The M3: Defining a ideal!

[Sedan_Clan]

Many people on the forum make statements (..often anecdotal) about "driving an M3 the way that it's supposed to be driven", but without any type of codification I ask candidly.....

....What does that statement really mean to YOU? How do you truly qualify a statement like that?


It is my opinion that you can't (..or shouldn't attempt to) drive a car like the M3 to its full potential in the absence of a track. I feel similarly about motorcycles which is why I track/race my 848 so often (..as it simultaneously curbs my appetite for speed and minimizes any tendency to drive above the limit on the street). Enlighten me enthusiasts!

[mkoesel]

For me it is keeping the revs up and the engine in the power band (I mean unless you are cruising at a constant speed or in heavy in traffic or something). It also means taking it to redline when accelerating, and pushing it through the twisties with some enthusiasm.

[spmd11]

Originally Posted by mkoesel

For me it is keeping the revs up and the engine in the power band (I mean unless you are cruising at a constant speed or in heavy in traffic or something). It also means taking it to redline when accelerating, and pushing it through the twisties with some enthusiasm.

Having driven mine ED on the autobahn, I'd have to agree with the above in the US. I knew that the car would never be driven like that ever again (won't be taking the vert on the track)

[W Cole]

Drive that luxury sports sedan like it was made to be driven! ...To and from work..?

I think its along the lines of "drive it like you stole it." Just a saying.

[mpbruin108]

if you drive 140mph with only 94 miles on the speedometer, don't you void anything with the warranty and the engine if something goes wrong because you didn't follow the proper break in period restrictions?

[spmd11]

Originally Posted by mpbruin108

if you drive 140mph with only 94 miles on the speedometer, don't you void anything with the warranty and the engine if something goes wrong because you didn't follow the proper break in period restrictions?

Welt employees told me no mph restriction, only rpm.

[mpbruin108]

wow, i wish i knew that when i was breaking in the car..65 in los angeles is brutal when there are no cars around and you drive an M

[-=Hot|Ice=-]

Originally Posted by spmd11

Welt employees told me no mph restriction, only rpm.

I believe the manual says no more then 100 mph during break-in. Please, someone correct me if I am wrong.

[duk]

redline once a day lol

[luis_m3]

Taking it to the Nurburgring...

[spyderco10]

to me it means redlining it when space and speed limit allow. even if this means only in 1st gear. and also not being afraid of taking turns at higher speeds, if conditions allow.

[jonasaurus]

Originally Posted by -=Hot|Ice=-

I believe the manual says no more then 100 mph during break-in. Please, someone correct me if I am wrong.

Correct

[SROC3]

I drive a total of 8 miles a day - 4 miles to work and 4 miles back home. Occasionally another 5 to 10 if I go out that night to meet with friends. In general I RARELY stray from my 10 mile radius of Marina Del Rey, CA. I currently have a 335i and I'm sure when I get my M3 there will be more road trips

How Do I drive it? Very aggressively but I never hit max speeds or top out the Revs (ok, sometimes on the revs, but never hit the limiter ). I have a 6MT so its def much more fun on a daily basis than a DCT equipped car. I think that the biggest diff between an M car and a regular BMW is really the whole "experience". Its not just about max speed, Max G forces, or Max whatever......It's about every little thing the engineers at the M division concocted to give you that singular feeling of being in an M car.

So when i do get my M3 in 6 weeks I will def drive it hard (after the break in period) and enjoy every little ounce of my "smiles per mile" the M car will provide

[positiveions]

take it on a cyn road with no one around, and just unleash the beast

[Prince_of_Persia]

Originally Posted by mkoesel

For me it is keeping the revs up and the engine in the power band (I mean unless you are cruising at a constant speed or in heavy in traffic or something). It also means taking it to redline when accelerating, and pushing it through the twisties with some enthusiasm.

Exactly

[Mr. ///M3 RD]

Originally Posted by spmd11

Welt employees told me no mph restriction, only rpm.

and they be correct in making this statement ....

[spmd11]

Originally Posted by Rolf-Dieter

and they be correct in making this statement ....

Thank you! I had two BMW Welt employees demonstrating the car to me. I made the point to ask them (was one of the questions on my list) about break-in requirements. I told them that there are those on the bimmerpost forum that say BMW has a double standard in that there is a rumor that the German buyers are not required a break-in, but the US buyers are. They both laughed at me and said that this was not true. Then they told me the requirement is for all buyers. Then they proceeded to explain to me that the only requirement is an rpm limit of 5,500 rpm.

So, I asked how fast can I go? And they told me what ever speed I can attain at 5,500 rpm. They also said that the most important item to observe is that I accelerate gently in the beginning miles to accomodate the differential break-in

[klammer]

To me it's driving it like you're wearing it. To me the true beauty of the car is that I can drive it to the track (road trip to road America tomorrow), smoke 80-90% of the cars out there, and take the family out to dinner at nice restaurant, and then wake up the next day and do it again. It's this innate duality to the M that makes it great, that's what makes it phenomenal. Can drive my Mom home from knee surgery and take the twistys home. That's how I use and love my car, but as always "to each, his own"

[Mr. ///M3 RD]

Originally Posted by Sedan_Clan

"driving an M3 the way that it's supposed to be driven"

My SA once said this to me jokingly when he informed me I need 2 new rear tires on my former e46 M3 ... we both smiled and I ordered 2 new rear tires. I did reply to him "yes when I need to like overtaking trucks like slingshot for safety" we both knew what that meant since I told him once how a truck driver fell asleep and almost shoved me over the cliff.

It is my opinion that you can't (..or shouldn't attempt to) drive a car like the M3 to its full potential in the absence of a track. I feel similarly about motorcycles which is why I track/race my 848 so often (..as it simultaneously curbs my appetite for speed and minimizes any tendency to drive above the limit on the street). Enlighten me enthusiasts!

I don't track my car, and I know what it is capable of doing I tested it out on a rented M3 on the autobahn. It is quite a trill. I would never drive the car on a track as I did on the autobahn on a Sunday early afternoon when most Germans are holding there noon sleep (Mittags Schlaf). Almost no traffic so to speak and it was fun.


Bottom line ... I drive this car for safety and I love the sure footed connection and feedback it provides when you have both hands on the wheel. I also respect the power the ///M Division folks have put under the hood.

[immiketoo]

I took mine to the ring. I guess that qualifies

[Sedan_Clan]

All excellent responses!