Why or why not new F80 M3 / F82 M4?

[Shoney41]

Obviously, a lot of press and related coverage on the new M3/M4. Some interesting news regarding engine, features, etc came out over the past couple of days. I'm just curious why some of you would or, alternatively, would not be interested in these new cars. For me:

Biggest pro: increased torque tied with lower weight
Biggest con: all the phony stuff (rev matching even in a 6MT, active sound, electronic steering)

As always I will delay judgement until I get to drive the new cars, but my gut reaction is that I am glad I got a E92.

[gymtime]

I test drove my car and fell in love with it right away and have a blast driving it. I love the sound. I love the engine. It's plenty fast enough for me for street driving (I don't race my car). I was well aware a new M was coming out but that it would be different.

When the M4 comes out I will schedule a test drive and if it blows me away to the point that it makes my car feel completely obsolete then I'll trade it in but from what I'm seeing so far I don't think it's the car for me

What I like: Lower weight, the rear end, wider
What I don't like: FI, engine sound piped in through the speakers, electronic steering, fart can exhaust sound, longer length, the hood shape

[Longboarder]

For those of us who mod the **** out of our cars, the new M3/4 is a step backwards from a power/engine standpoint. Instead of starting with a 4.0 V8 that revs to 8,350 (although most increase the rev limit to 8,600) and sounds incredible, we are getting an I6 3.0 that revs perhaps to 7,600 that sounds like crap from all the spy vids. And it has a top-mount intercooler that doesn't look like it can handle much more than stock power. Those of us with top-mount intercoolers in other cars (STi's) understand that to get additional power they need to convert to a front-mount. Sure maybe someone can figure out how to "tune" the turbo motor and get maybe 40-50 additional HP however an S/C e9X M3 will destroy it.

EDIT: Just re-looked at the specs from Jason and boost will be set at 18psi from the factory. So pretty much tuning will get you very little HP. Maybe 20 HP. This is NO 335 where BMW set the stock boost (on the n54 motor) at 5-8psi and it is fully capable of handling 14-16psi.

http://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=892746

Remember it takes years for successful development.

Other considerations:

Better brakes in the new M3/4? This is where the e9X performs poorly IMHO however many of us have already upgraded to BBKs.

M3/4 is lighter? Still speculation but don't count on it being that much lighter than the e9X's on the scales. BMW officially weighs cars with a driver, full tank of gas, and some misc stuff in the car. Even if Jason is right that the car weighs 3,300 lbs, add a 180 lb driver, a full tank of gas (16 gals at 5 gal per pound) and some misc stuff and you are at 3,600. Drop in a full Akra titanium exhaust on an e9X M3 and you are possibly lighter than the new M3/4!!

Transmission? Improved 6MT (outgoing one wasn't bad) but on DCT no discernible differences so far.

Handling? Hoping for some improvements but good luck improving on an e9X set up with a proper set of coils, tires and alignment.

If you are going to keep the M3/4 stock and compare it to a stock e9X M3...then the new one will obviously shine.

After my lease is up, I'm moving on to Porsche or Audi. See ya BMW.

Peace.

[Ashley Schaeffer BMW]

M sold out the drivers of previous generations to attract the turdbro crowd who screams for more low end torque and a drag racing M3 that they can race at red lights.

I'll keep my E92 M3 that will sound better, be more fun to drive, and looks better (M4 looks too similar to a M-sport 435i) and not to mention be faster when I supercharge it instead of "upgrading" to an M4.

[Agent-GHQ]

The most significant thing about the ///M4 is the weight to power ratio and a bit better on MPG.

Still, I'm not a fan of V6 engine, twin turbo. I don't like the overall body style with the exception of the roof. The front reminds me of the new Ford Fusion. Glad I purchased the last of the dying breed ///M3 which I'm so proud of. V8 naturally aspirated engine with a balanced body style is just nothing short of a bad-ass!

[Lorde]

Originally Posted by Agent-GHQ

The most significant thing about the ///M4 is the weight to power ratio and a bit better on MPG.

Still, I'm not a fan of V6 engine, twin turbo. I don't like the overall body style with the exception of the roof. The front reminds me of the new Ford Fusion. Glad I purchased the last of the dying breed ///M3 which I'm so proud of. V8 naturally aspirated engine with a balanced body style is just nothing short of a bad-ass!

Inline 6. INLINE!

Last of a dying breed... Biiiig eye roll.

[Lorde]

Originally Posted by Lute

This car is going to be a real performer. But I particularly love this:

TRANSMISSION
•Standard 6 speed manual transmission ◦automatic throttle blips on downshift
◦more compact and quieter than predecessor E90/E92 M3 6 speed
◦26.4 pounds (12kg) lighter
◦carbon fiber friction linings in synchroniser rings
◦dry sump lubrication

This.

