Short feedback on M3 test today.
Discussion
Felt a bit sedate compared to my C63 (admittedly mine is mapped circa 530bhp) but i reckon a good 10k miles would unleash something more exciting.
Had my vbox in the car and we confirmed a 4.4s to 60mph. I'll look at the graphs later and see what 30 - 60 and 60 - 100 times are.
The car felt very planted and a really nice place to be but got the feeling that the TC was rather overprotective vs the Sports Handling Mode in my merc.
Overall a good car but probably better / more of a rival to the competition (new C63 due soon) when a slightly fruitier version rolls out.
Had my vbox in the car and we confirmed a 4.4s to 60mph. I'll look at the graphs later and see what 30 - 60 and 60 - 100 times are.
The car felt very planted and a really nice place to be but got the feeling that the TC was rather overprotective vs the Sports Handling Mode in my merc.
Overall a good car but probably better / more of a rival to the competition (new C63 due soon) when a slightly fruitier version rolls out.
Having gone out with Eddie today and also driven it, I thought the steering and brakes had exellent feel, ride was firm but didn't seem too back breaking (would need a longer drive to fully comment) but I concur with Eddie it just seemed to need a bit more poke. The sales rep said it would be a totally different car after it's running in service, can anyone shed any light on this?
Drove it in auto for a bit around town, it just seemed to hold on to the gears a bit too long for my liking, maybe it's something to do with the set up it was in.
Overall it got the thumbs up from me
Drove it in auto for a bit around town, it just seemed to hold on to the gears a bit too long for my liking, maybe it's something to do with the set up it was in.
Overall it got the thumbs up from me
I was more interested in the paddles and driver feel. Having had an E61 M5 before the AMG I was hoping to get the positive gear shifts that I felt with the SMG3. The dct box will never be the same as the old automated manual but it wasn't bad at all. Shifted when you needed it too which is an advancement on the merc and audi competition.
One thing in favour of the new M3 is the potential for tuning. I reckon a map and exhaust will really open it up where it needs it.
Since the running in service and the subsequent ability to open it up, I've found our M3 a touch frustrating - as suggested above, the traction control is much too restrictive (more so than almost any other car I've driven). It'll hold power back for very long constant periods, even when going in a straight line on a hot day. Makes no sense as it makes the car feel slow - I've driven much more powerful cars which are not this restrictive.
MDM mode is better, but in the dry this is similar to what other cars are with traction fully on. However, this is almost my default mode now, just to ensure I can make progress!
The car is opening up more with more miles (more so than other new cars I've had) but mileage and the running in service are hardly going to turn it into an animal if your thinking it's underpowered now!
MDM mode is better, but in the dry this is similar to what other cars are with traction fully on. However, this is almost my default mode now, just to ensure I can make progress!
The car is opening up more with more miles (more so than other new cars I've had) but mileage and the running in service are hardly going to turn it into an animal if your thinking it's underpowered now!
Right, I'm back.
The car:
Black on black.
Looks: I quite liked it. I reckon i'd like it more in red with black wheels and carbon exterior parts. Very much a bigger 1M in my eyes with the split front and rear intakes.
Setup: When in M2 mode the Car was in MDM. I did see that on the dash and i had the steering in comfort as i felt the sport setting was a bit heavy. Suspension was in sport. I drove it in paddle mode right from the off and it felt pretty intuitive, much like the SMGIII of my M5 but not as pleasantly mechanical.
On start up there was no obvious exhaust note but a quick press of the M2 button and the sound was very obvious, especially if sat in the back.
The drive: 1st gear in my opinion when pulling away is a bit too short. 2nd gear is more than adequate. It's very easy to find the power band with this engine. It's not obviously laggy like the A45 but it doesnt pin you into your seat from the first press of the throttle. Onto the highway and the car feels firm yet pointy at motorway speeds. Overtaking is effortless when in the right gear (i'd imagine just as easy in auto) and it's quick to shift up and down where needed.
The first test was a 0-60. Admittedly we had to do it on a slight downhill on an onlslip but we did do one. Pulling away in 1st (with only a moderate throttle) and the TC light was on instantly. Could i feel the rear losing grip? No! Shortshift to 2nd and we start to make progress, just. TC light was still on but no rear slip that i could feel. By the time 2nd gear is used up we are at 60 (i think! can't remember if i went into 3rd). 4.4s on the vbox but it didnt feel that quick. Nowhere near as quick as my AMG anyway!
Following that I did a few quick roundabout exits and the TC light was still there, overpowering any hope of fun on the go. It didn't really fill me with much excitement!
The rest of the drive i left to Nick who used more of it's upper range whilst in auto mode. His best 60-100 according to the data on the lap was 6.1s. That's quite slow! Nick, was that full throttle? Certainly felt like it when i was in the back. That would make it a 10.5 0-100 which is not that quick. My AMG has done it in under 8.8s. At speed it did seem planted and the steering was apparently pretty sound for what we commanded of it.
