Answers to questions posed to BMW NA M Brand manager, Larry Koch

[AwesomeM3]

Originally Posted by oneginee

AwesomeM3, ok I was a bit harsh.
I was hoping this would be a lean Q&A thread. Look like its getting fat already. Like the ebay thread all I wanted to know was " nebraska dealer tried a Buy It Now on an M3 ebay auction sale thinking he could get out of the binding deal offline but winner presses him with internet + attorney and gets the car for 10K below" without having to skim through a 150+ pages thread to find that out.

Understood.

[ersin]

Originally Posted by AwesomeM3

Either Mr. Koch reads them, or people working for him, probably the latter.

Well, at least somebody in an official BMW capacity does. I better watch what I say around here. I still think it's pretty cool to do that. But I wonder how much influence these forums actually have on the engineering, marketing, and character of the car.

[AwesomeM3]

Originally Posted by ersin

Well, at least somebody in an official BMW capacity does. I better watch what I say around here. I still think it's pretty cool to do that. But I wonder how much influence these forums actually have on the engineering, marketing, and character of the car.

Probably more than we realize!

[ersin]

Originally Posted by AwesomeM3

Probably more than we realize!

That would be awesome, Awesome. (Sorry, I couldn't resist.)

Some people say they don't like the M3 because it is "too soft" or "too quiet" or "too expensive" or too whatever (jealousy?). I think it is the most well rounded car you can buy. BMW no doubt made it exactly the way they wanted and hit a bullseye here. All cars are compromises, and you can't please everyone. But, it is one of the most desirable cars worldwide and most likely because they do listen to people like us enthusiasts.

[gadget]

Can't wiat to see what BMW / Larry Had to say. I think i've ched this thread 100 times today Thanks for taking the time to do this,

[mkoesel]

Originally Posted by gadget

Can't wiat to see what BMW / Larry Had to say. I think i've ched this thread 100 times today Thanks for taking the time to do this,

I keep checking too.

skierman - any rough ETA? Can you at least say whether it will be after close of business PST, or before?

[skierman64]

Can't do it from work, so it'll be later this evening.

[ersin]

Originally Posted by gadget

... i've ched this thread 100 times today Thanks for taking the time to do this,

How do you ched? I wanna know how to do this. Where is the DIY thread for this? If I practice real hard do you think I could ched 100 times a day like you too?

Just razzin' ya gadget. I'm in a weird mood today. I must have worked too long this week.

[midlifecrisis]

Originally Posted by ersin

So Mr Koch actually reads the forums? Very cool. And even checking with BMW AG. :bow :

Can't wait for your report. Hope you can find some place to host the video.

The cool thing is that most of the people I've met at BMWNA are Bimmerheads like the rest of us, except they get paid for it!!!!!!

[skierman64]

I'm shooting to have it posted by about 9pm EDT. I listened to the videos and the sound quality is fine. It will be in mp4 format, so if you don't have quicktime, you might need it.

[Shade]

Looking forward

[Epacy]

Originally Posted by southlight

Maybe I should bill E for the color advise.


Best regards, south

You have one more week to sweat it out!

[Epacy]

Originally Posted by ersin

Well, at least somebody in an official BMW capacity does. I better watch what I say around here. I still think it's pretty cool to do that. But I wonder how much influence these forums actually have on the engineering, marketing, and character of the car.

They definately check the forum and not just people who are aids for the higher-ups. I know the top brass check this forum and others. I think that is a good idea for them.

[gadget]

It's almost 9...

[skierman64]

Ok, I did a lot of paraphrasing because to type his exact words would have taken another hour or two. I was very careful not to change the meaning of what he said, IMHO. Also, I don't know how many of the questions he asked BMW AG, however on the questions he specifically mentioned he asked Germany, I noted below.

If Larry reads this and doesn't like my wording, please contact me in this thread or via private message and I'll rephrase as requested.

For everyone else, if you have any question on the answers fire away. I may be able to expand on what I've typed below. I still have the tape of Larry's verbal answers.

Here are the long awaited answers, in italics

1. Why do M-DCT equipped M3s still have a GG $1,300 tax when the car was advertised to be more approx 10-15% more efficient than a 6MT? Was the car retested to EPA specs or did BMW simply use the 6MT EPA mileage numbers?
Larry, The fuel mileage did not differ enough to change the GGT.

