e92 M3 - I was a bit disappointed.....
Discussion
Hi all, Looking for some genuine feedback from e92 M3 owners.
Took one out for a run two weeks ago (ready to buy if I could have got the right price etc) but got out of the thing not that bothered, it certainly looked the part (was a white manual 08 plate with EDC) but didn’t really set my world on fire! Now this may seem laughable as I currently run around in a 2.0T Audi tt!!!!!! (yes a birds car- it’s a long story) However the previous car to that was a z4m. Upon start up the z4m made a great noise and felt special from the get go. If you gave the right pedal a little squeeze the thing took off putting a massive grin on my face.
Now don’t get me wrong I gave the m3 the full beans with the power button on in second, third and fourth, and the thing absolutely flew, no question this is a very fast car when pushed
The problem I have is that unless I was giving it the full beans it felt almost like a 325i!!!!- i.e. not at all special…To get that grin factor, I needed to be hammering the m3, which will inevitably mean doubling the speed limit, and at some point Mr Plod giving me a driving vacation from my license.
So my questions is….. has anyone reading this bought and e92 m3 and then been a little disappointed?? Dare I admit to having booked a test drive in a 335i next week just to see…Did anyone else walk away from m3 a little ‘confused” or do you all think they are amazing
Ps I’m in the fortunate position that I have a petrol card so don’t care about fuel economy, not majorly bothered about running costs etc., not looking for other suggestions, just feedback on whether I’m the only person that wasn’t that bowled over by the e92 m3
Convince me I’m wrong and it will by a great buy!!!
thanks
Took one out for a run two weeks ago (ready to buy if I could have got the right price etc) but got out of the thing not that bothered, it certainly looked the part (was a white manual 08 plate with EDC) but didn’t really set my world on fire! Now this may seem laughable as I currently run around in a 2.0T Audi tt!!!!!! (yes a birds car- it’s a long story) However the previous car to that was a z4m. Upon start up the z4m made a great noise and felt special from the get go. If you gave the right pedal a little squeeze the thing took off putting a massive grin on my face.
Now don’t get me wrong I gave the m3 the full beans with the power button on in second, third and fourth, and the thing absolutely flew, no question this is a very fast car when pushed
The problem I have is that unless I was giving it the full beans it felt almost like a 325i!!!!- i.e. not at all special…To get that grin factor, I needed to be hammering the m3, which will inevitably mean doubling the speed limit, and at some point Mr Plod giving me a driving vacation from my license.
So my questions is….. has anyone reading this bought and e92 m3 and then been a little disappointed?? Dare I admit to having booked a test drive in a 335i next week just to see…Did anyone else walk away from m3 a little ‘confused” or do you all think they are amazing
Ps I’m in the fortunate position that I have a petrol card so don’t care about fuel economy, not majorly bothered about running costs etc., not looking for other suggestions, just feedback on whether I’m the only person that wasn’t that bowled over by the e92 m3
Convince me I’m wrong and it will by a great buy!!!
thanks
I had mine for arround two years and I must admit I wasn't massively impressed with it. A capable all round car but it's not one I have ever regreted parting with. The other M3s I've owned over the years I really liked and remember fondly.
I think part of it was that I don't want to feel like I'm thrashing/reving a car to death all the time to get the best out of it. The paint work was dire, the styling is not fantastic and you needed change the exhaust to get more V8 rumble which I feel detracts from the fun/excitement.
Just my 2p on the matter.
I think part of it was that I don't want to feel like I'm thrashing/reving a car to death all the time to get the best out of it. The paint work was dire, the styling is not fantastic and you needed change the exhaust to get more V8 rumble which I feel detracts from the fun/excitement.
Just my 2p on the matter.
I had my M3 for 2 1/2 years and did 50,000 miles in it, it was a great all rounder but really just didn't excite, I had a Z4M for all of 6 months beforehand, that excited but I just couldn't live with the god awful build quality and appalling ride, what i really wanted was a Z4M with M3 refinement
Ditto x5x3 said. Will Never sell it!!! Long live v8s!!
And so you m power'd 2nd 3rd and 4th on your test drive did you? You must have b
ks the size of watermelons. And no fear of losing your license.
For me, I only started to understand the car 6 months in.......just gets better and better.
