just got 09 Jet Black M3 Coupe

newtom3 · 11-09-2008, 09:56 PM

MCT, every option except Cold Package, but with heated seats.
Just put 75 miles on it driving home.
First impressions: coming from a new LR3 and Prius, the 09 iDrive really kicks butt. I also looked at a new Maserati GT and it's navigation was what Mercedes had in like 2000! The 09 iDrive is quite intuitive and the user interface well thought out and efficient. It's not quite as brain dead simple as the Prius, but it seems to have plenty of other options that make it powerful. The 3D display is really nice... looks terrain avoidance avionics. The map updates very smoothly and frequently because it's an HDD based system, or so I was told by me CA. Important: unlike my other cars, you can enter address while MOVING... awesome.

Sound: I have the enhanced premium system. It's a 7/10. I have serious audiophile eqpt and no car is gonna get a 10/10 from me. This is quite passable and does a more than adequate job. The iPod integration is brilliant, though Cover Art and more iPod integration would have been nice, if even technically possible (I am not sure if Apple supports anything more than BMW did). I havent' sucked tunes down to the HDD yet. But I saw how to do it on the menu.

Road Noise: I hear some wind noise, it's not 100% blocked, but I'd say like 95%. Noise from tires/ground underneath, very well attenuated. Good job Germans. This is good... on the extreme other side is my Prius... that damn thing is SO noisy on Californias corrugated super freeway surfaces.

Seats: OMG OMG OMG. Snug as a bug in a rug. Peas in a pod. I am 6'4" and I have room to lounge in, head and leg room, and still my little girl can sit in the back behind me. The seats just hug me so perfectly ... I cannot ask for much better here.

Handling: this is one of those cars where you get in, turn the key, oops... hit the power switch, drive and Immediately, you are injected with confidence and even subtle encouraged by the car to take that next offramp or sharp curve at 2x your normal speeds. You do, and it's just genius. Genius. I can't wait to explore more on this. I had no fancy shmancy M mode or DSC on either. Compared to my older F car and a 430 I drove, the M is not going to leave any money on the table.

Power: I have not really asked for results from the car here... respecting the breakin period I read about here on the forum. I did step lively once or twice and I received back encouragement in the form of immediate jumps in speed. Can't judge this one yet.

Lights: love the LED white lighting around the doors, handles and license plate frame. A nice nice touch. Headlights turn into curves. Nice.

Dealer Prep: meh. Could have been better. I got a little triangle when I got home... looks like Dealer never cleared the dealer prep stage in the computer. Not convinced they did much here.

Bluetooth integration: same as Prius... works as expected. Speakerphone volume is soft... the Prius does a better job of managing automatic gain control, but I think the M3 will be fine once I tweak the volume settings a bit more.

Interior: compared to a previous 540 I was in, this car does not have as much leather stench... not a lot of new car smell. 6 miles on the ODO, so it's new, but not stinking new, if you get the drift. This is my 1st BMW, so I am a n00b (new to m3 = newtom3), but it seems like there is a bit more plastic than one would want, but overall it's very neat and tidy, far better than the Cadddy CTS 09 I was in recently. Wish there was more room to put cellphones, wallets, etc... it's a bit lacking in that area. Cupholders are in an interesting yet totally utilitarian location. It's a sports car, not a Caddy, so this is all fine with me.

Paid: $4K under MSRP, but definitely over invoice. When I went near invoice the deal went very cold. I thought I could get them there, but they walked from me!

Paint: ok, pls help me here detailers... all the new BMWs including mine, have this strange visual texture, metallic or solid color, they all have this dimply look to the paint... wtf is that all about??? cheap paint job or is this look intended or ?

Overall: very satisfied. Compared to my first hours in my previous best car, a 2002 S500, the M3 portends to be the very finest car I've owned. Very pleased so far.

