M3 review
 

I've only put a few dozen miles in the US, but add the 1400+ miles I put in Europe and here is my review:

1) The Miata is more fun in a lot of respects. This is not dissimilar from when I had the 997TT and the MCS, where the latter was more fun at low speeds and around town.

2) That said, like the 997TT, this car is quite fast (not 997TT-fast, but 90% as fast), with the obvious benefit of seating 5 adults, far newer technology and comfort (easier to get in and out), large trunk, etc. The similarities with the 997TT at 90% are many: too fast but also offers opportunity for giggles, it's an event to drive it (sounds, looks, interior, ego/douche factor, etc.), feeling fortunate/guilty for having it. It's a lot of money spent on a want. At least the latter is massively countered with the tremendous practicality, which the 997TT lacked.

3) Auto rev-match: It's a love/hate thing. I thought it would be all hate, but it is really impeccably executed and you feel like a hero when it's enabled. It also ruins some of the fun and definitely throws me off when I go into manual mode.

4) The car sounds quite nice. Sure, maybe not E90-nice, but it sounds good and sporty. The ability to quiet it down or make it loud with a button is awesome. Haven't even noticed the fake sounds, so they are at least well-executed.

5) Yes, it's big and heavy-ish (remember, it's not much heavier than the 997TT), and there is some detachment there, but for what it is, it is remarkably agile and controlled and dare I say, fun. They must have worked some serious magic with the ZCP and 2018 MY changes because this car is great. There is a TON of grip and I've felt no reason to not push the car. It's been totally stable and confidence-inspiring. Like old BMW 3er's but with higher limits.

6) Easily the best clutch/shifter combo I've driven in a modern BMW (E46+), though the clutch is a bit light.

7) iDrive is great and the infotech UI is as well-executed as I've ever seen. Still not perfect. Also, I can't seem to find a way to skip a track from the steering wheel. I should probably RTFM at some point.

8) Those wheels are going to be a gigantic PITA to clean. Hopefully the black/grey-ness will buy me some time without looking totally gross.

9) I like my sunroof

10) The HUD is pretty awesome, though, other than during NAV use (puts turn-by-turn directions on HUD), I see no reason not to be on M-display mode (only mode that shows revs)

11) The sound system is strange. I feel like I need to be halfway up the volume dial to get remotely loud music. It's better in many ways as I feel I have more resolution at the low end, but I wonder if the upper end is not really that loud. I'll try it one day. Sound quality is good, not great.

12) I know it's new and clean, but I suspect my 14+ years without a ticket will come to an end with this attention-grabber of a car. The grey/charcoal 997TT was surprisingly stealthy. Not this.

:lol:

That was for you. ;)

thanks for the review

Is disabling it require disabling traction control like the m2?

No. But you can only disable it by going to Sport Plus mode, which also does NOT allow you to turn it on.

That is a HUGE miss by BMW to not just have an independent toggle for it.

Great write up and again stunning car. That color is to dye for.

At least it’s off in sport mode with some traction nanies still enabaled. As Jeff pointed out in the M2 everything has to be off to not have it. Just stupid. Btw on my test drive it was the single most agreivating thing I disliked about the car. I hate it.

I never listen to the radio but do use Sirius... to change stations you scroll through the selector on the right side of the steering wheel, then click when you get the one you want. It scrolls through them on the HUD or probably on the bottom of the instrument panel if you don’t have HUD.

Thanks. I must say, it does photograph more red than in real life. It’s a dark metallic burned orange which can look reddish, but not as much as the photos would make you believe.

Great write up ... the M3 is definitely a very special car and in that color it is stunning.

These last couple of lines get to me a bit, You’re the type that plans these things out carefully and it wasn’t an easy decision for you to spend this much money on yourself.

Stop the guilt, it’s ok to get something you want especially since you took care of all of your other obligations first (the wife, kids, house, etc.)

Also it’s not like you blew $80k, the car has a value and the big picture after a few years is going to be more like $20k to $30k spent.


Anyway I hope this eases your guilt ... enjoy your new beast !!

