In a message dated 4/6/2004 4:28:16 PM Pacific Daylight Time,
jrunberg@MAC.COM writes:

<< If I've read the posts correctly, the "Bluestar" is different in name only
(and original point of sale) while an M3 is a very, very different car than a
normal BMW. There's no performance difference, only a badge and serial
number. >>

John,

Performance is different between the Bluestars (Red & White) vs. a US spec
Wolfsburg Edition. They got the higher compression 2.1 Digijet engines (112hp?)
or 1.6 Turbodiesels. They only appear similar. Many came with ABS as well.
This is similar to the differences between say an e36 M3 vs. an e36 325is. They
look virtually identical when one opts for the M3 style body kit. Badges,
serial numbers, brakes, and horsepower ratings would differentiate the cars. Kinda
sounds like the difference between an ABS equipped 112i European spec Bluestar
vs. a US spec 95hp Wolfsburg Edition Vanagon with normal brakes, doesn't it?
Sounds logical to me.

You may be thinking about the e30 M3's which were vastly different from their
lesser brethren like the European spec 323i and US spec 325e, es, i, is, ix,
etc. I've owned e21 and e30 323i's which were in the same logical vein that
you are looking for when compared to their US counterparts. But then that's for
another list for another day.

We can argue this all day long but at the end of the day, something is being
represented as something that it is not.

BenT Lowjick