Some first hand observations(long)

[SCBMW02]

Have seen some posts with comments like "car does not feel as fast as the E46" "car doesn't sound great" "numb steering" "rubbery shifter" etc. I posted the following on another thread, but thought I would repost it for those that might not have seen it. Sorry for the repitition. I know some comments have come from the Ultimate Drive in Miami, and sure this is subjective, but I doubt they drove the car quite like I did.

I spent 3 days last October driving the new car on the Nurbergring F1 track and got to ride a lap of the 13 mile Noreschleife flat out with one of our German instructors.(by the way you do go airborne at phlantzgarten like the old 3.0CSL poster!)I have owned E36 and E46 M3's and have driven both on the track. Let me just say this car blows them both away in every way! Yes don't sweat BMW's numbers, they don't want to hurt the feelings of the M5 and M6 but R & T got 0-60 in 4.1, 1/4 mi in 12.5 and 0.98g of grip.

Forget the weight issue. This car feels much lighter than the E46. We did numerous excercises with the car including threshold braking, timed track sections, autocross, skidpad and a ton of hot laps on the full F1 track. Understeer? Forget it. You can toss this thing with ease. It is perfectly balanced and changes directions with a flick of the wheel. Acceleration is brutal and braking is pure M3, though we were using race compound pads.
Steering was a tad light, but I think this is overblown and it felt pretty good in the 140 mph sweeper. Tidbit, one of the German guys liked to run in normal suspension mode because it adapts to changing loads, whereas in sport mode it is fixed which may not be the best setup in all sections. You will have to play with M drive and find what you like best.

Sound. The video from our friend in Austrailia is pretty darn good, but it still does not do justice to the sound of this thing at full song in person. This is no GM V8, more an F1 or GTR. I am sure there will be aftermarket toys for those who need to draw more attention ( I had a Borla on my E46)

Shifter. I am not sure what rubbery feels like but this feels like it has shorter throws than the E46 and I had no complaints. We did not have DCT and to be honest I am staying with the 6 speed as I prefer to heel and toe and don't need "auto" mode EVER! I drove SMG on the track and it is certainly cool there, but I just found it clunky in real world driving. DCT will be better so for those that want the Nick Heidfeld experience you probably won't be disappointed.

Looks are subjective, and I think the E46 is awesome, but it looks dated next to this. The fenders are flared and the 19's are my preference. I don't care for the wheels and tire rack already has a bunch for this car.

Bottom Line. This car is sick,much more sports car than the E46, including the comp pkg. It is quite simply the perfect GT, for me anyway. No offense to those that drove it in Miami or to others outside the US that have it already. I just thought I would share what this car is like when driven like it was made to be.

PS If you ever get the chance to go ride the 'ring with one of our fantastic German instructors do it. Nothing like having him point out the spot where Niki Lauda crashed in 1976 while doing over 100mph! I am still smiling.

[ToddMcF2002]

Great post. Especially the part about DCT

[NavNurs]

Thanks for your post! It is always nice to hear from someone with more experience than stoplight to stoplight!

[the_stranger]

Nice write up. Thanks a lot. Thats really positive.

[batchelorc]

Oh man I can't wait!

[lucid]

This kind of write-up makes the wait even more painful!!!!!!

[TheRealDC]

SC - Couldn't agree with you more. I discussed the steering issue in my first review when I collected my car last September. It is light, but not necessarily any worse than my E46. Understeer is not an issue. Very controllable. But, one thing you have omitted is that over the last 1000rpm the sound changes dramatically. The tone of the exhaust from 7000rpm onwards is very special. It trully becomes a race car from 7000rpm onwards. As a huge fan of the e46, I have to say that I am deeply impressed by the E92. I have absolutely no regrets about paying over $20000 more than I paid for the previous car. Its SO worth it!!



DC

[nusevad]

Great write up, love the positive words!

[SCBMW02]

The sound of this car coming down the straight at the 'ring was race car all the way. Can't wait to get mine, it has been a long wait since I got back from Germany.

