Is the F8X M3 really that bad?

[JCHill]

Wills2 said:

Max Maxasson said:

Its normal that owners are far more enthusiastic for the car than prospective buyers...few people are going to spend >£50k on a car and then be all down on it.
I liked everything about the car except the power delivery and the sound.
I suspect I could get used to the power delivery but not at all sure about the noise it makes.
I know you can code out the active sound but can you make the exhaust not sound like a teenagers souped up Corsa...maybe disconnect the internal exhaust flap so it doesn't open?

Not sure I agree Peter with people just backing the car they've got, I'm pretty honest about my cars I really do like this one, my boss and I had a play on the way home tonight he has an M4 me the M3, his car sounded terrific as came past me at full chat, I was really surprised how good it sounded as I do admit the sound isn't a patch on the S65.

You never get the real view of the exhaust sound sat in the drivers seat, that's where the S65 was so fantastic because of all the induction roar.

Perfection would a an S65 dropped into the F80 chassis.

Your CP e92 is a great car, like you I've had two and they are great and there is no point in swapping if you don't like it.

...and I nitpick about things I should really overlook.

The big issue I have (or rather had) was the rear brake caliper / brake pad fit. I've never owned a car where the rear pads made so much rattle noise. PuMA raised but amounted to nothing so rolled up my sleeves and fixed it myself...ridiculous.

However now I have a car which does everything I want. Is it perfect? God no. Nothing is. Like I mentioned above I wish they'd sort out the silly things because they just seem odd to me. But on balance the car is superb.

[Wills2]

cerb4.5lee said:

The S65 isn't for me a great engine for our roads though and the F80's engine offers far more satisfaction for more of the time, on a track though I would hanker for the S65 and its hunger for revs and its top end fireworks.

For you Lee, the engine wasn't very good you buddy, for me and many others (engine of the year many times!) it was perfection and has not been bettered by the current M engines in many areas that count.

[cosworth330]

Need to test drive an F80 M3, the styling is just spot on, fantastic looking car.

Have had a listen to some cold start videos on youtube ( standard F80 M3 exhaust ) and they sound pretty bad, one of the clips at cold idle sounded like a loud 2CV! I'm hoping when I test drive one they are more refined.

[vpr]

Down on quality by a long way over it's predecessor and lots of detail missing.

I definitely feel it was built to a price.

Doesn't feel hard solid like the E9x

[Tony B2]

Max Maxasson said:

Well I had a 2016 M4 for the day yesterday.
Can't say I was super impressed, drives and handles fine but the engine is not great, it has plenty of torque but the way it delivers the power is not great. The sound of the engine is unrefined and the exhaust sound is really awful.
I had previously decided to swap my 2013 E92 M3 for a new M4 next Feb but after the test drive I'll probably look at getting something else.

How come you're looking to get rid of your 2013 car, Peter?
I thought that it had really low mileage, so has something changed your mind on this one?

Too much familiarity after nearly 7 years of E92s?

If so, hire a carp, ordinary car for week, and then get back in refreshed@

[HannsG]

Do I get rid of my well sorted E46 M3 with a manual box for one?

[Wills2]

HannsG said:

Do I get rid of my well sorted E46 M3 with a manual box for one?

If you want a modern faster car with more grip and power yes, if not stick with what you've got.

[SR06]

MWM3 said:

Yes it is awful ...

It is better than the E9x in every way possible expect for lack of a V8 and noise.


In my view it is the best (standard) M3 that's been made. However, I am basing my experience on my LCI car, which sorts a lot of the (supposed) niggles of the early cars, which these clowns probably had.

Couldn't disagree more. My e90 M3 was fantastic. So much so that I actually walked away from a nearly new F80 M3 due to having more rattles than a crèche.

[MWM3]

I agree with you, the E90 M3 was fantastic and I loved mine. Also agree that the F8x has to many interior rattles.

However, the F80 is still considerably a much better car and puts an even bigger smile on my face than my E90 used to.

Edited by MWM3 on Saturday 6th August 22:36

[Wills2]

I don't have these rattles I must be lucky as everyone of my last 10 BMWs have rattled including 2 e92 M3s.

[Max Maxasson]

Tony B2 said:

How come you're looking to get rid of your 2013 car, Peter?
I thought that it had really low mileage, so has something changed your mind on this one?

Too much familiarity after nearly 7 years of E92s?

Yeah Tony I think so....problem is I still find it an immensely satisfying car to drive.
I honesty wish I had been properly impressed by the M4 I drove, then there wouldn't be a problem.
If only 911s were no so expensive I would have another one as a last hurrah before I stumble into old age decrepitude.

