initial thrill of the M3

[335rocket]

im test driving it tomorrow

[slimflem]

Originally Posted by 335rocket

see thats what Im worried about, not having that torquey powerful sensation

You'll get over it, trust us, and won't care about your 335 any longer. You'll very quickly realize your speedo has gone up 30 - 40 mph before you even realize it! And yes, it will snap your neck if you want it to. I was playing around the other day in 2nd and 3rd at about 6K and stomping the throttle with quick blips and you will be whiplashed. Where the 335 starts to loose power, the M3 has just started getting to the good stuff. It's all about being in the correct gear at the correct time.

[335rocket]

right, the power is all at the top. I know. Im sure I'll love it

[ersin]

Shit. You've had it on order for how long now? And you're just getting around to test driving one?


Cheers.

[335rocket]

yes thats true. The 335 has that initlai boost of power than kind of dies out

[slimflem]

Originally Posted by ss134

The car does feel powerful - if you drive it as the engine was designed. If you floor it at 2000 rpm it will not feel any faster than your 335 ......but floor it at 5500 and feel the difference betwewen the two cars, and unlike the 335 which pulls hard for a few seconds and then drops off the M3 pulls hard and then seems to pull harder and harder.

Yes, the M3 is a momentum car. The faster you go, the faster you go, the faster you go.

I always keep mine at about 3800 rpm -ish around town and it gives me all I need on the city streets like that.

[slimflem]

Originally Posted by ersin

Shit. You've had it on order for how long now? And you're just getting around to test driving one?


Cheers.

LOL. I didn't even bother test driving my M3 until I was 80% done with buying it. I knew what I was getting.

[ersin]

Ok, here's another little secret: you'll be well rewarded for being smooth with this car. Smooth on the throttle. Smooth on the brakes. Smooth with the steering wheel. Don't expect a punch in the back and then it's all over. Instead, expect the push to just keep getting stronger and stronger and be ready.


Cheers.

[335rocket]

Im just going to have to retrain myself hoe to drive because its a totally different motor. Once I get use to it, Im positive I'll love it much more

[ss134]

Originally Posted by 335rocket

Im just going to have to retrain myself hoe to drive because its a totally different motor. Once I get use to it, Im positive I'll love it much more

It'll take you no time at all - this engine loves to rev, it begs you for it like a dirty woman! - it feels right when youre revving this engine, always felt like i was thrashing the 335i when i revved it to the redline.

[335rocket]

because BMW never has one in stock

[deletedelete]

I didnt feel like the 335 was suppose to be rev'ed high, but i love revving the m. different worlds.

[ss134]

Originally Posted by Prowess Symphony

I didnt feel like the 335 was suppose to be rev'ed high, but i love revving the m. different worlds.

Exactly - and TBH there was no point as you got no extra performance for doing so - total opposite of the M3 in fact.

[Voltigeur]

-

= loss of virginity (or almost depending on the 'catch')

[flpnout]

Originally Posted by Jesal@Project 808

Bingo.

I used to get bored of cars after 6 months but with the M3 it just gets better and better with more miles. I am well past the 1 year with the M3 with no sight of ever dumping it.

I too came from a 335i btw, i think i lasted 7 months with it.

Funny you say that because I have the same problem. I go through so many BMW every 6 months or so. I have had my z4 sdrive35i since november last year and even added dinan stage 2 software, power is great with it and when I had my low pressure fuel pump replaced, the dealership reprogrammed it back with software update and I immediately felt a big difference without the dinan.

Now I have an m3 on order hoping it will satisfy my appetite for power and handling.

[brandons]

Originally Posted by 335rocket

3 years ago when I first picked up my 335 coupe in August 2007, I was 24 years old. I picked up my car from Westchester BMW in New York on a Friday afternoon. I took it on the Bronx River Pkwy in order to get home. I hit the gas in first gear and was amazed by the power/torque. I immediately fell in love with the car. Now 3 years later at 27 years old, I will be driving off with a 2011 M3 coupe in 2 months from the same dealer and taking it on the same roads to get home. Im very much looking forward to that sensation I had taking the 335. But Im thinking that the sensation of driving home the M3 will be times 10!!!