Thanks! I am enjoying it quite a bit. Funny thing is that my new job involves ~7 miles of highway driving. I'm lucky that it's against traffic, but this open up two issues I never have to worry about before:

1) This car just loves to do triple digit speeds and when I hold it in the 70's even in 6th gear, it feels like it's ready to pounce and get to 100mph. Driving it for hundreds of miles in the Autobahn doesn't help. I really have to be careful with tickets. The section is also one of those 55mph zones that EVERY ONE goes 75mph and sometimes more. So cops can pretty much pull over anyone they want at any time for any reason. People do 70mph+ with impunity past speed traps. I'm afraid of one day "accidentally" doing 90 trying to get around someone doing 65 and getting a massive ticket. I know. That's dumb and I should just control my speed better.

2) I am FAR more exposed to chips from fast traffic in front. I'm torn about paying for a full front-end wrap or just letting it be.

Additional, unrelated comments:

A) WTF is up with the "Efficient Dynamics" suggested gear indicator nonsense? The car displays your current gear - a helpful thing, so I am OK with that. But it also shows in smaller font and in gray, what gear you ought to be in to be most efficient. This morning, I'm doing ~32mph in 3rd (which is about 2krpm) and the car was suggesting I go to 6th gear. That's right. 6th! :rolleyes:

B) I found out how to skip a track. The roller on the right side of the steering wheel can move you through your play list and then you just push to select. This works great for itunes music in my phone, but not when using Spotify. I still need to RTFM.

You can set a chime to go off when you reach a certain top speed. Annoying, but maybe a good idea. I set mine at 80. Our highways are mostly 55, but even 80 is too slow to be safe in some instances. It is the wild west down here. Fun and terrifying at the same time.

I noticed having my window down the freeway makes me driver slower:dunno:

Especially during Massachusetts winters ;)

exactly, guessing he has seat warmers:D

With pandora, you use the same wheel to move forward/backwards a track. You can't scroll through a Playlist, just go next or previous. You should see the forward and back arrow on the hud

In all four seats! :bigpimp:

I'll try that.

Oo. That's nice. We have that for the X5, but not on the little 2. The 2 gets the short end on a number of luxo features. No HUD, for instance.

At least it has the heated steering wheel and front seats...

There were a few reasons why I ultimately decided to pull the trigger on the executive pkg: Adaptive LED lights with updated design/look, heated wheel, heated rear seats, leather interior, HUD. Other things I didn't want but came with it are surround cameras, automatic high beams, and some other park assist stuff.

I sure hope heated steering wheel technology has improved in the past 10 years. My A6 had it, and it failed within the first 9 months of ownership. The failure resulted in a burn mark on my left hand which still exists.

Audi would not replace my steering wheel :mad: Apparently the "technology" was a metal band around the wheel, under the leather wrap that failed.

Yikes! When was your A6 built?

That was a 2000s Audi issue. As far as I can tell, no one else had that problem.

I remember something about BMW 5 series burning people's bottoms as well.

My 2013 LR4 has had no issues with the heated steering wheel in 5 years, and must say, I've not heard of such issues ever.

I can’t believe they wouldn’t replace it - that seems pretty obvious, if it’s not working it needs to be replaced. :dunno:

yeah, it was 1999 or 2000. leased it before ordering my 2001 E46xi

The BMW awd system sure was disappointing compared to the Audi

That’s crazy, yes I guess the technology has gotten better we have it in 2 of our Audi’s as well as the Porsche and bmw and there are no burning issues.

I remember test driving 2 M4’s (the reviews are here on the board when I did) I will never forget how ridiculously fast AND fun they were .... yes watch your speed for sure that car can get to triple digits insanely fast.

My 911 has a upshift gear indicator and it always amazes me too how it wants you to upshift at such low speeds.


You also brought up the new idrive system ... I think they really did a beautiful job on it, the menus are nicer then they ever were and pretty futuristic .... also whenever I get into my sons car (the 340i) to move it in the driveway I love the noises the car makes when you first start it. .... that cool beeping electronical noise is really soothing.

Congrats! Definitely want to drive an F80 M3 at some point. Agree that the latest i-drive is among the best in the business. First system i've used where voice control of navigation works well (and that includes Siri with Apple Maps). If i get another BMW, I really want HUD. They do a great job with those.

I'm glad to hear you're enjoying the new M3! More photos!?

I kept reading your post as Audi TT and not Porsche. :)

I should probably edit that to remove confusion.

The technical innovation was turning the heat down.