My review of the E92 M3 (Photoshoot inside)
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My review of the E92 M3 (Photoshoot inside)
Hey guys, my first attempt at a review. Here goes nothing 
My night out with a beauty from Teuton.
As the maxim goes, “M3 drivers are ***** and have no friends”. To a large extent, I concur. The most prominent demographic consist of eighteen to thirty-something goons whose love for oversized Prada shades, bucket o hair gel, bling and bluetooth is mandatory……not forgetting the compulsive demeanor of tailgating you on the highway, revving the engine unnecessarily at (insert public gathering here) in a desperate bid to attract attention. If you have ever pulled up next to a M3 at a traffic light, you will also notice how M3 drivers consistently have that look on their face….. the constipated look which screams “My farts don’t stink”.
However, not all M3 drivers are the same, like every other apple that does fall far from the tree, there are a few exceptions. I was generous enough to be offered the keys to a Jerez Black (E92) M3 coupe by a dear friend of mine. Fortunately for me, it was kitted out with all the bells and whistles that make me feel like I’m being tickled by angels in my naughty areas, such as the carbon fiber roof, EDC (Electronic Damper Control), M dynamic seats, voice control, comfort access, 19” tekkies and most importantly……..a proper 6 speed manual transmission without all the Dopplekupplung wizardry.
What I loved about this colour (Jerez Black) was its ability to change to a different shade in varying light. Look at in broad daylight after a polish and shine and its glistening black colour is unmistakable. However, come dusk, and its colour chameleons into a midnight shade of violet. Its very difficult to capture this shade of purple on camera but after several attempts, I did manage to capture it under dim fluorescent lighting.
Having driven several variants in the past, making my way around interior was clockwork, but there were a few subtle surprises. As soon as I got cozy in my bucket seat, a robotic arm extended forward, beside my ear, prompting me to fasten my seatbelt.” Might as well”, I figured. The M Dynamic seats allowed me to adjust lumbar support for my lower back as well as the side bolsters on the seats, such that the seat completely wrapped around my back and rib cage, assuring me that I would remain fixated, irrespective of how much lateral G’s my body would succumb. The center dash, while clean and simple didn’t quite stimulate me like its predecessors which had more of a driver-facing layout with an array of glowing buttons that made you feel like you were in control of the Starship Enterprise. Alas, I proceeded on to adjust the mirrors, popped the shifter into neutral and pushed the “START/STOP” button. The glorious V8 purred to life. As soon as my eager hands made contact with the wheel, I immediately noticed the colossal girth of the steering wheel coupled with the traditional M stitching and the hulking power dome on the bonnet, which was a clear indication -this was no ordinary X- wing from plant Rosslyn, this was indeed the millennium falcon. I already had a gigantic grin of my face, in anticipation of what was to come.
As I pulled out of the driveway, I noticed how feathery the steering was. I could move it from lock to lock with barely 2 fingers. Déjà vu, I thought? I had felt this limp steering response with the 5 series sedan when fitted with the optional active steering with servotronic. More on that later.
I decided it would be best to make my way down to the recently completed Ngwenya highway for a spirited drive as it did have all the right ingredients ; freshly laid asphalt , gloriously illuminated with hardly any traffic, scrumptious bends on inclines and declines through mountains and valleys -Just what the doc asked for. As I got onto the highway, I figured I would give it a bit of a poke. At this moment, everything was set to the default “Comfort” Mode as I tried to get a feeler. I was cruising along at about 50 KPH in 3RD gear and nudged on the accelerator a little and the torque which lay in abundance simply revealed itself in a composed manner. The car felt neat on the bends and surprisingly comfortable compared to its predecessor. The instrument cluster lacked the nostalgic feel with the absence of the traditional orange dials but had a clean and vivid layout. The manual transmission felt great paired to a marshmallow-like clutch, even though I feel BMW would have done good to offer a short shifter as standard equipment on their most bona fide sports car. After spending extensive time behind the wheel, I got the vibe that the M3 was definitely a more comfortable car to live with on a daily basis. It was the kind of car you could use for a long drive to the coast without feeling bruised and battered. In my hypothetic perfect world, this would be the ideal daily driver.
