Driving the M3 again...

[13eastie]

Originally Posted by Steved

I can tell you what I don't like about the steering. Just the same as with the M5 and M6, they go very light when moving slowly (such as moving around in a car park). There is a slight electronic feel about it, although its nicely weighted once pressing on.

When I initially jumped into it after driving my M3 CSL across the Wales I noticed the difference, but after a few days I had forgotten about it and just got on with driving. It's not a 'great' steering, Nobody will ever praise it as being one of the best, and it does take a little time to adapt to.

I just realised, that probably wasn't very 'reassuring'...

Crikey, not at all!

Half my friends are trying to send me to see the man from Porsche, and now it seems you're on their side too!

[nusevad]

sounds great steve, cant wait for the article.

[Epacy]

Originally Posted by southlight

The rumour has it that the exhaust system BMW used on the cars in Spain wasn't production version...Maybe that's the reason for the sound being somewhat muted on the UK cars...

Best regards, south

Interesting. You should publish these rumors more often. Any more rumors?

[Epacy]

Originally Posted by Epacy

x10

I am really surprised to hear that. Can you provide any more detail on what changed your mind? I remember you saying you thought long and hard after you initially drove the new M3 and you choose it over the E46 CSL.

Steved, just wanted to post this one again. Not sure if you missed it.
Thanks.

[Steved]

Originally Posted by Epacy

Steved, just wanted to post this one again. Not sure if you missed it.
Thanks.

It's more to do with my own personal circumstances than the car.

I am 8th on the list for an M3 at my dealer which means I wouldn't get the car until April '08, however I need to sell my Z4M Coupe since I am not using it as much these days and would like to replace it with something that can carry the whole family. So with no M3 available to replace it, I was a bit stuck. Then if I am to believe what BMW said to us that the CSL should be available later next year, if I waited for my M3 slot I may only be keeping it for 6 months before trading it in. So rather than do so, I asked my dealer to transfer my deposit onto my CSL order and secure my position for the first car delivered. It's a gamble, but probably the most sensible option for me.

When I drove the M3 yesterday I started to regret my decision, but ho hum...

[Keto]

Originally Posted by 13eastie

Crikey, not at all!

Half my friends are trying to send me to see the man from Porsche, and now it seems you're on their side too!

You're going to spend >$100k to get away from the GT feel Steved says.

Originally Posted by Steved

It's a GT in much the same way as the 997 is in standard form. It's not a 997 GT3 competitor, but is perfectly capable of being driven either hard or sedately with 'almost' equal pleasure. That makes it spot on for the target market BMW were aiming for but I will leave you to judge whether that makes it the car you were hoping for.

Remember, lucid and I are not allowed to discuss BMW's target market.

[lucid]

Originally Posted by Keto

Remember, lucid and I are not allowed to discuss BMW's target market.

Yep, I did get an email from BMW saying not to discuss that issue anymore with you, or they will sell neither of us any cars. What have we done!

[13eastie]

Originally Posted by Keto

You're going to spend >$100k to get away from the GT feel Steved says.



Remember, lucid and I are not allowed to discuss BMW's target market.

Well my M3 is going to cost around $120K...

997 GT3 has about the correct amount of "GT" feel for me... though frankly, any more dilly-dallying at this stage and I might as well hang on until next year when a 430 will be within reach.

[Keto]

Originally Posted by 13eastie

Well my M3 is going to cost around $120K...

997 GT3 has about the correct amount of "GT" feel for me... though frankly, any more dilly-dallying at this stage and I might as well hang on until next year when a 430 will be within reach.

Ahh, London. Come to the States and buy both! $@#$@# exchange rate.

[esquire]

Originally Posted by Steved

Another point worth sharing. I was dwelling on the question of whether the M3 was better than the 335i in the kind of normal daily drive, rather than the kind of roads that play to its increased performance.

I drove along in 5th gear at 2000 rpm and then put my foot down to see what happened. The exhaust note hardened, and it took around the count of 1-2-3 before we were at 3000 rpm. So I see two bonuses there, firstly it sounds a heck of a lot meaner than a 335i, and secondly it pulled hard from low down in 5th. So it has plenty of big-engined grunt low down in the revs, and yet it pulled from 6000 rpm to 8500 rpm faster than any other car in the test (M5 and M6 included). In fact over that last surge of rpm, I would say it felt like one of the fastest cars BMW have ever produced.

So compared to the 335i it loses nothing in terms of low-down grunt, but would destroy it over the last few thousand rpm. I cannot imagine anyone feeling short changed if they moved from 335i to M3.

Steved, i'm glad you mentioned this. myself included, there are a good number of 335i owners wanting or considering a transition to the new M3. That being said, yours is the first comparison of the two cars (that i know of) from anyone who's driven both the 335i and the M3.

Since i doubt very much your soon-to-be-published article will focus on comparing the new M3 to the current 335i, would you offer your opinions about the comparitive ride quality, steering feel, and performance of the two cars? Your opinion would be much appreciated.