[!Xoible]

@ OP - you are my favorite person for the entire day. unless the secretary agrees to blow me today

awesome review

[!Xoible]

Originally Posted by TheRealDC

SC - Couldn't agree with you more. I discussed the steering issue in my first review when I collected my car last September. It is light, but not necessarily any worse than my E46. Understeer is not an issue. Very controllable. But, one thing you have omitted is that over the last 1000rpm the sound changes dramatically. The tone of the exhaust from 7000rpm onwards is very special. It trully becomes a race car from 7000rpm onwards. As a huge fan of the e46, I have to say that I am deeply impressed by the E92. I have absolutely no regrets about paying over $20000 more than I paid for the previous car. Its SO worth it!!



DC

<note to self: always drive at 8000 rpm. i.e. go to work all the way in first gear >

[SS32]

I can never read too many good things about this car. Great writeup.

[swamp2]

Great information, thanks.

Ruff, Bruce A. - are you reading?

By the way Ruff, how is the decision coming, do you have your choice made yet? I'm quite curious. What about you Bruce, I don't think I recall you stating if you are seriously considering a E9X M3?

[par4bmw]

Thanks for the write-up!

I have to wait a yr for my lease to run out and reviews like this sure make that wait tough.

[Voltigeur]

Enjoyed the read - thanks for taking the time!

'09 it's Nordschleife for me!

[dillon733]

Originally Posted by SCBMW02

Have seen some posts with comments like "car does not feel as fast as the E46" "car doesn't sound great" "numb steering" "rubbery shifter" etc. I posted the following on another thread, but thought I would repost it for those that might not have seen it. Sorry for the repitition. I know some comments have come from the Ultimate Drive in Miami, and sure this is subjective, but I doubt they drove the car quite like I did.

I spent 3 days last October driving the new car on the Nurbergring F1 track and got to ride a lap of the 13 mile Noreschleife flat out with one of our German instructors.(by the way you do go airborne at phlantzgarten like the old 3.0CSL poster!)I have owned E36 and E46 M3's and have driven both on the track. Let me just say this car blows them both away in every way! Yes don't sweat BMW's numbers, they don't want to hurt the feelings of the M5 and M6 but R & T got 0-60 in 4.1, 1/4 mi in 12.5 and 0.98g of grip.

Forget the weight issue. This car feels much lighter than the E46. We did numerous excercises with the car including threshold braking, timed track sections, autocross, skidpad and a ton of hot laps on the full F1 track. Understeer? Forget it. You can toss this thing with ease. It is perfectly balanced and changes directions with a flick of the wheel. Acceleration is brutal and braking is pure M3, though we were using race compound pads.
Steering was a tad light, but I think this is overblown and it felt pretty good in the 140 mph sweeper. Tidbit, one of the German guys liked to run in normal suspension mode because it adapts to changing loads, whereas in sport mode it is fixed which may not be the best setup in all sections. You will have to play with M drive and find what you like best.

Sound. The video from our friend in Austrailia is pretty darn good, but it still does not do justice to the sound of this thing at full song in person. This is no GM V8, more an F1 or GTR. I am sure there will be aftermarket toys for those who need to draw more attention ( I had a Borla on my E46)

Shifter. I am not sure what rubbery feels like but this feels like it has shorter throws than the E46 and I had no complaints. We did not have DCT and to be honest I am staying with the 6 speed as I prefer to heel and toe and don't need "auto" mode EVER! I drove SMG on the track and it is certainly cool there, but I just found it clunky in real world driving. DCT will be better so for those that want the Nick Heidfeld experience you probably won't be disappointed.

Looks are subjective, and I think the E46 is awesome, but it looks dated next to this. The fenders are flared and the 19's are my preference. I don't care for the wheels and tire rack already has a bunch for this car.

Bottom Line. This car is sick,much more sports car than the E46, including the comp pkg. It is quite simply the perfect GT, for me anyway. No offense to those that drove it in Miami or to others outside the US that have it already. I just thought I would share what this car is like when driven like it was made to be.

PS If you ever get the chance to go ride the 'ring with one of our fantastic German instructors do it. Nothing like having him point out the spot where Niki Lauda crashed in 1976 while doing over 100mph! I am still smiling.

+100000000 on everything!

[cosmos515]

Great write up, thanks.