And so you m power'd 2nd 3rd and 4th on your test drive did you? You must have b
ks the size of watermelons. And no fear of losing your license.For me, I only started to understand the car 6 months in.......just gets better and better.
Edited by NIIKME on Thursday 9th December 18:18
There's alot more to them than you first think. The engine is one of the best out of the M Stable. If you feel the 335 is enough then get one. Great engine, great chassis, one of the best cars of it's size/type around (c63s have a great appeal to me). But might just want a smaller "sports car" more akin to you Z4 to make you feel you're getting what you need. I'll be sad to let mine go, I wouldn't be doing so if I wasn't moving to NY.
I own an E92 with DCT, EDC, M-drive and all the other toys&leather since July 2009. I use it as my daily driver and to date did about 42.000 mls in it. My car is completely standard (no chips, exhaust, etc...)
I must say that I think it is a fantastic alrounder or more correctly, a car with completely different characters. In heavy traffic or congested cities it is a very soothing car. With the DCT on auto and the EDC on soft it doesn't wear you out. On open and empty roads however, with everything on the "hardest" settings, the car is a complete lunatic, with immense enjoyment from the engine, gearbox, suspension and also the excellent M differential. In between, fast Autobahn runs are also an experience instead of a bore, since the car is so capable, composed and very, very fast.
As mentioned by others the only real downside is the silly range. I drive mixed roads (city, B road, motorway) and I rarely get more than 280mls from a tank of fuel. I won't complain about MPG (altough a Porsche GT3 RS is more fuel efficient) but the tank is tiny for such a big engined car. Something which also surprises me are the brakes. On the road they are absolutely fine, regardless on how you drive but on the track they are simply not up to the job. I know that the M3 is not a trackday special and I am aware that the car is very heavy, but I you drive the car like you should on track, brake performance will go bad within two laps.
Finally a tip about the wheels. I loved the 19" because they look fantastic, so I negotiated an extra pair with the car, planning to use the 18" as winter wheels. I noticed however, that the car drives much much better on the 18". I think the suspension and the big wheels are not made for each other, upsetting the suspension. I ended up using only the 18" wheels and changing to winter tyres in the fall.
Before the M3 I drove a Z4MC for two years. Great car and very very exiting, but also "one dimensional": unless you drove it like you stole it, it just not worked as a package. It was bone hard, not exceptionally well put together, a hoon to drive, but it also wore me out on long journeys or very bad weather. The only place where it really excelled over the M3 is on a racetrack where lower weight and lower COG were really felt on braking, turn in and mid corner. It was more agile.
For me, to sum it up, the M3 is more impressive, much more complete and it has more depth. The engine is a masterpiece and the car puts a smile on my face every day bar none. It secretly makes you feel invincible. If your have a little patience, you might also try the 1 series M. It might be a great compromise between Z4MC and the M3, but it could also be a let down because of the turbo instead of a NA screamer.
I must say that I think it is a fantastic alrounder or more correctly, a car with completely different characters. In heavy traffic or congested cities it is a very soothing car. With the DCT on auto and the EDC on soft it doesn't wear you out. On open and empty roads however, with everything on the "hardest" settings, the car is a complete lunatic, with immense enjoyment from the engine, gearbox, suspension and also the excellent M differential. In between, fast Autobahn runs are also an experience instead of a bore, since the car is so capable, composed and very, very fast.
As mentioned by others the only real downside is the silly range. I drive mixed roads (city, B road, motorway) and I rarely get more than 280mls from a tank of fuel. I won't complain about MPG (altough a Porsche GT3 RS is more fuel efficient) but the tank is tiny for such a big engined car. Something which also surprises me are the brakes. On the road they are absolutely fine, regardless on how you drive but on the track they are simply not up to the job. I know that the M3 is not a trackday special and I am aware that the car is very heavy, but I you drive the car like you should on track, brake performance will go bad within two laps.
Finally a tip about the wheels. I loved the 19" because they look fantastic, so I negotiated an extra pair with the car, planning to use the 18" as winter wheels. I noticed however, that the car drives much much better on the 18". I think the suspension and the big wheels are not made for each other, upsetting the suspension. I ended up using only the 18" wheels and changing to winter tyres in the fall.