Thank you in advance,
- esquire

[Steved]

Here goes;

Ride quality - bizarrely I would say the M3 rides better than the 335i. We didn't have a 335i there last week, but compared to the M3 CS (ZCP in the States) the M3 had the smoother and more compliant ride. In the Sport setting you can still feel it riding firmly, but at the same time it doesn't crash into holes. We filmed the final shot in a canyon with near un-made roads and the M3 had no problem being driven quickly along these roads.

Steering feel - it's touch and go, but I would say they are about the same, although the M3 firms up (in Servotronic Sport mode) and is more weighty and direct at speed.

Performance - the M3 is an easy car to extract performance from, just as easy as the 335i lower down in the revs and then it has 'so much' more performance once it climbs above 5000 rpm. It doesn't take any effort to extract this final 3000 rpm either.

Originally Posted by Steved

Here goes;


Performance - the M3 is an easy car to extract performance from, just as easy as the 335i lower down in the revs and then it has 'so much' more performance once it climbs above 5000 rpm. It doesn't take any effort to extract this final 3000 rpm either.

Hi Steved,
my compliments for your reports. I think it is not easy for you to be balanced since if I am not wrong, you are a luky onwer of a CSL. So in any case what I read here, in my personal opinion give me the feeling that to drive this new M3 will be simply fantastic..Did you ear any rumors about the N.RING performance and final times?close to 8' or not?

Tks

[esquire]

Originally Posted by Steved

Here goes;

Ride quality - bizarrely I would say the M3 rides better than the 335i. We didn't have a 335i there last week, but compared to the M3 CS (ZCP in the States) the M3 had the smoother and more compliant ride. In the Sport setting you can still feel it riding firmly, but at the same time it doesn't crash into holes. We filmed the final shot in a canyon with near un-made roads and the M3 had no problem being driven quickly along these roads.

Steering feel - it's touch and go, but I would say they are about the same, although the M3 firms up (in Servotronic Sport mode) and is more weighty and direct at speed.

Performance - the M3 is an easy car to extract performance from, just as easy as the 335i lower down in the revs and then it has 'so much' more performance once it climbs above 5000 rpm. It doesn't take any effort to extract this final 3000 rpm either.

thanks steved. it's great to hear that the M3's ride quality is on par with it's tamer little brother. though, your comments about steering feel were expected, i suppose. it's really reassuring, however, to hear that power comes as effortlessly to the new M3 as it does to the twin turboed 335. i can't wait.

- esquire

[m_bazeepaymon]

esquire I think it goes for all of us that we cannot wait...
this wait is really starting to hurt me emotionally lol

[The CSL]

E46 CSL
E30 M3
Z3 M Coupe
E46 CS

[lucid]

Originally Posted by 888

Is any one else brave enough to attempt a guess at top 4? Remember the criteria are M DNA not the best overall package. If best package was the criteria I suspect the new M will come up tops.

From a strictly motorsport standpoint, and without having driven many of these cars, my speculative order:

E46 M3 CSL
Z4 M Coupe
E92 M3
M3 46 CS

[Romo]

Originally Posted by Steved

Here goes;

Ride quality - bizarrely I would say the M3 rides better than the 335i. We didn't have a 335i there last week, but compared to the M3 CS (ZCP in the States) the M3 had the smoother and more compliant ride. In the Sport setting you can still feel it riding firmly, but at the same time it doesn't crash into holes. We filmed the final shot in a canyon with near un-made roads and the M3 had no problem being driven quickly along these roads.

Steering feel - it's touch and go, but I would say they are about the same, although the M3 firms up (in Servotronic Sport mode) and is more weighty and direct at speed.

Performance - the M3 is an easy car to extract performance from, just as easy as the 335i lower down in the revs and then it has 'so much' more performance once it climbs above 5000 rpm. It doesn't take any effort to extract this final 3000 rpm either.

Thank you Steved,

Can you tell anything about the noise level when traffeling the M3 at high Autobahn speed?
The E46 M3 is somewhat disturbing noisy at high speed levels IMHO, that is one off the few minor points.( in this regard the 335i will be better IMO) I hope it`s succesor will be better at this. Thank you for your reply.

[1198r]

Steved - thank you greatly for the info - I can't wait to get mine - dealer said yesterday I may get mine earlier than week 42!! :rocks:

Anyway, I would be interested to hear about those roads in Wales...

Cheers

[Stahlgrau]

Thanks Steved for all of the wonderful info. You're the man.

[swamp2]

Steve, thanks for all the updates and sharing the goods with us here.

My question is along the lines of Epacy's. In your initial drive overviews here on the forum you were really gushing massive praise on the car. You also negated most of the criticisms comeing from other journalists, specifically on the steering. It does seem your overall tone has gone much less positive. You explained that a bit to E. but I did not get it "your circumstances changed...". What gives, do you still stand by all of your initial posts and thoughts? Thanks much.

[Dammmittt]

Anyone know when the september issue of EVO hits newstands?

[888]

Originally Posted by 888

1st E30 M3
2nd E46 CSL
3rd Z4 M coupe
4th E92 M3

M1 wild card??

How close was I??? More info PLZ. thanks for the pics.