M3 owners and those in the know...ground clearance?

gblansten · 03-24-2008, 04:36 PM

Any M3 owners with ground clearance problems? I have a steep driveway and was wondering if anyone had problems. Has anyone measured the height of the front bumper?

KASM3 · 03-24-2008, 07:56 PM

I have not measured it but parked next to my 330 there isnt a visual difference. I do have the 19's. I have no scraping issues. The manual does say if you have steep grade, put suspension in sport mode and that will keep it from traveling when you go over bumps or hit a grade. I will try to measure it tomorrow if someone hasn't answered 'officially' by then.

gblansten · 03-24-2008, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KASM3

I have not measured it but parked next to my 330 there isnt a visual difference. I do have the 19's. I have no scraping issues. The manual does say if you have steep grade, put suspension in sport mode and that will keep it from traveling when you go over bumps or hit a grade. I will try to measure it tomorrow if someone hasn't answered 'officially' by then.

Thanks.

Putting the car in sport mode is a great idea.

kbk_75 · 03-25-2008, 02:21 AM

I have scraped the bottom of my car on a speed bump at the top of a driveway when I had three people in the car and the EDC was set to comfort. Since then I always put my EDC into the firmest mode and do the "one wheel first and then the other" trick to get over that particular bump.

In general I have not had any problems with ground clearance even though in India our "speed breakers" are more like mountains. To answer your question, my car's front ground clearance is approx. 4 1/4".

the_stranger · 03-25-2008, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kbk_75

In general I have not had any problems with ground clearance even though in India our "speed breakers" are more like mountains. To answer your question, my car's front ground clearance is approx. 4 1/4".

That is true. Dude, You have an M3 in India?

gblansten · 03-25-2008, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kbk_75

I have scraped the bottom of my car on a speed bump at the top of a driveway when I had three people in the car and the EDC was set to comfort. Since then I always put my EDC into the firmest mode and do the "one wheel first and then the other" trick to get over that particular bump.

In general I have not had any problems with ground clearance even though in India our "speed breakers" are more like mountains. To answer your question, my car's front ground clearance is approx. 4 1/4".

Thanks a lot for your help and especially measuring the bumper height.

kbk_75 · 04-18-2008, 03:28 PM

@ stranger: yeah I have an M3 in India! M3 FTW!

@ gblan: my pleasure.

OzStriker · 04-18-2008, 07:37 PM

I have a few scratches on the underside of my front spoiler, I am careful over undulations but it still scrapes at times.

Cars with a front lip and/or lowered will scrape lots IMO.

SS32 · 04-18-2008, 08:09 PM

I scraped a few times on my friend's driveway, but it wasn't the bumper. There's a section covered in hard fabric that hits before the bumper.

nechronics · 04-19-2008, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cowmoo32

I scraped a few times on my friend's driveway, but it wasn't the bumper. There's a section covered in hard fabric that hits before the bumper.

I scraped that as well. I coulda sworn I had enough clearance as the curb seemed to be very very low. I overestimated the height of my car though.

ersin · 04-19-2008, 11:08 AM

I learned my lesson with the E46 M3. I never had a car before that was that low to the ground. I am much more careful now about parking. If I have to I'll open the door and stick my head out if I can't see how close I am. Just be careful and don't try to get the nose over any sort of barrier. Good luck.

meruyailir · 08-29-2011, 01:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SS32

I scraped a few times on my friend's driveway, but it wasn't the bumper. There's a section covered in hard fabric that hits before the bumper.

Yeah, that hard fabric thing hanging so low it did get scraped. Anyone know what that is?

gblansten · 08-29-2011, 06:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by meruyailir

Yeah, that hard fabric thing hanging so low it did get scraped. Anyone know what that is?

This thread I'm linking gives more details and parts numbers:

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthr...ront+felt+part

brava09 · 08-29-2011, 06:22 AM

My M3 ground clearance on the 19'' is better than the ground clearance on my 335i with 17''.

edu09 · 08-29-2011, 06:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gblansten

Any M3 owners with ground clearance problems? I have a steep driveway and was wondering if anyone had problems. Has anyone measured the height of the front bumper?