Pics coming once I un-grime the thing... the dealer didn't do the greatest job here.

endofanera7 · 11-09-2008, 10:02 PM

Congrats! Now pics or

newtom3 · 11-09-2008, 10:08 PM

pics are coming... funny story is I had my mind set on a Maserati Gran Tourismo Sport... but then hard times acoming... and the GT-S is looking like it's gonna run $140K out the door.... and here's these M3s at like half the price, but winning specs on paper in every dept except the looks. So I cancel the GT-S order and order the 09 M3... while we drive down to pick up the M3 today, I saw, for the first time in SF Bay area, what else but a Maserati GT (not S though) and two Qports... the GT is the best looking car on the road today... you just can't beat Pininfarina when they the job right. The M3 looks pretty damn good too though.

But it's funny that checkbook in hand, I see the other brand torturing and tempting me for 50 miles... oh and there was some hotsy totsy blond all fixed up driving it... what a scene. My wife almost put my head through the windshield three times.

shiblanor · 11-09-2008, 10:09 PM

Congrats, another Jet Black 09! I noticed a bit of orange peel in BMW paint also...a little disappointed in that. Might be more obvious on Jet Black, but you can see it in most colors if you're paying attention. Hrm.

newtom3 · 11-09-2008, 10:14 PM

Orange peel... yes that is the right description. While paperwork was printing, I look at 7 series, and they all have the same orangepeel reflections. I could not 'feel' the texture with my finger, but I could see it depending on the angle... metallic shows it less, but it's there. I wonder if there's a fault in the paint process.... ?

BTW, on the DCT, my CA initialized my understanding of the DCT to think of it like a stickshift without a clutch, and when I started out thinking of it that way, it seemed to behave exactly right. And the hesitation off the line I felt before now made sense and I handled the accelerator pedal more like I do with my F car stickshift and it drives just fine.

I did not experience any stalling or even minute hesitation as I stepped on it to pass cars here and there, and I noticed it jumped down a few gears the one time i needed more acceleration... so far the DCT is very nice. I was worried about the DCT from reading this forum for months.

IS350 · 11-10-2008, 12:41 AM

Great thread and the exact color I'm considering! Eager to see pics!
BTW, did you lease or buy?
What was invoice on your car if you don't mind my asking... curious how close 4-grand off puts you toward invoice.
Thx and CONGRATS!

sayemthree · 11-10-2008, 01:40 AM

JB - FTMFW!!!!!!!

endofanera7 · 11-10-2008, 01:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sayemthree

JB - FTMFW!!!!!!!

+1000000000000000000

watrob · 11-10-2008, 02:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by endofanera7

+1000000000000000000

Yes nice colour, invisable as well. Need pics, Congrats.

torredresen · 11-10-2008, 03:00 AM

Don't care for excuses

Zirenz2006 · 11-10-2008, 07:24 AM

Nice write up!! PICS!!!

I noticed you commented on being able to enter a NAV destination while driving. That is something I have always liked about the NAV in the BMW. Having used the NAV in my father's Lexus and Denali, it really sucks having to stop to type something in.

NewM3driver · 11-10-2008, 07:44 AM

Congrats and GOOD LUCK!

jamesisel · 11-10-2008, 07:55 AM

!!!!!!!SCIP

newtom3 · 11-10-2008, 09:22 AM

tomorrow I wash and wax it up and post pics. Are wheels on 09 different than 08? Cause the 19" wheels look downright mean... my wife says almost pimped out looking. We're in our 40's, so we're not the young hipsters most of you readers are.

jaay11 · 11-10-2008, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by torredresen

Don't care for excuses

Quit wasting my time........

btw,

Congrats...!

IS350 · 11-10-2008, 12:22 PM

As we wait for your pics.. curious which other colors you may have considered?

newtom3 · 11-10-2008, 01:05 PM

I would have preferred silver that I see on Mercedes or Maserati, but the BMW silver isn't quite right... it's either got a bluish tint or is too dark. Too bad. Black is gonna be a pain... I've had black before so I know what I'm in for.

Deda · 11-10-2008, 01:18 PM

congrats,post pics!

MMMorish · 11-10-2008, 03:13 PM

Congrats and God bless.

Pics Please!!

newtom3 · 11-10-2008, 03:45 PM

just a quick page I whipped up... photos are grainy... will do better once I detail car and get some dayight for my cheapie cam to work with.