“Enough of the timid driving”, I could hear my hormones pleading. While driving along, I decided to fidget about with the “M Drive” menu on the M3’s on board computer. M Drive enables one to adjust the vehicle’s sporty character so that when you want her to dance to some sensual tango, she’s ready at the touch of the M button on the steering wheel. Some of the options one is allowed to customize include the ferocity of the EDC, throttle mapping, traction control and servotronic. I maxed out everything and left traction control on. Traction control had saved my life way too many times in the past, and knowing the power of the behemoth of an engine that lay beneath the hood, it was the wise thing to do. Coming back to steering response, thankfully, Gerhad Ricther, who was the head of development of the current generation M3 decided against acitve steering amongst many other of BMW’s novel technological innovations which hampered driving experience for enthusiasts. However, the Servotronic feature did find its way to production on the M3 with an option to customize its settings which I feel many journalists may have overlooked, as I recall, when the M3 was launched in Spain a lot of the journalists criticized it for lack of steering responsiveness. Servotronic basically made the steering as light as a feather at low speeds, making for comfortable entry/exit in the case of a parking maneuver. I adjusted the servotoronic feature via the M Drive menu and set it from COMFORT (which is default) to SPORT. In sport mode, the steering would grow more responsive and heavier with increment in speed.
With the magic M button configured, I took a quick peep around me, not a car in sight. Pressed the M button on the steering and a subtle green M logo lit up on the instrument cluster, indicating that this baby was ready to dance. Time to give it some stick. Ease of the clutch and stomped on the accelerator. 2000,3000,4000,5000 RPM and climbing…….my mind rekindled memories of my days as a toddler, churning out melodies on a xylophone and the delight it brought when I stumbled upon a symphony in rhythm. This feeling was similar, only just, the aural pleasure of the high pitched 8 cylinders had the hairs on my forearms standing erect. The revs were climbing rapidly as the M3 bolted to momentum, yet the engine still yearned for me to go on and on…. and so I did. 6000,7000, redline at 8000 RPM, mash the clutch, slot it in to second, dump the clutch, a chirp of wheelspin and off we go again. The torque had me plastered to the seat like that damned bubblegum stuck to the sole of your shoe only just the irritation was replaced with sensation. The rate at which the car gathered pace was mind boggling. I was clearly not used to this kind of power. Out of 2nd gear, I was already doing 120. My hand firm on the wheel and my senses on full alert as I approached a mild bend. The car evoked so much confidence; it felt as if telepathy was at play between this engineering masterpiece and I. It stuck like glue and I knew exactly where my limits were, and how much further I could go. The feedback was amazing. This was the supernatural feeling that every aficionado crave’s for; an experience whereby the driver , the car and the road no longer feel like 3 separate subjects. It’s as if the trinity bond in unison and embed into your soul.
I couldn’t get enough of the manual transmission paired to this gem of an engine. Rev matched down shifts, heel-and-toe out of bends with th V8’s thunder resonating in awe. The feeling was so orgasmic I could have mistaken it for a sin. Eyes on the road, keeping track of the speedo through my peripheral view, hands juggling between the wheel and shifter with my feet simultaneously dancing between the clutch, brake and the throttle does feel like quite a workout - but work it all in synergy and the drive is so rewarding, I would never have it any other way. Yes, the (optional) dual clutch transmission may be a marvel of engineering and technology but where’s the fun in paddle pushing?
As the night trickled to an end I bid farewell to this teutonic beauty and thanked her for a great night out by snapping a few pics. She responded in kindness with a few eye catching poses. A big thank you to my buddy Mohammed for handing me the keys along with the license to thrill. Now back to the grind!
C&C welcome
My night out with a beauty from Teuton.
As the maxim goes, “M3 drivers are ***** and have no friends”. To a large extent, I concur. The most prominent demographic consist of eighteen to thirty-something goons whose love for oversized Prada shades, bucket o hair gel, bling and bluetooth is mandatory……not forgetting the compulsive demeanor of tailgating you on the highway, revving the engine unnecessarily at (insert public gathering here) in a desperate bid to attract attention. If you have ever pulled up next to a M3 at a traffic light, you will also notice how M3 drivers consistently have that look on their face….. the constipated look which screams “My farts don’t stink”.