His answer to the first question essentially answered the second question

2. Will the Vert M3 be introduced as a MY 2008 or 2009?
2008

3. Will the Individual program will come to the US for the M3?
He can't tell me, he's not working that program

4. Can we please get Comfort Access as a separate option for non ZTP cars? MY2009?
Probably not

5. Any chance MDM will be available as either a new standard feature, or a stand-alone option?
He can't put in the car without I-drive. If he makes I-drive standard then there's a big jump in price and then he's got a whole stack of people who complain they don't want I-drive in the car and they won't buy it. He has 25 or 30% of the people won't buy the car with I-drive so he won't make it standard.

6. How will the future 3 series tii fit into a 3 series lineup with a 335 and M3?
He can't discuss it, they are still sorting out the tii program within the company and he can't talk about future products.

7. Will 2009 E90 M3's receive the face lift treatments due for the rest of '09 E90 3-series?
There is a face lift to the E90 in theory coming, there usually is at this time in the product lifecycle, however he doesn't know if they'll do anything to the M3, he's asked and not gotten an answer yet.

8. What is the actual shift time of M-DCT in S6 mode (in milliseconds)?
They don't give them a time, however it's so instantaneous that they had to build some feel into it so it didn't feel like a CVT transmission. "It just goes, it's so fast"

9. Is US and EU launch control exactly the same or is there a difference like in the M5?
As far as he knows it's the same

10. Do US M3's have Brake Energy Regeneration?
No

11. Does the M3 have any limitations (redline, hp, etc.) before 1st (1200 mile) service?
This is one he called Germany on, the folks he talked to didn't know of any limitations, however they recommend you don't get anywhere near redline for the first 1200 miles. He didn't ask about DCT or Launch control

12. Why did the US M3s get different seat bottoms than in EU? Can the Euro seat bottoms be retrofitted on the US version seat.
Because the US gets different airbags than the rest of the world. The US airbags are multi-stage airbags that deploy at different speeds depending on the amount of weight sensed on the seat. The DOT rule for the airbags is OC3-MAT. The EU airbags don't require the same type of seat sensor. If you replaced the US seat bottom with a EU seat bottom you take a chance at messing up your airbag sensor and possibly your airbag deployment.


13. Will dual canister style aftermarket exhaust systems interfere with the differential cooling or aerodynamic effect of the diffuser.
He has no idea because there are so many variables with different style of aftermarket exhaust. He's not an engineer. However anything you do to change the car may effect other systems.

14. Do US and Euro versions of the M3 weigh the same assuming the same options?
When they give you a weight it's for a standard car with no options and no fuel. He doesn't know how the cars in Europe are weighed compared to how we weigh them here. Plus he's never compared the EU car weighed in Kilos to the US car weighed in pounds. The stated weight for this car is 3704 lbs. However, he doesn't know how the 3704 is calculated. Also the E46 M3 weighed 3415, however you can't compare them directly because there are items standard on the E92 that weren't standard on the E46, like power seats. The E92 seat has at least 6-8 motors in it, making it quite a heavy seat. The front seats alone may add 100lbs to the E92.

15. Was a HUD ever considered for the M3 or was weight a concern?
No, because it would have had to be considered for the entire 3 series line. Otherwise the option is too costly just for the M car, a cost that would have to be passed onto the customer. On the M5 and M6, the HUD is also available on the 550 and 650.

16. Will there be an M version of the 1 series?
He's always looking at it, but he doesn't know what engine to put into it. They are considering it but he can't tell us at this point.

17. What auto brand/model is the M's closest competitor?
Porsche 911 Carrera (M3 is faster), M-B C63 AMG, Audi RS4 (no longer in production) and not competitive with the M3 because it's nose heavy, Lexus IS-F (he reference the Road and Track M3 vs IS-F article which said the Lexus and M-B were nice cars but felt like upgraded versions of other cars, where the M3 feels like a racecar built for the street), Corvette (sort of)

18. Why is there no discounted Euro delivery or included M experience offered with new M3?
Euro delivery; The value of the dollar vs Euro is not making this an option. As far as the M experience, the cost was built into the M5 and M6 and they wanted to keep the price down on the M3. Also because they sell so many M3s, if the M experience were included it would overload the Performance Center's capacity because the M3 sells at approx 4 times the rate of the M5 and M6. It's a good program and M3 owners are encouraged to sign up and experience it.

19. Why was a gasoline direct injection system (like on 335i) not employed on this new M3 and do they think they will add it in the future?
They probably won't add it in the future because it wasn't incorporated into the initial development of the engine. He doesn't now why it wasn't initially built into the engine.