I have a Vorsteiner front lip, 19" wheels and 30 profile tires and have a 5" front clearance

03-24-2008, 04:36 PM	#1
gblansten Captain Obvious Drives: 2011 BMW M3 SSII/Black Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Thick ascending limb Posts: 1,288 iTrader: (0)	M3 owners and those in the know...ground clearance? Any M3 owners with ground clearance problems? I have a steep driveway and was wondering if anyone had problems. Has anyone measured the height of the front bumper?
	Tweet

04-18-2008, 07:37 PM	#8
OzStriker Captain Drives: Ford Falcon Ute, Ducati 1198S Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Melbourne Posts: 923 iTrader: (1) Garage List 2008 BMW E92 M3 [0.00] 2009 Ducati 1198S [0.00]	I have a few scratches on the underside of my front spoiler, I am careful over undulations but it still scrapes at times. Cars with a front lip and/or lowered will scrape lots IMO. __________________ BMW E92 M3 6MT, G-Power SKII supercharged, custom exhaust with 100 cell cats and Remus Sport mufflers, Brembo 380mm BBK, BMW Performance steering wheel, LUX H8 angel eyes, CF CSL boot, Hamann CF diffuser, Vorsteiner CF lip, CF grilles, CF gills, CF bonnet vents, BMW Performance stripes, RAC RG63 wheels, Eibach lowering springs, camber modifications.

04-18-2008, 08:09 PM	#9
SS32 Major Drives: 2008 M3 Join Date: May 2007 Location: Wilmington, NC Posts: 1,431 iTrader: (0)	I scraped a few times on my friend's driveway, but it wasn't the bumper. There's a section covered in hard fabric that hits before the bumper. __________________ V1 DIY - Blinder M45 DIY - Exhaust Cutouts - Removed Clutch Pedal Spring DIY - Fiamm Air Horns

04-19-2008, 11:08 AM	#11
ersin Brigadier General Drives: 08 IB E92 M3 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Maryland Posts: 3,571 iTrader: (1)	I learned my lesson with the E46 M3. I never had a car before that was that low to the ground. I am much more careful now about parking. If I have to I'll open the door and stick my head out if I can't see how close I am. Just be careful and don't try to get the nose over any sort of barrier. Good luck. __________________ I've been assimilated. 6MT/ZPP/18"/PS extended.

08-29-2011, 06:22 AM	#14
brava09 Captain Drives: E92 M3 JB Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: europe Posts: 631 iTrader: (0)	My M3 ground clearance on the 19'' is better than the ground clearance on my 335i with 17''. __________________ 08 E92 M3 Jerez Black 6MT 08 E92 335i 6MT traded in for M3

03-24-2008, 07:56 PM	#2
KASM3 Private First Class Drives: 2008 M3 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: NC Posts: 168 iTrader: (0)	I have not measured it but parked next to my 330 there isnt a visual difference. I do have the 19's. I have no scraping issues. The manual does say if you have steep grade, put suspension in sport mode and that will keep it from traveling when you go over bumps or hit a grade. I will try to measure it tomorrow if someone hasn't answered 'officially' by then.

03-25-2008, 02:21 AM	#4
kbk_75 Lieutenant Drives: Alpine White E92 M3 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Bombay, India Posts: 404 iTrader: (0)	I have scraped the bottom of my car on a speed bump at the top of a driveway when I had three people in the car and the EDC was set to comfort. Since then I always put my EDC into the firmest mode and do the "one wheel first and then the other" trick to get over that particular bump. In general I have not had any problems with ground clearance even though in India our "speed breakers" are more like mountains. To answer your question, my car's front ground clearance is approx. 4 1/4".

04-18-2008, 03:28 PM	#7
kbk_75 Lieutenant Drives: Alpine White E92 M3 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Bombay, India Posts: 404 iTrader: (0)	@ stranger: yeah I have an M3 in India! M3 FTW! @ gblan: my pleasure.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search