Bitten the M bullet!
Discussion
Collecting a manual coupe V8 tomorrow with a good spec after many months of looking for the right one. Managed to negotiate £3k off an AUC as well. Was pleased with that considering I did the deal over the phone! Sub 20,000 miles too.
First plans are to have it properly detailed by Shine On Detail and get the rear windows slightly tinted (two young kids may get a bit warm in there). Lined up a V8 plate as well. And am thinking of the oem exhaust mod as I've found someone not far away who can do it.
I've owned many performance cars including Cosworths, Imprezas and was even daft enough to watch Ronin and go straight out that week and buy an S8. Having played in my mates Dakar manual I fell in love.
Cannot wait. Even if the wife looks at me sideways when I said earlier that I'm leaving early to make sure I'm at the dealer on time for opening!
The last time I was this excited was when I bought a new Golf Gti about 15 years ago. I marvelled at the 150bhp back then!
First plans are to have it properly detailed by Shine On Detail and get the rear windows slightly tinted (two young kids may get a bit warm in there). Lined up a V8 plate as well. And am thinking of the oem exhaust mod as I've found someone not far away who can do it.
I've owned many performance cars including Cosworths, Imprezas and was even daft enough to watch Ronin and go straight out that week and buy an S8. Having played in my mates Dakar manual I fell in love.
Cannot wait. Even if the wife looks at me sideways when I said earlier that I'm leaving early to make sure I'm at the dealer on time for opening!
The last time I was this excited was when I bought a new Golf Gti about 15 years ago. I marvelled at the 150bhp back then!
Thanks gents.
I drove a couple of DCTs. I found the dealers had little negotiation on these. In fact I only managed £1k off. They seem to think the DCTs are the sought after ones. It also appears the DCTs had generally higher mileage and more spec in total. Perhaps orders where people thought they'd rather spec the DCT along with extended luggage and folding mirrors etc. The manuals I looked at over a four month period went from one extreme to another. Very basic spec lists to full on everything such as individual audio as well.
A fair few have already started getting orders in for the new M3/4 in 2013 and dealers have where possible paid out for AUC cars in warranty from individuals and are now selling them certainly around this area. For example Barons in Farnborough had a DCT 2008 couple with reasonable spec with 1,800 miles on it. Virtually a new car for less than half it's value....
My spec is space grey and black leather with EDC, DAB radio, 19's, Pro Nav with loudspeaker audio (next step up from standard) with USB, enhanced bluetooth, front heated seats.
I drove a couple of DCTs. I found the dealers had little negotiation on these. In fact I only managed £1k off. They seem to think the DCTs are the sought after ones. It also appears the DCTs had generally higher mileage and more spec in total. Perhaps orders where people thought they'd rather spec the DCT along with extended luggage and folding mirrors etc. The manuals I looked at over a four month period went from one extreme to another. Very basic spec lists to full on everything such as individual audio as well.
A fair few have already started getting orders in for the new M3/4 in 2013 and dealers have where possible paid out for AUC cars in warranty from individuals and are now selling them certainly around this area. For example Barons in Farnborough had a DCT 2008 couple with reasonable spec with 1,800 miles on it. Virtually a new car for less than half it's value....
My spec is space grey and black leather with EDC, DAB radio, 19's, Pro Nav with loudspeaker audio (next step up from standard) with USB, enhanced bluetooth, front heated seats.
Well what can I say. The car is epic. Everything about it ticks all the boxes I've wanted in a performance car.
The noise is fantastic and the attention you get will take a little getting used to. Once you get it clear of 4000rpm it starts to howl like a fighter jet. I'm looking into the oem exhaust mod which I've heard and loved. The colour combination was the right one so I am chuffed with how that's panned out. DAB radio is very good and the sound system is more than I've had before in terms of punch. Handling and braking (wow) is spot on.
I've only lived with it for a day but it's a 9.5/10.
The noise is fantastic and the attention you get will take a little getting used to. Once you get it clear of 4000rpm it starts to howl like a fighter jet. I'm looking into the oem exhaust mod which I've heard and loved. The colour combination was the right one so I am chuffed with how that's panned out. DAB radio is very good and the sound system is more than I've had before in terms of punch. Handling and braking (wow) is spot on.
I've only lived with it for a day but it's a 9.5/10.
