Went and had a poke around a new M3 on Sunday....

[bob1179]

...and I have a few questions.

Righty ho then, obviously from my current list of cars it can be seen that I'm a bit of a BMW nut, and I've taken a bit of a shine to the new M3 so I decided to go down and take a look at one at the local dealer down here.

I absolutley love the thing but I did come across a few items that I wouldn't be totally happy with if I decide to take the plunge and buy one and I was wondering if it's just me being overly niggly or just a poorly finished car.

The first and most blatant thing I noticed was the paintwork, the car in the showroom was Interlagos blue, which is the colour I'd go for, but the finish was very 'orange peely' (although it felt totally smooth) and didn't look like it should be on a +50k motor. I mentioned this to the lady showing me around the car and she said that it was a normal finish. Is this true?

The second thing was a couple of bits of interior trim, which included the glovebox (which felt a bit flimsy and didn't close properly) and the bit of plastic that runs across the dash, again it didn't look like the sort of thing you'd get in such an expensive motor. Again is it just me being whiney or are they all like that?

Don't get me wrong, I really do like the car, and in a few months (when I've been sensible and cleared off a few bill etc.) I'd like to buy one. I just wanted to see if anybody noticed these issues.

Cheers.



The other issue I have is that being a true car nut, I have a list of cars about hundreds long and I have absolutley no idea what I want! If only I could win the lottery...

[bob1179]

Cheers for the replies, I really do like the car as it really looks the dogs dangly bits, plus the road tests have said it drives just as good (I'm booked in for a test in a couple of weekends).

To be honest, the paint work is the one thing that really puts me off, both my 14 year old 540i and 23 year old M535i have paintwork that has an almost glass like quality to them.

I'm astounded that BMW can let cars leave the factory with that sort of finish, especially at more than 50 grand.

Ahh well, glad I'm not the only one to query this!

Edited by bob1179 on Tuesday 1st July 15:56

[bob1179]

jeremyc said:

Regarding the paint, check out this thread

Cheers for the link. Very interesting and quite unfortunate. My big question is why is this occuring with BMW when other manufacturers don't seem to suffer from it?

[bob1179]

jeremyc said:

Forgot to add: here's my review.

I too had the same issue as you ...

bob1179 said:

The other issue I have is that being a true car nut, I have a list of cars about hundreds long and I have absolutley no idea what I want! If only I could win the lottery...

... so I went and joined Ecurie25 and used their list of cars, including that E92 M3 ...

I hadn't thought of of one of the car clubs, cheers for the idea!

I liked your review too, it certainly gives me somthing to think about.

[bob1179]

Pugsey said:

waremark said:

Don't get carried away by poor BMW quality. There may be a bit of orange peel effect, but my new M3 looks pretty shiny, and feels like a good quality well put together piece of engineering.

A 'bit'! I'd say at least 50% of my cars paintwork was effected (thank goodness the roof was carbon) and ALL the others I've seen have been as bad. Mine even had slight variances of colour (Space Grey) on the bonnet.

I have to admit, the paint issue is really, really putting me off what is an otherwise excellent car.

I'm a really picky bugger and I wouldn't be able to look at the thing every morning as the finish would really annoy me.

[bob1179]

I'm taking one for an extended test drive in a week or so. I really want to love it, but it's that bloody paintwork that is the clincher.

I'm also off to look at a few other marques, as being a proper car nut, I can't make my mind up as to what I really want...

[bob1179]

whoami said:

Pugsey said:

bob1179 said:

I'm taking one for an extended test drive in a week or so. I really want to love it, but it's that bloody paintwork that is the clincher.

I'm also off to look at a few other marques, as being a proper car nut, I can't make my mind up as to what I really want...

A lightley used 997S perhaps?

Funny you should mention that, but I'm to the local OPC this weekend for a little looksy...

[bob1179]

Pugsey said:

Good! And while your at it, don't forget that there are a lot of AMV8s around in the £50k bracket now! Cold performance figs tell you one thing but bring emotion/excitement etc into the equation and which would you rather see sitting on your drive. Plus a well cared for used 997/Vantage isn't going to shed £s as fast as a new M3 - which is still a blinding car btw (added to forestall anyone who thinks I'm knocking it!).

