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      03-14-2008, 12:46 AM   #1
Mguy2008
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Question about M3 sedan and coupe

Hi everyone
I am a new member here and want to say hi. Ive been lurking for over a year but since i just ordered my M3 today i decided to join.


I went down and was going to order a E92 but after seeing the E90 and E92 in person side by side I was shocked that I like the E90 alot better. So I ordered the E90. I ordered a
09 E90 AW ecterior, black interior, M DCT, tech pkg, premium pkg, cold weather ,19s. I am waiting for an 09 becasue i refuse to buy a first year BMW. I learned that the hard way.

First question.
I know mechanically and performance wise the 90 and 92 are pretty much identical. But is the suspension on the E90 differently setup in any way to the E92. I searched and couldnt find anything conclusive. most articles dont really say they are the same or different.

The reason why i ask is because back in 1998 i bought a brand new E36 M3 and was going to get the 4 door but after test driving the 2 cars the 4 door had a noticibly softer suspension. After investigating i did find that the 4 door suspension was 3/4 of an inch higher. It was also set up softer and didnt handle as well. So i changed my order to a 2 door. I know you guys are probably gonna say why didnt i just get the 4 door and lower it but i dont like to mod my cars. I will do exhaust, brakes and things like that but especially on an Mcar i dont like touching the suspension in particular. By the way my car will have edc if that makes a difference. If the suspension setups are different i will most likely change my order to a E92.
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      03-14-2008, 05:18 AM   #2
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I believe suspension stiffness/ride height is the same. As far as the chassis goes, I hear the coupe is more "rigid" but seems to be that physics would point out the sedan being more rigid.
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      03-14-2008, 05:54 AM   #3
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The cars are identical in all aspects mechanically. The E92 body shell is 30% (I believe that was the number) than the E90.
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      03-14-2008, 06:46 AM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mkoesel View Post
The cars are identical in all aspects mechanically. The E92 body shell is 30% (I believe that was the number) than the E90.
... is 30% stiffer...
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      03-14-2008, 06:51 AM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by man02195 View Post
... is 30% stiffer...
yes
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      03-14-2008, 08:07 AM   #6
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Not sure, but IIRC the E90 has got a slightly softer suspension than the E92. Didn't experience that by myself but read it in a magazine.


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      03-14-2008, 08:13 AM   #7
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What's the weight difference between the two?
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      03-14-2008, 08:53 AM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cowmoo32 View Post
What's the weight difference between the two?
The sales brochure shows the coupe weighing 22 lbs. less, but it depends which roof you put on each car, all other options being equal. The coupe generally weighs less, but by my math a coupe with a sunroof would actually weigh more than a sedan w/o one...
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      03-15-2008, 04:35 PM   #9
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coupe has lower center of gravity, Ht is almost 2 inches lower than sedan, has CF roof, and has closer to 50-50 wt balance.
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      03-15-2008, 06:00 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cowmoo32 View Post
What's the weight difference between the two?
According to the M3 brochure, 22 lbs. Add a sunroof to the sedan and it would be 56 lbs assuming the sunroof weighs the same on the sedan as it does on the coupe.

"The M3 Coupe's carbon-fiber roof weighs 11 lbs. less than a steel roof and 45 lbs. less than a steel moonroof."
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      03-15-2008, 06:19 PM   #11
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I want the sedan instead of the coupe for practical reasons, plus it just feels less claustrophobic inside. Any convincing that they are virtually the same car is good. I haven't re enough comparing the two.
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      03-15-2008, 06:32 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Hans Delbruck View Post
I want the sedan instead of the coupe for practical reasons, plus it just feels less claustrophobic inside. Any convincing that they are virtually the same car is good. I haven't re enough comparing the two.
It does seem more open in front, I guess the seat sits slightly higher in the sedan. Actually room up front in the coupe is only .1" height and width difference from than the sedan. Best way to compare the two dimensions is the cad illustrations in the back of the brochure. I have not driven either, just sat in both and it does feel like you are sitting lower (just slightly though) in the coupe.

Backseat clearly has more openness in the sedan. Two of the dealers in Phx have Jerez Black Sedans and Coupes side by side so you can really get a good feel between both styles comparing apples to apples in colors.

Last edited by par4bmw; 03-15-2008 at 07:13 PM..
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      03-15-2008, 06:51 PM   #13
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30% stiffer? that's gotta make a huge difference
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      03-15-2008, 06:58 PM   #14
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my guess is a CF roof car is stiffer to than a moonroof car.
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      03-15-2008, 06:59 PM   #15
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but CF is not on all coupes
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      03-16-2008, 11:48 PM   #16
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Thanks for all the feedback. I guess no one really knows if the 2 cars have identical suspension setups or not. If anyone know definitively can you please chime in. Ive searched all over and cant find conclusive answers. And asking the dealer is useless. they are all idiots.
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      03-17-2008, 05:10 AM   #17
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Quote:
The 19s are almost 30 lbs each! Yikes... lead weights.
Does anyone know what the 18s weigh?

That's surprising about the stiffness. I was happy to have the E46 sedan without rear split folding seats since that ended up being the stiffest E46 variant. I thought the E92 coupe would be a slight compromise in comparison to the E90 this time around but wanted it anyways.
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