Reviews of the new M3 V8

[Erik]

Why is everyone saying "get the CSL..."? It's not going to be there for a long while.

And people ask what's the need for Audi's S-cars ;)


http://www.autocarmagazine.co.uk/CarReviews/FirstDrives/BMW-M3-4.0-V8/226432/

"And the steering never scores more than six out of 10 no matter where or how you drive the car. Nor do the brakes, which suffered from fade on the road and went away badly on the track. Or the fuel consumption, which was regularly down in the mid-teens on roads on which the old car would have hit well over 20mpg."

http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/first_drive.php?sid=841&page=1
"But in trying to hit so many targets, the E92 leaves purists wanting. So a CSL – a lightweight, more dynamically focused special edition – is now an absolute must and should form an integral part of the range going forward, filling the niche that the original E30 once satisfied in 1986. The good news is BMW’s top brass dropped some very large hints in the press conference, so the CSL sounds like a dead cert."

TopGear
http://www.topgear.com/blogs/drives/079-bmw-m3/

[tazsura]

I'll hold final judgement until more comprehensives test are done, but i must say i'm so far quite shocked! I thought the E92 M3 would have all bases covered...:eye:

Erik, how much lighter and rawer do you expect a CSL version to be? And also how much more expensive? :vhmmm:

At the moment (again, before any comprehensive tests) it looks like the C63 is the one to beat for the RS4, as surely with poor brakes AND steering feel, surely the E92 can't compete with either? :confused:

Taz :cheers:

[Erik]

The video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SqzfPBdX0QI

I am sure the new M3 will be a great car, but competition's very hard!
The C63 AMG is a very interesting choice...

[HKS786]

You are not likely to be disappointed by the new M3 because in many ways it is a deeply impressive car, with a huge range of abilities and very few flaws. But if you were expecting a faster, yet more exciting version of the old car, you might want to wait until the CSL version appears which, on this evidence, will need to happen sooner rather than later to truly keep the legend alive. Even so, as an everyday super-coupe the M3 is some motorcar. So long as you can afford the fuel bills.
AUTOCAR

That sort of puts me off the new M3 because we were expecting it to take the M3 legend to a new level. Jeremy Clarkston said that the new M3 had better come with a free moon to be better than the RS4. However, Autocar are saying that you have to wait for the CSL to have a "faster" and more "exciting" M3. I guess the RS4 still could be better than the new M3...

[Ruergard]

Seems like the RS4 is still going strong. :rs4addict

But I'm waiting for bigger tests, then we'll see... but I think Mercedes have launched a nuclear bomb.. seems like they mean business with the C63!

[JavierNuvolari]

Wow....I was really specting another review. I guess that the M3's loss is Audi's RS 4 gain...anyways, I look forward to see the other tests.

[Erik]

"Just a few more details about the performance of the new M3. BMW published at the press conference a 0-1000 m time of 23.3 seconds.

This compares with the latest M5 Touring which they quote 22.9 seconds for. The M5 Saloon is quoted at 22.7 seconds.

They also quote a 80-120 km/h figure in 4th gear of 4.9 seconds which compares with the 5.2 seconds they quote for the 335i.

The M3 CSL numbers were 23.5 and 5.0 seconds.

The E46 M3 numbers were 24.2 and 5.3 seconds."


This means, buy a 335 chp it an d you will go faster in a straight line than the M3.
Same situation as the A6 2.7TT vs. S6 etc. before.

[KK265]

"Just a few more details about the performance of the new M3. BMW published at the press conference a 0-1000 m time of 23.3 seconds.

This compares with the latest M5 Touring which they quote 22.9 seconds for. The M5 Saloon is quoted at 22.7 seconds.

They also quote a 80-120 km/h figure in 4th gear of 4.9 seconds which compares with the 5.2 seconds they quote for the 335i.

The M3 CSL numbers were 23.5 and 5.0 seconds.

The E46 M3 numbers were 24.2 and 5.3 seconds."


This means, buy a 335 chp it an d you will go faster in a straight line than the M3.
Same situation as the A6 2.7TT vs. S6 etc. before.

Thank you for the info!I agree about C 63 AMG..

[Clio16V]

Thanks for the info!

[skratch]

I hate to say this but BMW has been doing this every year with there cars.They keep getting bigger and are trying to get more market share with there M ego that they have.

The said they want to sell more than 100,000 e90 M3s and they have to make the car less of a track car to please more people.

That is the reason for the CSL witch should of just been the M3 in my opinion but BMW is here to make money off there M3 name and they are going to make lots of it with the next M3.

[chiphead]

http://autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070706/FREE/70706014/1065

"Driving the M3 has always been a compelling experience, and that feeling remains with this new one. Arriving back from Ronda after a solid day behind the wheel, we are in awe of its abilities. The new engine is potent, endowing it devastating pace when you call upon it with a heavy right foot. However, it doesn’t dominate proceedings in the same one-dimensional way we suspected it might. That’s because the chassis it is placed in is well up to the job of corralling its reserves. It devours corners with clinical efficiency. In making it do so, however, BMW has been forced to trade off some of the M3’s renowned sensitivity. But never mind, as Richter intimates as we relay our thoughts to him later, there’s still the CSL version to come. That day can’t come soon enough . . ."