12:03 · 11-10-2008, 03:55 PM

as for the orangepeel look, it is my belief that it is the metal, rather than the paint. The way they hammer out the sheet metal for the body etc... i could be wrong

signes · 11-10-2008, 05:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by newtom3

just a quick page I whipped up... photos are grainy... will do better once I detail car and get some dayight for my cheapie cam to work with.

I have the same garage as you (JB M3 and an LR3). Or I should say almost... nice Dino! I seem to be missing that one...

Congrats on the purchase.

11-09-2008, 09:56 PM	#1
newtom3 First Lieutenant 15 Rep 361 Posts Drives: 2009 BMW M3 Coupe Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: San Jose, CA iTrader: (0)	just got 09 Jet Black M3 Coupe MCT, every option except Cold Package, but with heated seats. Just put 75 miles on it driving home. First impressions: coming from a new LR3 and Prius, the 09 iDrive really kicks butt. I also looked at a new Maserati GT and it's navigation was what Mercedes had in like 2000! The 09 iDrive is quite intuitive and the user interface well thought out and efficient. It's not quite as brain dead simple as the Prius, but it seems to have plenty of other options that make it powerful. The 3D display is really nice... looks terrain avoidance avionics. The map updates very smoothly and frequently because it's an HDD based system, or so I was told by me CA. Important: unlike my other cars, you can enter address while MOVING... awesome. Sound: I have the enhanced premium system. It's a 7/10. I have serious audiophile eqpt and no car is gonna get a 10/10 from me. This is quite passable and does a more than adequate job. The iPod integration is brilliant, though Cover Art and more iPod integration would have been nice, if even technically possible (I am not sure if Apple supports anything more than BMW did). I havent' sucked tunes down to the HDD yet. But I saw how to do it on the menu. Road Noise: I hear some wind noise, it's not 100% blocked, but I'd say like 95%. Noise from tires/ground underneath, very well attenuated. Good job Germans. This is good... on the extreme other side is my Prius... that damn thing is SO noisy on Californias corrugated super freeway surfaces. Seats: OMG OMG OMG. Snug as a bug in a rug. Peas in a pod. I am 6'4" and I have room to lounge in, head and leg room, and still my little girl can sit in the back behind me. The seats just hug me so perfectly ... I cannot ask for much better here. Handling: this is one of those cars where you get in, turn the key, oops... hit the power switch, drive and Immediately, you are injected with confidence and even subtle encouraged by the car to take that next offramp or sharp curve at 2x your normal speeds. You do, and it's just genius. Genius. I can't wait to explore more on this. I had no fancy shmancy M mode or DSC on either. Compared to my older F car and a 430 I drove, the M is not going to leave any money on the table. Power: I have not really asked for results from the car here... respecting the breakin period I read about here on the forum. I did step lively once or twice and I received back encouragement in the form of immediate jumps in speed. Can't judge this one yet. Lights: love the LED white lighting around the doors, handles and license plate frame. A nice nice touch. Headlights turn into curves. Nice. Dealer Prep: meh. Could have been better. I got a little triangle when I got home... looks like Dealer never cleared the dealer prep stage in the computer. Not convinced they did much here. Bluetooth integration: same as Prius... works as expected. Speakerphone volume is soft... the Prius does a better job of managing automatic gain control, but I think the M3 will be fine once I tweak the volume settings a bit more. Interior: compared to a previous 540 I was in, this car does not have as much leather stench... not a lot of new car smell. 6 miles on the ODO, so it's new, but not stinking new, if you get the drift. This is my 1st BMW, so I am a n00b (new to m3 = newtom3), but it seems like there is a bit more plastic than one would want, but overall it's very neat and tidy, far better than the Cadddy CTS 09 I was in recently. Wish there was more room to put cellphones, wallets, etc... it's a bit lacking in that area. Cupholders are in an interesting yet totally utilitarian location. It's a sports car, not a Caddy, so this is all fine with me. Paid: $4K under MSRP, but definitely over invoice. When I went near invoice the deal went very cold. I thought I could get them there, but they walked from me! Paint: ok, pls help me here detailers... all the new BMWs including mine, have this strange visual texture, metallic or solid color, they all have this dimply look to the paint... wtf is that all about??? cheap paint job or is this look intended or ? Overall: very satisfied. Compared to my first hours in my previous best car, a 2002 S500, the M3 portends to be the very finest car I've owned. Very pleased so far. Pics coming once I un-grime the thing... the dealer didn't do the greatest job here.
