Spent the day today down country at a tier 2 ( tier below F1 level [tier1] ) racetrack with the new M3 and various other M cars; M5, M6, ZM Coupe ( crap ), 130i ( awesome!! ) and a 550i ( haha, what a joke )

All in all it was a fantastic day, we got flown down in a charter plane by BMW New Zealand, this particular day was specifically for the dealership we have a relationship, where the family buys our cars from. The day was for the public launch off the new M3, but it also encompassed level 2 driver training which was fantastic.

The M3 got revealed and we then split into 3 groups to head to 3 different driving areas. Our first area was "hot laps" with the M3, M5 and M6 where we could go flat out ( they wouldn't allow traction control to be switched off ) around a 2km circuit. Our first car ( me and my father ) was the M5 which was compromised badly by having to leave DSC on but was still pretty fun to chuck around the tight, but flowing circuit. I have had extensive seat time with the M5 with the traction off, and it becomes a completely different car with all the aids switched off, completely different.

Our next car after 5 or so laps in the M5 was the new M3.

M3 THOUGHTS:

Clutch is way to soft and light. Much lighter than the RS4 clutch and ALOT lighter than the E46. I didnt like it at all but it had reasonable feel when the clutch started to bite.
The handling was awesome ( we had everything at its max ( sportiest ) setting, other than the traction ) but even that allowed the back to move around a bit out of corners and you could to some extent, balance the car on the throttle through the faster corners ( 150kmh through a sweeping left into a tight s-bend ) but the steering felt to light, not vague, just light. I prefer the steering to be heavier and tighter like the outgoing M3. This is obviously down to the servotronic function. I know this last sentence contradicted itself, but the handling was awesome, but for my liking, slightly light. You still felt what the tires were doing and where they were though. I did turn the traction off for a slower ( 60-70kmh apex ) right hander and got a arm full of opposite lock and the car felt very neutral and stable, and to my surprise the instructor in the 330d directly in front of me didnt see it.
The interior is the same as all new BMW's and it felt more cockpit like in its layout which was nice. You felt like you were part of the interior almost.
The brakes were amazing when it was our turn, but the guys after us started to comment on their sponginess and lack of bite. But this is to be expected as us hacks toss the car around a race track.
The engine is again, awesome. It is a high revving V8 so it doesnt have the low down grunt of the RS4 but feels alot more refined (?) and smoother than the Audi block. The engine note is to die for, where the RS4 is throaty and burbly, the M3 has more of a bark to it. Hard to explain but its more of a deeper sound compared to the RS4 throaty sound. Everyone loved it.

So all in all it was a great day, and im sure we were one of the lucky first to get to chuck the 3 around a race track.

If there are any questions feel free to ask and ill try answer them as best as i can.

 

Seems like you had one sweet day and great write-up! You really thought the z4m was crap, I've heard so much good about it...

About the m3: Did you feel it was a lot better than the e46? I've seen so many tests about it and read all the reviews but it sounds like it's just a tiny bit better. Doesn't have the fantastic looks like the old one did, but it's hard to do such a thing once again.
When compared to the rs4 they more or less say it's more fun cause you can drift like a madman. Do you prefer it over the rs or not? I know you've driven your buddy's

 

yea the Z felt like it was floating, maybe it was just that car, but it was to the point, that during the slalom test ,people didnt actually want to drive it and waited for the 130i's which are fun as hell, although with traction on the understeer as bad as a mini.

re questions: It is alot more refined; gear shift ( 2-3 is horrible ), interior, engine etc but is it better?

I like a M3 to be hardcore and the instructor ( whom is only 1 of 10 in the world to get to the level he is at ) said it perfect, the E46 was 30% street focused, 70% track focused. The E90 is 70% street focused, 30% track focused. It is a great, great car, but im 80% certain from today, that i would take the E46, especially the E46CSL. But for an everyday car for most people and for around town, it beats the E46 because of its refinement, especially with its ride and gearbox.

And it looks like a 335 with a body kit, nothing special at all. The E46 looks like its ready to pounce, it sits low and looks purposeful with the flared guards. The E90 just doesnt have the same effect, theres something evocative about the E46, not so with the E90. It doesnt make you want to get in it and ring its neck out when you see it sitting there.

And yeah i prefer it over the RS4, everyday of the week. The RS4 is boring and safe. And the clutch/ accelerator is horrible, why the hell does it rev itself out? its compromised.

 

Lovely write-up, felt like i was there. I want more of those posts from you, helps the procrastonation and homework avoidance.

 

That is so

But, I will stick to my current M3 if the new is geared 70% to street driving.

 

Thanks for the review, too bad about the M coupe, I've heard so much good things about it too.
I Drove the 130i last week and I really liked it but felt it missed 100 horses or so 135i is gonna rock.
You might want to change your thread title to E92 M3

 

Just wait until the 135i. Procede, intake, downpipes & exhaust and you're gonna have one helluva car!

 

An E46 M3 70% track focused.......

An E30 M3 might fit that description JUST MAYBE....

 

small caviat for the M coupe...


I have driven what seems like every bmw and small sports car in the biz (old z roadsters, to boxters, elises, e30s, e36s, owned a e46m3...etc)

Aside from how amazingly comunicative the elise was, the z4m, as I have found, is one of the best track machines in the biz for the fun meter...the only problem is that to really take advantage of it, you have to be at the point where you can feel the weight shifting to minute degrees and just have a general sense of the car that you can only gain through seat time in it. Most I know who just hop in say it feels the same way (though mostly due to the ****ty, ****TY conti's on teh car). It also one of the reasons the drivers of road and track or w/e knocked it when they did the track comparo...Im sure they are good, but this car really requires someone brilliant to just hop in that first time and throw down the hurtin'. That said, after you get comfortable...honestly, as far as the inherent driving experience goes, the thing rocks...and you quickly find that though speed is fun, speed with nice amounts of smoke is even MORE fun...


Not only that but, the z4m should have an "experienced buyers only" sticker on it because thing thing bites hard if you dont know what to do with it...I liken it to the 996gt3 in its ability to bite back hard if you do something wrong with it. I think thats part of the fun though...

 

my new dd...can't wait

 

The Z4M is not crap. It's amazing at the track! So precise and focused! I was able to win my group's tournament competition at the Spartanburg M driving school in that car. We competed it in the wet, with no DSC on. > The car was amazing to drive. But for the price, the S54 Z3 is my choice.

 

(they are giving these cars away for 7-9k under sticker...they are very affordable now!!!)


But ya, in the hands of a particularly experienced individual...they are seriously deadly!!!

 

I had never heard of BMW discounting new cars. Even the 760 when it was selling miserably. Did something change?

 

yea...they came out with a car sooo ugly even bmw enthusiasts (the ones who will buy anything with the letters BMW on it) wont even buy it.

 

ouch man...that hurts....
























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