Drove a F80 M3 today - Pictures and Mini Review :)

[///M///]

So the local dealership "BMW Genius" got a new F80 M3 at the West Chester cars and coffee this morning. I checked it out and liked what I saw. Fast forward 2 hours and I was at the dealership ready to test drive the car I was lucky enough to not get a salesman but the "genius" himself as he knew almost everything about the car and encouraged me to drive it to the full This car was fully loaded and had everything except the upgraded brakes.


Looks and Styling - Let me say that seeing this car in person is totally different from seeing it in magazines or online videos. I think the car is really sharp looking and styling is nicely done.The carbon roof on the sedan looks spectacular However, I am still not a fan of the dipping hood IMO the E9X hood is still way sexier.

Seats - Really good to look at but the driver seat is not really built for broader folks. I am 6'3" and 225 lbs and the base of the seat felt very narrow with no option for adjustment. You either fit in it or stay very uncomfortable. Time to lose some weight

Interior - For whatever reason the inside of this car looks smaller than my E90 even though it is supposed to be bigger. Overall the interior is very nice but I don't see a leaps and bound improvement over the current interior. The rear does seem to have more leg room and even at 6'3" I fit in quite easily.

Performance - This is what I was really looking forward to I pretty much drove the entire time in M1 and M2 mode. Let me just say that this motor has instant torque and power There is absolutely no turbo lag. I barely got on the gas from a red light and the dsc kicked in early in the 1st gear, then the 2nd followed by the 3rd gear as well I can only imagine what this car would do with bolt-on's and a tune This car just wants to break loose. The dct was marvelous as expected and it felt more like the GTS tuned DCT I have, no lag and quick shifts. The suspension felt extremely precise and the
overall balance of the car felt right. That said, the gears felt too short and found myself shifting too quickly. Not sure if this was redlining that quick or the gears really are shorter

Sound - In all honesty I didn't like it at all It was like going from last year's F1 car to this year's F1 turbo cars. It is really loud inside and I didn't find the sound pleasing at all. There is no sure fire way for me to describe the sound but it sounded a lot like the new CLA45 AMG from Mercedes. This car desperately needs an aftermarket exhaust. Would be my first mod if I ever got it.

Overall Impression - I say this with absolutely no bias towards the E9X but I didn't feel like I got blown away by this car. I have to admit though that I went in to test drive it expecting a lot based on the glowing reviews but it didn't happen for me. If I had never owned or driven a M3 I absolutely would have loved it but having owned a couple of turbo cars and then the E46M/E90M, I have a few to compare it to.

After driving it today I felt 100% sure there was absolutely no way I was ditching my E90 for this car. It is really hard to explain but there is something about the high revving V8 that feels and sounds a whole lot better and no amount of torque can replace that. I will probably revisit the 2016 M3 and see how I feel about it. Something tells me it will grow on me but for now the E90 is a keeper


Took a few snaps with my car before leaving

[///M///]

Some more......

[JsL]

Cool! Thanks for the review and pics.

[///M Power-Belgium]

Very nice photos and thoughts overall thanks for sharing !
I did the same here with the ///M4 >http://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho....php?t=1003751

[izzyM2]

I wanted to like it a lot... really do! I hope they don't stop production with the new M3's because I just don't dig the style of the M4's. Maybe when they make improvements and competition package shows up?

[duk]

man the F8x looks so much bigger than E9x M! i dislike the cars getting bigger.

[Race_Doc11]

I thought about coming this morning but I got lazy..

[///M///]

Originally Posted by racedoc11

I thought about coming this morning but I got lazy..

Yes you missed out. Great turnout today. Plus I want to hear your exhaust in person.

[Race_Doc11]

Sure! I usually drive the RS5 To C&C but I will bring the M3 if you give me a heads up when you plan to go. I took a M4 for a test drive twice last week one of them on Kelly drive. I did like it the 2nd time. I agree with you though; I didn't come out thinking it is special but side by side it made my M3 looks old .I think I Will trade in my M3 for M4 in 2years when the competition package is offered and I will keep the RS5.
I want you to see the RS5 so you can compare the 3 cars.
Here is a picture from my test drive.

Originally Posted by dsm918

Yes you missed out. Great turnout today. Plus I want to hear your exhaust in person.

[F1Venom]

If the 991S underwhelmed me then I can't even imagine what this would do. The E90 is perfect for what it is, I guess on to the GT3 or R8 V10.

[rdoctor]

I must say... in the pictures you took those bulging rear arches do look nice. It just needs some wider wheels and rubber back there. The front and rear bumpers look a bit over styled to me.

[///M///]

Originally Posted by rdoctor

I must say... in the pictures you took those bulging rear arches do look nice. It just needs some wider wheels and rubber back there. The front and rear bumpers look a bit over styled to me.

Yes that was the first thing I noticed. Also I didn't like the gill area in the pictures but it looks really sharp in person I wish someone would fix that damn hood though

[///M///]

Originally Posted by ///M Power-Belgium

Very nice photos and thoughts overall thanks for sharing !
I did the same here with the ///M4 >http://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho....php?t=1003751

Thanks good luck with your team on tuesday

[///M///]

Originally Posted by ///M Power-Belgium

Very nice photos and thoughts overall thanks for sharing !
I did the same here with the ///M4 >http://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho....php?t=1003751

Just read your review and couldn't agree more on the "sitting on top the seats feeling". That's exactly how I felt but it could be because I am just too wide for the seat

On the other hand I couldn't disagree with you more on the M4 looking nicer than the M3. I thought the M3 looked way sharper but again that would be a personal choice.

