RE: PH Blog: the best M3? It's the 1 M!

[ChrisBuer]

Mr Whippy said:

430bhp?

I thought it was about 80bhp less than that?

Dave

Standard, yes, remapped no.

Actually to be more precise, nearly all of the 1M's I've seen on a dyno run have put out more than their official BMW figure. BMW quote 340bhp, but most dyno's suggest that this figure is actually at the wheels rather than the crank, so you're closer to 360-370bhp as standard.

Mine has an uprated intercooler, no secondary cats and a remap. My stock figures were 349bhp and 402 lb.ft torque. After the three changes mentioned, it made 431bhp and 485 lb.ft torque on the same rolling road.

[enduroboy]

Inverted said:

enduroboy said:

em177 said:

Will be track tyres on the wheels shown I'd imagine.

???? csl comes as standard with pilot sport cup tyres

Correct but believe it or not ten years on not all CSL's are running around on OEM Cups. I have Cups but on a 2nd set of wheels. Main wheels have Supersports fitted.

you have misinterpreted my post..............

I have cups on a second set of wheels too....... point was that someone asked why the csl was on 19's - "probably on track tyres" my answer being that, why bother when they come with track tyres ( yes yes if you signed the waiver etc)

If you drive your csl then cups are wasted, and not exactly best for winter.....

if you polish it and look at it in your garage then 1 set of wheels with cups is fine!!!!!


I probably know you if you lurk on the cslregister too ;-)

[BBS-LM]

For me the E46 CSL is the best all time M3, it had everything and then some, great looking car for a start, amazing sounding engine, fantastic handling, the list go's on and on.

[DanBMW]

Its funny that alot of the anti flappy paddle remarks are from people who havn't owned one.
I am a car ENTHUSIAST and I love driving I love heel and toeing with a manual, but I have just bought an M3 CS with SMG. Yes I will miss doing it myself but the SMG is still good fun, because its actually a manual just with a computer controlled clutch it still feels like a manual so it has more character than an auto. It takes a little while to learn how to drive it properly but its great. Its not faultless but faultless can make things boring.

Flappy paddles don't deserve the amount of hate they get, I may not buy another one but it doesn't mean i'm not enjoying it.

Back to the 1M I love the looks I havn't driven one yet but to me it just looks like a more modern looking e46 M3 which is no bad thing. If I had the choice between a 1M and a e46 M3/CSL I'm not sure I could decide! Theres plenty of +'s for both.

[Mermaid]

DanBMW said:

.

Back to the 1M I love the looks I havn't driven one yet but to me it just looks like a more modern looking e46 M3 which is no bad thing. If I had the choice between a 1M and a e46 M3/CSL I'm not sure I could decide! Theres plenty of +'s for both.

Following the 1M concept, the new M3/M4 will probably unite opinions - I expect it will be super awesome.

[Yellowcab]

0836whimper said:

I'm really struggling with that dull CSL pic with the wrong wheels on.

Here's a better one.

100% muscle, 0% fat was the title to this poster. I had a CSL fom new in 2003 and a 1M new in 2011. Both brilliant cars, but different in so many ways. Love them both and wish I still had my CSL but the 1M at the moment ticks all the boxes for me

[Yellowcab]

Inverted said:

Correct but believe it or not ten years on not all CSL's are running around on OEM Cups. I have Cups but on a 2nd set of wheels. Main wheels have Supersports fitted.

Not all CSLs were fitted with Cups. Unless you signed a disclaimer saying you aware of the limitations of semi slick tyres normal tyres came fitted to your new CSL with standard M3 wheels. A lot of original CSL owners were pissed off when salesmen fogot to get buyers to sign on the dotted line.

Edited by Yellowcab on Wednesday 30th January 19:16

[Brownie69]

I have a 135i M sport Coupe and wouldn't mind pitting against your 1M because I think they are almost match for match at £10,000 cheaper.

[greygoose]

Brownie69 said:

I have a 135i M sport Coupe and wouldn't mind pitting against your 1M because I think they are almost match for match at £10,000 cheaper.

I used to have a 135 and have a 1m now and there is a big difference particularly in the steering and suspension which makes the 1m a better drive.

[Yanto]

NDNDNDND said:

The skill? The challenge perhaps? The fun? Because it's more rewarding?

I can't help but think these 'flappy-paddle evangelists' aren't real petrolheads...
Go and play with your Xbox.

Fool

[161BMW]

This thread is terrible just boring Manual V SMG V DCT .... Yawn

[crafted]

Now what about the E30 M3?

Edited by crafted on Thursday 31st January 00:51

[Leins]

Has anyone on here driven a LHD E36 GT? Be quite interested in their findings. An M3 that's always intrigued me

[wizz72]

I had a 135i M Sport before my 1M and really enjoyed it but they are chalk and cheese,from the drivers seat you wouldnt know the 1M was based on a 135i if you didnt already know.In a straight line the 1M would walk away and in the corners it would say tata

I used to own an M3 CSL and a E46 M3 before that,never really liked the SMG box for daily and town driving and least of all parking,fantastic on full bore duties though,down blips were always fun.

Some cars just suit 'Paddles' better than others,i must admit to liking the M135i especially in autobox guise,i wonder how the author would have found that car on his track day,bargain at 30k too,but im not so sure my old 996 GT3 would have felt right with flappies,will be interesting to see how good the 991 GT3s will be,very im guessing.

I still prefer the connectivity of a manual even if you do lose X amount per shift by way of being 'old fashioned'.

