slow and thirsty

[r53s65e90]

Originally Posted by saildoc

Thats what worries me. Such low gas milage when the bulk of my driving is on the freeway and I am going easy on the car during the break-in period. Feels like the car has the parking brake slightly on?.... weird...hoping all is different after the 1200 mile service.

For 70% highway gas mileage is not as good as expected. You should be getting close to 15 when going with the traffic flow (=don't out accelerate everybody). Give it some time while observing it.

As far as slowness is concerned, my take is that it should not feel slow coming from a 335i unless you stay in truck driver territory (below 2000 - 2500 rpm).

The acceleration component from force at the rear wheels generated by an M3 is greater than that generated by a 335i above 2000-2500 rpm. Below, the M3 has about 90-95% of the acceleration component of the 335i. There are multiple discussions on this in the forum.

So if it feels slower above 2500, check it out (dyno or whatever).

[drivendriver]

Originally Posted by saildoc

Thats what worries me. Such low gas milage when the bulk of my driving is on the freeway and I am going easy on the car during the break-in period. Feels like the car has the parking brake slightly on?.... weird...hoping all is different after the 1200 mile service.

I would have it checked as soon as possible.

I had a 135 before the M3. The M3 doesn't do the 135's 1500 rpm kick in the butt, but it never felt "slow" to me above 2000 rpm, even before the 1200 miles service.

Originally Posted by r53s65e90

As far as slowness is concerned, my take is that it should not feel slow coming from a 335i unless you stay in truck driver territory (below 2000 - 2500 rpm). ... So if it feels slower above 2500, check it out (dyno or whatever).

My feeling exactly. Under 2000 rpm the M3 feels a bit sluggish, but torque seems to increase quite sharply between 2000-2500 rpm, and when you reach that point the car becomes quite lively.

[3s-a-charm]

Fuel economy is very poor in the M3. For most M3 owners, this is something we just deal with. Power... well that is "subjective" in my opinion. I just finished up with a 335d for 2 weeks while my M3 was being serviced. Although the 335d had neck-snapping torque (actually felt like I was on a roller coaster - you know that kind of "sick" feeling you get?), I was sooooooo happy to get back in the "M"!!! The M3 just puts a smile on your face every time you drive it. The smooth, quiet engines of the 335i/d just don't do it for me. But that's just me...

[M3luvr]

I avg. 13.7 mpg on my first 700 mls. Then as I closed in to the magic 1200 ml mark, I was closer to 16.5 mpg on mostly freeway too. Steady freeway on a long drive avg. 80 mph, I avg. about 22 mpg. To enjoy this car, you can't be too worried about the mileage. You have to floor it every once in a while.

[Eliminator]

Here's a tip: Go to ///M driving school. You'll never look at your car the same. This motor is totally different than the 335. Think of 5000 rpm like 3000 rpm mark on the 335. This car is not comfortable with itself below say 4000, unless you're moping around. It suffers at that point. Get the break in over with and mash it really good. Get the RPM high and keep it high. Live there. You'll see.

[NewM3driver]

STEP ON THE F$&@ING GAS and you will forget all about your 335.

DRIVE your car and you will love it. BABY it and you will wonder what all the fuss is about.

I DRIVE my car, and the other day got out of it and drove a friend's '08 997 and was very much underwhelmed. My car felt like a refined exotic after driving 75 miles in the porsche.

[JeffC]

Drive hard and dont look back

[AMOCHOSTO]

Originally Posted by saildoc

Ok, the car is three weeks old, 450 miles. It is sucking down gas, 13.7mpg total for the distance, yet I am keeping it under 5500 rpm as rec by the windshield sticker. The car feels really sluggish (coming out of a 335i). Is this a typical experience with a fresh motor that needs to seat in? Am I nuts?

Kinda feeling a little let down....

I'm doing the soft break in too. After 580 km I'm running 14.2 mpg, absolutely no power below 2000 rpm unless you are in first or second. Still, I'm happy with the power above 3500, 5500 comes way too soon though.

I've never driven a 335i, but below 2000 in the same gear the M3 is more sluggish than my 03 Jetta. I'll just have to change my driving style. I love the M3 when I'm at the right revs.

[AMOCHOSTO]

Originally Posted by Ca$hOnly

Make sure you press the power button. With this car you have to really be aggressive with the throttle, otherwise it does feel like a slow boat.

I've never used the power button. Only 1420 km to go though.

[Poppin Fresh]

I am averaging around 16.1-17mpg with mixed city and highway at the 2200 mile mark. The others are right when they say it wakes up when you hit the range above 3k. I know going into a highway it doesn't take me long to get into 60 and watch the car behind me look like a hot wheel.

[Projectile]

Originally Posted by NewM3driver

the other day got out of it and drove a friend's '08 997 and was very much underwhelmed. My car felt like a refined exotic after driving 75 miles in the porsche.

I mostly disagree with this statement.

