Discussion
ORD said:
In my fairly limited experience, BMW brakes are generally s
t. I think they are seriously under braked. How are the brakes for fade and stopping power?
I'll put some better pads in and see. It's not going out on track days and they are well up to what you can do on the road, it's more about having a consistent feel which is a bit hit and miss at the moment. t. I think they are seriously under braked. How are the brakes for fade and stopping power?Bit more time with the car now and started pushing buttons. The EDC is effective, but utterly pointless. In the softest setting the car feels like it has worn out dampers. The 'power' button needs to be wired on all the time as when it's off, it feels as though there is a really long throttle cable. Same with the steering. I know software is great and everything but all this crap should just be thrown away. It doesn't detract from the car as you can set it how you want, but the car feels odd if you don't turn things up a little. When the traction control is on you'd do very well to have any kind of issue, in MDM it feel pretty free. I'll stay with that as 'off' is a little wild for me right now. It's very quick, with any fairly big car you get a massive sense of speed, something like a Caterham dipping under 5 secs to 60 feels less intense, the rolling mass feels quite absurd. I have a nagging doubt this mass will annoy me eventually but....It's also very quiet so I am going to get the 2.5 mod carried out to release some noise.
I always thought it was quiet and I think the exhaust mod will make a nice difference, in terms of the mass I thought the car felt really heavy and pretty numb at slow speeds.
When taken by the scruff of the neck though with the settings set to max it seemed to hide its weight really well and I used to thoroughly enjoy batting it down a country road but it just felt a bit too steady if you weren't kicking its backside.
When taken by the scruff of the neck though with the settings set to max it seemed to hide its weight really well and I used to thoroughly enjoy batting it down a country road but it just felt a bit too steady if you weren't kicking its backside.
Nothing major going on with the car. I got round to calling Paul the welder and booked the car in. Still undecided whether to go 2 or 2.5? Briefly considered an Evolve map and X pipes but have held off whilst it's still under warranty. The brakes are so average, bit dissapointed now with them. Off to Ireland in a few weeks so will swap the pads upon our return. More noise, more brakes, everything else on petrol 
Nothing major going on with the car. I got round to calling Paul the welder and booked the car in. Still undecided whether to go 2 or 2.5? Briefly considered an Evolve map and X pipes but have held off whilst it's still under warranty. The brakes are so average, bit dissapointed now with them. Off to Ireland in a few weeks so will swap the pads upon our return. More noise, more brakes, everything else on petrol
cerb4.5lee said:
Be brave and go for the four pipe mod! 
I always got gunned down when I slated the brakes on these so its good to hear I am not the only one to have issue with them.
I actually turned them mush at the weekend, very surprised. Hoping the Pagids will do the job as a BBK is daft money. I always got gunned down when I slated the brakes on these so its good to hear I am not the only one to have issue with them. yonex said:
cerb4.5lee said:
Be brave and go for the four pipe mod! I always got gunned down when I slated the brakes on these so its good to hear I am not the only one to have issue with them.
I actually turned them mush at the weekend, very surprised. Hoping the Pagids will do the job as a BBK is daft money. I always got gunned down when I slated the brakes on these so its good to hear I am not the only one to have issue with them. yonex said:
All time mpg record today, 25.8 sitting at 80 or so back from Cornwall. I know a 911 is better but a car full of family, luggage and a bike in the boot (in bits) the 3 series was the perfect tool. I'm gonna resist calling Evolve this week as the NIP has just dropped through
A NIP for an 80mph cruise? Was 80mph a slight understatement? As for the mpg - I recently drove down to Cornwall with a heavily packed 320i Touring and it got something in the mid to high 30s. A V8 for 10mpg less? Definitely worth it. Bloody turbo 4cyl engines are so insipid - dull to drive and not even that good on fuel.
An E90 M3 Touring would be such an attractive car. The ride is pretty bad anyway, so firmer suspension wouldn't make much difference.
I can't really get a 3 series as my fun car now that I have one as the family lugger, unfortunately. The interior now makes me think of baby screams and nappy changes on the back seats... Also no interest at all in the current M3/M4 - farty exhaust and forced induction tat.
Lol, the NIP was from a Polo that was left to me. 35 in a 30, crime of the century! It as amusing that that a miserable 1.4 auto only returned 34 vs a day to day of 23 on the M3. The 130 was 28 or so, people of PH...the cars people think are great fuel savers are pretty poor for what they kick out. I did pop out for a paper one morning and the noise of it bounching off of the little lanes was mega. I'll take the hit, life's too short
Edited by anonymous-user on Tuesday 4th August 20:42
Paul the welder is popping in tomorrow to modify the rear box. I have learnt that the traction control is a bit naff but 'off' unless dry is a gamble. Road trip to Ireland this weekend and looking forward to the roads out there. It's a grower for sure but I am having thoughts about a PX for a sorted 911. The trouble with escalating firepower is you always want more. Visited Silverstone Classic the other week and had a chat to a few owners of various things.
Two cars took my fancy. It'd mean something would have to give and i'd likely be driving a Volvo shed again but it's possible...and quite honestly, why the hell not?
Two cars took my fancy. It'd mean something would have to give and i'd likely be driving a Volvo shed again but it's possible...and quite honestly, why the hell not?
ORD said:
Are you thinking of a 996 or 977Turbo, then? A Carrera S wouldn't feel much faster than your M3, in my experience (although I don't know the numbers).
I don't really get Lambos. Ugly Ferraris in my book.
I'd like to have a drive of a 997 turbo, still haven't thought it through really and will be sticking with the M3 for a while longer. The Diablo's looked stunning, made everything around them look bland. I don't really get Lambos. Ugly Ferraris in my book.
yonex said:
Paul the welder is popping in tomorrow to modify the rear box. I have learnt that the traction control is a bit naff but 'off' unless dry is a gamble. Road trip to Ireland this weekend and looking forward to the roads out there. It's a grower for sure but I am having thoughts about a PX for a sorted 911. The trouble with escalating firepower is you always want more. Visited Silverstone Classic the other week and had a chat to a few owners of various things.
Two cars took my fancy. It'd mean something would have to give and i'd likely be driving a Volvo shed again but it's possible...and quite honestly, why the hell not?
When and where you heading for my good man ?Two cars took my fancy. It'd mean something would have to give and i'd likely be driving a Volvo shed again but it's possible...and quite honestly, why the hell not?
epom said:
When and where you heading for my good man ?
We're staying out near Duleek with the family. Paul has worked his magic today and the car sounds so much better, but still totally civilized when needed. I can see this costing a fair bit of petrol Looking forward to the drive home
yonex said:
ORD said:
Are you thinking of a 996 or 977Turbo, then? A Carrera S wouldn't feel much faster than your M3, in my experience (although I don't know the numbers).
I don't really get Lambos. Ugly Ferraris in my book.
I'd like to have a drive of a 997 turbo, still haven't thought it through really and will be sticking with the M3 for a while longer. The Diablo's looked stunning, made everything around them look bland. I don't really get Lambos. Ugly Ferraris in my book.
cerb4.5lee said:
My brother in law had a go in a 997 turbo and he loved it to bits and he has a E93 M3, agree regards the Diablo and to me they are draw dropping for sure.
You want to hear the two pipe mod. It actually sounds like a V8 now Very similar to stock (apart from cold start) but has this raspy tone, it's the perfect mod. Noise on demand but no drone or unwanted attention when you're taking it easy.
http://www.paulscarwelding.co.uk/
Paul took about 3 hrs to carry out the work, great guy to deal with. He reckons he has modded around 280 M3's, out of this a dozen were four door. It confirms my belief that the spec is comparatively rare.
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