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11-09-2008, 10:02 PM	#2
endofanera7 Major General 514 Rep 5,392 Posts Drives: 08 JB E92 M3 Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Bay Area, CA iTrader: (16) Garage List 2018 Porsche GT3 [9.50]	Congrats! Now pics or
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11-09-2008, 10:08 PM	#3
newtom3 First Lieutenant 15 Rep 361 Posts Drives: 2009 BMW M3 Coupe Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: San Jose, CA iTrader: (0)	pics are coming... funny story is I had my mind set on a Maserati Gran Tourismo Sport... but then hard times acoming... and the GT-S is looking like it's gonna run $140K out the door.... and here's these M3s at like half the price, but winning specs on paper in every dept except the looks. So I cancel the GT-S order and order the 09 M3... while we drive down to pick up the M3 today, I saw, for the first time in SF Bay area, what else but a Maserati GT (not S though) and two Qports... the GT is the best looking car on the road today... you just can't beat Pininfarina when they the job right. The M3 looks pretty damn good too though. But it's funny that checkbook in hand, I see the other brand torturing and tempting me for 50 miles... oh and there was some hotsy totsy blond all fixed up driving it... what a scene. My wife almost put my head through the windshield three times.
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11-09-2008, 10:09 PM	#4
shiblanor Enlisted Member 17 Rep 44 Posts Drives: 09 e92 M3 JetBlk DCT Join Date: May 2008 Location: Los Angeles, CA iTrader: (0)	Congrats, another Jet Black 09! I noticed a bit of orange peel in BMW paint also...a little disappointed in that. Might be more obvious on Jet Black, but you can see it in most colors if you're paying attention. Hrm.
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11-09-2008, 10:14 PM	#5
newtom3 First Lieutenant 15 Rep 361 Posts Drives: 2009 BMW M3 Coupe Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: San Jose, CA iTrader: (0)	Orange peel... yes that is the right description. While paperwork was printing, I look at 7 series, and they all have the same orangepeel reflections. I could not 'feel' the texture with my finger, but I could see it depending on the angle... metallic shows it less, but it's there. I wonder if there's a fault in the paint process.... ? BTW, on the DCT, my CA initialized my understanding of the DCT to think of it like a stickshift without a clutch, and when I started out thinking of it that way, it seemed to behave exactly right. And the hesitation off the line I felt before now made sense and I handled the accelerator pedal more like I do with my F car stickshift and it drives just fine. I did not experience any stalling or even minute hesitation as I stepped on it to pass cars here and there, and I noticed it jumped down a few gears the one time i needed more acceleration... so far the DCT is very nice. I was worried about the DCT from reading this forum for months.
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11-10-2008, 12:41 AM	#6
IS350 IS350 to IS-F to M3 and M4 117 Rep 803 Posts Drives: 2015 i8 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: South Carolina iTrader: (0)	Great thread and the exact color I'm considering! Eager to see pics! BTW, did you lease or buy? What was invoice on your car if you don't mind my asking... curious how close 4-grand off puts you toward invoice. Thx and CONGRATS!
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11-10-2008, 01:40 AM	#7
sayemthree Major General 597 Rep 5,448 Posts Drives: ‘20 X3mC ‘20 Raptor ‘04 X3 6mt Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: usa so cal , AZ iTrader: (0)	JB - FTMFW!!!!!!! __________________ Fore Sale Rare 6 speed manual X3 3.oi silver over grey. PM me
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11-10-2008, 03:00 AM	#10
