It has arrived
Discussion
After an agonising wait for just over 9 weeks, I picked up my M3 two weeks ago.
The intial bonding was tempered somewhat but the imposition of the dreadfully teadious running in period. Over the past two weeks I have found any excuse to just go for a drive though. Even with only 5500 rpm to play with, the car is still brisk and the hardening of the exhaust at around 4000rpm is pure aural heaven.
However, after just 700 miles, I managed to puncture the sidewall of my rear tyre but luckily it occured just up the road from a local garage I know. The mechanics showed me the tyre and offered to ring around the local area to locate a tyre for me. Unfortunately, only a BMW dealership had a PS2 so I had to go and collect it. The bill they presented me with made me weep!
Anyhow, I digress. The car went in for its running in service today and I could not wait to stretch the its legs.
The journey back home was fantastic. Exiting from a 40 into an NSL, I selected 2nd and held on for dear life. After a quick twitch, the car took off. The noise and acceleration were the stuff of dreams. I sensed that I was bonding with the car. But.....
I think the car is trying to show me its mean streak.
Exiting a roundabout onto a duel carraigeway in 2nd gear, wait until the car is straight, then accelerate hard. Change into 3rd, and here is where it nearly ended in tears, accelerate and the nearside wheel spins sending the back round. I over corrected and placed two wheels onto the grass with a sign coming towards me. This was successfully negociated, just, and I managed to regain control after a little fish tailing.
I went back shortly afterwards to have a look at the road. I didn't touch the white lines and there was no standing water although the road was damp. Had a large drink when I arrived home. Mental note made. Even with the traction control on, this can be a vicious car.
Driver training in my car is being arranged for whenever I can get down to the local track. I feel that the next few years with this car are going to be a lot of fun.
Oh sorry, here are the pictures....
Some more pictures that my brother took with his RS4.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
The intial bonding was tempered somewhat but the imposition of the dreadfully teadious running in period. Over the past two weeks I have found any excuse to just go for a drive though. Even with only 5500 rpm to play with, the car is still brisk and the hardening of the exhaust at around 4000rpm is pure aural heaven.
However, after just 700 miles, I managed to puncture the sidewall of my rear tyre but luckily it occured just up the road from a local garage I know. The mechanics showed me the tyre and offered to ring around the local area to locate a tyre for me. Unfortunately, only a BMW dealership had a PS2 so I had to go and collect it. The bill they presented me with made me weep!
Anyhow, I digress. The car went in for its running in service today and I could not wait to stretch the its legs.
The journey back home was fantastic. Exiting from a 40 into an NSL, I selected 2nd and held on for dear life. After a quick twitch, the car took off. The noise and acceleration were the stuff of dreams. I sensed that I was bonding with the car. But.....
I think the car is trying to show me its mean streak.
Exiting a roundabout onto a duel carraigeway in 2nd gear, wait until the car is straight, then accelerate hard. Change into 3rd, and here is where it nearly ended in tears, accelerate and the nearside wheel spins sending the back round. I over corrected and placed two wheels onto the grass with a sign coming towards me. This was successfully negociated, just, and I managed to regain control after a little fish tailing.
I went back shortly afterwards to have a look at the road. I didn't touch the white lines and there was no standing water although the road was damp. Had a large drink when I arrived home. Mental note made. Even with the traction control on, this can be a vicious car.
Driver training in my car is being arranged for whenever I can get down to the local track. I feel that the next few years with this car are going to be a lot of fun.
Oh sorry, here are the pictures....
Some more pictures that my brother took with his RS4.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
Something similar did happen to me negotiating a left bend entering a slip road onto the motorway. As i balanced the throttle through the corner, then went to accelerate on the straight, the back stepped out quite violently.
The road was damp, so I just put it down to going on the gas too early.
Hope that makes sense.
The road was damp, so I just put it down to going on the gas too early.
Hope that makes sense.
Mines never done that, even crossing white lines, only in M-mode can you feel it hinting that it may.
There rear diff should lock and help reduce any effects of a sudden unilateral loss of grip shouldn't it?
Possible theory would be that the new rear tyre may still not be offering optimum grip as you've been driving like miss daisy running it in and therefore haven't scrubbed off all the slippery releasing agent?
A less likely theory is that something maybe wrong with the M-Diff?
I'm probably wrong on both counts though
ETA- I mean i've driven it really aggressively in the rain through bends and with DTC on you can feel it move a tiny bit sure but nothing close to what you describe. Only time its kicked out a lot is with MDM on, but with no fishtailing antics!
There rear diff should lock and help reduce any effects of a sudden unilateral loss of grip shouldn't it?
Possible theory would be that the new rear tyre may still not be offering optimum grip as you've been driving like miss daisy running it in and therefore haven't scrubbed off all the slippery releasing agent?
A less likely theory is that something maybe wrong with the M-Diff?
I'm probably wrong on both counts though
ETA- I mean i've driven it really aggressively in the rain through bends and with DTC on you can feel it move a tiny bit sure but nothing close to what you describe. Only time its kicked out a lot is with MDM on, but with no fishtailing antics!
Edited by -Z- on Wednesday 15th July 13:44
Something a bit wrong there. I've never had that happen when accelerating in a straight line in any of my M cars, even with a broken spring and dodgy rear suspension bushes and the first day I took delivery of my E46 M3 seven years ago I drove it from London to Frankfurt in a deluge and couldn't resist the urge to stamp my right foot in rather a silly way.
-Z- may have a point with regards to the newer tyre fitted to the rear although it has done over 500 miles.
dubbs - I think that I did lift a little too quickly initially.
Perhaps a combination of the above. I went for a long drive today and nothing like it occured again. The ability of the engine actually scares me slightly though.
The car does have protective film over it which has already proved very usuful.
Thanks for all the comments.
Pete
dubbs - I think that I did lift a little too quickly initially.
Perhaps a combination of the above. I went for a long drive today and nothing like it occured again. The ability of the engine actually scares me slightly though.
The car does have protective film over it which has already proved very usuful.
Thanks for all the comments.
Pete
It's a protection film.
Since the car was bought brand new, we thought it sensible to protect the paint work.
So the film has been applied to the front of the bonnet, the headlights, the front bumper, the side skirts, half way up the side of the car, on the sides of the rear bumper and on top of the rear bumper where the boot aperture is - it'll sure be worth it considering the mileage this car is going to cover!
Darren
Since the car was bought brand new, we thought it sensible to protect the paint work.
So the film has been applied to the front of the bonnet, the headlights, the front bumper, the side skirts, half way up the side of the car, on the sides of the rear bumper and on top of the rear bumper where the boot aperture is - it'll sure be worth it considering the mileage this car is going to cover!
Darren
0836whimper said:
Ok, dumb question here, how do you clean or keep the film looking good ?
Reason I ask is that I have just had most of my e46 M3 re-sprayed and I guess now is the time I should consider doing it, e.g the front end now looks brand new.
The same way you would care for your paintwork. Wash and wax on a regular basis. The added bonus of the film is that it is very hard to scratch so you can actually scrub off tar marks and the like.Reason I ask is that I have just had most of my e46 M3 re-sprayed and I guess now is the time I should consider doing it, e.g the front end now looks brand new.
Gassing Station | M Power | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff