Review and photos of M3 coupe from The Ultimate Drive event

[///MArdor]

I thought the engine note sounded nice from videos on youtube. Is the American M3 quieter due to California emissions maybe? This would suck. How does the car sound from outside the cabin? Aggressive or dissapointing as well? Thanks for the info.

[Jason]

Originally Posted by ///MArdor

I thought the engine note sounded nice from videos on youtube. Is the American M3 quieter due to California emissions maybe? This would suck. How does the car sound from outside the cabin? Aggressive or dissapointing as well? Thanks for the info.

Sounds good to me =)
Video -- http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=114846 (listen at about 3:00 min into the video).

[JEllis]

Originally Posted by ruff

Then buy the GT-R or GT2.

No they are too heavy... no real sports car weighs over 3000lbs... right ruff?

[JEllis]

Originally Posted by cosmos515

I get 11.5mpg in the M6, the M3 will seem like a Hybrid to me.

Hahaha I love it...

[Epacy]

Originally Posted by JEllis

No they are too heavy... no real sports car weighs over 3000lbs... right ruff?

[Epacy]

I completely disagree with her statement about the rear arches. They are very noticeable IRL. You can even see them in the pictures.

[skierman64]

I love pics 6 and 10 (from the top) that's the exact interior I ordered. Black with carbon leather. Looks sweet. Can't wait.

[Davo2003]

I thought the review sounded like Audi hired them. I don't believe all the negative impressions, like the positives were just thrown in to humor us but the message was "this car is a piece of shit", I say FOAD personally. There, I said it for those of you who were thinking the same thing!

[JEllis]

FOAD?

[OC ///M]

Originally Posted by JEllis

FOAD?

f*ck off and die.

[bullmrkt]

The 18's look so TINY! Surprised they didn't go with 19's and optional 20's...

[the_stranger]

18s look horrible.

[the_stranger]

Originally Posted by bullmrkt

The 18's look so TINY! Surprised they didn't go with 19's and optional 20's...

There are optional 20s???

[dcaero]

Am I the only one missing something here? When did they start having ///M cars as part of The Ultimate Drive? I did this last year and none were present.

[Jack's dad]

Unless they are just coated in brake dust, these appear to be the Euro 18's...

[Ronno111]

Originally Posted by ruff

Nice 50th post Ronno.

Efficient and reliable huh. It sounds like you do not own an M5 with SMG nor have you read J.D. Power and Associates ratings on auto manufacture's reliability. FYI, BMW and other German manufactures are nowhere near the top of the list.

Have you ever heard of Japanese engineering? The data clearly suggests the Japanese are the ones who know how to produce vehicles that are "efficient and reliable." as you say. That is why I own a 91 Accord... are you a bit jealous?

If I want the "ultimate driving machine" I will buy a GT-R already.

Jealous, hardly. There are few cars I can't afford to own, the GT-R is not one of them. If you are coming from a 91 Accord, better break open your piggy bank for the GT-R after the $500 trade in.
Do you even own a BMW or have you ever? Take it from a former 7 and 5 series owner, BMW is the best engineered car I have ever owned- which is about 40. Oh, thats almost as many posts I have. Happy 727 JO.

[SHADY1]

YOU GUYS ARE OUT OF CONTROL GIVE THE POOR GUY A BREAK

[skierman64]

Originally Posted by Jason

Coming from a GC-equipped E46 M3, the handling really impressed me once I got to take the car out to a twisty back road off of I395.

The OP drives an E46 with a modified suspension. I'd guess that even an E46 with a stock suspension would feel like a caddy to him. Just my speculation.

Thanks to the OP for the review.

I don't think the OP review was all that negative. I'm sure that the car is so refined and smooth that you're going faster than you think most of the time. I find that to be a plus, not a minus. That's how my dad's E46 feels when I drive it, compared to my E36.

[SCBMW02]

Interesting comments on the new M3, here are mine. I spent 3 days last Oct driving the new car on the Nurbergring F1 track and got to take a ride on the 13 mile Nordschleife with one of the instructors at speed. (yes you do go airborne at phlantzgarten!)I have owned an E36 and E46 M3 and have driven both on the track. Let me just say this car blows them away in every way! Have you seen the numbers from Road and Track? 0-60 4.1 / 1/4 Mi 12.5 / Grip 0.98g

Forget what you might think about weight, this car feels much lighter than the E46. We did numerous exercises with the car including a ton of hot laps. Understeer? Forget it .You can toss this thing with ease. We did some autocross type drills and this car is balanced and changes directions with a flick of the wheel. Acceleration is brutal and braking is typical M3. Steering may have been a tad light, but I think it is overblown and you won't notice it 99% of the time. One tidbit, the German guys like to run the normal suspension mode because that adapts to changing loads, whereas in sport setting it is fixed which may not be the right setup for every section of track. You will have to play with it and set the M Drive for what you like best.

Don't know how many of you have heard this thing in person at speed, but believe me you won't be disappointed! Not a GM v8, but more F1 or GTR. I am sure there will be aftermarket systems for those that need to draw even more attention (I had a Borla on my E46)

I thought the 46 was as good looking as it gets, but that really looks dated next to this. Obviously this is subjective, but in person everything is just right. The fenders are flared just like the 46. I would like a different style wheel and probably will look to change this as I did with the E46.
Seats are great and I never felt like I was coming out of it even in the 140mph sweeper on the back straight. Much more headroom, htough this is probably because there is no sunroof.

Bottom line. This thing is sick, much more of a sports car than the E46. It is quite simply the perfect GT. Already ordered mine. Hope this was informative.

[GregW / Oregon]

Originally Posted by SCBMW02

Interesting comments on the new M3, here are mine. I spent 3 days last Oct driving the new car on the Nurbergring F1 track and got to take a ride on the 13 mile Nordschleife with one of the instructors at speed. (yes you do go airborne at phlantzgarten!)I have owned an E36 and E46 M3 and have driven both on the track. Let me just say this car blows them away in every way! Have you seen the numbers from Road and Track? 0-60 4.1 / 1/4 Mi 12.5 / Grip 0.98g

Forget what you might think about weight, this car feels much lighter than the E46. We did numerous exercises with the car including a ton of hot laps. Understeer? Forget it .You can toss this thing with ease. We did some autocross type drills and this car is balanced and changes directions with a flick of the wheel. Acceleration is brutal and braking is typical M3. Steering may have been a tad light, but I think it is overblown and you won't notice it 99% of the time. One tidbit, the German guys like to run the normal suspension mode because that adapts to changing loads, whereas in sport setting it is fixed which may not be the right setup for every section of track. You will have to play with it and set the M Drive for what you like best.

Don't know how many of you have heard this thing in person at speed, but believe me you won't be disappointed! Not a GM v8, but more F1 or GTR. I am sure there will be aftermarket systems for those that need to draw even more attention (I had a Borla on my E46)

I thought the 46 was as good looking as it gets, but that really looks dated next to this. Obviously this is subjective, but in person everything is just right. The fenders are flared just like the 46. I would like a different style wheel and probably will look to change this as I did with the E46.
Seats are great and I never felt like I was coming out of it even in the 140mph sweeper on the back straight. Much more headroom, htough this is probably because there is no sunroof.

Bottom line. This thing is sick, much more of a sports car than the E46. It is quite simply the perfect GT. Already ordered mine. Hope this was informative.

Nice perspective--appreciate it. What about your feeling on the 6-speed? Seen a lot of lukewarm comments from owners and reviewers.

[Davo2003]

Originally Posted by SCBMW02

Interesting comments on the new M3, here are mine. I spent 3 days last Oct driving the new car on the Nurbergring F1 track and got to take a ride on the 13 mile Nordschleife with one of the instructors at speed. (yes you do go airborne at phlantzgarten!)I have owned an E36 and E46 M3 and have driven both on the track. Let me just say this car blows them away in every way! Have you seen the numbers from Road and Track? 0-60 4.1 / 1/4 Mi 12.5 / Grip 0.98g

Forget what you might think about weight, this car feels much lighter than the E46. We did numerous exercises with the car including a ton of hot laps. Understeer? Forget it .You can toss this thing with ease. We did some autocross type drills and this car is balanced and changes directions with a flick of the wheel. Acceleration is brutal and braking is typical M3. Steering may have been a tad light, but I think it is overblown and you won't notice it 99% of the time. One tidbit, the German guys like to run the normal suspension mode because that adapts to changing loads, whereas in sport setting it is fixed which may not be the right setup for every section of track. You will have to play with it and set the M Drive for what you like best.

Don't know how many of you have heard this thing in person at speed, but believe me you won't be disappointed! Not a GM v8, but more F1 or GTR. I am sure there will be aftermarket systems for those that need to draw even more attention (I had a Borla on my E46)

I thought the 46 was as good looking as it gets, but that really looks dated next to this. Obviously this is subjective, but in person everything is just right. The fenders are flared just like the 46. I would like a different style wheel and probably will look to change this as I did with the E46.
Seats are great and I never felt like I was coming out of it even in the 140mph sweeper on the back straight. Much more headroom, htough this is probably because there is no sunroof.

Bottom line. This thing is sick, much more of a sports car than the E46. It is quite simply the perfect GT. Already ordered mine. Hope this was informative.

Now THAT is a review!

[mdrobc13]

outstanding writeups...great pics!