New: BMW M3 E92 Test Drive

IrvRobinson · 03-08-2008, 10:37 PM

Sorry to jump in again guys but I thought I would share with you what my friends at BMW Blog have done. They managed to test drive the new M3 coupe at a dealership in North Carolina.

I thought you might be interested.

BMW E92 M3. It’s a name that already makes most people sweat just thinking of the capabilities. The car is the little brother to the V10 M5 and M6. With two less cylinders and one less liter than the M5/M6 the new M3 still feels just as fast if not faster. The 4.0L V8 making only 414hp and 295lb-ft of torque allows the car to move, and when I say move I mean haul ass. I would know I just test drove a beautiful one today. It was an experience that everyone should have.

At 3704 pounds you would expect a big heavy car. But no, surprisingly the M3 feels like it weighs less than a Corvette at 3217lbs. You get this immediate reassurance once you adjust your seat to just right and grab the incredibly thick, yet perfect steering wheel that this is a car that connects to the driver in order to drive. At low speeds in first gear there is no jerkiness whatsoever, almost as if it were an automatic. The steering is light and precise at low speeds as well. This car is always monitoring what you do with it, and it’s never shy to cruise around. It feels just as nice cruising as it does when flying by.

The new M3 pulls in 6th gear like most cars would pull in 2nd or 3rd. It’s an F16 fighter jet with four wheels and no wings. I was sitting, just cruising at a comfortable 70 or so mph in 6th gear when I decided to push the limits. I pushed the gas to the floor, and at 2000 RPM roughly, the car moved to 100 in nothing. There was no wait, no stall and then “oh, power!” feeling, like there has been in previous BMW’s. 120mph comes up in no time flat. I was doing 110mph in 3rd gear and managed to redline 1st-3rd gears. At one point I said to the salesman sitting next to me that the car felt like it would rip your face off and ask for seconds.

As soon as you hit the EDC to its full racing sensitivity, the M3 hunkers down and focuses more on the task at hand. The steering gets stiffer and the suspension tightens. The car becomes a racecar, ready to tackle the Nürburgring, and you become the driver that connects with it. When driving through tight turns there is no sense that you are going to lose traction, or power for that matter. You feel like you are at one with the road.

Then you touch the brakes to shave off some speed, and they work, whoa, do they work. The cross-drilled rotors help command the M3 to a stop better than most exotics out there. At one point I was flying through a highway off ramp on my way back to the dealership, and first off going through the light turn at 115 mph feels a little quick, and then you hit the brakes to make the stop at the traffic light, and you stop! There is no hesitation for the calipers to grab the rotors as in some cars I have hit the brakes in at high speeds. No the M3 just stops, without any questions asked. It does what it’s told and does it perfectly.

Where the E46 M3 fell short, the E92 M3 shines. It is everything that the E46 M3 was times 10. There is no reason to tell me that you can’t pay the loaded price of $69,745. Where you could argue that the older M3 was a little pricey when comparing its performance to most of its cheaper competition, the E92, you just can’t do it. The price is justified when you first see the car. It has the exotic look of an M6, but with the muscle car look that punches exotics in the face and makes them cry. It’s a 427 Shelby Cobra or 1967 427 Corvette made by BMW ///M. all I can keep saying about this car is that it’s perfect. It is just perfect. Everyone has been asking me how I liked it and what I thought of it and all I can mutter is that it’s just perfect.

Source

JPH · 03-08-2008, 10:51 PM

AT THE END OF THE ABOVE STORY: "Thanks to Chris Newman at Leith BMW for giving me the opportunity to drive the new E92 M3. Unfortunately the E90 M3 was still being serviced, so I could not test that one or take pictures because service was closed. If you have any questions about the E92 M3 that I test drove or any other BMW for that matter, please give Chris a call at 919-876-5444 Ext. 253."

I can't help but wonder if Chris has been fired for allowing this test drive?? Either way, nice story.