torredresen Captain 53 Rep 712 Posts Drives: M3 09 E93 JzB Fox Red extended Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Belgium iTrader: (0) Garage List 2005 Z4; 2.0 [0.00] 2005 Z4 [0.00]	Don't care for excuses
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11-10-2008, 07:24 AM	#11
Zirenz2006 Brigadier General 1542 Rep 4,558 Posts Drives: G80 M3 Comp IOMG Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: US - NE iTrader: (0)	Nice write up!! PICS!!! I noticed you commented on being able to enter a NAV destination while driving. That is something I have always liked about the NAV in the BMW. Having used the NAV in my father's Lexus and Denali, it really sucks having to stop to type something in.
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11-10-2008, 07:44 AM	#12
NewM3driver Colonel 1110 Rep 2,007 Posts Drives: 2017 M3 ZCP Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: CT iTrader: (0)	Congrats and GOOD LUCK!
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11-10-2008, 07:55 AM	#13
jamesisel Major 17 Rep 1,035 Posts Drives: '09 Jerez/Fox Red E92 M3 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Wisconsin/ Tennessee iTrader: (0)	!!!!!!!SCIP __________________ Eisenmann Race Performance/VRS front lip 1x1/VRS type II diffuser 1x1/VRS single side trunk with Fade/19" HRE C90's/RE SSK/H&R Sport springs /35% tint/Painted reflectors/Painted side markers with dark tint LED's/Tinted tail lights/Front grilles/Hardwire V1
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11-10-2008, 09:22 AM	#14
newtom3 First Lieutenant 15 Rep 361 Posts Drives: 2009 BMW M3 Coupe Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: San Jose, CA iTrader: (0)	tomorrow I wash and wax it up and post pics. Are wheels on 09 different than 08? Cause the 19" wheels look downright mean... my wife says almost pimped out looking. We're in our 40's, so we're not the young hipsters most of you readers are.
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11-10-2008, 12:22 PM	#16
IS350 IS350 to IS-F to M3 and M4 117 Rep 803 Posts Drives: 2015 i8 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: South Carolina iTrader: (0)	As we wait for your pics.. curious which other colors you may have considered?
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11-10-2008, 01:05 PM	#17
newtom3 First Lieutenant 15 Rep 361 Posts Drives: 2009 BMW M3 Coupe Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: San Jose, CA iTrader: (0)	I would have preferred silver that I see on Mercedes or Maserati, but the BMW silver isn't quite right... it's either got a bluish tint or is too dark. Too bad. Black is gonna be a pain... I've had black before so I know what I'm in for.
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11-10-2008, 01:18 PM	#18
Deda Major General 564 Rep 7,034 Posts Drives: BMW M5 comp Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Croatia iTrader: (0)	congrats,post pics!
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11-10-2008, 03:13 PM	#19
MMMorish Just call me J.J. McClure 156 Rep 2,834 Posts Drives: E92 M3 & C4 Corvette Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Toronto iTrader: (5)	Congrats and God bless. Pics Please!! __________________ MODS: Meisterschaft GT Racing Exhaust / BMC Air Filter / UUC SSK & DSSR (Modded)/ RPI Scoops / Passport SRX Hardwired / Custom Wrap 3M Clearbra / 20% Tint / 50% Windshield Tint / Key Hole Delete / Matted Out Accessories / VRS Type II Diffuser / Smoked Reflectors / Euphoria 6K LED Interior Lights / Rear Fog Light Mod / 6000K HID's / 6500K LUX H8 Angel Eyes / RDash License Plate LED Kit / LED Xenon Reverse Lights "M3 drivers have no friends"
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11-10-2008, 03:45 PM	#20
newtom3 First Lieutenant 15 Rep 361 Posts Drives: 2009 BMW M3 Coupe Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: San Jose, CA iTrader: (0)	page with pics... just a quick page I whipped up... photos are grainy... will do better once I detail car and get some dayight for my cheapie cam to work with.
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11-10-2008, 03:55 PM	#21
12:03 full collapse on impact 17 Rep 325 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: May 2008 Location: Utah iTrader: (0)	as for the orangepeel look, it is my belief that it is the metal, rather than the paint. The way they hammer out the sheet metal for the body etc... i could be wrong
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