M3 EV Concept Poll: What’s Holding You Back?

[W2k]

Originally Posted by Car-Addicted

"Summit Point Motorsports Park in West Virginia explicitly prohibits the use of all-electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrid electric vehicles in motorsports activities on its track surfaces."

Very few tracks allow EV's. Leave your M3i charging in the garage.

This post won't age well.

The reason some (many, even) tracks don't allow EVs, even PHEVs, is because there are different fire safety regulations for EV motorsports and there isn't enough of a critical mass of drivers yet for the tracks to justify paying for the required changes. In other words, it's a matter of time. Probably quite a short one as very high performance BEVs and PHEVs are all but normalized now.

I'd bet considerable money that looking back a decade from now, most people - including on this forum - will remember this gen of M3 as a BEV first and foremost. And everyone will have gotten used to the idea of EVs at track meets.

[Mikey240]

Originally Posted by Car-Addicted

The upcoming electric BMW M3 (often referred to as the iM3) is expected to have an estimated curb weight of around 2,275 kg (5,016 lbs). This makes it significantly heavier than the gas-powered G80 M3, which weighs about 1,730 to 1,780 kg (3,800 to 3,924 lbs) depending on the trim.

Not a race bred car more like a boat anchor with batteries.
My 2020 BMW M4 CS has a curb weight of 3,483 lbs (1,580 kg).

WTF? Over 5,000 lbs? Is this a full size pickup or a sporty, M car? I thought my m240i was a tad portly but damn.

Styling aside, as that’s purely subjective, what or whom is the target demographic for this or really any other true performance-oriented car that weighs 5K lbs and has no engine? I was figuring BMW would have seen the like zero interest in the EV Cayman and whatever other performance models that have come out with flat demand.

Not saying BMW shouldn’t make any EVs. Saying that they need to really determine if it’s reaserch and development dollars well spent to start chucking batteries into M cars replacing actual engines. Has market research been done? Just curious.

Originally Posted by Car-Addicted

Another good point on why an EV M car is not a performance car only a example of BMW automotive Stolen Valor.

"Summit Point Motorsports Park in West Virginia explicitly prohibits the use of all-electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrid electric vehicles in motorsports activities on its track surfaces."

Very few tracks allow EV's. Leave your M3i charging in the garage.

Interesting that they disallow EVs. If this remains true for most or all tracks then that’s a deal killer for many prospective buyers of cars like this, IMO.

[Car-Addicted]

Originally Posted by W2k

This post won't age well.

I'd bet considerable money that looking back a decade from now, most people - including on this forum - will remember this gen of M3 as a BEV first and foremost. And everyone will have gotten used to the idea of EVs at track meets.

It's been like that for some time. sooo I wouldn't hold your breath. Tesula will have to sell a lot of tesla's to justify the armco barrier bill to handle 5000 lbs cars. Maybe it just that your typical EV owner could care less about track days? Now a software update gets then excited.

[Turbanator]

It's pretty cool but I don't really see the need for an M3 when the i3M60 will be MORE than powerful enough for anything I'd do with it. The lack of a different engine like with the ICE cars makes this even more of an issue, but even then I have trouble justifying an M3 over a M340i/M350 anyway, especially if the G84 loses the stick.

[Mikey240]

Originally Posted by Car-Addicted

It's been like that for some time. sooo I wouldn't hold your breath. Tesula will have to sell a lot of tesla's to justify the armco barrier bill to handle 5000 lbs cars. Maybe it just that your typical EV owner could care less about track days? Now a software update gets then excited.

[Janjohn]

The worst thing about EVs is unless you have solar panels on your roof or in your backyard, you pay local electricity rates to recharge and your EV’s range dictates your route between charging stations.
What a terrible anchor that would be for an M3! Mild hybrid maybe.

[alex2364]

Originally Posted by Janjohn

The worst thing about EVs is unless you have solar panels on your roof or in your backyard, you pay local electricity rates to recharge and your EV’s range dictates your route between charging stations.
What a terrible anchor that would be for an M3! Mild hybrid maybe.

How is that different from paying oil companies to gas up and your car's gas range dictates your route between gas stations?

My local electricity rate per mile is much cheaper compared to gas prices per mile. I pay $25 per month to charge my EV at home vs $85 per month for a gas car.

[Turbanator]

Charging stations are much sparser than gas stations, but paying local electricity rates would be FAR preferable to paying for 91+ to fill up every time.

[Brandoch]

I'm here for:
-Too heavy
-Ugly
-I'll never buy an EV
-M is diluted
-I'm old and don't like change
-They don't make them like they used to
-BMW has lost their way
-I have lots to complain about but will never be able to afford
-Too much power
-Not enough power
-I just joined today to complain

[25 V8 IS]

I'm a petrol head myself, but I actually like the concept.

[Buddha]

Originally Posted by fiveightandten

IMO, these cars are going in the wrong direction.

Speed cameras are popping up everywhere. Cell phones and cars monitor our driving. Everyone on the road has a video device and a social media account, ready to ruin your life if you’re caught exercising the potential of your 1,000+ HP car. And we’re one or 2 steps away from driving behavior going straight to insurance and LE in real time.