[JimmyConwayNW]

Few weeks into ownership and have noticed a rattle somewhere sounding like the rear shelf type area. Anyone else had this ? Absolutely no idea where it's coming from and before I go tearing bits of trim off wondered if there was a common issue.
Thanks

[JCHill]

JimmyConwayNW said:

Few weeks into ownership and have noticed a rattle somewhere sounding like the rear shelf type area. Anyone else had this ? Absolutely no idea where it's coming from and before I go tearing bits of trim off wondered if there was a common issue.
Thanks

First thing to check (daft as it sounds) is the rear brake pads, without the handbrake on.

It did my head in for weeks (including 2 trips to the dealership and a PuMA).

Check for play in how the pad sits, mine "clunked" against the caliper which you could then hear inside the car. You don't need to remove the wheel just lift and drop the pad within the caliper.

[BigLion]

I have had virtually all the different variants of the m3 - e36, e43, e92 in different guises within the same model eg manual/DCT/SMG.

I love m3s and I'm a BMW fan boy - so when the new m4/3 came out I went for a test drive to do a deal - however I found the car to be beautiful but the traction was crap. That was the biggest thing for me, the e92 was so amazingly balanced.

I'm not sure whether the M division lacked the experience of how to deal with the torque lower down the rev band - but suffice to say I went a bought a 911 instead.

If I do get another M car it will probably be the M5 or M6.

Sad really as I loved the M cars

[djtex]

BigLion said:

I have had virtually all the different variants of the m3 - e36, e43, e92 in different guises within the same model eg manual/DCT/SMG.

I love m3s and I'm a BMW fan boy - so when the new m4/3 came out I went for a test drive to do a deal - however I found the car to be beautiful but the traction was crap. That was the biggest thing for me, the e92 was so amazingly balanced.

I'm not sure whether the M division lacked the experience of how to deal with the torque lower down the rev band - but suffice to say I went a bought a 911 instead.

If I do get another M car it will probably be the M5 or M6.

Sad really as I loved the M cars

You should try an F80/82 comp pack, I struggled with a standard car and its poor traction. The Competiton pack is brilliant in the dry, less so obviously in the wet given the amount of power and torque available. For me anyway, the ZCP transformed it.

[Wills2]

BigLion said:

I have had virtually all the different variants of the m3 - e36, e43, e92 in different guises within the same model eg manual/DCT/SMG.

I love m3s and I'm a BMW fan boy - so when the new m4/3 came out I went for a test drive to do a deal - however I found the car to be beautiful but the traction was crap. That was the biggest thing for me, the e92 was so amazingly balanced.

I'm not sure whether the M division lacked the experience of how to deal with the torque lower down the rev band - but suffice to say I went a bought a 911 instead.

If I do get another M car it will probably be the M5 or M6.

Sad really as I loved the M cars

If you thought the traction was crap in the F80 I wouldn't bother with the M5 it's a lot worse, I went from F10 M5 to F80 M3 the M3 has loads more traction.

M5 will spin the rears at 90mph.

[BigLion]

Wills2 said:

BigLion said:

I have had virtually all the different variants of the m3 - e36, e43, e92 in different guises within the same model eg manual/DCT/SMG.

I love m3s and I'm a BMW fan boy - so when the new m4/3 came out I went for a test drive to do a deal - however I found the car to be beautiful but the traction was crap. That was the biggest thing for me, the e92 was so amazingly balanced.

I'm not sure whether the M division lacked the experience of how to deal with the torque lower down the rev band - but suffice to say I went a bought a 911 instead.

If I do get another M car it will probably be the M5 or M6.

Sad really as I loved the M cars

If you thought the traction was crap in the F80 I wouldn't bother with the M5 it's a lot worse, I went from F10 M5 to F80 M3 the M3 has loads more traction.

M5 will spin the rears at 90mph.

Damn, I'll get burnt at the stake for this but maybe they should do a 4wd option - appreciate this goes against the ethos but as an option ?

Think I'll stick to the 911 in the meantime...

[rosino]

There was just no need for all that torque. They feked up. Who can use all that power in this country anyways. Give me a revvy, nicer sounding engine every day of the week. Cars need to be more fun not more powerful. The M2 proves it.

[cerb4.5lee]

rosino said:

There was just no need for all that torque. They feked up. Who can use all that power in this country anyways. Give me a revvy, nicer sounding engine every day of the week. Cars need to be more fun not more powerful. The M2 proves it.

The market prefers more torque I think, the E92 M3 was quite a frustrating car to enjoy and for me more torque equals a better package but appreciate everyone is different.

The M2 is hardly light regards torque anyway.

[R33FAL]

cerb4.5lee said:

The market prefers more torque I think, the E92 M3 was quite a frustrating car to enjoy and for me more torque equals a better package but appreciate everyone is different.

The M2 is hardly light regards torque anyway.

By market you mean "emissions regulators"... have you seen how many M3 fanboys are chopping in the new M3/M4 in short order... there must be at least a thread a day on m3cutters/m3post etc. All saying the turbo engine lacks any kind of soul...