IMHO m3 et al have become too heavy. Maybe the 135i will be what purists are looking for.

[chiphead]

http://www.edmunds.com/apps/vdpcontainers/do/vdp/articleId=121566/pageNumber=1

"This is an exceptionally able car that's blessed with a superbly executed engine, but there can be no denying that some of the guttural appeal of the old car has been lost. Or at least the guttural appeal of the fully optioned M3 that enthusiasts remember. The 2008 BMW M3 might have the grunt to challenge the Porsche 911, but it doesn't quite have the finesse or the emotive appeal. Indeed, you end up wondering whether it's worth paying such a premium over the brilliant BMW 335i coupe."

The journalists want a track ready car; bmw falls short in this mission as does the S5.

[HKS786]

http://www.edmunds.com/apps/vdpcontainers/do/vdp/articleId=121566/pageNumber=1

"This is an exceptionally able car that's blessed with a superbly executed engine, but there can be no denying that some of the guttural appeal of the old car has been lost. Or at least the guttural appeal of the fully optioned M3 that enthusiasts remember. The 2008 BMW M3 might have the grunt to challenge the Porsche 911, but it doesn't quite have the finesse or the emotive appeal. Indeed, you end up wondering whether it's worth paying such a premium over the brilliant BMW 335i coupe."

The journalists want a track ready car; bmw falls short in this mission as does the S5.

Ah, but the S5 isnt the M3/C63 competition. The RS5 is though...

[Bingocaller]

Who is Tom Ford at Top Gear?

And yes I would have expected much more from BMW - Looks like the C63 is going to be the RS4 biggest rival - but that car is also going to be insane!

[Audiphile]

More reviews are necessary before the M3 can be called a disappointment. Car Magazine (on fourtitude.com) has a quick comparison between the M3 and a RS4 Cabriolet of all things. Not sure that makes any sense, but the RS4 Cab did quite well. Anway, so far these reviews leave a huge openning for the RS5 to put the nails in the coffin if Audi does the RS5 anywhere as good as the RS4 is. Considering a new platform that Audi engineers said can be truely tuned to a new level of performance (the S5 and A5 are toned down according to Audi engineers) then this should make for a teutonic shift considering the RS5 will come in at 450 bhp. Maybe its gunning for the C63?

[skratch]

I hope the 19in wheels will make the car feel a little better.Most reviews sofar are with the 18s.The car is not owrth the extra money over a 335.

I just noticed BMW put the 135I on the home page here in the states :wo: :dance: :trash:

0-60 in 4.2-4.5 lol that is going to kill the next M3.I am so happy that BMW is bringing back th E36 size coupes for us.The car should weigh about 3250lbs and be a perfect 50/50 balance track car.

[Erik]

M3 coupe vs RS4 cabrio
http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/first_drive.php?sid=849&page=1

The new M3 is a well sorted, well rounded junior GT, a car we’d all give our right arms to own, but it’s not a giant leap forward and may leave some craving something a little wilder.


http://www.pistonheads.com/roadtests/doc.asp?c=100&i=16457

Contrived, maybe; an exciting prospect, definitely. But in the meantime, perhaps just a little of the M3 magic has been lost…

M3 Videos
http://www.autobild.de/projektor/video.php?artikel_id=14562

[Erik]

:w: Stop BMW M3-gone-soft :w:

http://www.petitiononline.com/M3soft/petition.html

:rotflmao:

[Bingocaller]

Hahahahaha thats one great petition!

[skratch]

I knew this was going to happen.The car is bigger and has more luxgery than an old 7 series.On top have you guys driven an E46 M3?When that car came out there was nothing out there that could caompete with it.It had the most HP and handled way better than most of its cars it was going up against.BMW set the bar really high with the e46.

Now there are so many players that have cought up to BMW.They have made every car company in the world make a car to go up against the M3.

The next csl will be what the M3 was supposed to be.BMW is kinda like doing what AUDI are doing with there s line and rs line.The csl is where you will see the raw power of the next M.

Take a look at the seats in the car,they prolly weight more than I do lol.I don't want heated seats with 500 difffernt ways to adjust them either.They should of threw the csl seats in the car.

I say the ring time will be 8.13 for the regular M3 and 7.48 for the csl if they can keep it the same weight as the old one.

[Audiphile]

The upcoming RS5 will have alot of pressure and expectations riding on it now. Are you listening Audi? You can easily win this one.

[Clio16V]

Another review:

http://www.n24.de/auto/tests/article.php?articleId=132929&teaserId=135841

Ring time about <8:10

[Audiphile]

Anyone seen the Autexpress article. Maybe the Brits on the forum can get us a copy and post it. RS4 still very hot:rs4kiss:

<LEGEND>Attached Images</LEGEND>
http://www.m3post.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=86443&stc=1&d=1184238479
:rs4addict :rs4addict :rs4addict :rs4addict :rs4addict :rs4addict :rs4addict :rs4addict :rs4addict :rs4addict

[Damienr8]

I cant wait for the RS4 Vs M3 comparisons! I would enjoy seeing a battle on top gear!