First Drive

[RussianM3_dude]

Steve, is the new M3 louder then the RS4?

[Steved]

Originally Posted by Dammmittt

Yes...the M Roadster is 8:15. Still no official time on the M Coupe (that I've been able to find anyway) except "faster than the M Roadster"

Steved did you ever get a chance to run some laps in the M Coupe at the 'ring? I was in germany with mine for a few weeks but with moving and break in, I never made it. However, if you look at my sigpic closely, you'll see I made it through break in, and to the speed limiter.

I was involved in the original test within EVO (back in March '06) when we compared the Z4M with the Boxster S at the 'ring. I reached the speed limit down the Dottinger Hohe straight.

[Hans Delbruck]

Steved, THANK YOU for all of your comments. You have me very excited about the new M3 and assured that it will be the car I'd hoped it will be, maybe even better.

I hope my local newstands do not sell out of the next issue of EVO. I will definitely be after it!

Thanks again.............

[GregW / Oregon]

I wish to add my thanks to Steved for the firsthand impressions from someone with a good reference base, finally. We appreciate you taking the time to share what you can!

[southlight]

Is there something like a m3post member of the month? My vote goes for SteveD!

Best regards, south

[Ilyam5]

Biggest concern for me is electric steering. I remember driving Z4s and not liking it a bit. I believe that's the reason BMW went with hydrolic steering on MZ4s.

How is m3 steering: feedback, weight, on center feeling. Do multiple settings make it more/less heavy.

BMW has been experimenting with steering on all the models and had quite a few mistakes: revised e46 steering comes to mind, z4 electric steering fiasco, active steering dissaster. So there is some ground for the concern.

[ILC32]

Originally Posted by southlight

Is there something like a m3post member of the month? My vote goes for SteveD!

Best regards, south

Yes, thanks very much Steved!

[SS32]

Thank you so much for this info. Just made my day a WHOLE lot better and I'm even more excited about this car now (not that that helps the wait...).


Do you have any more video of the sound? I saw the one on your photobucket account, but was wondering if you had any more. Also, I'm assuming the video shot for the magazine will be released when the issue comes out? Or is it going to be up on the site earlier?

Edit: well, glad I saw it before you deleted it.

[Drew10]

to Steved.
Here are the cars on their way to Marbella. It gets interesting at the 4:50 mark
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y2n7WeXAfV4&eurl=

[bullitt5897]

Steve,

How would you rate the possible performance capabilities of the new M? By this I mean how much do you believe the aftermarket will be able to accomplish with this package.

Also, was there any brake fade? How did the M handle under hard braking? how well did the gearbox feel running through the gears? did you get to test out the stereo and other lil options as well? if so what was your take on them?

Thanks,

Mike

[Hans Delbruck]

This feels a bit like a celebrity press conference.... all the good questions have been asked, but I want to get one in too, even if it is just a little inconsequential one.....

In your pic of the steering wheel, it looks nice and fat, like the Z4M's... is it the same size on the M3? That was one thing I really liked about my Z4MC !

[Epacy]

One question i think we all would like to know is if while driving the car, did it make you smile, ie. perma-grin?

[mofomat]

Originally Posted by Epacy

Real questions? Sounds like swamp thinks he's the coolest cat around, again. Kind of a dig on everyone else's questions. They are relevant to them, hardly can be termed "not real".
You should know better swamp.



I already asked this question, so does that mean I ask "real" questions?

Well we managed to get to post #57 before somebody started an argument.

[13eastie]

Originally Posted by mofomat

Well we managed to get to post #57 before somebody started an argument.

+1

Imagine if SteveD had actually posted something interesting enough to allow peace to break out for a day or so...

[Steved]

Originally Posted by Ilyam5

Biggest concern for me is electric steering. I remember driving Z4s and not liking it a bit. I believe that's the reason BMW went with hydrolic steering on MZ4s.

That was my concern too. I owned an Alpina Z4 Roadster before my Z4M Coupe and I really hated the EPS system even though Alpina tuned it to be heavier than BMW did on the regular Z4. The M3's system is fine though, nothing like the Z4 and finally BMW have sorted it properly. I doubt M Division would have fitted an electric power steering system to the M3 unless it reached the standard of an M-car.

P.s. I cannot share any videos or pictures since these are for the magazine to publish as they choose. I also need to leave the driving impressions and more comparative detail to the be published in a fortnight's time, it will be a big article in EVO and believe me when I say it will not be 'sugar coated'. You can trust EVO to tell the story as it is. But rest assured this car is good and I can't wait to get back in another one soon.

[Steved]

Originally Posted by Hans Delbruck

In your pic of the steering wheel, it looks nice and fat, like the Z4M's... is it the same size on the M3? That was one thing I really liked about my Z4MC !

Yep, nice and chunky although 'slightly' narrower than the Z4MC.

[Steved]

Originally Posted by Epacy

One question i think we all would like to know is if while driving the car, did it make you smile, ie. perma-grin?

The test was all over too soon, having driven down there in an RS4 I just wanted to stay in the M3 and drive the 1500 miles back home. Those of you driving it for the first time will I'm sure be posting your own stories about how much you smiled on the way home from the dealer.

[Dammmittt]

Hmmm...sounds like when I got my ///M Coupe. Still smiling about it. What I really need to know from a man that owns an M3 CSL and a Z4M Coupe...is what do you consider your "fun" car? It seems crazy to own both to me. I'd walk out to my garage and my head would explode.

Late edit: I guess now that I think about it the CSL would probably be more for the track than anything else...what with the cardboard trunk and lack of amenities such as a radio and a/c. Still a tough choice tho

[NavNurs]

How about a little more on what you didn't like about the car? Did it deliver the thrill of the drive you may have expected? In an effort to make it faster, my fear is they may have insulated the driver too much? While it isn't the quickest car, my S2000 certainly delivers the thrill of the drive. In this vein, does it help flame the passion of driving? Thanks!

[Dammmittt]

Originally Posted by Steved

I was involved in the original test within EVO (back in March '06) when we compared the Z4M with the Boxster S at the 'ring. I reached the speed limit down the Dottinger Hohe straight.

What did you get for lap times...out of curiousity...

[nusevad]

Originally Posted by Steved

The test was all over too soon, having driven down there in an RS4 I just wanted to stay in the M3 and drive the 1500 miles back home. Those of you driving it for the first time will I'm sure be posting your own stories about how much you smiled on the way home from the dealer.

Just thinking about driving it home from the dealer puts a huge grin on my face. It seriously can brighten up my day no matter how shitty the day is going.

[hkj]

Thanks for the excellent first hand infor Steve. I'm totally sold on the new M already. Eagerly awaiting to see the article on EVO.

-hkj