Discussion
That looks like a great example you’ve picked up Ross, and some fine preventative maintenance to start off with.
The E90 is and I think always will be my favourite M3. I absolutely loved my time with mine back in 2013. It just looks better than the E92 as a bonus
You’ll enjoy the drive through the cairngorms as long as it’s not too congested with traffic, this time of year can be very hit/miss. The M3 on these roads is sublime.
The E90 is and I think always will be my favourite M3. I absolutely loved my time with mine back in 2013. It just looks better than the E92 as a bonus
You’ll enjoy the drive through the cairngorms as long as it’s not too congested with traffic, this time of year can be very hit/miss. The M3 on these roads is sublime.
Well I arrived in the Cairngorms in VERY good time..... Car was magnificent, although definitely not as good as the Lexus LS460 was for long distance drives, but it was great. I shall not post my trip data, but suffice to say Google maps estimation was very, very pessimistic 
Final resting place this afternoon after 520 miles. It would have been more, but decided to stay in Wiltshire yesterday so that cut some of the journey off.
Final resting place this afternoon after 520 miles. It would have been more, but decided to stay in Wiltshire yesterday so that cut some of the journey off.
E90_M3Ross said:
Well I arrived in the Cairngorms in VERY good time..... Car was magnificent, although definitely not as good as the Lexus LS460 was for long distance drives, but it was great. I shall not post my trip data, but suffice to say Google maps estimation was very, very pessimistic
Final resting place this afternoon after 520 miles. It would have been more, but decided to stay in Wiltshire yesterday so that cut some of the journey off.
Sounds like a good journey overall Final resting place this afternoon after 520 miles. It would have been more, but decided to stay in Wiltshire yesterday so that cut some of the journey off.
How was the A9 for busyness?
The average speed cameras are well covered on there now aren't they
d_a_n1979 said:
E90_M3Ross said:
Well I arrived in the Cairngorms in VERY good time..... Car was magnificent, although definitely not as good as the Lexus LS460 was for long distance drives, but it was great. I shall not post my trip data, but suffice to say Google maps estimation was very, very pessimistic
Final resting place this afternoon after 520 miles. It would have been more, but decided to stay in Wiltshire yesterday so that cut some of the journey off.
Sounds like a good journey overall Final resting place this afternoon after 520 miles. It would have been more, but decided to stay in Wiltshire yesterday so that cut some of the journey off.
How was the A9 for busyness?
The average speed cameras are well covered on there now aren't they
I had some great fun driving up (and down!) the Cairngorm mountain road earlier. Really got the chance to experience the chassis..... What a fantastic bit of kit, truly. It feels so sharp for an old 4 door saloon car.
What a car. The engine is utterly magnificent. I get why people say "not much torque" but it's plenty quick enough and the noise it makes and way it revs makes it so, so special when you get to push towards that redline.
What a car. The engine is utterly magnificent. I get why people say "not much torque" but it's plenty quick enough and the noise it makes and way it revs makes it so, so special when you get to push towards that redline.
E90_M3Ross said:
I had some great fun driving up (and down!) the Cairngorm mountain road earlier. Really got the chance to experience the chassis..... What a fantastic bit of kit, truly. It feels so sharp for an old 4 door saloon car.
What a car. The engine is utterly magnificent. I get why people say "not much torque" but it's plenty quick enough and the noise it makes and way it revs makes it so, so special when you get to push towards that redline.
That's a superb road; the road between Dunkeld and Braemar is superb also if you get chance... What a car. The engine is utterly magnificent. I get why people say "not much torque" but it's plenty quick enough and the noise it makes and way it revs makes it so, so special when you get to push towards that redline.
d_a_n1979 said:
E90_M3Ross said:
I had some great fun driving up (and down!) the Cairngorm mountain road earlier. Really got the chance to experience the chassis..... What a fantastic bit of kit, truly. It feels so sharp for an old 4 door saloon car.
What a car. The engine is utterly magnificent. I get why people say "not much torque" but it's plenty quick enough and the noise it makes and way it revs makes it so, so special when you get to push towards that redline.
That's a superb road; the road between Dunkeld and Braemar is superb also if you get chance... What a car. The engine is utterly magnificent. I get why people say "not much torque" but it's plenty quick enough and the noise it makes and way it revs makes it so, so special when you get to push towards that redline.
d_a_n1979 said:
Fantastic cars for those roads
Honestly, I am gobsmacked at just how good the E90 is. So well balanced, it really feels like such a well sorted car.Brakes got a bit hot but didn't fade. I had some vibration through the steering wheel after some very heavy stops but after letting them cool down that disappeared (even from high speed braking again).
I was tempted to upgrade them but they're fine. When they need replacing I'll upgrade, but not before, seems pointless. Car is utterly brilliant and plenty fast enough
Edited by E90_M3Ross on Monday 22 May 22:03
stickylabels said:
Thanks. Upon reflecting a little more with this M3 and the G82 M4 I had a while ago. I think the "how much power is too much?" is an interesting question, and one I think is a case of "it depends".There can be times on the motorway when you really want to go for it where having more than 420PS can be very useful. However, I drove on some absolutely cracking Scottish A and B roads today, not once did I ever think "I wish I had more power". In fact, I think the M4 would have been one of two things.....Either you use all of the power and it becomes terrifying. Or you don't use all of the power, probably not be much faster than the E90, and be frustrated because you can't really rev it out.
