New M3 - Simply a Dud??

I waited until the new M3 was disclosed to the world. I didn't rely on spy photos, leaks of information, and the like to opine. It arrived and sadly I was VERY dissappointed.

I have to ask myself what are, if any, the real changes over the e46 M3? I mean there are increases, such as price, weight, overly complex systems, increased HP (but no significant change in 0-60 times), and voracious consumer of fossil fuel . Maybe improvements such as an engine that weighs less (so what - what a marketing gimmick), inreased RPMs (big deal) or seats that reflect more sunlight and are cooler in the summer (as the M3 convertible offers - this is insulting).

Styling - the coupe and sedan - basically look like their generic base versions. I can't even comment.

When you look at prior generations of M3s, this current generation does not capture the drivability of prior generations (new generation is BBB - big, bukly, and boring [ looks like its siblings]) or what M is all about. It does not represent M3's. Is this vehicle the essence of BMW's M division OR have they succumb to the pressures of quarterly reports of Wall street analysts? Has BMW missed the mark with its next generation M3? Is BMW looking to appease simply the masses? Does this call for an insurrection by M3 owners to hold BMW accountable?

Your responses are appreciated.

Thanks!

(e46 m3 fanatic)

Originally Posted by cwp84

I waited until the new M3 was disclosed to the world. I didn't rely on spy photos, leaks of information, and the like to opine. It arrived and sadly I was VERY dissappointed.

I have to ask myself what are, if any, the real changes over the e46 M3? I mean there are increases, such as price, weight, overly complex systems, increased HP (but no significant change in 0-60 times), and voracious consumer of fossil fuel . Maybe improvements such as an engine that weighs less (so what - what a marketing gimmick), inreased RPMs (big deal) or seats that reflect more sunlight and are cooler in the summer (as the M3 convertible offers - this is insulting).

Styling - the coupe and sedan - basically look like their generic base versions. I can't even comment.

When you look at prior generations of M3s, this current generation does not capture the drivability of prior generations (BBB - big, bukly, and boring [ looks like its siblings]) or what M is all about. It does not represent M3's. Is this vehicle the essence of BMW's M division OR have they succumb to the pressures of quarterly reports of Wall street analysts? Has BMW missed the mark with its next generation M3? Is BMW looking to appease simply the masses? Does this call for an insurrection by M3 owners to hold BMW accountible?

Your responses are appreciated.

Thanks!

(e46 m3 fanatic)

I just picked mine up the day you wrote that. The car is amazing.

Originally Posted by Nisocrew

I just picked mine up the day you wrote that. The car is amazing.

great, and because the Mrs. like the smoother ride than is predecessor? Or, because of your current exclusivity?

Originally Posted by cwp84

great, and because the Mrs. like the smoother ride than is predecessor? Or, because of your current exclusivity?

I don't have a Mrs. The ride is great. The suspension doesn't have to be rock hard all the time to be considered sporty. The suspension reacts to driving conditions and mine has EDC. Considering it pulls .95 on the skid pad and has one of the fastest slaloms for any production car, I think it does quite a good job. Given a choice...E92. Have you driven a new one yet?

Originally Posted by Nisocrew

I don't have a Mrs. The ride is great. The suspension doesn't have to be rock hard all the time to be considered sporty. The suspension reacts to driving conditions and mine has EDC. Considering it pulls .95 on the skid pad and has one of the fastest slaloms for any production car, I think it does quite a good job. Given a choice...E92. Have you driven a new one yet?

You do raise a good point. After awhile driving my e46, especially hard, I feel like someone rolled me up, shoved me into my dryer, and set the speed on high. I just ache (I think my seat feels the same too.). Where did you pull your references from? I would like to read up on it.

I have been to my local BMW dealership. Having spoke with some folks there, they mentioned the increased ride comfort - mostly women who stated "its so much smoother and nicer to drive" (nothing against you of course).

Haven't driven an E92 yet and am thinking about it. Sat in the driver seat of one though at the dealership and made pretend vroom vroom engine noises.

Originally Posted by cwp84

You do raise a good point. After awhile driving my e46, especially hard, I feel like someone rolled me up, shoved me into my dryer, and set the speed on high. I just ache (I think my seat feels the same too.). Where did you pull your references from? I would like to read up on it.

I have been to my local BMW dealership. Having spoke with some folks there, they mentioned the increased ride comfort - mostly women who stated "its so much smoother and nicer to drive" (nothing against you of course).

Haven't driven an E92 yet and am thinking about it. Sat in the driver seat of one though at the dealership and made pretend vroom vroom engine noises.

Haha, yeah. Well, it was hard to tell driving it at the dealer anyway because you can't push it. I remember the ride of the E46, it's rough. I like stiff suspension, but only for so long. The 92 is a nice compromise. I read an article on edmunds and also car and driver. There is an article in one of those type mags comparing it to the Porsche 911 turbo and Nissan GTR and they choose the M3 in the end. The ride is really nice, I was actually shocked at how smooth it was, I was expecting stiffer. The seats are much better though, and I think that helps. The leather is softer and I think the seats have more cushion and the E46.