[SilentAttack]

I still think the E9x looks better overall. The under the hood presentation on the F8x just doesnt do it for me. Our V8 plenums are like IN YO FACE

[mercedesc63]

I drove the M3 sedan also and I didn't like the new one the most ever.
I drive a 2011 E93 M3 all options. The seat is better in my old car and the steering is heavy in the new one and in my old car its light.
I will trade in 3-4 years for a M4 however I am in not hurry and am looking and some others cars instead for now.

[MrPrena]

Originally Posted by dsm918

So the local dealership "BMW Genius" got a new F80 M3 at the West Chester cars and coffee this morning. I checked it out and liked what I saw. Fast forward 2 hours and I was at the dealership ready to test drive the car I was lucky enough to not get a salesman but the "genius" himself as he knew almost everything about the car and encouraged me to drive it to the full This car was fully loaded and had everything except the upgraded brakes.


Looks and Styling - Let me say that seeing this car in person is totally different from seeing it in magazines or online videos. I think the car is really sharp looking and styling is nicely done.The carbon roof on the sedan looks spectacular However, I am still not a fan of the dipping hood IMO the E9X hood is still way sexier.

Seats - Really good to look at but the driver seat is not really built for broader folks. I am 6'3" and 225 lbs and the base of the seat felt very narrow with no option for adjustment. You either fit in it or stay very uncomfortable. Time to lose some weight

Interior - For whatever reason the inside of this car looks smaller than my E90 even though it is supposed to be bigger. Overall the interior is very nice but I don't see a leaps and bound improvement over the current interior. The rear does seem to have more leg room and even at 6'3" I fit in quite easily.

Performance - This is what I was really looking forward to I pretty much drove the entire time in M1 and M2 mode. Let me just say that this motor has instant torque and power There is absolutely no turbo lag. I barely got on the gas from a red light and the dsc kicked in early in the 1st gear, then the 2nd followed by the 3rd gear as well I can only imagine what this car would do with bolt-on's and a tune This car just wants to break loose. The dct was marvelous as expected and it felt more like the GTS tuned DCT I have, no lag and quick shifts. The suspension felt extremely precise and the
overall balance of the car felt right. That said, the gears felt too short and found myself shifting too quickly. Not sure if this was redlining that quick or the gears really are shorter

Sound - In all honesty I didn't like it at all It was like going from last year's F1 car to this year's F1 turbo cars. It is really loud inside and I didn't find the sound pleasing at all. There is no sure fire way for me to describe the sound but it sounded a lot like the new CLA45 AMG from Mercedes. This car desperately needs an aftermarket exhaust. Would be my first mod if I ever got it.

Overall Impression - I say this with absolutely no bias towards the E9X but I didn't feel like I got blown away by this car. I have to admit though that I went in to test drive it expecting a lot based on the glowing reviews but it didn't happen for me. If I had never owned or driven a M3 I absolutely would have loved it but having owned a couple of turbo cars and then the E46M/E90M, I have a few to compare it to.

After driving it today I felt 100% sure there was absolutely no way I was ditching my E90 for this car. It is really hard to explain but there is something about the high revving V8 that feels and sounds a whole lot better and no amount of torque can replace that. I will probably revisit the 2016 M3 and see how I feel about it. Something tells me it will grow on me but for now the E90 is a keeper


Took a few snaps with my car before leaving

I did not drive a car, but I can tell how it will be based on "GOOD" review on M3/4 F8x and power and torque to weight ratio on those.

Yeah, it reminds me of 2013 F1 to 2014 F1 cars as well.

Originally Posted by duk

man the F8x looks so much bigger than E9x M! i dislike the cars getting bigger.

Yeah, cars are getting taller and bigger. 1989 camery is probably smaller than 2014 civic.

Originally Posted by F1Venom

If the 991S underwhelmed me then I can't even imagine what this would do. The E90 is perfect for what it is, I guess on to the GT3 or R8 V10.

Hope GT3 and/or R8 v10/10+ would be my next.
Or it can be $1000 2001 Mazda protege. who knows.

[Ezio]

i dont understand what people see in that new interior.

[LarThaL]

It appears, as expected, the objective performance was better, but the subjective experience is better in the e9x. Still, at this point in the game, the e46 crowd was saying similar things about the e9x. It will be interesting to see what people say in 2 years, or whether people will have "warmed up" to the f8x platform.

There is no way the car would be leaps and bounds better in any case. The current M3 is already just so good. Any change is going to be evolutionary, rather than revolutionary. As far as the torque goes, it appears that the car still can't get it all to the ground in the lower gears.

Can't wait for my own test drive !!

[Shoney41]

Thanks for the review. Very informative and helpful. I am also on the bigger side (6'4" and 245 lbs), and what you wrote about the seats is a big concern. I think the seats in the E92 M3 are too high to begin with (regardless of driver's height), and it doesn't look like that has changed in the new generation.

[///M///]

Originally Posted by Shoney41

Thanks for the review. Very informative and helpful. I am also on the bigger side (6'4" and 245 lbs), and what you wrote about the seats is a big concern. I think the seats in the E92 M3 are too high to begin with (regardless of driver's height), and it doesn't look like that has changed in the new generation.

I can deal with high but not fitting in them is a big issue. The seat bolsters were cutting into the legs. It is like trying on a "Large" size at the "Express Store" vs say any regular American store The seat seems to be built for very skinny people or more the European build and I am fine with that as long as they provide an adjustment like they have in the E9X.

[kristobias]

M cars should be NA. E9x M3 is simply more special. It's spiritual big brother is the 997 GT3. I've owned both and that's where you want to go after an E9x M3