What is the M3's biggest weakness?

[VCMpower]

Could've should've would've. I think they are as dialed in as needed when in stock trim on 18's.

[3M TAPE]

Originally Posted by andrew918

Torque.

Originally Posted by John Tanglewood

Torrrrrqqqque

Originally Posted by schnell325

Torque.

Originally Posted by Mloyalty

Torque
If it had 400 foot pounds like the next M3, it would have been awesome

Originally Posted by Sam@ModeCarbon

Torque and weight!

Originally Posted by thegeneral101

TORQUE

but with that said, I like the high revving aspect so less torque is fine I guess. Still a weakness in my mind, even though I will gladly put up with it.

Originally Posted by e92livin

Torque, it should have atleast 350-390tq

Originally Posted by RuthlessE90

car should have been a 4.4 liter V8 at least and have 450hp and alot more torque

Bunch of whiners...

[VCMpower]

Have your adaptations reset and let it learn your style.

Originally Posted by SWOT1

I’ve only had my M (’09 E93 DCT) for 3 weeks, but would agree with the occassional jerkiness out of 1st when cold... is this VERY common?

[AlteredBe4st]

Gas mileage, I-drive and that shitty 6spd shifter. Some complain about torque but I think it's a perfect balance for a high reving V8 that has a main purpose for track.

[LarThaL]

Originally Posted by jphughan

Ride height as in too low or too high? I personally find it low enough to feel great cornering while still high enough that I'm not constantly scraping.

As for exhaust, I agree you don't hear a lot of exhaust sound, but you get plenty of intake and engine sound any time you're running more than 50% throttle -- which is kind of cool, lets you have a sleeper car when driving calmly and a monster when driving harder. I haven't looked into aftermarket exhausts, but if more exhaust noise would mean hearing less of the sweet intake and engine noise, I'm not sure I'd want that tradeoff.

I tend to agree. I was convinced I needed to change the exhaust out, but after installing an AA green filter, the engine note is so intoxicating, that I am okay with the overall effect. And for when I am cruising, it's nice and quiet and I can hear my music.

[Trip3's]

The only thing that really bothers me about the car is the 6MT.....vague clutch feel, notchy 1-2 shift, and super long throws. The clutch spring removal and clutch stop help this, but IMO it's piss poor stock. Apparently the SSK's for this car aren't worth it (and yes I changed out the knob to the
F10 one). PLEASE do not tell me that there is a special way to shift either. I shouldn't have to "finesse" it into 2nd for God's sake.

[ms372]

the M button not adding 100hp like in the e60 m5

[Vic311]

Originally Posted by Trip3's

The only thing that really bothers me about the car is the 6MT.....vague clutch feel, notchy 1-2 shift, and super long throws. The clutch spring removal and clutch stop help this, but IMO it's piss poor stock. Apparently the SSK's for this car aren't worth it (and yes I changed out the knob to the
F10 one). PLEASE do not tell me that there is a special way to shift either. I shouldn't have to "finesse" it into 2nd for God's sake.

Absolutely nothing wrong with 6MT in stock form imo..you probably need more practice driving it.

[ms372]

Originally Posted by Vic311

Absolutely nothing wrong with 6MT in stock form imo..you probably need more practice driving it.

+1

[LarThaL]

Originally Posted by Trip3's

The only thing that really bothers me about the car is the 6MT.....vague clutch feel, notchy 1-2 shift, and super long throws. The clutch spring removal and clutch stop help this, but IMO it's piss poor stock. Apparently the SSK's for this car aren't worth it (and yes I changed out the knob to the
F10 one). PLEASE do not tell me that there is a special way to shift either. I shouldn't have to "finesse" it into 2nd for God's sake.

I have been driving manuals my entire driving life. I love the clutch. From day one, I found it very easy to use and modulate. The shifter felt a little rubbery when new, but now it just feels light and slides like butter. IMO, it is very easy to pull off lightening fast shifts in this car. Yes, the shifter could be better weighted, but I am really just fine with it.