However, not all M3 drivers are the same, like every other apple that does fall far from the tree, there are a few exceptions. I was generous enough to be offered the keys to a Jerez Black (E92) M3 coupe by a dear friend of mine. Fortunately for me, it was kitted out with all the bells and whistles that make me feel like I’m being tickled by angels in my naughty areas, such as the carbon fiber roof, EDC (Electronic Damper Control), M dynamic seats, voice control, comfort access, 19” tekkies and most importantly……..a proper 6 speed manual transmission without all the Dopplekupplung wizardry.
What I loved about this colour (Jerez Black) was its ability to change to a different shade in varying light. Look at in broad daylight after a polish and shine and its glistening black colour is unmistakable. However, come dusk, and its colour chameleons into a midnight shade of violet. Its very difficult to capture this shade of purple on camera but after several attempts, I did manage to capture it under dim fluorescent lighting.
Having driven several variants in the past, making my way around interior was clockwork, but there were a few subtle surprises. As soon as I got cozy in my bucket seat, a robotic arm extended forward, beside my ear, prompting me to fasten my seatbelt.” Might as well”, I figured. The M Dynamic seats allowed me to adjust lumbar support for my lower back as well as the side bolsters on the seats, such that the seat completely wrapped around my back and rib cage, assuring me that I would remain fixated, irrespective of how much lateral G’s my body would succumb. The center dash, while clean and simple didn’t quite stimulate me like its predecessors which had more of a driver-facing layout with an array of glowing buttons that made you feel like you were in control of the Starship Enterprise. Alas, I proceeded on to adjust the mirrors, popped the shifter into neutral and pushed the “START/STOP” button. The glorious V8 purred to life. As soon as my eager hands made contact with the wheel, I immediately noticed the colossal girth of the steering wheel coupled with the traditional M stitching and the hulking power dome on the bonnet, which was a clear indication -this was no ordinary X- wing from plant Rosslyn, this was indeed the millennium falcon. I already had a gigantic grin of my face, in anticipation of what was to come.
As I pulled out of the driveway, I noticed how feathery the steering was. I could move it from lock to lock with barely 2 fingers. Déjà vu, I thought? I had felt this limp steering response with the 5 series sedan when fitted with the optional active steering with servotronic. More on that later.
I decided it would be best to make my way down to the recently completed Ngwenya highway for a spirited drive as it did have all the right ingredients ; freshly laid asphalt , gloriously illuminated with hardly any traffic, scrumptious bends on inclines and declines through mountains and valleys -Just what the doc asked for. As I got onto the highway, I figured I would give it a bit of a poke. At this moment, everything was set to the default “Comfort” Mode as I tried to get a feeler. I was cruising along at about 50 KPH in 3RD gear and nudged on the accelerator a little and the torque which lay in abundance simply revealed itself in a composed manner. The car felt neat on the bends and surprisingly comfortable compared to its predecessor. The instrument cluster lacked the nostalgic feel with the absence of the traditional orange dials but had a clean and vivid layout. The manual transmission felt great paired to a marshmallow-like clutch, even though I feel BMW would have done good to offer a short shifter as standard equipment on their most bona fide sports car. After spending extensive time behind the wheel, I got the vibe that the M3 was definitely a more comfortable car to live with on a daily basis. It was the kind of car you could use for a long drive to the coast without feeling bruised and battered. In my hypothetic perfect world, this would be the ideal daily driver.
“Enough of the timid driving”, I could hear my hormones pleading. While driving along, I decided to fidget about with the “M Drive” menu on the M3’s on board computer. M Drive enables one to adjust the vehicle’s sporty character so that when you want her to dance to some sensual tango, she’s ready at the touch of the M button on the steering wheel. Some of the options one is allowed to customize include the ferocity of the EDC, throttle mapping, traction control and servotronic. I maxed out everything and left traction control on. Traction control had saved my life way too many times in the past, and knowing the power of the behemoth of an engine that lay beneath the hood, it was the wise thing to do. Coming back to steering response, thankfully, Gerhad Ricther, who was the head of development of the current generation M3 decided against acitve steering amongst many other of BMW’s novel technological innovations which hampered driving experience for enthusiasts. However, the Servotronic feature did find its way to production on the M3 with an option to customize its settings which I feel many journalists may have overlooked, as I recall, when the M3 was launched in Spain a lot of the journalists criticized it for lack of steering responsiveness. Servotronic basically made the steering as light as a feather at low speeds, making for comfortable entry/exit in the case of a parking maneuver. I adjusted the servotoronic feature via the M Drive menu and set it from COMFORT (which is default) to SPORT. In sport mode, the steering would grow more responsive and heavier with increment in speed.