M2381 · 03-08-2008, 10:59 PM

Thx for sharing

swamp2 · 03-08-2008, 11:01 PM

Nice abuse, totally against BMW specified break in procedures. NOT.

This is wonderful advertisement to NEVER buy a BMW from Leith BMW.

Ugh.

yungmsix · 03-09-2008, 01:20 AM

have you ever even driven an M5 or M6? their is a big difference between both cars. the M3 is an amazing track car, but faster than an M5/M6? thats a big negative my dude. one is capable of 200MPH with no limiter, the other isnt. 1 adds 100HP the other doesnt. tsk tsk .

RandyB · 03-09-2008, 07:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Laszlo

All the demos will be beat on. Fact of life...

I know what you mean. The one I drove had swirl marks all over it and a thumb mark in the hood just above the roundel. Still, my guy told me to go easy on her because of the low miles and I complied out of respect for the machinery.

ILC32 · 03-09-2008, 07:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by swamp2

Nice abuse, totally against BMW specified break in procedures. NOT.

This is wonderful advertisement to NEVER buy a BMW from Leith BMW.

Ugh.

+1

Really outrageous.

And this was posted by a sales guy at another dealership!

Looks like Motorwerks is another dealer to avoid.

Buschy · 03-09-2008, 07:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yungmsix

have you ever even driven an M5 or M6? their is a big difference between both cars. the M3 is an amazing track car, but faster than an M5/M6? thats a big negative my dude. one is capable of 200MPH with no limiter, the other isnt. 1 adds 100HP the other doesnt. tsk tsk .

I think that the M3 will keep up with the m5/m6 untill about 100 mph or so.
if you don't belive it go find out since you have an M6. I have been in both cars.

IrvRobinson · 03-09-2008, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ILC32

+1

Really outrageous.

And this was posted by a sales guy at another dealership!

Looks like Motorwerks is another dealer to avoid.

you misunderstood

I used to be connected to the guys at BMW Blog before. The editor sent me the article to take a look at it and decided to post it here for everyone to see.

I apologize if that's such a bad thing to do.

Moderator, please feel free to remove the topic.

Thanks

yungmsix · 03-09-2008, 12:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by buschy

I think that the M3 will keep up with the m5/m6 untill about 100 mph or so.
if you don't belive it go find out since you have an M6. I have been in both cars.

Launched awhile ago againts one, when they were testing them. me and the tester went at it. it should be close till its about 100, you are right. but the 0-60 is still noticeable. even a 1/4 mile.

Mini Me · 03-09-2008, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IrvRobinson

I was doing 110mph in 3rd gear and managed to redline 1st-3rd gears. [/IMG]

BMW calls for no full throttle, rpm below 5500 and a max speed of 106 mph for the first 1200 miles.

I did not rev the demo car above 4K on my test drive, it was still a lot of fun.