Forced induction M cars?Great for everyday stuff with awesome tuning potential for relatively modest outlays,its a shame the 1M didnt have a bespoke unit,its a great engine though and heralded the sign of things to come whether we like it or not.

I was never really interested in the V8 M3 for some reason,probably because it came out not long after i sold my CSL and i foolishly considered it too lardy by comparison,its engine must be incredible,the sound award definitely goes to the CSL however,it will take a lot to beat that noise and whatever does i want one.One of the best drives i ever had was after i picked my CSL up and drove it home down the M1 in the pouring rain,tentatively opening the throttle to hear the carbonfibre airbox work its magic but crapping myself everytime i did because it was on cups,totally unforgettable.

1M or CSL ? I will take both thank you kindly but will reserve final judgement on the 'Best M3' until after the arrival of the F3O incarnation,i think it may be a belter

[Yellowcab]

Leins said:

Has anyone on here driven a LHD E36 GT? Be quite interested in their findings. An M3 that's always intrigued me

Owned an M3 GT RHD from new as well . A very raw car. Why a LHD one?

[Leins]

Yellowcab said:

Owned an M3 GT RHD from new as well . A very raw car. Why a LHD one?

Different car, more extreme and powerful in LHD. On paper it looks a contender for top E36 M3, albeit not an Evo. Unless you get into ACS CLSII territory

[wheelsmith]

Had a csl, loved everything about it but the gearbox and running costs. Probably wouldn't have another

[andyman_2006]

Mr Whippy said:

What is with the SMG bashing?

CSL on track with SMG is super fast.

What is there not to like?


I honestly think some writers just talk out of their bottoms for something to say, rather than actually having something constructive to say.


What is wrong with it? Too slow? Too harsh? Makes you fingers ache? What?


Tell us, rather than just perpetuate nonsense.

Dave

Not sure if you have driven both the SMG and a manual, however I tried both, and a friend of mine had an SMG M3....and some of the comments made here regarding the bashing are very true.

-in auto mode its slow, and unpredictable (much worse than a slish box)
-In a higher shift speed manual mode, its faster, but harsh, and eats clutches way faster than a manual car does
-in town they are Jerky and parking is much easier with the manual

The Manual is more reliable (SMG needs a pump to shift) as its a hydraulic shifted manual, not a proper auto like a torque converter box.

If/When the SMG pump goes faulty the bills are not pretty...or so my dealer tells me ;-) and he had one in while I was there for service in nov 12.

DCT is a huge leap forward in tech, drive-ability and reliability.

All in all the manual is cheaper to maintain, and easier to drive/park.

Each to their own...

Andy

[Slippydiff]

andyman_2006 said:

Not sure if you have driven both the SMG and a manual, however I tried both, and a friend of mine had an SMG M3....and some of the comments made here regarding the bashing are very true.

I speak as an ex-owner who did 30K miles in 3 years in a CSL.

andyman_2006 said:

-in auto mode its slow, and unpredictable (much worse than a slish box)

Want an auto ? Buy an auto. Simples.

andyman_2006 said:

-In a higher shift speed manual mode, its faster, but harsh, and eats clutches way faster than a manual car does

It's a performance car, it's primary function is to be driven quickly, so if the 'box changes gears faster, it's brief has been fulfilled.

In the early days prior to the multiple software updates, clutches were an issue. They're not any longer, so I'd dispute the claim that the SMG "eats clutches way faster" than an equivalent manual. My car has never had a clutch and it's now on 74K miles.

andyman_2006 said:

-in town they are Jerky and parking is much easier with the manual

How so ? engaging reverse requires you to push the lever as far over to the left as it will go and forward. In my estimation, that's what you'd do in most manual cars. Re-selecting first is equally simple.

andyman_2006 said:

The Manual is more reliable (SMG needs a pump to shift) as its a hydraulic shifted manual, not a proper auto like a torque converter box.

I'll reiterate, 74K miles, no SMG related issues.

andyman_2006 said:

If/When the SMG pump goes faulty the bills are not pretty...or so my dealer tells me ;-) and he had one in while I was there for service in nov 12.

IF a manual (or a DCT 'box) fails and you take it into your authorised BMW dealer for repair, it'll be just as expensive. To expect cheap repair bills would be foolhardy, we're not talking Kia or Daewoo after all.

andyman_2006 said:

is a huge leap forward in tech, drive-ability.

I don't think anyone is denying that ? It's also faster and requires no skill to change gear smoothly whatsoever. For some, (me included) that detracts from the whole DCT/PDK/DSG experience. So whilst the SMG 'box fited to the CSL may well be flawed, that's part of it's charm insofar as it requires some deft inputs from the driver to make it function well)

andyman_2006 said:

All in all the manual is cheaper to maintain, and easier to drive/park.

Based on my experiences, inaccurate and incorrect on all counts.

andyman_2006 said:

Each to their own. . . . .

Indeed

[Tex]

I did 50k miles over 2 years in my CSL and loved it day in day out, it always felt special and would always make me smile. I couldn't find anything to replace it with until the 1M came out, so I swapped it for a 6 month old 1M... which lasted for 4 months and then I sold it (admittedly for pretty much what I paid for it). To me I just doesn't feel special. The interior and seats were basically just the same as an M Sport series BM. It only felt felt special to drive at 10/10ths. Yes it looked good from the outside, but you sit on the inside. So I swapped it for a C63 AMG, very different, but feels special every time you drive it and what a noise...!!!