M3 press introduction

[swamp2]

Originally Posted by Steved

What '10 day out'?

Hmmm, from your previous post here in this very thread dated June 18.

Originally Posted by Steved

I will be driving the M3 in less than 10 days from now.

When I read that I did not realize you just posted it yesterday (6/18/07). Is your drive still 10 days out 6/28?

[MisterBMW]

Originally Posted by SCOTT26

Hey just as I announced . Please do not attempt to Gatecrash - It is not open to the public - BMW has very effective security.

There is no such thing as 'mission impossible'

[M3onTwomps]

Wonderful news!

[Steved]

Originally Posted by swamp2

When I read that I did not realize you just posted it yesterday (6/18/07). Is your drive still 10 days out 6/28?

I would rather not be too precise in case some enterprising enthusiast tries to intervene in the proceedings, and the invitation to the event is supposed to be confidential. I can say that it is more than a few weeks earlier than predicted.

[swamp2]

Originally Posted by Steved

I would rather not be too precise in case some enterprising enthusiast tries to intervene in the proceedings, and the invitation to the event is supposed to be confidential. I can say that it is more than a few weeks earlier than predicted.

Great, thanks for the update. You are one lucky bastard. I think it is also GREAT news of ANY accelerations of any schedules. Seems any such accelerations should trickle down to getting me a darn car a touch earlier than current guesstimates. Let us know what you can ASAP after and ENJOY!

[ruff]

Originally Posted by Steved

Ok, just to update you guys, the above information is not correct. The press launch will be earlier, which means you will be reading proper first drive reports in around 4 weeks time.

We will be heading off in just a few weeks for the launch and whilst I will not produce a write-up so you will need to read it when published in EVO magazine, but I will be able to let you know if it is a or a and of course answer factual questions.

I will aim to assess if the true M3 DNA remains intact in its migration to V8 power, if the extra weight makes it more of a GT car and whether the hardcore E46 M3 driver is likely to want one. I will of course be drawing a comparison with both the E46 M3 and its main competitor, so watch this space.

Only 4 weeks and you will know the answer...

Be careful of BMW's effective security. Sounds like a very dangerous mission indeed. Please post answers to these questions the day of your drive. You would be crowned King of M3 post.

[Steved]

Since EVO is a monthly, there will be other magazines which will publish their reviews earlier, but keep the questions coming and I will try and answer them.

p.s. I am also taking a high quality camcorder along with a camera mount and hope to get a darn sight better videos than you've seen thus far.

[Hans Delbruck]

Steve, can you bring along your E46 CSL and organize a little "competition" ?

[Steved]

Originally Posted by Hans Delbruck

Steve, can you bring along your E46 CSL and organize a little "competition" ?

I would have liked to, but I'm driving something else down there..

Btw, the journey down there will be 1500 miles for me, so I should have a pretty sound baseline to compare the M3 against.

[ItalianStallion]

Acceleration is very important to me. 0-60 times and 1/4 mile ET's and Trap Speeds.

Also let us know how it compares to a 335i and (if possible) a chipped 335i. How does it compare to the M5 and M6? Porsches? E46 M3?

Is the lack of low end torque very noticable or does it rev so quickly that its in its powerband right away?

Thanks a lot, you're the man!

[bullitt5897]

Imagine the same characteristics in the E46 M3 how fast did it get into the powerband with a low 262 lbs of torque? pretty damn quick and it had a large powerband! I would expect this new engine to behave similarly as this is the performance bar they have set themselves to be.

[lucid]

Originally Posted by Steved

** If you list down all the aspects you would like to know, then I will take these with me and try and answer you all when I get back **

1. If you can get anything out of BMW on hp at the wheels, that would be great. (Someone recently posted an article claiming 93% of the crank power is available at the wheels on the M5, and people are expecting the same on the M3. I am highly suspicious of that figure).

2. If you can get anything out of BMW on US pricing, that would also be great. Half of the threads on this forum degenerate into a US pricing discussion, and maybe we can end (or further fuel) that?

Thanks!

[ILC32]

I suspect you will not be given the opportunity to do any objective instumented testing. So I would like to know the following subjective info:

Would you buy the car? If not, why not?

Has it become too much of a GT in your opinion?

How does the car feel in comparison to the E46 M3 and RS4?

Is the DSG gearbox still on track for March 2008 deliveries?

Are the brakes adequate for track-day use?

Is the car stable under hard braking from high speed (IMHO the E46 M3 is fantastically stable in this situation)?

Do you prefer the EDC or the standard suspension, and why?

How useful is M Dynamic mode?

How instrusive is the DSC when in its least restrictive setting?

Sounds like a great opportunity. Have fun and thanks for any info you can provide!

[Steved]

Thanks. All good points. I will try and gain answers to all these questions, not least becuase it will make the article we publish in EVO all the more relevant to the readership.

p.s. I will also ask about the timing of future versions (sedan, cab, CSL, touring) and any details of the 'Ring time.

[lucid]

Originally Posted by Steved

Thanks. All good points. I will try and gain answers to all these questions, not least becuase it will make the article we publish in EVO all the more relevant to the readership.

p.s. I will also ask about the timing of future versions (sedan, cab, CSL, touring) and any details of the 'Ring time.

No, no, no, if you get answers to all those questions, what would we speculate/fight about until September; that type of information would surely bring the forum to a halt!

Have fun with the M3.

[ILC32]

Any news yet?

[Steved]

Originally Posted by ILC32

Any news yet?

We will be travelling out this coming weekend.

[ILC32]

Originally Posted by Steved

We will be travelling out this coming weekend.

Great. Thanks.

[bullitt5897]

so Steve this means we get to hear your review either this weekend or next week?

If so... HAPPY DAY!!!!

[nusevad]

Originally Posted by ILC32

I suspect you will not be given the opportunity to do any objective instumented testing. So I would like to know the following subjective info:

Would you buy the car? If not, why not?

Has it become too much of a GT in your opinion?

How does the car feel in comparison to the E46 M3 and RS4?

Is the DSG gearbox still on track for March 2008 deliveries?

Are the brakes adequate for track-day use?

Is the car stable under hard braking from high speed (IMHO the E46 M3 is fantastically stable in this situation)?

Do you prefer the EDC or the standard suspension, and why?

How useful is M Dynamic mode?

How instrusive is the DSC when in its least restrictive setting?

Sounds like a great opportunity. Have fun and thanks for any info you can provide!

These are great questions~ Exactly what i would ask!

Cant wait for the responses!~

[Steved]

See you guys next week. I am off in a few hours to drive down through England, France and Spain to the press launch. I will use 2 days to get there and then spend 2 days driving the E92 M3. The schedule is pretty packed and hopefully there will be plenty of sun when we get there.

Just to set your expectations, I cannot write a review as soon as I get back, that's for the magazine, but I will be able to give you some factual answers. We have filming equipment with us, and although I had intended to take the weighing scales with us it looks like we will have to leave them behind.

It should be fun!

[mofomat]

Have a good trip Steve. Looking forward to hearing as much as possible when you get back.