WORD!

I have my 335 vert for coming to 3 years now and just driven the M3 coupe today. It just felt totally amazing! I never had this feeling when I tested the 997.2 Turbo and the TT-Rs and other cars. Its that very balanced feel that makes me love it.

[sor]

I test drove the M3 today, and I agree it's a totally different feel from the 335. The 335 yanks you forward even at low RPM (up to 5500 or so), however the M3 is a beast. DCT is a dream, I love the way it revs when you downshift (maybe it only does this in M mode?), slams you into your seat when you upshift, and how instant and tight everything feels. Didn't even go wild with it, the sound and a few quick runs between stoplights was enough to make me forget my 335 and get an adrenaline rush.

It was interesting, because I test drove an S5 yesterday and decided that I was ready for something new. I'm sold on their look and interior, it was fun to drive, and their s-tronic is also nice. I had all but written off the M3 until I drove it and felt how raw and exciting it is.

At this point I think it will come down to the lease deal I'm offered, not off of payment obviously, since they're in different cost brackets, but just who hits that magical point where I consider a lease to be a good deal for that vehicle.

[335rocket]

did you drive it in a coupe or vert? I drove the vert and was a little disappointed in its performance due to heaviness

[sor]

Coupe, but honestly we never pushed it hard. It had 2500 miles on it, was apparently a 2011, and was a demo unit. I'm certain the vert could do everything we did. I floored it a few times from a stop, no revving, and could tell that it broke loose for a split second when switching gears, really threw you into our seat, that was about the worst of it. Don't get me wrong, I took a hard loop on the freeway and punched it a few times while driving, but I wasn't doing anything that stressed the car at all. As I mentioned in the other thread, I really had to remind myself to keep it up in the sweet spot. I'm used to being coddled by my 335 and I don't really have the skill to make the M3 sing yet. One thing that did help however is that I'm used to manually shifting my steptronic, so the DCT in manual mode felt a little more natural.

I reminded myself of my friend when I let him take my 335 for a spin. He was underwhelmed, but it was because I couldn't get him to shift right. He'd shift it at 2.5k, and when it hit the new gear it would be at 1200 or so and just feel bogged down the whole time. That guy was hopeless.

[DadzM4]

I never test drove one before I bought one and bought mine without driving it first. I loved the 4 previous BMW's and knew that this one was the shit, so no need to drive it first. Kind of like not knowing if your baby is a boy or a girl until it is time to "pop", it was a great feeling to drive it after I bought it and not before.

[M3ryder55]

i have to agree w/ most, the car only gets better as you drive it. I absolutely loved my car when i first got it. And I love it even more 2 months later. Something about this M is truly special. This S65 w/ DCT is truly something special. M3's have been in my family for the past 14 years. Congrats on your purchase. Wait is going to suck

[flpnout]

I ordered one because I enjoyed my initial test drive. I have a cool sales man and he let push the car to the limit and took it to the twisty roads. That is where I was impressed with the ZCP being able to take turns at high speeds and felt so glued to the road. It was very confident. Did not feel so much lean as it does on my Z4. I think that is when I fell in love with the M3, being able to go to the extremes, speed wise in the twisty roads. The power comes on when you are at 5000+ rpm. I will however miss the low power torque from my Dinan Z4 which is very responsive with the Dinan Stage2 at any gear. It tapers off at higher RPM unlike the M3.

It's a hard decision for me. My sales man did not have an issue ordering one even without a deposit since they know I go through so many cars. If I change my mind when it comes in, no biggie for them, as it will sell either way! He thinks once I see the car I ordered in person.....I will not back out.

Most people that buy this type of vehicle are not worried about the gas mileage. That is one thing I will miss from the Z4 if I switch over. When not in flogging mood, I wish it could get a bit better on the gas mileage more so than 20 mpg at cruising. I love both! But there is nothing like an M! What I like most about the Z4 is the looks and torque, but the M3 has all the right moves and is well balanced all around. IMHO, M3 is a great street and track car in one package.