M3 7 day Euro Delivery Trip

[acevo8]

Awesome write up, and great pics!

I did a similar journey as yours but compressed more points into the same time frame. Had to cancel a trip to the Swarovski museum in Innsbruck due to missing my factory tour the day of my delivery. My fiance was willing to skip the Swarovski museum so that we can go to the BMW factory tour the next day. I secretly think she's plotting to make another trip there in the near future, but I have no complaints if that is the case I know this is a BMW forum, but do you any additional pics of your tour at Innsbruck? Would like to see some of the stuff I missed out on, the ones you've included look great!

Good luck on the wait time, it's brutal, but the time will come soon enough.

[GotE46M]

Great read! Congrats on the new car.

[kdbryce]

congrats on your awesome trip!

[avsbmw]

So how are you enjoying the M3 compared to the M coupe? Looks like a fantastic trip!

[Its_lobelt]

Thanks for sharing. BTW for a second there I thought you looked like Lewis Hamilton minus the hair lol.

[03BeastCharmer]

Thanks for all the comments. It was a great trip, and I'm glad you enjoyed the read.

Originally Posted by avsbmw

So how are you enjoying the M3 compared to the M coupe? Looks like a fantastic trip!

I didn't fully break in the M3 yet, so I can't do a full performance comparison except for my experiences in other E92 M3s. I can say that every generation of ///M I have driven has to be manged differently.

Note: These are only my personal opinions. I am not a professional driver or journalist, so others may have different experiences.

E30 M3 - A hoot around town and at low speeds. Must manage momentum (try to never brake). Great visibility, and a basic cockpit (no stability control, direct feedback). Buzzy engine at highway speeds, and is now slower than modern hot hatches.

E36 M3 - Still very light, more power, better at highways, great for track use (17 inch wheels and low curb weight ) Less rearward visibility compared to the E30. Still gets pretty good gas mileage! As a daily, I miss some of the safety features and stereo controls on the steering wheel and unlocking the doors without the key.

E39 M5 - Monster motor, great handling, and torque so that you don't have to always shift or rev out each gear. The last of the great old school M5's. E60 is too tech laden, and the new M5 is the size of a 7 series, so I think it's getting a little too big. Started my love affair with ///M motors, and a major factor in wanting an E92 with the V8 engine. Great car on the street or occasional HSDE, but not good for low speed autocross where it can't hide it's weight.

E60M5/E63 M6 (From ///M School only) - SMG was not smooth enough and needed more development. M5 was much more of a drivers car than the M6. M6 confused me as it didn't drive nearly as well as the M5, so as a pure autobahn blaster, I think all you would need is a 650i. Coming from 400hp in the E39, I could not see being able to use 500 hp. E60 M5 redefined quick! Terrible gas mileage.

E86 M Coupe - Old school sports car. Sitting over the rear axle you feel exactly what the rear tires are doing. Short wheel base means it will snap on you quickly. Required lots of practice on the wet skid pad to get the feel of the rear end to be able to mange it. S54 motor needs to be reved to be enjoyed (this was the biggest shift I had from driving the E39). The steering rack in that car was my favorite from a driving perspective as you really never needed to move your hands from 10 and 2 even on a tight autocross course. Visibility was terrible out the sides or rear, and the car truly felt like it was shrink wrapped around you. The seats hugged you, you could sit low so you felt in the car, not on the car. Small car was difficult for a week long road trip to Alabama for Ofest. Such a classic exterior, similar to old school Ferrari's. The glove box is a joke. I'm not should you could even fit a pair of driving gloves it in. I do miss that car.

E92 M3 - Puts me back in a 400 Hp V8 ///M car!!! DCT is a massive step forward from the SMG on track and on the streets. So far has a heavy steering feel, with feedback somewhere less than the M Coupe. More room, so I can bring some friends or pack more stuff for Ofest '13 at Leguna Seca Hoping the different shift, suspension, steering settings will allow for the duel personality of daily use and weekend hooligan. Amazing grip but less feedback than the M Coupe. Good visibility out the back. Better all round car for me, but I don't think it will be as fun at autocross events as the M Coupe, so the E36 may take on some of those duties. The car makes 80 mph feel like 60. It just feel planted (helped by higher weight) at speed. Also from a long trip comfort level I felt better getting out the M3 after 7 hours of driving than I did in the M Coupe.

New M5/M6 - ??? haven't' driven.

[NoM3ForMe]

This write-up is the best I have ever read. In point of fact, I just finished re-reading it for the ninth time.

[///Machine]

Great write-up. Awesome car. The happy face looking at the car for the first time should make it to family album, BMW brochures, etc...
On a funny note, I might need to ask my wife to call your wife in a few months - it will be time to for a change in the stable. Maybe they connect and your wife can give a few pointers. j/k.
But having the whole-hearted support of your spouse in these moments is priceless. Enjoy in good health!