Before the M3 I drove a Z4MC for two years. Great car and very very exiting, but also "one dimensional": unless you drove it like you stole it, it just not worked as a package. It was bone hard, not exceptionally well put together, a hoon to drive, but it also wore me out on long journeys or very bad weather. The only place where it really excelled over the M3 is on a racetrack where lower weight and lower COG were really felt on braking, turn in and mid corner. It was more agile.
For me, to sum it up, the M3 is more impressive, much more complete and it has more depth. The engine is a masterpiece and the car puts a smile on my face every day bar none. It secretly makes you feel invincible. If your have a little patience, you might also try the 1 series M. It might be a great compromise between Z4MC and the M3, but it could also be a let down because of the turbo instead of a NA screamer.
Great comment Nur Links. If the OP wants a car that's going to thrill every time then maybe he needs a GT3 but even then our roads are not going to allow a car like this to be stretched. Or get a nice car for day to day (335i etc) and then have a toy for fun at the weekends. The M3 sounds like a car that gets under your skin but can be a great all rounder. Me, I would keep my M5 and get an M3 CSL 
Agree completely with Nur Links.
It is a multi-layered car which just gets better and better. Completely docile when you want it to be, but once you've got the M-button set up how you like you can transform the character in an instant. I actually think that all the settings you can tweak - steering weight, throttle response etc actually make it hard for you to get to grips with the car, because you have to drive it differently depending on how you set it up. It took me months to know that with the M-button down it was going to behave one way, and with it off it will do something else - too much to tweak really.
If you want to get an idea of this in practice take the car out round a dry roundabout, load the tyres up a little bit and then hit the button, you can feel the whole thing come alive in your hands. On the right day on the right road the car is shockingly quick.
The DCT box also makes a big difference, when schlepping about you'll probably never rev over 4k, yet still be faster than most traffic, you forget you've got another 4k to go... I notice this most with passengers in the car - they think you are driving like a complete boy racer revving to 3-4k, so you stick below it.
This may sound like a stupid question but on the test drive did you actually hit the end of the rev range (red lights on the shift lights?) - I know I got nowhere near - because it revs far more then you expect coming from a four pot car with a six and a half rev limit. All the punch is right at the top.
It is a multi-layered car which just gets better and better. Completely docile when you want it to be, but once you've got the M-button set up how you like you can transform the character in an instant. I actually think that all the settings you can tweak - steering weight, throttle response etc actually make it hard for you to get to grips with the car, because you have to drive it differently depending on how you set it up. It took me months to know that with the M-button down it was going to behave one way, and with it off it will do something else - too much to tweak really.
If you want to get an idea of this in practice take the car out round a dry roundabout, load the tyres up a little bit and then hit the button, you can feel the whole thing come alive in your hands. On the right day on the right road the car is shockingly quick.
The DCT box also makes a big difference, when schlepping about you'll probably never rev over 4k, yet still be faster than most traffic, you forget you've got another 4k to go... I notice this most with passengers in the car - they think you are driving like a complete boy racer revving to 3-4k, so you stick below it.
This may sound like a stupid question but on the test drive did you actually hit the end of the rev range (red lights on the shift lights?) - I know I got nowhere near - because it revs far more then you expect coming from a four pot car with a six and a half rev limit. All the punch is right at the top.
I took one out a couple of weeks ago (dct) and was very impressed. The dealer did take the time to explain how to get the best out of some of the gadgets and let me 'make some room' when I needed to but it is as someone posted earlier two things (at least for me) a docile, easy to drive car to schlep about it and then a very capable, thrilling toy when the roads clear..
I'll be in the market to buy one sometime in feb..
Can someone tell me about aftermarket exhaust options? The only thing I'd want is a little more noise..
Cheers
D
I'll be in the market to buy one sometime in feb..
Can someone tell me about aftermarket exhaust options? The only thing I'd want is a little more noise..
Cheers
D
As others have said, it really does take some proper time behind the wheel to appreciate just how special these cars are.
http://www.m3post.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=12...
davidd said:
Can someone tell me about aftermarket exhaust options? The only thing I'd want is a little more noise..
Cheers
D
Most of the options are discussed (at length) here -Cheers
D
http://www.m3post.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=12...
I wasn't too impressed on my test drive either. I thought it did not feel as special as a fabled M3 should.