[thekurgan]

Interior build quality. The overuse of fisher-price plastic everywhere against sheet metal and other fisher-price plastic is ridiculous.

[Trip3's]

Originally Posted by Vic311

Absolutely nothing wrong with 6MT in stock form imo..you probably need more practice driving it.

I respectfully disagree, even if I sucked at driving manual I should be able to pull the stick into a gate (2nd) smoothly without noise or friction. BTW from my research I'm not alone in this opinion. I CAN put it into 2nd smoothly but it involves pulling from 1st to neutral and then "pushing" it into 2nd with my fingers.

[urBan_dK]

Originally Posted by Trip3's

I respectfully disagree, even if I sucked at driving manual I should be able to pull the stick into a gate (2nd) smoothly without noise or friction. BTW from my research I'm not alone in this opinion. I CAN put it into 2nd smoothly but it involves pulling from 1st to neutral and then "pushing" it into 2nd with my fingers.

I find people that don't know what they're missing won't think twice about the M3 clutch and shifter.

For those people, try driving an S2000 with a true direct linkage to the transmission and then tell me the M3 does not leave a lot to be desired in this area.

[LarThaL]

Originally Posted by thekurgan

Interior build quality. The overuse of fisher-price plastic everywhere against sheet metal and other fisher-price plastic is ridiculous.

Are you kidding? It isn't a Bentley, but for it's price point, the grade of interior materials is superb, IMO, especially with extended leather. The plastics are also nicely textured and non-brittle.

What are you comparing to?

[S65V8]

The M3 ZCP would of been ideal with...
-500 pounds less
-Less of a fender gap stock, and sitting on 255 F / 295 R
-A tad better ECU calibration (similar to ESS tune)

I love everything else pretty much. I actually think the exhaust note on WOT (especially with the car broken in), sounds pretty darn good. I love that pure / raw sounding engine induction pitch. The torque I think is fine and extremely fun and truly usable on the track, once you get the ESS Tune, you're pretty much good to go.

[AshyLarryMP]

Originally Posted by ms372

the M button not adding 100hp like in the e60 m5

I want that.

[ONEOF40 FS M3]

Originally Posted by urBan_dK

I find people that don't know what they're missing won't think twice about the M3 clutch and shifter.

For those people, try driving an S2000 with a true direct linkage to the transmission and then tell me the M3 does not leave a lot to be desired in this area.

Very good point on the S2K direct linkage...that's ultimate shifting...

[Chriskm3]

Recently a friend of mine got a ess550 sc kit installed. The way the care drove afterwards is the away it should have come from the factory. Oem feel under 6000 rpm and massive pull anything over. A great balance between daily driver and a race toy.
Ps. For those who complain about the gas consumption- common. U drive a v8. What did u expect.

[duk]

weight

[Mr. ///M3 RD]

Originally Posted by LarThaL

We all know what a great overall car it is, but if you had to pick one weak point, what is it?

My vote: Undersized tires. Needs 255/295 stock IMO.

My point would be ... it's addictive

[Hurricane]

The exhaust. It's too tame. I think the OEM exhaust mods many members have done sounds fantastic. I wish the car had that sound from the factory.

[Mr. ///M3 RD]

Originally Posted by Trip3's

I respectfully disagree, even if I sucked at driving manual I should be able to pull the stick into a gate (2nd) smoothly without noise or friction. BTW from my research I'm not alone in this opinion. I CAN put it into 2nd smoothly but it involves pulling from 1st to neutral and then "pushing" it into 2nd with my fingers.

I too respectfully disagree with Vic311, the gear box on the m3 is nothing like it when I compare it to the smooth shifting of our still running strong e28 545is having 5 gears. Shifting the 535is is as smooth as it gets, nothing like the e92 m3 and I drove two MT m3's before I switched to the DCT. Something happen between BMW's MT between 1987 to 2011 - 2012.