The 997 feels MUCH more torquey (is that a word?) throughout its rev range. Its considerably more fun to drive on regular roads, where keeping the revs up all the time just to get that smile on your face gets tedious. Plus, the 997 gets considerably better fuel economy. The 997 feels like a go-cart compared to an e92 with a lower seating position and center of gravity. It is true that the e92 feels "refined" compared to the 997, but the 997 is a more raw sportscar, while still maintaing a very high level of refinement and luxury.

If I didn't need the usable backseat right now, I'd go back to a 997 (or a 987 for that matter now that they are basically as fast as - if not faster than - a 996) in a second.

I completely understand where the OP is coming from...

[attila]

The "power" of any car is very subjective. I was not too impressed with the M3 before I took it to the track. 13.7 milage is, however, not good with predominantly highway driving. I do as the OP 70% highway, 30% city and consistently getting 19.5-21 overall. I have AA ECU tuning, AA exhaust, rpi scoops, MS filter. "I am not driving like granny but keep agression on the track."

[saildoc]

Thanks for all of your input. Sounds like there may be an issue with my car-I will wait to see what happens at the 1200 mile service. I was thinking maybe they set the ECU on "sluggish" during the break-in. I even drove a friends 996 GT3 this weekend. Great engine in that car-kicks you in the back from 3000-6500 rpm.....
I know the 335i is a totally different approach-lots of torque down low-runs out of steam as the revs climb. I was just expecting more zip factor as you go up the tach on the M3....

[bruce.augenstein@comcast.]

Originally Posted by r53s65e90

For 70% highway gas mileage is not as good as expected. You should be getting close to 15 when going with the traffic flow (=don't out accelerate everybody). Give it some time while observing it.

As far as slowness is concerned, my take is that it should not feel slow coming from a 335i unless you stay in truck driver territory (below 2000 - 2500 rpm).

The acceleration component from force at the rear wheels generated by an M3 is greater than that generated by a 335i above 2000-2500 rpm. Below, the M3 has about 90-95% of the acceleration component of the 335i. There are multiple discussions on this in the forum.

So if it feels slower above 2500, check it out (dyno or whatever).

Pretty much anybody who has spent a fair amount of time in both cars in typical street driving feels that the turbo six is more willing than the M3 V8. From my point of view, it's easy to get around the perceived softness of the M variant, though. You just hold the gears awhile longer, and the car awards you with joyous behavior anytime you're on the right-hand side of the tach.

In human terms, the M3 is mildly cranky at 1500 rpm, sullen at 2000, willing at 2500, eager at 3000 and joyous from 4000 to fuel cutoff.

The turbo six is joyous at 1500 all through the mid range, and tends to get a touch of asthma over 6000.

In technical terms, though, the car that is making better power to weight at any time will accelerate faster than the car that is making less power to weight at that same time, and you don't have to bother with calculating torque at the drive wheels. Most often, the M3 will enjoy an advantage because of its steeper gearing (plus the tendency of the driver to wind higher so as to avoid the softness and sample the joy) - but not all the time. Besides, we're not talking asbout a drag race or road race here, but just lazing around.

Bruce

[diononiz]

My last car was a 535i (250 lbs heaver than a 335i) so I have some experiencewith the twin turbo engine. The 535i definately had the kick in the butt boost from around 1500 but I felt it ran out of steam starting at around 5500 rpm. My M3 starts to pull around 3k and goes full steam until 8k. The 535i did feel faster off the line. The shocking thing about the m3 is that when you look down at the spedo you are amazed at how fast you are going. The power curve is much more linear, just a continual pull all the way to redline. The 535i felt like a shove and then a gradual decline of power as the revs increased.

In 80/20 city highway driving I got around 18 MPG in the 535i and I am getting about 15.7 so far in the M3

[spyderco10]

Originally Posted by saildoc

Ok, the car is three weeks old, 450 miles. It is sucking down gas, 13.7mpg total for the distance, yet I am keeping it under 5500 rpm as rec by the windshield sticker. The car feels really sluggish (coming out of a 335i). Is this a typical experience with a fresh motor that needs to seat in? Am I nuts?

Kinda feeling a little let down....

I wish I got that much mileage. I average 12.5

[Hans Delbruck]

Originally Posted by saildoc

Sounds like there may be an issue with my car

The issue is you have a fairly heavy car with not a lot of torque. It's not going to get off the line quickly unless you go directly to the powerband = launch it.

[gettyalex]

Had my M3 for 4 days now, bought it used with 12k on it. I get about 17mpg 70/30 city/highway. It's not slow... >

[Serious]

Sounds like your lugging the engine and using too much throttle at low rpm's.

Rev it.

[gr8000]

Originally Posted by diononiz

The shocking thing about the m3 is that when you look down at the spedo you are amazed at how fast you are going. The power curve is much more linear, just a continual pull all the way to redline.

Absolutely true

[max08e90]

My far fealt like a dog at 450 miles, i'm now at 5,000 and it seems like a whole new machine.

[golemite]

I get 14.3mpg 70% fwy 30% city