Drove the new M3 tonight for about 40 minutes.
03-10-2008, 09:24 PM
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Drove the new M3 tonight for about 40 minutes.
My dealer and I have a good relationship and knew that I would want a M3 at some point in the future and had a demo M3 for me to take out and conquer the roads of South Bay California.
It was a fully loaded Alpine White over black interior. All options with a sticker of ~71k.
Had a chosen to buy one they would have sold it to me for 68,500.
They have 3 and two are marked-up 15k and they flat out told me this car coupled with the economy is no E46 M3 market...meaning no takers.
In person with the 19" wheels the car looks better than in magazines. I do not like the small exhaust pipes, a constant M3 issue IMO. The CF roof looks awesome with AW. The proportions of the car look very, very good.
The interior is a huge letdown when getting out of a full leather/active seats/ect M5 to this car and frankly at 70k should have a nicer interior. It's not bad...its just not unique.
The car had comfort access and I just pressed the button and the V8 started, it sounded very nice, but again I have a V-10 that sounds better so I was not as impressed as someone coming from a E46 M3 and the rasp we all lived with.
The 6 speed is IMO the weakest part of the car, the clutch seems too light ( but so did my RS4's) but the shifting was notchy, most BMW's are but this one was as bad as my E30 M3. After driving it for 20 minutes it got better but I would assuredly wait for the next tranny. The power delivery was very good. I would say that without AWD that it was more responsive than my RS4 was but again to be fair I had what 3k on my RS4, so this is just my opinion.
The handling was very good, again compared to my M5 it felt...light!
The car had 450 miles on it and I added 89 and jumped on it pretty well in some areas by LAX ( Pershing Drive to be exact as I grew up there and remembered thats where we all drove like idiots) The M3 will do well as the new models show up but more importantly as the new DCT arrives.
The RS4 in many ways is far better in terms of execution but it had many years to get to that point. I think the M3 by year 4 will be the sports coupe to beat.
One funny thing, when I was driving on the 405 a new AMG C63 pulled alongside and waved. I guess all the new cars are arriving as we both passed a new EVO....which got more looks than either of us.
It was a fully loaded Alpine White over black interior. All options with a sticker of ~71k.
Had a chosen to buy one they would have sold it to me for 68,500.
They have 3 and two are marked-up 15k and they flat out told me this car coupled with the economy is no E46 M3 market...meaning no takers.
In person with the 19" wheels the car looks better than in magazines. I do not like the small exhaust pipes, a constant M3 issue IMO. The CF roof looks awesome with AW. The proportions of the car look very, very good.
The interior is a huge letdown when getting out of a full leather/active seats/ect M5 to this car and frankly at 70k should have a nicer interior. It's not bad...its just not unique.
The car had comfort access and I just pressed the button and the V8 started, it sounded very nice, but again I have a V-10 that sounds better so I was not as impressed as someone coming from a E46 M3 and the rasp we all lived with.
The 6 speed is IMO the weakest part of the car, the clutch seems too light ( but so did my RS4's) but the shifting was notchy, most BMW's are but this one was as bad as my E30 M3. After driving it for 20 minutes it got better but I would assuredly wait for the next tranny. The power delivery was very good. I would say that without AWD that it was more responsive than my RS4 was but again to be fair I had what 3k on my RS4, so this is just my opinion.
The handling was very good, again compared to my M5 it felt...light!
The car had 450 miles on it and I added 89 and jumped on it pretty well in some areas by LAX ( Pershing Drive to be exact as I grew up there and remembered thats where we all drove like idiots) The M3 will do well as the new models show up but more importantly as the new DCT arrives.
The RS4 in many ways is far better in terms of execution but it had many years to get to that point. I think the M3 by year 4 will be the sports coupe to beat.
One funny thing, when I was driving on the 405 a new AMG C63 pulled alongside and waved. I guess all the new cars are arriving as we both passed a new EVO....which got more looks than either of us.
03-10-2008, 10:49 PM
#3
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I drove it this weekend too. Might as well share my review also...
It was the car I ordered but not taking delivery of, also in alpine white. That seems to be the popular color for this car and is my choice as well.
I agree the 6MT is kinda crappy, but I can see how one can easily get used to it. Compared to the RS4, the shifter feels vague. I do feel it's an improvement on the E46 M3's gearbox though in terms of how the clutch feels and how much easier it is to drive smoother. I'm glad I skipped on it and now look forward to the M-DCT version that I ordered.
I have to disagree on the interior. I think it's very well done. This car had fox red with the 'extended leather' option however. The brick red color of the leather was very distinctive and the double stitching throughout exuded richness and quality. I do have doubts on the carbon leather trim now and may consider changing my order to something different and I don't understand why BMW doesn't offer trim options for the area around the shifter when regular 3-series do. Overall, it looked great and is on par with my former M5's interior which was also loaded with full active seats. The novillo leather had the same softness as the merino leather of the M5 and both feel thicker than the Audi's napa leather, but I wish BMW would've had an alcantara headliner option for the M3 because I loved this on my M5.
I couldn't quite give it the flogging I would've wanted to but contrary to what the media has said, the steering is just fine. Sure it's a little overboosted at normal speeds but so is the RS4's. The great thing is if you crank up the M-Drive setting to tighten up the steering and suspension, and drive it with a little more urgency, the car responds accordingly, stretches its legs, and can almost sense that the driver wants to play. I'm starting to think that all the early reviewers bashed the steering on the M3 because they had not set the M-Drive to the sportier steering setting. This car feels every bit as nimble as the RS4 and then some and like ReconTrojan said, it feels a lot lighter than both the M5 and RS4.