I had no idea AMV8's were that sort of price now. I have lusted after one since I first read about it in Evo.

This is awesome and I am now quite excited!

I'll be having a thorough look through the classifieds now.

[bob1179]

derin100 said:

For me it would a change of marque rather than buy a car with the kind of paintwork that we're seeing offered currently by BMW...and for me that's a very bitter pill to swallow!

That's how I feel, after all you know what a huge fan I am of BMW. But the finish of the newer stuff just isn't what it should be.

By the way, which bodyshop do you use derrin? I'm going to get my M535i resprayed soon, and want a good job done.

[bob1179]

To be honest, I would rather pay more to have a good job done than to go for a cheaper job that I won't be happy with. After all, I have no intention of ever selling the car.

I can imagine their faces at all these E28's though!

:

[bob1179]

I appreciate the comments guys, but the most I've ever spent on car up until now was 4k. The whole point is that it is a +50k motor and I shouldn't have to worry about the paint.

Maybe it's also time to point out that I am also a Mechanical Quality Engineer and paint is under my remit. I notice these things...

[bob1179]

jeremyc said:

Remember to call by the Audi dealership on your way back, they might have an RS4 lying around ....

I've not looked at the RS4. Might be worth somthing to consider.

Edited by bob1179 on Friday 4th July 12:40

[bob1179]

Pugsey said:

taffyracer said:

Call me old fashioned but I usually buy my car based on what they drive like and my needs rather than the quality of the paint, ok it's not great but I certainly wouldn't allow something as immaterial as that to affect my reasoning when buying a 50k+ car, let';s face is does it really affect anything, I doubt it has any impact of RV's, fuel consumption or more importantly what it was designed for

I think I made it very clear in my posts that for me the overall abilities, build quality etc. etc. of the car DID outweigh my disappointment with the paint quality.

HOWEVER to suggest that a manufacturer not getting something as basic as a good paint finish right on a £55k car is "immaterial" is faintly ludicrous IMHO. To me it reflects, at best, a certain lack of care and at worst, possibly lack of technical expertise - which might make me wonder what other areas of the car have been put together with the same 'oh that'll do attitude' or possible inneptitude. After all if BMW don't take pride in something as outwardly obvious as paintwork what on earth might lie 'hidden' where you can't see it?
As it happens I was more than happy with everthing else about the car but just blindly accept poor quality on a £55k car? Not me thanks. As for "does it really effect anything?" yes of course it does - for me at least - since however much of a driver I am I'll admitt that when I'm spending this kind of money I have to derive some kind of asthetic satisfaction from my cars too - and it would appear I'm not alone in this.

PS. As ever edited for spelling!

Edited by Pugsey on Friday 4th July 09:39

Edited by Pugsey on Friday 4th July 10:29

Again, I have to agree with Pugsey here, one does begin to wonder where BMW may have cut corners throughout the design and production process.

I was thinking about this issue again today, since I was a young lad looking at E30 M3's and E28 M5's, I have always aspired to owning a true 'M' badged car, they were balls out motoring perfection. Now I am finally in a position to be able to actually afford one, they have seemingly lowered their quality standards to a point I deem unacceptable on such an aspirational and expensive car.

I know the car will drive extremely well, I know that it (should be) is well built but the aesthetics are a huge part of it. I understand that to some, I'm making an issue out of what seems like a small problem, but as I said, I've never spent such a large amount of money on a car before, I want it to be perfect!

[bob1179]

Morning chaps!

After reading last nights comments I can understand where both sides come from.

AS I said earlier in this thread, I have never actually been in a position to spend such a large amount of money on a car before and I am going to take my time doing it. I have always wanted a brand new 'M' Car and for me it is a dream to be able to walk into a showroom and say 'I want that one in blue please', but now I've reached this position I'm disappointed that BMW have let their quality standards drop to a point where I'd actually mention it on a thread.

For me it would be a second car, as there is no way on earth I'd drive it to work everyday (I plan to keep the barge) I don't really care about residual values and I know that it is one of the best handling cars in its class. It is just, as always, the little things that can mar the overall experience. Maybe if I wait a few months they will sort out these quality issues, after all, the car is still relatively new.