With the magic M button configured, I took a quick peep around me, not a car in sight. Pressed the M button on the steering and a subtle green M logo lit up on the instrument cluster, indicating that this baby was ready to dance. Time to give it some stick. Ease of the clutch and stomped on the accelerator. 2000,3000,4000,5000 RPM and climbing…….my mind rekindled memories of my days as a toddler, churning out melodies on a xylophone and the delight it brought when I stumbled upon a symphony in rhythm. This feeling was similar, only just, the aural pleasure of the high pitched 8 cylinders had the hairs on my forearms standing erect. The revs were climbing rapidly as the M3 bolted to momentum, yet the engine still yearned for me to go on and on…. and so I did. 6000,7000, redline at 8000 RPM, mash the clutch, slot it in to second, dump the clutch, a chirp of wheelspin and off we go again. The torque had me plastered to the seat like that damned bubblegum stuck to the sole of your shoe only just the irritation was replaced with sensation. The rate at which the car gathered pace was mind boggling. I was clearly not used to this kind of power. Out of 2nd gear, I was already doing 120. My hand firm on the wheel and my senses on full alert as I approached a mild bend. The car evoked so much confidence; it felt as if telepathy was at play between this engineering masterpiece and I. It stuck like glue and I knew exactly where my limits were, and how much further I could go. The feedback was amazing. This was the supernatural feeling that every aficionado crave’s for; an experience whereby the driver , the car and the road no longer feel like 3 separate subjects. It’s as if the trinity bond in unison and embed into your soul.
I couldn’t get enough of the manual transmission paired to this gem of an engine. Rev matched down shifts, heel-and-toe out of bends with th V8’s thunder resonating in awe. The feeling was so orgasmic I could have mistaken it for a sin. Eyes on the road, keeping track of the speedo through my peripheral view, hands juggling between the wheel and shifter with my feet simultaneously dancing between the clutch, brake and the throttle does feel like quite a workout - but work it all in synergy and the drive is so rewarding, I would never have it any other way. Yes, the (optional) dual clutch transmission may be a marvel of engineering and technology but where’s the fun in paddle pushing?
As the night trickled to an end I bid farewell to this teutonic beauty and thanked her for a great night out by snapping a few pics. She responded in kindness with a few eye catching poses. A big thank you to my buddy Mohammed for handing me the keys along with the license to thrill. Now back to the grind!
C&C welcome
Registered User
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 147
From: Australia
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Great writeup mate and I'm glad you got the chance to drive a 6 speed manual. The M3 has always been one of my favourite cars and the E46 is my dream car and I hope to be in one, one day. I often see E92 M3s about on my drive through the city to work and they are usually just casually cruising along but every now and then there is someone hammering one in second or third and they just sound unreal for a V8.
Looking froward to hopefully reading more of your reviews on other cars. Hopefully you can get yourself into a F430, my all time fav
Looking froward to hopefully reading more of your reviews on other cars. Hopefully you can get yourself into a F430, my all time fav
Registered User
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 35
From: Orange County
Rep Power: 18
nice photography, great review as well :thumbup:
i have the e93 m3 and it's definitely one monster (even though the car is 400lb heavier than the e92). i have driven a lot of e90/92 as well, though i have to be honest and say while the car is very capable, i just wish it's a little lighter. these cars are getting so heavy, it loses a bit of that "nimble" feel i had in the e36 or e46.
but nonetheless, i am loving mine
i have the e93 m3 and it's definitely one monster (even though the car is 400lb heavier than the e92). i have driven a lot of e90/92 as well, though i have to be honest and say while the car is very capable, i just wish it's a little lighter. these cars are getting so heavy, it loses a bit of that "nimble" feel i had in the e36 or e46.
but nonetheless, i am loving mine
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