Engine and exhaust note sounds great! It doesn't have the deep rumble of the RS4 that we all know and love but just as good in a different way.... a more higher-pitched exotic V8 sound. Somewhere between the Audi 4.2 and a Ferrari 430 sound. Although it's based on the M5's V10 block, I'm glad it doesn't have that awful idle sound that the M5 had when cold. It's fairly quiet at initial startup from cold and sounds very restrained during normal driving until around 4k rpms when the V8 initiates a lovely blood-curdling scream.
The sound system is incredible. I was wondering if the $1900 M-Audio option would be worth it but this is definitely one of the best factory sound systems I've heard in a car. Brought my own personal benchmark CD to see what it can do and it was all good. Beats the HK Logic7 in my current ML63 and former M5. Keeping this option for sure.
The CF roof looks bad *** but when I ripped a wicked fart while test driving, I instinctively went for the fart vent button (roof tilt) only to be denied for the lack of a moonroof. Still, the CF roof is a keeper and just have to stay away from mexican food.
Unfortunately, I was not able to test and see if repeated stops from triple digits would induce brake fade on the stock brakes
hehe.
I agree the 6MT is kinda crappy, but I can see how one can easily get used to it. Compared to the RS4, the shifter feels vague. I do feel it's an improvement on the E46 M3's gearbox though in terms of how the clutch feels and how much easier it is to drive smoother. I'm glad I skipped on it and now look forward to the M-DCT version that I ordered.
I have to disagree on the interior. I think it's very well done. This car had fox red with the 'extended leather' option however. The brick red color of the leather was very distinctive and the double stitching throughout exuded richness and quality. I do have doubts on the carbon leather trim now and may consider changing my order to something different and I don't understand why BMW doesn't offer trim options for the area around the shifter when regular 3-series do. Overall, it looked great and is on par with my former M5's interior which was also loaded with full active seats. The novillo leather had the same softness as the merino leather of the M5 and both feel thicker than the Audi's napa leather, but I wish BMW would've had an alcantara headliner option for the M3 because I loved this on my M5.
I couldn't quite give it the flogging I would've wanted to but contrary to what the media has said, the steering is just fine. Sure it's a little overboosted at normal speeds but so is the RS4's. The great thing is if you crank up the M-Drive setting to tighten up the steering and suspension, and drive it with a little more urgency, the car responds accordingly, stretches its legs, and can almost sense that the driver wants to play. I'm starting to think that all the early reviewers bashed the steering on the M3 because they had not set the M-Drive to the sportier steering setting. This car feels every bit as nimble as the RS4 and then some and like ReconTrojan said, it feels a lot lighter than both the M5 and RS4.
Engine and exhaust note sounds great! It doesn't have the deep rumble of the RS4 that we all know and love but just as good in a different way.... a more higher-pitched exotic V8 sound. Somewhere between the Audi 4.2 and a Ferrari 430 sound. Although it's based on the M5's V10 block, I'm glad it doesn't have that awful idle sound that the M5 had when cold. It's fairly quiet at initial startup from cold and sounds very restrained during normal driving until around 4k rpms when the V8 initiates a lovely blood-curdling scream.
The sound system is incredible. I was wondering if the $1900 M-Audio option would be worth it but this is definitely one of the best factory sound systems I've heard in a car. Brought my own personal benchmark CD to see what it can do and it was all good. Beats the HK Logic7 in my current ML63 and former M5. Keeping this option for sure.
The CF roof looks bad *** but when I ripped a wicked fart while test driving, I instinctively went for the fart vent button (roof tilt) only to be denied for the lack of a moonroof. Still, the CF roof is a keeper and just have to stay away from mexican food.
Unfortunately, I was not able to test and see if repeated stops from triple digits would induce brake fade on the stock brakes
hehe.
03-11-2008, 06:30 AM
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the 'enhanced premium sound' isn't made by M-Audio.
at least I don't think so...nothing to indicate that on their website. it would be cool if it was, though.
<a href="http://www.m-audio.com">this is M-Audio</a>
<a href="http://www.m-audio.com">this is M-Audio</a>
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03-11-2008, 08:51 AM
#9
AudiWorld Super User
Not M-Audio the Cali-based company. In the US, BMW calls their Individual sound system "M Audio"
It's supposed to be their top of the line factory sound system, a step above Logic7.
For some reason, BMW decided to go all-or-none in terms of audio for the new M3. There's the standard system in a base M3, and there's the $1900 //M Audio system with DIRAC, a 16-speaker system with <a href="http://www.m5board.com/vbulletin/attachment.php?attachmentid=43984&d=1183090744">DI RAC</a> technology, an 850 watt 9-channel amp with DSP, and audiophile grade hexacone drivers shown below. I believe the 2008 M5 and 7-series Individual has this option also.
The $1200 Logic7 system is not an option for the new M3 in the US.
<img src="http://www.m5board.com/temp/stoptech/d3.jpg">
For some reason, BMW decided to go all-or-none in terms of audio for the new M3. There's the standard system in a base M3, and there's the $1900 //M Audio system with DIRAC, a 16-speaker system with <a href="http://www.m5board.com/vbulletin/attachment.php?attachmentid=43984&d=1183090744">DI RAC</a> technology, an 850 watt 9-channel amp with DSP, and audiophile grade hexacone drivers shown below. I believe the 2008 M5 and 7-series Individual has this option also.
The $1200 Logic7 system is not an option for the new M3 in the US.
<img src="http://www.m5board.com/temp/stoptech/d3.jpg">