Race tracks are closing too, but that’s about the only place one could see relevance to this kind of power. BMW is often at the head of the horsepower war. But at these power levels, who cares?

Personally, I don’t want bragging rights. I want a car that’s engaging to drive in the environment that I drive it in. I’ll refrain from comment on the design.

As you mentioned, all the speed cameras and how social media is portraying reckless driving as the new norm and burnouts / street racing being the new YouTube vlogs, I think I am starting to prefer luxury over speed soon. I do think the G80 is a great blend of both (leaning more towards performance) but it is a great daily if one can afford it.

If only the E63S AMG was back But I am excited to see what the New M3 ICE might look like but if the interior matches this, so much for luxury lol

[M-technik-3]

I find it ugly and lacking any soul it looks for the most part like every other EV. It's out of my price range as well. I'll drive my older ones and enjoy them till Big Brother bans driving a ICE vehicle. Sitting here on my front porch typing this an i8 just went by.

[Tejas1836]

"[COLOR="rgb(77, 77, 77)"]BMW will offer a quad-motor electric M3, as well as a gas-only version. M CEO Frank Van Meel said, "Here, we will go to the extremes, not the in-between.”"[/COLOR]
https://www.thedrive.com/news/bmw-co...at-makes-sense

Yea!

[25 V8 IS]

Originally Posted by Tejas1836

"[COLOR="rgb(77, 77, 77)"]BMW will offer a quad-motor electric M3, as well as a gas-only version. M CEO Frank Van Meel said, "Here, we will go to the extremes, not the in-between.”"[/COLOR]
https://www.thedrive.com/news/bmw-co...at-makes-sense

Yea!

That's good news!

[JABCAT]

Originally Posted by Mikey240

Interesting that they disallow EVs. If this remains true for most or all tracks then that’s a deal killer for many prospective buyers of cars like this, IMO.

Let's be real, nobody is buying this to track it.

[Car-Addicted]

What BMW has done to it's legacy of M ownership with EV M's

[dfc888]

You’re missing this option so I didn’t vote.

“Hope you’re enjoying you’re role at Rolls Royce, Dukec. You’ve ruined BMW design. Thanks a bunch. /s

I don’t like the design, exterior and interior, and don’t like BMW’s direction moving forward. In fact, I’m probably going to stop buying new BMWs if they keep this up, ICE or EV.”

[Buddha]

Originally Posted by Tejas1836

"[COLOR="rgb(77, 77, 77)"]BMW will offer a quad-motor electric M3, as well as a gas-only version. M CEO Frank Van Meel said, "Here, we will go to the extremes, not the in-between.”"[/COLOR]
https://www.thedrive.com/news/bmw-co...at-makes-sense

Yea!

Im a bit a confused because according to this statement:

"While some people consider hybrids to be the best of both worlds, others lament them as total compromises. You could make an argument for either being the case, I presume, but BMW isn’t about to make someone who wants electric or gas settle for a combination of the two.",

it sounds like the new ICE M3 won't have a mild hybrid system?


But all the videos say it will? Or maybe I'm misunderstanding haha.

[Turbanator]

Originally Posted by Buddha

Im a bit a confused because according to this statement:

"While some people consider hybrids to be the best of both worlds, others lament them as total compromises. You could make an argument for either being the case, I presume, but BMW isn’t about to make someone who wants electric or gas settle for a combination of the two.",

it sounds like the new ICE M3 won't have a mild hybrid system?


But all the videos say it will? Or maybe I'm misunderstanding haha.

He is referring to either full hybrids (like say the Prius) or PHEVs as "hybrids" but isn't counting MHEV as hybrid for some reason.

[Mikey240]

Originally Posted by Buddha

Im a bit a confused because according to this statement:

"While some people consider hybrids to be the best of both worlds, others lament them as total compromises. You could make an argument for either being the case, I presume, but BMW isn’t about to make someone who wants electric or gas settle for a combination of the two.",

it sounds like the new ICE M3 won't have a mild hybrid system?


But all the videos say it will? Or maybe I'm misunderstanding haha.

The Hybrid thing doesnt work for me - they claim its the best of both worlds but I see it as possibly the worst of both. Feels like you get a "gimped" version of both power types and cant enjoy the full benefits of either. Doesnt make sense to me.

[pz619]

I'm totally in. I already cross over to both worlds in that I own an ICE 6MT and performance EV. What I'm not interested in is any hybrid (I'm of the camp that it's a compromise) or an ICE with ANY automatic. For me, might as well go full EV at that point.

Other people's use cases and justification will vary, but this is where I landed.

[AlterZgo]

I have no problem with EVs. In fact I had a Taycan 4S cross turismo. It was an awesome car that actually handled better than my 992 Carrera S. However, after my wife totaled the Taycan I took a 33% depreciation hit after just 2 years and 20k miles. That, for me, is the biggest hang up. I honestly don’t think any EV will hold value so I’m not ready to spend $100k-$120k for another EV. I will buy another EV in the future but it will be a cheaper appliance car like a Kia EV6 or a Rivian R2.

It’s really too bad as that Taycan was an amazing car and even though I was not on any EV car specific electricity plan, my electric bill went up by less than $50/month vs the $300+ I was spending on gas for my G80 M3 BEFORE the Iran war.