RE: The new BMW M3

[PK1970]

Pick mine up next Tuesday (I'm living in Munich) and cannot wait. Standard spec much lower over here, so price can be kept sensible, and the best colour white (in my opinion), is a free of charge option! I've ignored sat nav, full leather, M Drive, EDC, etc. Keep it simple that was my logic! I'll worry about resale another day......

I had a M3 CS in the UK, so it'll be interesting to see how they compare.

6 days and 10 hours to go..................

[edb49]

PK1970 said:

Pick mine up next Tuesday (I'm living in Munich) and cannot wait. Standard spec much lower over here, so price can be kept sensible, and the best colour white (in my opinion), is a free of charge option! I've ignored sat nav, full leather, M Drive, EDC, etc. Keep it simple that was my logic! I'll worry about resale another day......

I had a M3 CS in the UK, so it'll be interesting to see how they compare.

6 days and 10 hours to go..................

Excellent choice of colour! Glad I'm not the only one who went for white

[Miguel]

Mr Whippy said:

Miguel said:

Tons of things that I mostly now agree with

But I still think the wheel thing is a clear make the smaller one look less pleasing than the bigger one (not ugly, just less pleasing)...

It's all, imho here, about making the 19" a default for many, cost option!

Dave

Here's another thing we can partially agree on: Having now seen both wheels in the new issue of Evo, I do agree that the 19's are nicer looking. If I were buying an M3, however, that would not sway me to order them.

Miguel

[dinkel]

Which drive best?

[griffgrog]

I drove the E92 back to back with an E46 with SMG. Very different cars. The E92 did remind me a little of my old E39 M5, lots of grunt and easy to short shift. Manual gearbox still not satisfactory. It was the first time I'd driven and E46 and I have to say, I was very impressed. Zingy engine and fantastic SMG gearbox. Interesting that the E60 M5 has a 'zingy' engine whilst the old E39 was grunty and BMW have gone the other way with the M3. Placed an order for the M3, arrives in January. Where's the waiting list?????

[havoc]

griffgrog said:

...fantastic SMG gearbox.

Hmmm...the E46 I drove (around Rockingham) had SMG and it was pretty poor, to be honest. Mechanical sympathy and smoothness didn't seem to be on their list of priorities when developing it, and it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that if the TC hadn't been left on () it'd have upset the fore-aft balance of the car every time.

[Zod]

havoc said:

griffgrog said:

...fantastic SMG gearbox.

Hmmm...the E46 I drove (around Rockingham) had SMG and it was pretty poor, to be honest. Mechanical sympathy and smoothness didn't seem to be on their list of priorities when developing it, and it wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that if the TC hadn't been left on () it'd have upset the fore-aft balance of the car every time.

You need to learn to drive it. Just becasue the changes are automated doesn't mean you don't have any influence. People who aren't used to it often do silly things like changing gear where they would never change in a manual (not that I'm suggesting you did so).

[griffgrog]

I have driven the current M5 so was used to how the SMG perfoms. I can't see how it upsets the balance of the car. There's no need to change gear mid way through the corner. As Zod say's the gearbox is under your command.

My experience of the two cars highlighted what I believe to be the only flaw in the new M3, its gearbox. As BMW are delivering an SMG then I think it will be a fantastic car.

I've got no problems with it gaining a bit of weight, hell I drive a 997!!

[PK1970]

Got mine today. First impressions are excellent. Much stronger lower down than the E46; ride on 19's is great; noise is superb; and looks awesome in white. Can't wait 'til it's run it.

[DoctorD]

PK1970 said:

Got mine today. First impressions are excellent. Much stronger lower down than the E46; ride on 19's is great; noise is superb; and looks awesome in white. Can't wait 'til it's run it.

You don't need to run it in to give us pictures, especially since yours is in white.

[PK1970]

[1 Attachment]

Hopefully that works...

[DoctorD]

Nope.

Use the parenthesis

[pic]picture234.jpg[/pic]

Edited by DoctorD on Tuesday 18th September 10:31

[Mr Whippy]

DoctorD said:

Nope.

Use the parenthesis

[pic]picture234.jpg[/pic]

Edited by DoctorD on Tuesday 18th September 10:31

Still didn't work!

Dave

[DoctorD]

Mr Whippy said:

DoctorD said:

Nope.