[gblansten]

I think I'm getting a BMW X5 50i next spring when my M3 lease is up. I've never indulged the SUV desire. After that I'll pass on the M3/4 unless they get rid of the Active Sound. I will probably wind back up in car along the lines of the M like a Cayman S.

[Ezio]

I wanted a M3 because of the high revving motors. I love the E46 and E92. such a different type of engine from the rest. the way this motor sounds and revs is

now they are making these eco engine that no longer grab my interest. Its not a V8 vs 6 cylinder thing either.

I will not be getting a car for a at least a few years. I will be shocked if i get a M4. i also not feeing the interior

[buildbright]

I think it will surprise people the power people will get with an E85 tune and minor bolt ons. I understand people are upset but these are the same comments the E46 people made when the E9# M3 was detailed.

[Transfer]

Originally Posted by Snig

Inline 6. INLINE!

Last of a dying breed... Biiiig eye roll.

Why the eye roll? It's true.
The new M is great and I would consider it in about 6 years but there is nothing that excites me as much as what my E90 has to offer. We will probably see a hybrid for the generation after F80 so what we have now is unique and something to cherish as an owner and enthusiast for "the race car for the street."

[Spyris]

i wouldn't get first batch of m3/m4 simply because i'll let someone else figure out the bugs first....remember the first group of dct owners who had their tranny flushed and filled with the wrong oil? Also, because I just picked up my e93 and loving it. And I don't want to take the initial depreciation hit...

[nimo]

Eye roll because even a novice Bmw enthusiast would know that inline configuration is the core (history) of BMW of 6 cylinder engines, not a V6.

[Ezio]

Originally Posted by buildbright

I think it will surprise people the power people will get with an E85 tune and minor bolt ons. I understand people are upset but these are the same comments the E46 people made when the E9# M3 was detailed.

no one will be surprised because everyone uses FI motors. Its nothing new.....

its funny. people use to talk about the M3s in a way of throttle response and high revving. know its about how much you can get from a tune.....

its going to take years for people to see the beauty of these past BMW engines. S65, S85 ect

[SD-E93-11]

Originally Posted by Transfer

Why the eye roll? It's true.

People in these parts don't take kindly to folks who aren't up on their B M W history. You're lucky he didn't try to bitch-slap you with a back issue of Roundel.

[scm6079]

I'll consider it - but not for another 2+ years from now. If the interior and seats really are the same as the spy photos I'll pass. Since my m3 is my daily driver, I welcome better mpg and would enjoy the torque (if only it didn't come with so many tradeoffs).

I hate to say it, but I'll definitely be shopping around this generation.

[TTG]

Bec So far the M4 looks really good and I really like its styling.

I will go drive one and if I like it I will order one....simple as that

I don't give crap about where it red lines, how good the brakes are and etc. Just like most M3 owners I don't track my car and M4 will be just a weekend car.

So if it drives nice and offers an amazing package as E92 did it will be a done deal for me.

[Arben72]

I'm going to withhold judgements till it comes up for sale and I can test drive it. I hate the new 4 series interior though and I don't think the 4 series is a looker either, so it better perform amazingly for me to trade for it. The new corvette, and the new cayman s with its wailing engine are in my horizon though, and the new m4 will have some tough competition this time around.

[nimo]

I have both the f30 and e90 chassis, and the f30 is slightly bigger than the e34 size. I'm not sure if I will get used to the m version of the f30 platform. Taking turns at speed while considering the increase width and length will take some time getting used to (conscienously knowing where my car perimeter is to lane position, decrease in buffer). Another issue is while looking out the rear window - it seems like the window shrunk (with its higher rear deck and lower slope window). May be this how some e46 owners felt in the past when the e90 were being released.

My DD F30 is a 328i so I don't intend to drive it like my E90 M3. Hopefully the f80 will have better electric steering than my f30. I wonder would it be like if they put the 4.4l GTS version motor in the f80 as the base motor.

[Lucrecio84]

I'm not sure how I feel about the new M3/M4 yet. Seems a little generic to me. I'm in love with my e92, gonna be tough to replace. I think my next move will most likely be porsche though

[TurboBimmer]

New M4 seems to be alot faster around the Ring (rumours are 7:38), even than the M3 GTS which takes 7:48 for a lap! Standard M3 is 8:05! That should tell alot about the handling capabilities of the M4.

[donovan]

Either way, there will be people who buy this because its the new thing...

I bought the e92 because it was the new thing and it worked well for a bit but the gas mileage was not my fav and it was to heavy for me. I went back to an e46 m3. Best thinga bout the e9x was the engine.