[Dre01SS]

Originally Posted by Darth One

I enjoyed reading this. your expression of pure joy during the delivery day made me smile

Ditto

Best pic... says it all:

[datbimmerdoe]

excellent ed journal! congrats n thx 4 sharin

[Detroit M3]

Great pictures man, congrats on the car! Thanks for sharing the experience.

[IMG]

Congrats and great write up with awesome pics ,Seems like you had a blast

[jmgM3]

Thanks for the nice post. ED is definitely on my bucket list.

[Jaypod]

Awesome! Congrats!

Thanks for sharing!

[Blindside_137]

Just plain awesome!

I love your still plays with cars shirt haha. And I'm not a fan of the FSU hat! I'm a Wake Forest Alum and you guys put quite the beating on us in football last week haha.

[StevenY.]

Congrats! What a nice experience. Would like to experience this one day.

[robots_are_neon]

Pics are down

[M3roar]

THIS IS EPIC!!!

WELCOME to the e92m gang my old friend!

... will you come out to any M Club track events?

[mapezzul]

Originally Posted by 03BeastCharmer

Thanks for all the comments. It was a great trip, and I'm glad you enjoyed the read.



I didn't fully break in the M3 yet, so I can't do a full performance comparison except for my experiences in other E92 M3s. I can say that every generation of ///M I have driven has to be manged differently.

Note: These are only my personal opinions. I am not a professional driver or journalist, so others may have different experiences.

E30 M3 - A hoot around town and at low speeds. Must manage momentum (try to never brake). Great visibility, and a basic cockpit (no stability control, direct feedback). Buzzy engine at highway speeds, and is now slower than modern hot hatches.

E36 M3 - Still very light, more power, better at highways, great for track use (17 inch wheels and low curb weight ) Less rearward visibility compared to the E30. Still gets pretty good gas mileage! As a daily, I miss some of the safety features and stereo controls on the steering wheel and unlocking the doors without the key.

E39 M5 - Monster motor, great handling, and torque so that you don't have to always shift or rev out each gear. The last of the great old school M5's. E60 is too tech laden, and the new M5 is the size of a 7 series, so I think it's getting a little too big. Started my love affair with ///M motors, and a major factor in wanting an E92 with the V8 engine. Great car on the street or occasional HSDE, but not good for low speed autocross where it can't hide it's weight.

E60M5/E63 M6 (From ///M School only) - SMG was not smooth enough and needed more development. M5 was much more of a drivers car than the M6. M6 confused me as it didn't drive nearly as well as the M5, so as a pure autobahn blaster, I think all you would need is a 650i. Coming from 400hp in the E39, I could not see being able to use 500 hp. E60 M5 redefined quick! Terrible gas mileage.

E86 M Coupe - Old school sports car. Sitting over the rear axle you feel exactly what the rear tires are doing. Short wheel base means it will snap on you quickly. Required lots of practice on the wet skid pad to get the feel of the rear end to be able to mange it. S54 motor needs to be reved to be enjoyed (this was the biggest shift I had from driving the E39). The steering rack in that car was my favorite from a driving perspective as you really never needed to move your hands from 10 and 2 even on a tight autocross course. Visibility was terrible out the sides or rear, and the car truly felt like it was shrink wrapped around you. The seats hugged you, you could sit low so you felt in the car, not on the car. Small car was difficult for a week long road trip to Alabama for Ofest. Such a classic exterior, similar to old school Ferrari's. The glove box is a joke. I'm not should you could even fit a pair of driving gloves it in. I do miss that car.

E92 M3 - Puts me back in a 400 Hp V8 ///M car!!! DCT is a massive step forward from the SMG on track and on the streets. So far has a heavy steering feel, with feedback somewhere less than the M Coupe. More room, so I can bring some friends or pack more stuff for Ofest '13 at Leguna Seca Hoping the different shift, suspension, steering settings will allow for the duel personality of daily use and weekend hooligan. Amazing grip but less feedback than the M Coupe. Good visibility out the back. Better all round car for me, but I don't think it will be as fun at autocross events as the M Coupe, so the E36 may take on some of those duties. The car makes 80 mph feel like 60. It just feel planted (helped by higher weight) at speed. Also from a long trip comfort level I felt better getting out the M3 after 7 hours of driving than I did in the M Coupe.

New M5/M6 - ??? haven't' driven.

Awesome ED and great synopsis of the M models- The Z3 M coupe you should look into getting some time in, that is the twitchiest most difficult/raw M car I have ever experienced. The F1X M models are completely different in every regard from every previous M car, much more dual mode and much more compliant than they aught to be.

Sorry you got held up in traffic, its has been the summer from hell in that regard especially the A9.

You'll love the E92, it is a great DD. Are you getting the CF rear spoiler, I noticed the lip delete (which looks different).

-M

[Swiss Chris]

Nice write up and nice car ! ;-)

When I saw your car at the Ring, I told my friends "we will be on Bimmerpost once more, for sure !"

And here we are...

The M3 GTS from Switzerland is mine ;-)

[Gjm127]

thanks for the amazing read!

[wontonbomb]

Congrats on the new M! Thanks for sharing your experience!