Tamas

03-08-2008, 10:37 PM	#1
IrvRobinson Banned 39 Rep 731 Posts Drives: X3 Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Chicago iTrader: (0)	New: BMW M3 E92 Test Drive Sorry to jump in again guys but I thought I would share with you what my friends at BMW Blog have done. They managed to test drive the new M3 coupe at a dealership in North Carolina. I thought you might be interested. BMW E92 M3. It’s a name that already makes most people sweat just thinking of the capabilities. The car is the little brother to the V10 M5 and M6. With two less cylinders and one less liter than the M5/M6 the new M3 still feels just as fast if not faster. The 4.0L V8 making only 414hp and 295lb-ft of torque allows the car to move, and when I say move I mean haul ass. I would know I just test drove a beautiful one today. It was an experience that everyone should have. At 3704 pounds you would expect a big heavy car. But no, surprisingly the M3 feels like it weighs less than a Corvette at 3217lbs. You get this immediate reassurance once you adjust your seat to just right and grab the incredibly thick, yet perfect steering wheel that this is a car that connects to the driver in order to drive. At low speeds in first gear there is no jerkiness whatsoever, almost as if it were an automatic. The steering is light and precise at low speeds as well. This car is always monitoring what you do with it, and it’s never shy to cruise around. It feels just as nice cruising as it does when flying by. The new M3 pulls in 6th gear like most cars would pull in 2nd or 3rd. It’s an F16 fighter jet with four wheels and no wings. I was sitting, just cruising at a comfortable 70 or so mph in 6th gear when I decided to push the limits. I pushed the gas to the floor, and at 2000 RPM roughly, the car moved to 100 in nothing. There was no wait, no stall and then “oh, power!” feeling, like there has been in previous BMW’s. 120mph comes up in no time flat. I was doing 110mph in 3rd gear and managed to redline 1st-3rd gears. At one point I said to the salesman sitting next to me that the car felt like it would rip your face off and ask for seconds. As soon as you hit the EDC to its full racing sensitivity, the M3 hunkers down and focuses more on the task at hand. The steering gets stiffer and the suspension tightens. The car becomes a racecar, ready to tackle the Nürburgring, and you become the driver that connects with it. When driving through tight turns there is no sense that you are going to lose traction, or power for that matter. You feel like you are at one with the road. Then you touch the brakes to shave off some speed, and they work, whoa, do they work. The cross-drilled rotors help command the M3 to a stop better than most exotics out there. At one point I was flying through a highway off ramp on my way back to the dealership, and first off going through the light turn at 115 mph feels a little quick, and then you hit the brakes to make the stop at the traffic light, and you stop! There is no hesitation for the calipers to grab the rotors as in some cars I have hit the brakes in at high speeds. No the M3 just stops, without any questions asked. It does what it’s told and does it perfectly. Where the E46 M3 fell short, the E92 M3 shines. It is everything that the E46 M3 was times 10. There is no reason to tell me that you can’t pay the loaded price of $69,745. Where you could argue that the older M3 was a little pricey when comparing its performance to most of its cheaper competition, the E92, you just can’t do it. The price is justified when you first see the car. It has the exotic look of an M6, but with the muscle car look that punches exotics in the face and makes them cry. It’s a 427 Shelby Cobra or 1967 427 Corvette made by BMW ///M. all I can keep saying about this car is that it’s perfect. It is just perfect. Everyone has been asking me how I liked it and what I thought of it and all I can mutter is that it’s just perfect. Source
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03-08-2008, 10:51 PM	#2
JPH Second Lieutenant 20 Rep 254 Posts Drives: E92 M3 Coupe Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Chicago iTrader: (0)	AT THE END OF THE ABOVE STORY: "Thanks to Chris Newman at Leith BMW for giving me the opportunity to drive the new E92 M3. Unfortunately the E90 M3 was still being serviced, so I could not test that one or take pictures because service was closed. If you have any questions about the E92 M3 that I test drove or any other BMW for that matter, please give Chris a call at 919-876-5444 Ext. 253." I can't help but wonder if Chris has been fired for allowing this test drive?? Either way, nice story.
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03-08-2008, 10:59 PM	#3
M2381 Major 32 Rep 1,286 Posts Drives: E92 M3, GTI Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: FL iTrader: (0)	Thx for sharing
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03-08-2008, 11:01 PM	#4
swamp2 Lieutenant General 611 Rep 10,407 Posts Drives: E92 M3 Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: San Diego, CA USA iTrader: (3)	Nice abuse, totally against BMW specified break in procedures. NOT. This is wonderful advertisement to NEVER buy a BMW from Leith BMW. Ugh.
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03-09-2008, 01:20 AM	#5
yungmsix Private 6 Rep 57 Posts Drives: 2006 BMW M6 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: North Hollywood,CA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2006 BMW M6 [9.34] 2007 BMW ALPINA B7 [0.00] 2007 BMW 335i Convert [0.00]	have you ever even driven an M5 or M6? their is a big difference between both cars. the M3 is an amazing track car, but faster than an M5/M6? thats a big negative my dude. one is capable of 200MPH with no limiter, the other isnt. 1 adds 100HP the other doesnt. tsk tsk .
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