I spent the afternoon detailing it, and protecting it with Nanolex sealant. I used iron-x soap gel to remove any fallout and it was amazing how much the paint needed more attention. But that's dealers for you 
In all the service I got was spot on. The steering wheel plastic trim was worn where owner had a ring on so they've ordered that part and arranged it to be fitted at my local dealer for me. Got a top up bottle of oil (Castrol race something on quick look-is that the recommended type?) in the boot, few little things like that made the deal better. The
Salesman despite numerous people looking for cars spent a good hour and a half doing the handover and went through all the M settings with excellent explanations on all settings. They had also offered to deliver it the 100 miles to my house at short notice.
If anything it could do with a shorter throw in the shift. Any suggestions?
In all the service I got was spot on. The steering wheel plastic trim was worn where owner had a ring on so they've ordered that part and arranged it to be fitted at my local dealer for me. Got a top up bottle of oil (Castrol race something on quick look-is that the recommended type?) in the boot, few little things like that made the deal better. The
Salesman despite numerous people looking for cars spent a good hour and a half doing the handover and went through all the M settings with excellent explanations on all settings. They had also offered to deliver it the 100 miles to my house at short notice.
If anything it could do with a shorter throw in the shift. Any suggestions?
King Eric said:
Well what can I say. The car is epic. Everything about it ticks all the boxes I've wanted in a performance car.
The noise is fantastic and the attention you get will take a little getting used to. Once you get it clear of 4000rpm it starts to howl like a fighter jet. I'm looking into the oem exhaust mod which I've heard and loved. The colour combination was the right one so I am chuffed with how that's panned out. DAB radio is very good and the sound system is more than I've had before in terms of punch. Handling and braking (wow) is spot on.
I've only lived with it for a day but it's a 9.5/10.
I'm surprised that you rate the brakes that well. I have the same car as you in Alpine White and I think the brakes are awful. The rest of the car is 11 out of 10 but the brakes are woeful. I don't think they have ever an M car with decent brakes as standard have they?The noise is fantastic and the attention you get will take a little getting used to. Once you get it clear of 4000rpm it starts to howl like a fighter jet. I'm looking into the oem exhaust mod which I've heard and loved. The colour combination was the right one so I am chuffed with how that's panned out. DAB radio is very good and the sound system is more than I've had before in terms of punch. Handling and braking (wow) is spot on.
I've only lived with it for a day but it's a 9.5/10.
The best thing is that the car just gets better and better the more you drive it. In 3rd gear above 5,500rpm the pull is brutal.
I love mine to bits. As far as short shifter kits go there are only a couple on the market as they seem to be more popular on the US market. I was very tempted to go down this route myself but I got used to the gearbox.
Enjoy!
Fantastic looking car, and in the best colour too (I'm biased as my car was Space Grey!)
King Eric said:
Got a top up bottle of oil (Castrol race something on quick look-is that the recommended type?
The S65 V8 should only have Castol Edge 10W-60 Fully Synthetic oil http://www.opieoils.co.uk/p-715-castrol-edge-10w-6...King Eric said:
If anything it could do with a shorter throw in the shift. Any suggestions?
Some E9x M3 owners change the gear knob for the E46 ZHP one which apparently makes a bit difference to the quality of the shift. Details: http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3127...t8cmf said:
the brakes are woeful.
I'm not sure 'woeful' is the best description of the brakes - ok they're not in the league of Porsche brakes but the OEM brakes are very strong and more than adequate for fast road use. If you're tracking your car then maybe you would want to upgrade the brake pads to track oriented ones.BalhamBadger said:
That's a lovely first post!
Very lovely thank you Again thanks all. It's TWS Castrol which I am told has been replaced by the M approved Edge as mentioned above. Handy as its on special at Opie Oils at the moment with a free 1ltr top up pouch included. For anyone who needs oil...
I've covered more miles in it now. Mostly on motorways today. In comfort its better than my 320D Msport touring. I've worked out how to setup the Logic7 system as well. Got a decent frequency setup done in Theatre mode and it sounds very good. Brings me back my Rockford Fosgate install days where I'd sit for ages listening to phasing and trying to perfect the sound. It's not an amazing system but so much better than the stock business in the 2012 touring.
Had a play today as well with everything off again. This time really put it through its paces. Just gets better and better. There are so many settings as well to perfect. I've set the M button up with DSC to full off (although M-Dynamic is forgiving enough as well vs fully on), power, EDC in sport and servotronic steering on. Feels very raw in this setup and the throttle response it's sharper. It's the perfect switch for normality--->here we goooo mode.
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