CAR Magazine Praises M3 Competition Package

[Jason]

Featured on M3POST HOMEPAGE.

CAR Magazine takes its first drive of the E92 M3 Competition Package and comes away with a glowing reaction, calling it one of the best cars on sale today.

.... And when you get on and enjoy the engine when it’s running…

You’ll experience one of the best cars on sale today, and one of the world’s great engines. Once you’ve let it warm through of course – set off in a cold M3 and you’ll have to wait for the oil temperature needle to swing towards 100deg and the adjustable red zone on the rev counter to head towards 8000rpm before you feel comfortable giving it full beans. But when everything is warm there’s a crisp rasp to accompany the slightest twitch of your right foot, and a completely addictive V8 roar when you head for the red line. It’s no deep-chested muscle car, but something much more highly strung, a little delicate but nonetheless brilliant. And when you’re homing in on 8300rpm, watching the shift lights flickering on, you’ll think there’s no better place you could possibly be.

The Competition Package itself is a £3315 option, and because it includes a set of 19-inch wheels and the adjustable dampers (ordinarily £1265 and £1295, and a must-have for most M3 drivers) BMW reckons it’s not only good value but will be taken up by 60% of customers. The bonus is that the bigger wheels are clearly inspired by the E46 CSL – they’re very tasty. A 10mm suspension drop, lifted from last year’s M3 Edition, and a special M mode for the DSC system complete the package. And does it make a difference? Unfortunately we didn’t have a track to play on, but the reality is this latest M3 feels better than ever, with a sharp turn-in, strong resistance to understeer, and the ability to let you schlep along with the hoi polloi one moment, and act like a complete hooligan the next. Just make sure you leave the dampers in their regular setting – anything overtly sporting is just too stiff for the UK.
Verdict

The 4.0-litre V8 engine alone is enough to award the M3 five stars, but that the fact it steers brilliantly, goes bloody fast, looks great, and now does its bit for the environment too, makes it better than ever, and one amazing motor car. We love it. We want one.

Rest of review here: http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/Drives/...ontent-block=0

[Daft]

[docjay]

"...one amazing motor car.we love it.we want one."

WAS THERE EVER ANY DOUBT...

[Oulixes]

Car Magazine article is very coherent and enjoyable to read.

[sameh]

I have 2011 without the CP. But I have 19" wheels and the EDC. does this mean I'm only missing the larger rear spoiler and the 10mm drop?? if that's really what it is, then I'm quit happy for not buying it. Please tell me there is more to it to justify the $$

[Hedoniste]

Aaaaaaaahhh I can't wait miiiiiiiiiiiiine !!!

[BCA]

Good article

Two things I noticed that I found interesting:

1) The oil cap on the engine is the same one that's on my car. Most of the new 2011s here in the States seem to have the new style oil cap.

2) The iDrive on the test car has 8 programmable buttons whereas the North America cars apparently only have 6 (plus AM/FM and Mode buttons in place of the additional 2 programmable buttons). I'd much rather have 8 programmable buttons. I mean do we really need to be able to have FOUR ways to change modes (steering wheel, iDrive controller, FM/AM/Mode dash buttons, programmable dash buttons)??? Sheesh.

[dardeca]

Great find!

[datbimmerdoe]

nice article.

more pictures here: http://www.m3post.com/forums/showpos...&postcount=249

[BMWMFAN27]

Nice little article and dead on.

[MUFCbmwbear]

Another reason to aim for this instead of the 1M

[greycrx87]

Good article, great car!

[e1000]

Originally Posted by sameh

I have 2011 without the CP. But I have 19" wheels and the EDC. does this mean I'm only missing the larger rear spoiler and the 10mm drop?? if that's really what it is, then I'm quit happy for not buying it. Please tell me there is more to it to justify the $$

CP dosen't come with a larger rear spoiler. Also, CP includes software changes to both EDC and DSC on top of the other changes.

Originally Posted by BCA

Good article

Two things I noticed that I found interesting:

1) The oil cap on the engine is the same one that's on my car. Most of the new 2011s here in the States seem to have the new style oil cap.

2) The iDrive on the test car has 8 programmable buttons whereas the North America cars apparently only have 6 (plus AM/FM and Mode buttons in place of the additional 2 programmable buttons). I'd much rather have 8 programmable buttons. I mean do we really need to be able to have FOUR ways to change modes (steering wheel, iDrive controller, FM/AM/Mode dash buttons, programmable dash buttons)??? Sheesh.

Nice to know, wonder if it can be retrofitted on NA cars.

[Park2670]

I know this is why many here have AW, but that last picture just makes me with the carbon roof.

[sameh]

[QUOTE=e1000;7935090]CP dosen't come with a larger rear spoiler. Also, CP includes software changes to both EDC and DSC on top of the other changes.



[ATTACH][/ATTACH]

It looks like a bigger spoiler to me, doesn't it?

[Park2670]

Originally Posted by sameh

It looks like a bigger spoiler to me, doesn't it?

Thats the performance spoiler, it does not come with ZCP.

[e1000]

[QUOTE=sameh;7935189]

Originally Posted by e1000

CP dosen't come with a larger rear spoiler. Also, CP includes software changes to both EDC and DSC on top of the other changes.



[ATTACH]Attachment 425603[/ATTACH]

It looks like a bigger spoiler to me, doesn't it?

You can add the spoiler but it dosen't come with a normal ZCP optioned car.

[Rshane]

That spoiler doesn't come with the ZCP, it is a dealer OEM option anyone can get for the M3.

[Bubbles]

BMW expects 60% of M3 purchasers to choose the ZCP package. Interesting.

[Epacy2]

Originally Posted by docjay

"...one amazing motor car.we love it.we want one."

WAS THERE EVER ANY DOUBT...

Yes. When it came out, Mags thought it was trendy to hate on the car some and as we all predicted they would be all over the M3's nutz in a couple years.

[double_j]

Seems like the review is based solely on the engine (not that there's anything wrong with that). Other than the wheels they don't really say much about the competition package.

[Mjolnir]

Originally Posted by Park2670

Thats the performance spoiler, it does not come with ZCP.

Funny thing was that I thought that the ZCP package came with that CF spoiler. About a week before delivery I was starting to have second thoughts about it and was thinking it looked a bit tacky, e.g. too much like a boy racer car. Was so relieved to see it did not have it when I took delivery.