Use the parenthesis

[pic]picture234.jpg[/pic]

Edited by DoctorD on Tuesday 18th September 10:31

Still didn't work!

Dave

Where's the slap smilie? I was just illustrating how to insert a picture into a thread, I don't have the picture URL myself to demonstrate..

[PK1970]

Links to pics of my new E92 M3.

Edited by PK1970 on Saturday 22 September 22:28

[m3dmac]

drove the new m3, then the 335d coupe ,then the 335i coupe,
bought the 335i coupe which had more torque and acceleration in the mid range than the m3 and kept accelerating right to the end.
the m3 was a dog till 6500 revs then it took off but had to change gear almost right away
the 335d was obviously a quick diesel, but a bit rubbery in response and rev limited,
the 335i was so much better, a responsive quick road holding car with no lag and in normal roads quicker than the m3 and the 335d
the m3 seemed heavy and remote from the road although the tires [michelin pilot sport]were better than the awful run flats on the 335i
birds and ca automotive do an upgrade to 360hp[remap] from £1700-£2500.
tried the alpina b3 which is a 360hp 335i, didn`t notice a lot of difference for £15000 extra

[Pugsey]

m3dmac said:

drove the new m3, then the 335d coupe ,then the 335i coupe,
bought the 335i coupe which had more torque and acceleration in the mid range than the m3 and kept accelerating right to the end.
the m3 was a dog till 6500 revs then it took off but had to change gear almost right away
the 335d was obviously a quick diesel, but a bit rubbery in response and rev limited,
the 335i was so much better, a responsive quick road holding car with no lag and in normal roads quicker than the m3 and the 335d
the m3 seemed heavy and remote from the road although the tires [michelin pilot sport]were better than the awful run flats on the 335i
birds and ca automotive do an upgrade to 360hp[remap] from £1700-£2500.
tried the alpina b3 which is a 360hp 335i, didn`t notice a lot of difference for £15000 extra

If you "didn't notice a lot of difference for the £15k extra" then you have certainly made the right choice - for you.

As a comparison my choice - based on having driven all three cars extensively - would be, in order or preference - M3, 335d (ideally chipped) and very firmly last the 335i. Different strokes for different folkes eh?

[Olf]

Pugsey said:

m3dmac said:

drove the new m3, then the 335d coupe ,then the 335i coupe,
bought the 335i coupe which had more torque and acceleration in the mid range than the m3 and kept accelerating right to the end.
the m3 was a dog till 6500 revs then it took off but had to change gear almost right away
the 335d was obviously a quick diesel, but a bit rubbery in response and rev limited,
the 335i was so much better, a responsive quick road holding car with no lag and in normal roads quicker than the m3 and the 335d
the m3 seemed heavy and remote from the road although the tires [michelin pilot sport]were better than the awful run flats on the 335i
birds and ca automotive do an upgrade to 360hp[remap] from £1700-£2500.
tried the alpina b3 which is a 360hp 335i, didn`t notice a lot of difference for £15000 extra

If you "didn't notice a lot of difference for the £15k extra" then you have certainly made the right choice - for you.

As a comparison my choice - based on having driven all three cars extensively - would be, in order or preference - M3, 335d (ideally chipped) and very firmly last the 335i. Different strokes for different folkes eh?

Tell us why you'd go for the 335d before the 335i?

[Pugsey]

Olf said:

Pugsey said:

m3dmac said:

drove the new m3, then the 335d coupe ,then the 335i coupe,
bought the 335i coupe which had more torque and acceleration in the mid range than the m3 and kept accelerating right to the end.
the m3 was a dog till 6500 revs then it took off but had to change gear almost right away
the 335d was obviously a quick diesel, but a bit rubbery in response and rev limited,
the 335i was so much better, a responsive quick road holding car with no lag and in normal roads quicker than the m3 and the 335d
the m3 seemed heavy and remote from the road although the tires [michelin pilot sport]were better than the awful run flats on the 335i
birds and ca automotive do an upgrade to 360hp[remap] from £1700-£2500.
tried the alpina b3 which is a 360hp 335i, didn`t notice a lot of difference for £15000 extra

If you "didn't notice a lot of difference for the £15k extra" then you have certainly made the right choice - for you.