Sound under load: Very much a turbocharged unit! It's quite a nice sound when sat in the back but i dont think i'll be buying into one just yet. V8's have it whipped for aural pleasure im afraid! There was no obvious downshift blipping and little or no over-run crackle. All sounds i'd like to hear from an M-car.
Racelogic have just updated their software so this is the best i can do for now with regards to data...... until ive worked out how to use the new system. Shows the 2 best times from today's run. 0-60 in 4.4s and 60-100 in 6.1s.
Edited to add that the brakes are really good. Much better than the AMG Composite Brake Package that my car has, not that it's lacking either. Very solid and positiove brake feel from the //M.
Eddie
The car:
Black on black.
Looks: I quite liked it. I reckon i'd like it more in red with black wheels and carbon exterior parts. Very much a bigger 1M in my eyes with the split front and rear intakes.
Setup: When in M2 mode the Car was in MDM. I did see that on the dash and i had the steering in comfort as i felt the sport setting was a bit heavy. Suspension was in sport. I drove it in paddle mode right from the off and it felt pretty intuitive, much like the SMGIII of my M5 but not as pleasantly mechanical.
On start up there was no obvious exhaust note but a quick press of the M2 button and the sound was very obvious, especially if sat in the back.
The drive: 1st gear in my opinion when pulling away is a bit too short. 2nd gear is more than adequate. It's very easy to find the power band with this engine. It's not obviously laggy like the A45 but it doesnt pin you into your seat from the first press of the throttle. Onto the highway and the car feels firm yet pointy at motorway speeds. Overtaking is effortless when in the right gear (i'd imagine just as easy in auto) and it's quick to shift up and down where needed.
The first test was a 0-60. Admittedly we had to do it on a slight downhill on an onlslip but we did do one. Pulling away in 1st (with only a moderate throttle) and the TC light was on instantly. Could i feel the rear losing grip? No! Shortshift to 2nd and we start to make progress, just. TC light was still on but no rear slip that i could feel. By the time 2nd gear is used up we are at 60 (i think! can't remember if i went into 3rd). 4.4s on the vbox but it didnt feel that quick. Nowhere near as quick as my AMG anyway!
Following that I did a few quick roundabout exits and the TC light was still there, overpowering any hope of fun on the go. It didn't really fill me with much excitement!
The rest of the drive i left to Nick who used more of it's upper range whilst in auto mode. His best 60-100 according to the data on the lap was 6.1s. That's quite slow! Nick, was that full throttle? Certainly felt like it when i was in the back. That would make it a 10.5 0-100 which is not that quick. My AMG has done it in under 8.8s. At speed it did seem planted and the steering was apparently pretty sound for what we commanded of it.
Sound under load: Very much a turbocharged unit! It's quite a nice sound when sat in the back but i dont think i'll be buying into one just yet. V8's have it whipped for aural pleasure im afraid! There was no obvious downshift blipping and little or no over-run crackle. All sounds i'd like to hear from an M-car.
Racelogic have just updated their software so this is the best i can do for now with regards to data...... until ive worked out how to use the new system. Shows the 2 best times from today's run. 0-60 in 4.4s and 60-100 in 6.1s.
Edited to add that the brakes are really good. Much better than the AMG Composite Brake Package that my car has, not that it's lacking either. Very solid and positiove brake feel from the //M.
Eddie
Edited by ecain63 on Monday 14th July 19:49
Palmball said:
I've found our M3 a touch frustrating - as suggested above, the traction control is much too restrictive (more so than almost any other car I've driven). It'll hold power back for very long constant periods, even when going in a straight line on a hot day. Makes no sense as it makes the car feel slow - I've driven much more powerful cars which are not this restrictive.
In the dry I always had the traction control off on both my E92 M3/Z4M for exactly the same reason as it was just too restrictive and compared to the new M3 they both have very little torque and not as much BHP either but surely a powerful RWD car should be about fun at the end of the day. Palmball said:
Since the running in service and the subsequent ability to open it up, I've found our M3 a touch frustrating - as suggested above, the traction control is much too restrictive (more so than almost any other car I've driven). It'll hold power back for very long constant periods, even when going in a straight line on a hot day. Makes no sense as it makes the car feel slow - I've driven much more powerful cars which are not this restrictive.
Are we getting to the point now where BMW are electronically dumbing down its cars too much? On the one hand, these things are tremendously easy to slide about in and great fun for those who partake in that. On the other hand, are BMW slightly wary of selling a 430hp car and they know that if they don't restrain it a lot, people will wrap it around trees?I don't think I‘ve read a single feedback-post or car review of the new M3 that didn’t criticize the engine in some way or the other. It’s a bit sad when you look back at the history of M engines. I also have to say that the BMW i8 with its hybrid and turbo charged 3 cylinder felt like a much more emotional drive than the M4 when I test drove both. 
Looking at the way fuel economy developed in the last 7 years it is totally understandable that BMW had to compromise to not make the car completely obsolete towards the end of its lifecycle but I think they may have gone a bit too far.
Looking at the way fuel economy developed in the last 7 years it is totally understandable that BMW had to compromise to not make the car completely obsolete towards the end of its lifecycle but I think they may have gone a bit too far.
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