First driving reviews of M3 M-DCT / M-DKG transmission!

[enigma]

Originally Posted by swamp2

You do realize that the "company line" from both BMW and Ferrari is that their high end cars such as the M3 and 599 will be faster around most circuits with most of the "fancy electronics" turned on? As well the M3 should probably be in EDC = normal rather than sport for the best lap times. The point is that the systems now have such a fast response time, offer enough slip/yaw to be useful and can actually help the car and driver by controlling brakes individually. Again just to be clear this is all my understanding based on listening/interviews/etc. not personal experience with these cars.

There is a reason tha traction control is banned in many motorsports. When people can run a race TC system, they do.

For stability control, I am less convinced.

I do think the concept of active roll stabilization is awesome. I wish the M3 had it. As is I called a sway bar fabricator today and will have to go the conventional route for now.

[footie]

Originally Posted by swamp2

You do realize that the "company line" from both BMW and Ferrari is that their high end cars such as the M3 and 599 will be faster around most circuits with most of the "fancy electronics" turned on? As well the M3 should probably be in EDC = normal rather than sport for the best lap times. The point is that the systems now have such a fast response time, offer enough slip/yaw to be useful and can actually help the car and driver by controlling brakes individually. Again just to be clear this is all my understanding based on listening/interviews/etc. not personal experience with these cars.

I wholeheartedly agree that more crude/slow/primitive systems hamper serious performance driving rather than help and this I know from both direct and indirect evidence.

I would like to add to this that after sampling the F430 in comparison to the F360 it's amazing how much electronics have come on. Sure in the right hands on a familiar track a pro will be quicker with everything turned off but would-be trackday drivers and semi-pros I would doubt any of them were better the time set with the electronics on 'race' mode in an F430 in comparison to them with it off.

I never got to sample the new M3's M-Dynamic mode on a track, only briefly on the road so can't really give a valid opinion but based on that brief drive I doubt it's in the same league as that of the F430.

[T Bone]

Originally Posted by bruce.augenstein@comcast.

At 10/10ths, shifting means loss of control, perhaps temporarily. At 9/10ths, it's a piece of cake.

PS - I have yet to experience a vehicle where stability control doesn't kill lap times, so I always disable it.

I don't think we have driven the same tracks so we don't have a common frame of reference in this regard. Obviously with a long straight, you are going to make compromises so you get the best run on the corner before the straight.

At Mosport, there are a lot of long high speed sweepers where you enter hot and use the throttle to balance and depending on gearing a person is tempted to shift.

Originally Posted by swamp2

You do realize that the "company line" from both BMW and Ferrari is that their high end cars such as the M3 and 599 will be faster around most circuits with most of the "fancy electronics" turned on? As well the M3 should probably be in EDC = normal rather than sport for the best lap times. The point is that the systems now have such a fast response time, offer enough slip/yaw to be useful and can actually help the car and driver by controlling brakes individually. Again just to be clear this is all my understanding based on listening/interviews/etc. not personal experience with these cars.

I wholeheartedly agree that more crude/slow/primitive systems hamper serious performance driving rather than help and this I know from both direct and indirect evidence.

MDM on the M5 / M6s is not intrusive at all. You can get wheelspin and a bit of a drift, this is unlike the earlier "binary" BMW systems.

I really have not had any need to turn DSC off at the track.

When I went to the 2 day M school, I was beating around M5 / M6s in the wet and even then MDM wasn't interfering and I don't think I felt it engage in the dry.....completely different than the Z4M that I was also driving.

[footie]

Originally Posted by T Bone

I really have not had any need to turn DSC off at the track.

When I went to the 2 day M school, I was beating around M5 / M6s in the wet and even then MDM wasn't interfering and I don't think I felt it engage in the dry.....completely different than the Z4M that I was also driving.

TB,

I'm interested in your findings of the Z4M as I do have a bit of experience of them on the track, both radster and coupe. Please tell.

[T Bone]

Originally Posted by footie

TB,

I'm interested in your findings of the Z4M as I do have a bit of experience of them on the track, both radster and coupe. Please tell.

I wouldn't like to crash in it...too small and cramped. Very responsive, I used the Z4M to win the "King Rat" desgination (fastest guy in the wet doing figure 8s).

Very nice to drive, neutral for the most part with a bit of snappish oversteer characteristics. Very quick and responsive steering.

People in my run group were alot slower using 6MT that SMG, using me as a constant.

Nice car....great track toy....needs more power.

[footie]

Originally Posted by T Bone

I wouldn't like to crash in it...too small and cramped. Very responsive, I used the Z4M to win the "King Rat" desgination (fastest guy in the wet doing figure 8s).

Very nice to drive, neutral for the most part with a bit of snappish oversteer characteristics. Very quick and responsive steering.

People in my run group were alot slower using 6MT that SMG, using me as a constant.

Nice car....great track toy....needs more power.

It's a much better track tool and a road car, while the nose is very lively on the road, on the track it becomes very precise. While you found the chassis neutral I found to tail happy but in a very controllable way, even more so than the E46 M3 and being seated so close to the rear axle only multiplied this effect.

A fun track car but not something I would ever want on the road.

P.S.
Needs more power?

I think it's one of the best judged M cars for power that the chassis can cope with. Also I doubt it would shine anyway as well on the ring as it would do on a traditional race track, it's just too bumpy.

Does anyone know it's time on Hockenhiem and the ring to see if my guess is right.