Congratulations. Enjoy it!

 

^^^Thanks!
BTW, all said and done, still prefer the manual box of Turbo to Dual Clutch though. Hmmm hmm.

Pretty faces of the bad boys:

 

She's a beaut. Congrats.

 

Can
Love the Guards Red. What brand is your front spoiler?

 

Thanks. This infamous lip is original Techart One front spoiler. Careful when you look at lips, there are subtle differences between all the lips out there, and this one is the most beautiful to my eyes, but costly at around $2000 plus.

This lip is the only item in my car that serves nothing but cosmetic function. It's the first thing that I see in the morning when I enter garage, and looks so pretty even now after 4 years , well worth it.

Why "infamous"? Just search "Techart type" and watch the firework - ha ha.

 

Interesting comment from Car & Driver 10/2013, comparing E90 (335i) to F30 (328i) steering:

In summary, the most significant change from the E90 to the F30 results from the switch to electric power-steering assist, which diminishes feel. Body roll in the two cars is indentical, but the use of the rear-suspension understeer instead of large tires in back may be why the new 328i feels less agile turning into corners. All of it adds up to a softer, tamer 3-series that's more about luxury than fun.

My feeling remains same: new M3 will most likely be faster at Nurburgring, will be more efficient, but the intangible parameter, "driver's feedback," will suffer. It is interesting that the same trend has been observed in 2 fantastic lines of cars with great pedigree: BMW M3 and Porsche 911.

 

My humble opinion and OCD-level evaluation of M3 steering versus Turbo after 1000 miles with the M3:

Steering feel and response with Servotronic *off* is the best I've ever felt for a sports sedan, close to the best period, and this has taken me by surprise. So good that I am now ranking steering to be almost my number one love for this car. It's interesting to compare M3 (variable power assisted, going to zero at high speed) versus Turbo steering (power assisted and too much so in Turbo). Of the four primary parameters I am considering:
feedback,
weighting,
response,
precision,
while the Porsche Turbo wins the "feedback" contest (you feel the road and the wheel more), that's the only win. M3 has perfect-10 weighting (steering feels heavy at speed, light in parking), perfect 10 steering response (very quick), and the feel of precision. I also enjoy very much the feel of the thick and meaty steering wheel. I turn off Servotronic Sport mode, because although steering response is quicker, it becomes too abrupt for me.
To put things in perspective, I would still rank Cayman and GT3 steering to be better than M3, primarily for not just feedback, but also how intuitive and natural it feels. Turbo's steering unfortunately and IMHO remains the weakest point of our car - over assisted and lazy in feel (improved with toe out setting and firmer coilover/spring).

Of note, the M3 also has variable ratio steering, how much the ratio varies, I don't know. This feature was criticized heavily in first generation but by this year 2011, it has been perfected to the point that I can't really complain anymore. It is really perfection for a sport sedan and a highlight of this car. Highly recommended and a perfect companion to our Turbo not just because of how *different* it feels from our Turbo, but how simply so very good it is.

 

Moon over LA:

 

You have two excellent cars in your fleet. Your M looks super clean.

My fiance has an E92 M3 and it compliments my 996 Turbo nicely. It does some things better (like engine sound) while my Turbo easily bests it in other categories. I like the M3 so much I recently picked up an E46 M3 for a daily driver. Now I can have fun any day of the week.

 

This M3 is for my wife so we our situations are similar. Yes I agree, nothing replaces the Turbo: more feedback, more low end torque, so much more agile and powerful. Of note, the M3 is only about 150 lbs more but *feels* so much heavier; this is very surprising to me.

The wife drove the car the other day and it passed with flying colors. I set every parameter to the softest setting, under inflated the tires to make suspension feels comfortable ; wife loved it, or rather, she didn't mind it. The V8 could not hid its potential, the mild shaking and noise of the V8 at the start was awesome :-) but that didn't seem to bother my wife.

But what surprises me the most is how much I've enjoyed the M3; the power and sound, but in particular the steering, which other than the lack of feedback, I prefer to the steering of my 997 Turbo. 997 Turbo is over-assisted and is the weakest, and most non-correctable aspect of the 997 Turbo.

 

saww you on m3post! haha im actually in the process to sell my m3 for a turbo myself... you got a great deal on a great car!