A month later, I spent a week driving a 335i. That was when it hit me as to how good the M3 was. I could throw the M3 around as if it was a Z4 and it still had lots more to give. While the 335i was a great car, it felt very heavy coming from a Z4 and I definitely did not get the immediate confidence to chuck it round a B-road like I got with the M3.
Still felt that the M3 was a little noisier than I would have likes for a daily driver and for long distance drives. But that is not something I can be certain of in half an hour.
A month later, I spent a week driving a 335i. That was when it hit me as to how good the M3 was. I could throw the M3 around as if it was a Z4 and it still had lots more to give. While the 335i was a great car, it felt very heavy coming from a Z4 and I definitely did not get the immediate confidence to chuck it round a B-road like I got with the M3.
Still felt that the M3 was a little noisier than I would have likes for a daily driver and for long distance drives. But that is not something I can be certain of in half an hour.
I think it depends alot on what you've had before, as I think this NOW sets the bar on how much it takes to thrill you.
Not driven the Z4 but from what I've read, its quite a lairy car, the M3 is far more civilised which dulls down the experience until the upper echelons.
I test drove the e92 & like you, found it very dull, 2 of the cars in my garage explain the theory easily for me:
SL55 - 500hp, 200mph, blisteringly quick throughout the rev range and happy to plant the loud pedal whenever possible as it feels more than capable of handling it.
Integrale - 250hp, 135mph, not that quick, but the delivery and noise of the turbos makes it feels quicker than the SL55, you feel wired directly to the car and want to slide it everywhere you can, a 1/2 drive leaves you feeling like you've just lived.
Dont think the M3 was built for out n out excitement tbo, what you have explained is pretty much what BMW wanted to design, a normal useable 3 series for 90% of the time with 'M' accessibility far enough out of reach that you have to really want to be there when you reach it
I'm looking forward to a go in the 'M' 1 series, I think it could be a cracker with some tweeking
Not driven the Z4 but from what I've read, its quite a lairy car, the M3 is far more civilised which dulls down the experience until the upper echelons.
I test drove the e92 & like you, found it very dull, 2 of the cars in my garage explain the theory easily for me:
SL55 - 500hp, 200mph, blisteringly quick throughout the rev range and happy to plant the loud pedal whenever possible as it feels more than capable of handling it.
Integrale - 250hp, 135mph, not that quick, but the delivery and noise of the turbos makes it feels quicker than the SL55, you feel wired directly to the car and want to slide it everywhere you can, a 1/2 drive leaves you feeling like you've just lived.
Dont think the M3 was built for out n out excitement tbo, what you have explained is pretty much what BMW wanted to design, a normal useable 3 series for 90% of the time with 'M' accessibility far enough out of reach that you have to really want to be there when you reach it
I'm looking forward to a go in the 'M' 1 series, I think it could be a cracker with some tweeking
Edited by Pvapour on Saturday 11th December 07:56
I can understand that the M3 leaves you underwhelmed. I also test drove one when I was looking to change my e60 M5 and whilst it is undoubtedly a brilliant car I left unexcited by it.
Having then tried the GT-R and XF-R I came away with the same feeling. When I sat and thought about this I came to the conclusion that there are two issues with these types of car;
1 - they have too much performance for the real roads and as such you never quite hit the sweet spot for any period of time
2 - the amount of computer control takes away that element of driveability.
Dont get me wrong, I loved the M5 but in the end I drove a couple of very different choices, Lotus Evova and Europa, Monaro, Impreza STi etc
These cars all have something in common, you actually feel like you are drving them. Now I drive slower than the M5 but FEEL like I am going faster which is great.
S
Having then tried the GT-R and XF-R I came away with the same feeling. When I sat and thought about this I came to the conclusion that there are two issues with these types of car;
1 - they have too much performance for the real roads and as such you never quite hit the sweet spot for any period of time
2 - the amount of computer control takes away that element of driveability.
Dont get me wrong, I loved the M5 but in the end I drove a couple of very different choices, Lotus Evova and Europa, Monaro, Impreza STi etc
These cars all have something in common, you actually feel like you are drving them. Now I drive slower than the M5 but FEEL like I am going faster which is great.
S
Mermaid said:
Pvapour said:
I'm looking forward to a go in the 'M' 1 series, I think it could be a cracker with some tweeking
And even withoutStraight out of the box, it will generate a wider post test drive grin than an M3 will for most people.
But the M3 has more depth.
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