I love the old E46 M3, the looks, the growl of the exhaust, everything about it, butt it's a race car.
The new M3 has a better ride, more zoom zoom, and handles just as well, butt it just does not look as aggressive
Plus its 80K for the transformer vert

Originally Posted by xtremecruiser

I love the old E46 M3, the looks, the growl of the exhaust, everything about it, butt it's a race car.
The new M3 has a better ride, more zoom zoom, and handles just as well, butt it just does not look as aggressive
Plus its 80K for the transformer vert

Personally, I think the new M3 looks plenty aggressive. It is really tough to change my idea of the M3 over to the E92 though, that is for sure. That being said, as far as exhaust goes, E92 hands down. One, you can't beat a V8 rumble. Two, the E46 was raspy and didn't quite "growl" in my opinion. I would say the E46 roared like say a puma, or a cougar, or a mountain lion. Whereas, the E92 roars like the friggin' king of the jungle. I agree with your opinion on the price of the vert...actually, the price in general...it's an expensive car unless you get it with no options. However, don't do that. Get all the goodies you can, because they are totally worth it. I just spent 12 hours in mine this past weekend, and it is by far the most comfortable car for a road trip I've ever driven. And I got 22.8 mpg on the highway! Yeah! Take that Al Gore!

PS: Hopefully you know that a puma, cougar, and mountain lion are the same animal and giggled a bit.

bump?!?!?!

Originally Posted by cwp84

bump?!?!?!

Well done on the bump.

So, I autocrossed the M two weekends ago and I have to say I am very impressed. As were all the people at the event. I would say to come within 2 seconds of a C5 Z06 running r compounds while running OEM tires on the M3 is pretty impressive on about a 60 second course. Two Z06's (one supercharged) took the top two times of the day (~54.5), and I took third with the M3 (~56.5).

The M dynamic mode traction control is quite good. It will let you get fairly loose before intervening and when it does, it is quite subtle. However, running with the traction control off is certainly the way to go. You have to be quite gentle on the start to prevent loss of traction, but other than that the car handles like a dream through the chicanes and slaloms. The braking was also very impressive.

All in all, I am extremely pleased with the car. To put down those kinds of times while weighing 3600lbs and providing all the amenities it does is a testament to BMW engineering. Everyone at the event loved the sound it made while going around the course. With some race tires, the car would be highly competitive in SS. I ran AS that weekend since the car isn't classed yet, and that's the class the E46 M3 ran in. Needless to say, no one else in AS came close. So, the E46 M3 ran AS, the E92 will most definitely run SS...I wouldn't call that a dud.

but the 2008 M3 is the first M-car I would have actually considered buying. (I actually did consider it, but decided to spend less.)

Until '08 I'd always believed the M's to be somewhat gaudy--too obvious may be the best way to describe it.

I don't like my cars to look like race cars, and I don't like them to feel like race cars when I'm not racing. IMO, there are plenty of subtle and some not-so-subtle cues that differentiate the current M3 from the 335's.

I guess I wouldn't care whether or not the guy standing on the sidewalk, who knows nothing about cars, knows I'm driving a beast. Anyone who follows cars would know immediately when an '08 M3 drove up, and if they've done any reading, they'd know it was a force to be reckoned with--chosen over AMG's and 911's, among others.

The most impressive part about the '08 M3 is not the performance specs. It's the level of refinement that has been achieved while retaining the exceptional performance. I'm not an engineer, but my guess is that achievement is more difficult than just building in some more brute force to reduce the 0-60 time.

I wish I had a red M3 coupe--maybe next time. For now, I'll enjoy my black 335xi sedan. And yes, the wife had a part in the sedan decision. She did let me go with the 335, instead of the 328, however. So, I consider it a reasonable compromise, not that I have anything against the 328.

Originally Posted by NB08

but the 2008 M3 is the first M-car I would have actually considered buying. (I actually did consider it, but decided to spend less.)

Until '08 I'd always believed the M's to be somewhat gaudy--too obvious may be the best way to describe it.

I don't like my cars to look like race cars, and I don't like them to feel like race cars when I'm not racing. IMO, there are plenty of subtle and some not-so-subtle cues that differentiate the current M3 from the 335's.

I guess I wouldn't care whether or not the guy standing on the sidewalk, who knows nothing about cars, knows I'm driving a beast. Anyone who follows cars would know immediately when an '08 M3 drove up, and if they've done any reading, they'd know it was a force to be reckoned with--chosen over AMG's and 911's, among others.

The most impressive part about the '08 M3 is not the performance specs. It's the level of refinement that has been achieved while retaining the exceptional performance. I'm not an engineer, but my guess is that achievement is more difficult than just building in some more brute force to reduce the 0-60 time.

I wish I had a red M3 coupe--maybe next time. For now, I'll enjoy my black 335xi sedan. And yes, the wife had a part in the sedan decision. She did let me go with the 335, instead of the 328, however. So, I consider it a reasonable compromise, not that I have anything against the 328.

I agree. While there are some small interior features that I liked about the E46 better, the E92 is a much more luxurious vehicle overall. It also has subtle features that are adjustable through iDrive that just make it feel like you can make it your car. Like I said above, I drove that car 6 hours each way and it was the most comfortable car I've driven on a long stretch like that. The fact that it can soothe you during normal driving and then turn it on like it does at the track is just simply stunning. Also, having two back seats with more room than the E46 and having a proper trunk is just gravy. I think it's quite close to being in a class by itself.

Originally Posted by xtremecruiser

I love the old E46 M3, the looks, the growl of the exhaust, everything about it, butt it's a race car.
The new M3 has a better ride, more zoom zoom, and handles just as well, butt it just does not look as aggressive
Plus its 80K for the transformer vert

The new M3 has a better ride, more zoom zoom, and handles just as well.. I agree I love my M3