Has BMW dropped a clanger with the M3?
Discussion
I driven the new M3 whilst I didn't like the engine or the noise it produced, the standout for me was the ride and handling it felt very sharp at fast road speeds and handled the humps and bumps of a Yorkshire b road better than any car I've ever driven.
I didn't buy it instead swapped my CP M3 for a 335d xdrive (but that's another story) and yes it's boring and I'm looking to change.
I didn't buy it instead swapped my CP M3 for a 335d xdrive (but that's another story) and yes it's boring and I'm looking to change.
Edited by Wills2 on Friday 14th November 19:29
cerb4.5lee said:
Wills2 said:
I didn't buy it instead swapped my CP M3 for a 335d xdrive (but that's another story) and yes it's boring and I'm looking to change.
Sorry to hear you are not getting on with the 335d 
I should have known I wouldn't be enthralled with it, after all I've dribbled on about high revving n/a cars enough on here, I'm looking to change in the new year.
The car is very capable and bloody quick 0-60 but not for me in the long term.
Wills2 said:
cerb4.5lee said:
Wills2 said:
I didn't buy it instead swapped my CP M3 for a 335d xdrive (but that's another story) and yes it's boring and I'm looking to change.
Sorry to hear you are not getting on with the 335d I should have known I wouldn't be enthralled with it, after all I've dribbled on about high revving n/a cars enough on here, I'm looking to change in the new year.
The car is very capable and bloody quick 0-60 but not for me in the long term.
Hope you hit the spot with the next one.
cerb4.5lee said:
Good evening buddy, it is a very capable engine for sure but it offers a completely different driving experience to a high rev N/A motor and I think its nice that you still crave the old school way of doing things.
Hope you hit the spot with the next one.
So do I, swapping motors isn't cheap. Hope you hit the spot with the next one.
Wills2 said:
I didn't buy it instead swapped my CP M3 for a 335d xdrive (but that's another story) and yes it's boring and I'm looking to change.
Also sorry to hear it's not working out with the 335d although I'd gathered as much from several of your posts on various other threads! Slightly disappointing fuel consumption aside, my F31 335d is doing pretty much what I expected from it but I'm not convinced it (or indeed any other diesel) will really satisfy a true petrolhead; quite possibly all the car you'll ever need but not necessarily all the car you'll ever want IMO.Edited by Wills2 on Friday 14th November 19:29
Back on topic, I've not driven a new M3 or M4 but it does sound like BMW may have dropped the baton ever so slightly this time round. Having said that, I seem to remember some of the motoring press being decidedly lukewarm about the E92 M3 when it was first introduced but that view changed fairly quickly; perhaps history will repeat itself with the new cars?
Worth reading this piece from Chris Harris on the new M3 and what he thinks about the criticism from other journalists means.
https://grrc.goodwood.com/road/drives-and-rides/ch...
https://grrc.goodwood.com/road/drives-and-rides/ch...
Blowfish said:
Spec up an M5 and it will cost £20k more than an M3!
Not sure I agree, the M5 has a better spec than the M3 so no need to spec it up plus you'll get 10k off the M5 but nothing off the M3 and you'd have to spend adding DCT HUD etc..to match the M5 spec as standard. joscal said:
M5 0% deal. No comparison if you have people to carry.
I bet there is not much more than 3k-5k in it spec for spec.
Wills2 said:
Not sure I agree, the M5 has a better spec than the M3 so no need to spec it up plus you'll get 10k off the M5 but nothing off the M3 and you'd have to spend adding DCT HUD etc..to match the M5 spec as standard.
I bet there is not much more than 3k-5k in it spec for spec.
I actually think they're even closer than that otr, but the M5 is way cheaper due to the interest charges:I bet there is not much more than 3k-5k in it spec for spec.
M5 £74K base - £12k contribution = £62k
M3 £59K DCT + a few bits = also £62k - £0 contribution(unless you're lucky)
.....so pretty much the same OTR. Yes you could spec 20's on the M5 and other stuff but it's a much higher base spec to begin with and you would also have to add a fair bit of kit to the M3 to match it spec for spec, so for arguments sake, lets assume the same OTR.
However, even at the same OTR price, the M5 has 0%, wherease the M3/4 has 7.7%....haven't done accurate numbers on that, but probably in the region of £8k in interest.
M5 wins on price, spec, power, noise and everything else except it's also considerably heavier. Choises, choices.
Blowfish said:
Harris likes the new M3:
https://grrc.goodwood.com/road/drives-and-rides/ch...
His argument is that people dislike it because it's new, which is a tired and lazy statement. I and many others I've read dislike it because the engine noise is odd, the colours are bland and I'm not a massive fan of the styling. I'm in the market for an i8 so his argument doesn't wash really, it doesn't get much 'newer' than that car. The M4 to me feels lifeless. https://grrc.goodwood.com/road/drives-and-rides/ch...
Blowfish said:
I can't think of a better new all round car for £60k to kart 2 kids about in?
I bought an M4 for that very reason, child transporter that could be taken for the odd blast. The car had so many flaws it wasn't even worth keeping, until my next car arrives I'm running around in a 116d and I swear it is more fun on a back road.A 997 GTS or an early 991 Carrera S are a much better shout if you have small kids.
It's entirely a matter of opinion. As a former E90 M3 owner, I had a decent test drive in an M4.
In my opinion, it handles a lot better than the previous model. The only thing I didn't like was the engine noise and the salesman next to me asking me to slow down. It was chuckable and far more composed, as though the reduced weight was combined with excellent chassis control and suspension.
Now, stick an M5 engine in an M3/4, and you'd have an incredible car.
In my opinion, it handles a lot better than the previous model. The only thing I didn't like was the engine noise and the salesman next to me asking me to slow down. It was chuckable and far more composed, as though the reduced weight was combined with excellent chassis control and suspension.
Now, stick an M5 engine in an M3/4, and you'd have an incredible car.
DMC2 said:
I bought an M4 for that very reason, child transporter that could be taken for the odd blast. The car had so many flaws it wasn't even worth keeping, until my next car arrives I'm running around in a 116d and I swear it is more fun on a back road.
A 997 GTS or an early 991 Carrera S are a much better shout if you have small kids.
I agree on the 991 Carrera S but these aren't as well specced as a standard M4 and I am sure someone consensus is you'll struggle to fit in the back if your over 5 foot 2 because of headroom. These are also quite a bit more than 60k used. A 997 GTS or an early 991 Carrera S are a much better shout if you have small kids.
M3greg said:
It's entirely a matter of opinion. As a former E90 M3 owner, I had a decent test drive in an M4.
In my opinion, it handles a lot better than the previous model. The only thing I didn't like was the engine noise and the salesman next to me asking me to slow down. It was chuckable and far more composed, as though the reduced weight was combined with excellent chassis control and suspension.
Now, stick an M5 engine in an M3/4, and you'd have an incredible car.
Exactly this. I may be wrong, but my perception of the new M3 / M4 engine is that it's basically the 135 / 335 engine, but re-worked a bit. Previous M engines were completely bespoke and had a fabulous character, right the way from the E30 to the E90 there's something special about them. This one just seems to lack that character that made the M cars so good to drive.In my opinion, it handles a lot better than the previous model. The only thing I didn't like was the engine noise and the salesman next to me asking me to slow down. It was chuckable and far more composed, as though the reduced weight was combined with excellent chassis control and suspension.
Now, stick an M5 engine in an M3/4, and you'd have an incredible car.
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