This trip, and today especially, has made me realise just how utterly magnificent the car is. It is not just about that engine, either. The chassis is brilliantly composed, the steering is very well weighted, and brake pedal has good feel.
Not bad for a reps car
I don't think I have ever had such a good time driving a car as I did today. I did get through 1/2 tank in 100 miles though
Edited by E90_M3Ross on Monday 22 May 22:04
E90_M3Ross said:
There can be times on the motorway when you really want to go for it where having more than 420PS can be very useful. However, I drove on some absolutely cracking Scottish A and B roads today, not once did I ever think "I wish I had more power". In fact, I think the M4 would have been one of two things.....Either you use all of the power and it becomes terrifying. Or you don't use all of the power, probably not be much faster than the E90, and be frustrated because you can't really rev it out.
Totally agree. I’d always much rather drive a slower car harder than feel like I’m barely scratching the surface of a faster car and/or be wary of putting my foot down.I spend my (increasingly rare!) occasions going for drives on the exact roads you’ve been travelling on the past day or two. The last time I was in my 8P S3 (~265bhp) with friends in a MK7 GTI PP (~320bhp), F31 335d Touring (~313bhp) and a C7 RS6 (~720bhp).
We weren’t going particularly fast but were having great fun in the hatchbacks, the 335d guy found it a bit floaty but was also enjoying himself and my mate in the RS6 was saying how it is just too big and too powerful for the type of roads we were on to really enjoy himself. Obviously get it on a more open A-road or motorway and there’s very little which will accelerate like that thing, it’s a monster.
RS Grant said:
E90_M3Ross said:
There can be times on the motorway when you really want to go for it where having more than 420PS can be very useful. However, I drove on some absolutely cracking Scottish A and B roads today, not once did I ever think "I wish I had more power". In fact, I think the M4 would have been one of two things.....Either you use all of the power and it becomes terrifying. Or you don't use all of the power, probably not be much faster than the E90, and be frustrated because you can't really rev it out.
Totally agree. I’d always much rather drive a slower car harder than feel like I’m barely scratching the surface of a faster car and/or be wary of putting my foot down.I spend my (increasingly rare!) occasions going for drives on the exact roads you’ve been travelling on the past day or two. The last time I was in my 8P S3 (~265bhp) with friends in a MK7 GTI PP (~320bhp), F31 335d Touring (~313bhp) and a C7 RS6 (~720bhp).
We weren’t going particularly fast but were having great fun in the hatchbacks, the 335d guy found it a bit floaty but was also enjoying himself and my mate in the RS6 was saying how it is just too big and too powerful for the type of roads we were on to really enjoy himself. Obviously get it on a more open A-road or motorway and there’s very little which will accelerate like that thing, it’s a monster.
E90_M3Ross said:
RS Grant said:
E90_M3Ross said:
There can be times on the motorway when you really want to go for it where having more than 420PS can be very useful. However, I drove on some absolutely cracking Scottish A and B roads today, not once did I ever think "I wish I had more power". In fact, I think the M4 would have been one of two things.....Either you use all of the power and it becomes terrifying. Or you don't use all of the power, probably not be much faster than the E90, and be frustrated because you can't really rev it out.
Totally agree. I’d always much rather drive a slower car harder than feel like I’m barely scratching the surface of a faster car and/or be wary of putting my foot down.I spend my (increasingly rare!) occasions going for drives on the exact roads you’ve been travelling on the past day or two. The last time I was in my 8P S3 (~265bhp) with friends in a MK7 GTI PP (~320bhp), F31 335d Touring (~313bhp) and a C7 RS6 (~720bhp).
We weren’t going particularly fast but were having great fun in the hatchbacks, the 335d guy found it a bit floaty but was also enjoying himself and my mate in the RS6 was saying how it is just too big and too powerful for the type of roads we were on to really enjoy himself. Obviously get it on a more open A-road or motorway and there’s very little which will accelerate like that thing, it’s a monster.
E90_M3Ross said:
I must say I think the power for these roads is spot on with the M3. Fast enough to be a thrill, but not obscenely so. I have done about 830 miles so far, today will add around 100, not sure about tomorrow, Thursday will be about 250 miles. I think all in I'm looking at 1700-1800 miles for the week. Certainly giving it a "good run"
I'm lucky enough to have some lovely roads right on my doorstep, and I always remember the first time I took the M3 down them, and like you I fell in love with how the car felt going across them. The car just felt so right in that environment with its lovely chassis/ride and the great induction noise for sure. It was mainly on my commute where I fell out with the car though, and the low mpg and the lack of opportunities to stretch its legs just got to me too much in the end to be fair.
cerb4.5lee said:
E90_M3Ross said:
I must say I think the power for these roads is spot on with the M3. Fast enough to be a thrill, but not obscenely so. I have done about 830 miles so far, today will add around 100, not sure about tomorrow, Thursday will be about 250 miles. I think all in I'm looking at 1700-1800 miles for the week. Certainly giving it a "good run"
I'm lucky enough to have some lovely roads right on my doorstep, and I always remember the first time I took the M3 down them, and like you I fell in love with how the car felt going across them. The car just felt so right in that environment with its lovely chassis/ride and the great induction noise for sure. It was mainly on my commute where I fell out with the car though, and the low mpg and the lack of opportunities to stretch its legs just got to me too much in the end to be fair.
Gassing Station | Readers' Cars | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff