition-spec baseline makes the future of the manual gearbox in BMW M cars increasingly bleak.

• Manual Limitation: On current BMW M cars like the G80 M3 and G82 M4, the non-Competition variants were the only way to get a manual transmission. This is because the added power and torque of Competition models often exceed the limits of the manual gearbox.
• No Low-Power Entry Point: Since future BMW M models will start at the higher-power Competition level, it becomes less likely that the M division can justify engineering a separate, less powerful powertrain variant just to accommodate the manual gearbox.
• M2 CS Precedent: This is why track-focused variants like the M2 CS are not offered with a stick shift.

The Manual’s Future: Rare, Exclusive, and Pricey

While the mass-market manual BMW M is dying, the stick shift may survive as an ultra-exclusive option.

• Limited Production: BMW M Vice President of Customer, Brand, and Sales, Sylvia Neubauer, suggested the brand may continue to introduce cars with manual transmissions, but they will be “very exclusive” and in “a certain quantity”.
• Expensive Exclusivity: If the manual is only viable in low-volume specials (like the 3.0 CSL, for example), the most enthusiast-focused BMW M cars will become very expensive, similar to the strategy already employed by Porsche for its limited-edition models.
• Non-M Exception: The manual transmission in less powerful, non-M models, like the BMW Z4, may get a “stay of execution,” but those who demand BMW M power will likely have to pay a significant premium for the pleasure of controlling the clutch.

Final Thoughts

BMW M’s decision to drop the Competition badge is a clear reflection of customer preference for maximum performance. While this creates a high baseline for all future BMW M models, it accelerates the trend toward automatic-only powertrains. For the dedicated enthusiast, the message is clear: the manual transmission in a BMW M car is not dead, but it is moving from an option to a highly exclusive, pricey collectible, reserving the ultimate driving pleasure for a select few.

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