Lessons Learned... advice for new m3 owners

[carri0n m3]

wanted to create a thread for people that have owned their m's for a span of time and made mistakes/almost mistakes and can give that knowledge to help people with new cars not repeat....

I'll start... be really careful going on large speedbumps or higher curbs... m3 is a lot easier to bottom-out then my previous 3-coupe...

,

[AMPowerJ]

Watch your speed. You can easily exceed 100 mph without even trying.

[rbk1115]

Originally Posted by AMPowerJ

Watch your speed. You can easily exceed 100 mph without even trying.

+1

[rbk1115]

My advice would also to be to enjoy the car and not obsess over any minor defects as all M3s will have them. All M3s always have quirks!!!

[Stunnerable]

Please! Keep out of Starbucks parking lots.

[Nawaaz]

Originally Posted by ShErM m3

wanted to create a thread for people that have owned their m's for a span of time and made mistakes/almost mistakes and can give that knowledge to help people with new cars not repeat....

I'll start... be really careful going on large speedbumps or higher curbs... m3 is a lot easier to bottom-out then my previous 3-coupe...

,

Great thread! This will come useful to me also.

[Thinker23]

Originally Posted by AMPowerJ

Watch your speed. You can easily exceed 100 mph without even trying.

+2

A few that I picked up from the forum:
- Maintain a fair distance from the car in front of you to prevent rock chips.
- Gently guide the seat belt when it retracts to prevent dings on the interior trim.
- Avoid rubbing the leather seats when getting in / out of the car.

[Doc]

Stop reading the internet and go drive the damn car!

[drey]

"I'll start... be really careful going on large speedbumps or higher curbs... m3 is a lot easier to bottom-out then my previous 3-coupe..."

Yup. It's so easy to scrape stuff that I find myself exiting the car to scout out driveway entrances, etc. before driving through to avoid doing damage. Already broke the inner right fender which is a cheap fix at $86 but still annoying as hell when you consider how easy it was to break!

"Watch your speed. You can easily exceed 100 mph without even trying."

Double yup. Feels like 60 when you're doing 90 and you will often experience an uncontrollable urge to pass all slower traffic, sometimes 3 or 4 cars at a time - when conditions permit, of course! Good radar detection is a must with this car...

Another observation would be to budget plenty of dough for gas because you're gonna want to drive a lot and she's a thirsty, thirsty girl!

[Voltigeur]

Originally Posted by AMPowerJ

Watch your speed. You can easily exceed 100 mph without even trying.

+1 Did this running-in (permissible in high gear) with no effort - but on the AutoBahn so entirely legal, not go-to-court-directly

[Patricius]

When on the streets and you think to yourself "Should I take DSC fully off?," the answer is "No."

[linsm3]

DO NOT AND I REPEAT DO NOT go through any drive through, I put a scratch on my new BBS wheels and I was watching where I was going. Also, if you drive around with your windows down and sing you may inadvertently go over the speed limit, like about 40 plus.

[BMWM.D.]

Tires- there is no spare and the car does not have run-flats. The M-mobility kit provided only works on minor punctures.

I had my first first-hand experience with this today. I must have hit a large, sharp object on the highway which immediately flattened my right rear tire. My tire pressure warning came on and I (like an idiot) slowed down but waited until the next exit about 1/2 mile away to pull off. I assumed I had run over a nail but did not think I had the severe leak that was present.

Turns out I had a 1/4" hole in the middle of the tire and whatever made the hole was not there to help plug the hole. I tried to use the mobility kit and electric pump, but the hole was too big to seal. I was able to air to tire up with the sealant in it, but it lost all of it's air within 30 seconds of driving off. I then had to call BMW Assist and wait for a flat-bed.

The moral of this story: Pull over immediately if you get a tire warning light, it might save you $350+ for a new tire. I damaged the sidewalls driving for that half mile to exit the highway. I was able to patch the tire at my shop to get me home, but I do not feel safe with the amount of sidewall wear that occurred. Had I pulled over right away, the tire would likely be fine.

FWIW, I might buy a set of tire plugs to keep in the car in case I get into a jam like this in the future. That way I could plug the hole, fill the tire with the pump and be good to go. This would have been better than waiting 2 hours for the tow truck.

[Tee-Tom]

I think not having a spare on a car without run flats is not the best.
A simple flat could ruin your entire day...instead of half an hour!!

[Stav]

After the 1200 mile service go to a track and find the car's limits and become comfortable with them. Or go to the the M school for a couple of days. You will feel much safer and you will know what you are doing riding the car on public streets on a daily basis.

[immiketoo]

Buy the wheel protection plan offered by BMW. It covers aftermarket wheels as well as stockers!

[skierman64]

Originally Posted by Stav

After the 1200 mile service go to a track and find the car's limits and become comfortable with them. Or go to the the M school for a couple of days. You will feel much safer and you will know what you are doing riding the car on public streets on a daily basis.

+1000

[skierman64]

Originally Posted by BMWM.D.

Tires- there is no spare and the car does not have run-flats. The M-mobility kit provided only works on minor punctures.

I had my first first-hand experience with this today. I must have hit a large, sharp object on the highway which immediately flattened my right rear tire. My tire pressure warning came on and I (like an idiot) slowed down but waited until the next exit about 1/2 mile away to pull off. I assumed I had run over a nail but did not think I had the severe leak that was present.

Turns out I had a 1/4" hole in the middle of the tire and whatever made the hole was not there to help plug the hole. I tried to use the mobility kit and electric pump, but the hole was too big to seal. I was able to air to tire up with the sealant in it, but it lost all of it's air within 30 seconds of driving off. I then had to call BMW Assist and wait for a flat-bed.

The moral of this story: Pull over immediately if you get a tire warning light, it might save you $350+ for a new tire. I damaged the sidewalls driving for that half mile to exit the highway. I was able to patch the tire at my shop to get me home, but I do not feel safe with the amount of sidewall wear that occurred. Had I pulled over right away, the tire would likely be fine.

FWIW, I might buy a set of tire plugs to keep in the car in case I get into a jam like this in the future. That way I could plug the hole, fill the tire with the pump and be good to go. This would have been better than waiting 2 hours for the tow truck.

Join AAA, I've never had to wait more than 45 minutes the few times I've had to use them for other cars I own. Never on my M3 though.

[Voltigeur]

Originally Posted by Doc

Stop reading the internet and go drive the damn car!

[Voltigeur]

Originally Posted by immiketoo

Buy the wheel protection plan offered by BMW. It covers aftermarket wheels as well as stockers!

Agreed and done.

[JohnnyRoaster]

Check and make sure the radiator fan is running when the engine is on. I had a loose relay and my engine overheated before I knew there was a problem.

[jimmyeatsworld]

1) drive the car hard like it was meant to be

2) becareful when driving and playing with the idrive

3) never get complimentary car washes from the dealer unless you want swirls.