20. Will there be a ZCP option offered later? If so, will Brembo multi piston brakes be a part of the ZCP?
More brake pistons don't make for a better braking system automatically. He doesn't know if there will be a ZCP at this point.

21. Why didn't BMW do anything to the calipers to make them look more dressed up
He didn't know, essentially they're made to perform, not just look good

22. Why wasn't front PDC offered in the US.
He doesn't know for sure, however when you develop a new front fascia to fit the front PDC sensors, the car must be crash tested with the new sensors in the fascia. The crash test rules aren't the same in the EU and don't require another crash test.

23. Will the CF-roof ever be offered on the sedan?
He doesn't know if it will be developed for the sedan. It hasn't been developed yet.

24. Why did BMW not incorporate the front reflectors into the front headlamp assembly like the 335 instead of adding the BUTT ugly orange reflectors?
Because they wanted the front headlight assemble to be white without yellow reflectors up there. Also there may not be enough side view of the front headlight assembly to get a built in reflector to pass the US standard. (Skierman64 input: my speculation is because of the active turn lights built into the side of the headlight assembly, reflectors can not be built into the headlight assembly)

25. Will High-beam assistant become a 2009 option since it currently offered on the M3 in Europe?
He doesn't know. (Skierman64 input: Is it really that hard to flick the high beams on and off, come on folks?)

26. Do you know about the issue with the sale of a M3 on Ebay from the dealer in Lincoln, NE? Any comments?
He knows all about it. BMW USA was very involved. Bottom Line, he said customer was having problem getting financing and was trying to get the dealer to drop the price below what was agreed to on Ebay. He knows that what was posted on the forums isn't the whole story. He noted the dealer offered to sell the car to the next highest bidder or anyone else at the Ebay negotiated price. Skierman64 input: Please don't turn this thread into a discussion of this issue. It's been beat to death already. Take it elsewhere if you want to discuss this particular issue.

27. Why was the press told that the DCT would be introduced on the vert when it is in fact being first introduced on the coupe for the first 3 months of production.
It was a miscommunication, the DCT was always going to originate on the coupe first

28. Does BMW NA monitor the BMW fan forums. If so, does it ever influence decision making at BMW AG or BMW NA?
Yes

Color Questions

1. For the M3 E93 intro, any new exterior colors being added to the list (like Atlantic Blue, as was done with the 335i E93 intro)?
The E93 colors are the same as what's currently being offered.

2. Will Laguna Seca Blue ever be offered on the E9x M3? Is the company that produced the color "out of business"
(a) will be available as of next year
(b) can be ordered through Individual
(c) can be ordered as a special order color
Another question he asked the folks in Germany: You can place a "priority one" order, it will take about 3 months to get the car and it won't be a "friendly" price. It cost's BMW a lot to reconfigure a paint booth for an individual color, plus all the external "smaller" parts (like door handles) would need to be painted by hand, a very labor intensive process.

[FifthStreetz]

Thank your for those answers Skierman!!

[lucid]

Thanks!

[euro]

Just to clarify: Was this part of the question or is it the answer?

2. Will Laguna Seca Blue ever be offered on the E9x M3? Is the company that produced the color "out of business"

(a) will be available as of next year

The way I understand it he may have danced around the direct question and just said you could special order it today but you aren't going to like the price or the wait.

[ruff]

Thanks Ski, excellent work and write up.

[skierman64]

Originally Posted by euro

Just to clarify: Was this part of the question or is it the answer?

2. Will Laguna Seca Blue ever be offered on the E9x M3? Is the company that produced the color "out of business"

(a) will be available as of next year

The way I understand it he may have danced around the direct question and just said you could special order it today but you aren't going to like the price or the wait.

(A) was part of the question. He couldn't talk about future products or colors, except to say the E93 Vert would have the same colors as the current E9x M.

However, he did say you could order that color using a "priority one" order, however it would be expensive, he didn't say how much.

Skierman64s input: I don't know that BMW has ever brought back a color that it used previously but then discontinued. It seems to be a continually evolving palate of colors.

[skierman64]

I forgot to say, I'm working with list admin to post the video of the entire presentation here on the forum. I've already converted the video to a usable format and am waiting on a response from list admin to accomplish the next step. No ETA at this time. Keep checking back.

[euro]

As stated before: Thank you very much for putting this together.