As a comparison my choice - based on having driven all three cars extensively - would be, in order or preference - M3, 335d (ideally chipped) and very firmly last the 335i. Different strokes for different folkes eh?

Tell us why you'd go for the 335d before the 335i?

Hi Olf

Because if I was considering either the 335d or 335i rather than the M3 it would mean that I was looking for the best day to day 'just get it done' car rather than a 997S competitor (the M3) and IMO the 335d fulfills that role better. In real world situations, say overtaking from 40-80 (as opposed to the irrelevant 0-60), without the hassle of bothering to drop a gear (I'd go auto anyway) it'll murder the 335i (and even embarrass an M3 if it's driver wasn't prepared and in the right gear) after all it's got 428lbft torque at below 2,000! compared with the 335i's weedy 295lbft. I found the chassis to be virtually identical to the 335i too. In Touring form a really practical, subtle mile cruncher. For me it's the M3 or (or even AND) the 335d. Why go for the 335i which seems to occupy a skimmed milk middle ground. Oh and add a DMS chip and you loose absolutely all lag and gain another 50bhp or so! Lovely.

Not wishing to be rude, but I also found it laughable that the previous poster thought the 335i was fast on road than the M3.

Pugs.

Edited by Pugsey on Monday 7th April 09:38

Edited by Pugsey on Monday 7th April 09:41

[Olf]

Pugsey said:

Olf said:

Pugsey said:

m3dmac said:

drove the new m3, then the 335d coupe ,then the 335i coupe,
bought the 335i coupe which had more torque and acceleration in the mid range than the m3 and kept accelerating right to the end.
the m3 was a dog till 6500 revs then it took off but had to change gear almost right away
the 335d was obviously a quick diesel, but a bit rubbery in response and rev limited,
the 335i was so much better, a responsive quick road holding car with no lag and in normal roads quicker than the m3 and the 335d
the m3 seemed heavy and remote from the road although the tires [michelin pilot sport]were better than the awful run flats on the 335i
birds and ca automotive do an upgrade to 360hp[remap] from £1700-£2500.
tried the alpina b3 which is a 360hp 335i, didn`t notice a lot of difference for £15000 extra

If you "didn't notice a lot of difference for the £15k extra" then you have certainly made the right choice - for you.

As a comparison my choice - based on having driven all three cars extensively - would be, in order or preference - M3, 335d (ideally chipped) and very firmly last the 335i. Different strokes for different folkes eh?

Tell us why you'd go for the 335d before the 335i?

Hi Olf

Because if I was considering either the 335d or 335i rather than the M3 it would mean that I was looking for the best day to day 'just get it done' car rather than a 997S competitor (the M3) and IMO the 335d fulfills that role better. In real world situations, say overtaking from 40-80 (as opposed to the irrelevant 0-60), without the hassle of bothering to drop a gear (I'd go auto anyway) it'll murder the 335i (and even embarrass an M3 if it's driver wasn't prepared and in the right gear) after all it's got 428lbft torque at below 2,000! compared with the 335i's weedy 295lbft. I found the chassis to be virtually identical to the 335i too. In Touring form a really practical, subtle mile cruncher. For me it's the M3 or (or even AND) the 335d. Why go for the 335i which seems to occupy a skimmed milk middle ground. Oh and add a DMS chip and you loose absolutely all lag and gain another 50bhp or so! Lovely.

Not wishing to be rude, but I also found it laughable that the previous poster thought the 335i was fast on road than the M3.

Pugs.

Edited by Pugsey on Monday 7th April 09:41

Thanks for that. I'm struggling at the moment. I'm at a do or die stage with my 04 E46 330d touring. It's a gorgeous car with all the options I want and I've liberally updated stuff like the sat nav and put in a dension iPod connector. But I'm just coming up to 55k miles. And whilst the car feels as good as new I'm aware I'm coming to the end of the extended warranty which I'm not that keen on shelling out another 600 smackers on and also the 5 years servicing and maint pack expires at 60k.

Add this to the fact that I've been toying with the idea of a faster car anyway and I'm leaning towards a 335i or d with say 15k on the clock.

I had been thinking though that I need to get one with efficient dynamics. Do they use this on the big engines and did you experience it working?

Edited by Olf on Monday 7th April 09:48