E90 M3 Drive

JST · 05-31-2008, 08:43 PM

With rain in the forecast, I decided not to go to the autocross today (seriously--how many times can I stand around getting soaked in one season?), and popped by the BMW dealer for a quick spin in the E90 M3.

My time behind the wheel was limited, and my ability to push the car was severely compromised by the Biblical rainstorm that was punishing the area. But even with all of that, I managed to get a taste of what sets the M3 apart--and it is the engine. Or, more properly, the Engine.

There are three things to say about the M3's engine. One, it has enough power to shrug aside the E90's rotund frame like it's a balsa wood model. Two, it revs as if it isn't connected to a flywheel and has a total reciprocating mass of 0.0 ounces. And three, while doing all of this, it sounds like the automotive equivalent of Jesus.

The engine's voice is a bizarre mix of standard BMW reciprocating harmonies and V8 burble that sounds better and better the more you rev it. At low revs, there's a bit of Detroit in there, a shade of Woodward Ave.--but then it pulls toward the redline, and it starts to sound...not like a modern racing car, because those sound like bumblebees on meth. More like an old-school Cosworth DFV. And since it revs so fast, it's easy to get very carried away. Just one more time. Just a bit higher this time. Yikes.

Actually, there's a fourth thing to say about the Engine. Despite it's heroic power, it's actually more tractable at low speeds than the 335, and there's even less driveline lash than in the non-M car.

The rest of the car is pretty standard 3 series fare. The leather is a lot nicer, and the car that I was in had the fancy carbon leather trim which looked pretty slick, too. But other than that, the thick wheel, standard M shifter, different gauges and odd-shaped mirrors are the only things that give the game away.

The suspension seemed like a marked improvement over the 335, especially in the tire department, but again it was raining so much I reserve judgment. I wasn't really in love with the steering, though, which seemed oddly out-of-whack at low speeds.

So is the M3 worth 60 large and up? Is it worth 20K more than a 335? Is the Engine worth the huge hit in mileage? No, of course not, not in any rational way...but, yes. I am afraid it is.

FC · 05-31-2008, 10:36 PM

Thanks. It basically sounds like what I expected.

equ · 05-31-2008, 11:17 PM

I just read the C&D comparo between the m3, gt-r & the 911 turbo. Amazing that the turbo is such a pig, and the M does the slalom better... I've had thoughts on "merging" my two cars in one, such as the 135i, but more and more, it seems like it will be wrong to make such a big decision without trying out the e90m3.

Truth is, I'm afraid to drive one. I bought a Cayman within two weeks of my first test drive of one.

How is the turn in and steering feel?

JST · 05-31-2008, 11:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by equ

I just read the C&D comparo between the m3, gt-r & the 911 turbo. Amazing that the turbo is such a pig, and the M does the slalom better... I've had thoughts on "merging" my two cars in one, such as the 135i, but more and more, it seems like it will be wrong to make such a big decision without trying out the e90m3.

Truth is, I'm afraid to drive one. I bought a Cayman within two weeks of my first test drive of one.

How is the turn in and steering feel?

Can't really say--the road was too wet. But overall it feels like an E90; nothing revelatory, but no serious dynamic flaws, either.

FWIW, though the spec sheets show a superficial similarity between the M3 and the E39 M5, the M3 isn't a reborn M5. Despite it's hulking weight gain compared to the E36, the M3 remains a much more nimble and communicative car than the E39 M5 was, and the engine is leagues ahead in terms of willingness to rev.

JST · 06-01-2008, 07:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stuka

Like this guy

http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.js...5&rdpage=thumb

Amazing how much those are coming down in price. I've never driven one; I'm sure it kicks the M3's ass five ways to Sunday in terms of every relevant performance and driving enjoyment metric. But the E90 M3 is an honest-to-god 5 seat car that you can carry your family in.

SARAFIL · 06-01-2008, 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JST

Amazing how much those are coming down in price. I've never driven one; I'm sure it kicks the M3's ass five ways to Sunday in terms of every relevant performance and driving enjoyment metric. But the E90 M3 is an honest-to-god 5 seat car that you can carry your family in.

Yep... the E90 M3 is the one to buy if you are looking at the new M3, in my opinion.

-I think it looks better (I know this is a matter of opinion)
-it's cheaper
-a real back seat and 4 doors make it much more practical if it is your one and only car
-in terms of the competition, the E90 M3 seems to be the leader of the pack in hot 4 doors, while the E92 M3 has more compelling competitors in the 2 door category.

Oh, and some of the purists would like this, too... you can actually get it with a solid roof (no sunroof) without having to get the silly carbon fiber roof like you do on the coupe. We actually have a couple of sunroof-less E90 M3's in stock because when the first allocation came out, the model description was unclear and they thought they were ordering coupes with no sunroof and not sedans.

Josh (PA) · 06-01-2008, 09:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JST

Can't really say--the road was too wet. But overall it feels like an E90; nothing revelatory, but no serious dynamic flaws, either.

FWIW, though the spec sheets show a superficial similarity between the M3 and the E39 M5, the M3 isn't a reborn M5. Despite it's hulking weight gain compared to the E36, the M3 remains a much more nimble and communicative car than the E39 M5 was, and the engine is leagues ahead in terms of willingness to rev.

When is your lease up on the 335?

lemming · 06-01-2008, 09:26 AM

as nice as that car is, because of my huge GM bias, i'd suffer the little details not being "spot-on" and get the G8 GXP if i were to slide back into that V8 cesspool of dismal mpg's and brute force commuting again.

beyond a certain point, it's pure subjectivity and while the M3 has that in spades, i'm still a bona fide contrarian --or maybe i just like 4-pot brakes. j/k.

IndyMike · 06-01-2008, 06:48 PM

Two numbers regarding the M3 ruin it, at least for me.........14/20.

The 14 figure is particularly ludicrous in this day and age of $4+ and rising with no end in sight gas prices.

It's probably capable of DD grind, but I'm not de-sensitized enough (yet) to fork over $70 a week for a fill-up.

I have a hard enough time trying to justify the 17/25 of the 135.

The 20/30 of the ZHP make it sublime as a DD. Assuming you use it for those purposes.

18/23 for the R32 make it borderline, but its AWD capability makes it tolerable.

But there's no doubt that the M3 engine is a thing of beauty. 8400 redline is bonafide race car territory.

Unfortunately (at least for me) it's just one generation too late.

IndyMike · 06-01-2008, 06:53 PM

What's your opinion of the clutch and stick? Did the clutch seem ultra light and the throw's fairly long, or are these just typical M3 etchings?

05-31-2008, 08:43 PM	#1
JST 195 Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 24,611	E90 M3 Drive With rain in the forecast, I decided not to go to the autocross today (seriously--how many times can I stand around getting soaked in one season?), and popped by the BMW dealer for a quick spin in the E90 M3. My time behind the wheel was limited, and my ability to push the car was severely compromised by the Biblical rainstorm that was punishing the area. But even with all of that, I managed to get a taste of what sets the M3 apart--and it is the engine. Or, more properly, the Engine. There are three things to say about the M3's engine. One, it has enough power to shrug aside the E90's rotund frame like it's a balsa wood model. Two, it revs as if it isn't connected to a flywheel and has a total reciprocating mass of 0.0 ounces. And three, while doing all of this, it sounds like the automotive equivalent of Jesus. The engine's voice is a bizarre mix of standard BMW reciprocating harmonies and V8 burble that sounds better and better the more you rev it. At low revs, there's a bit of Detroit in there, a shade of Woodward Ave.--but then it pulls toward the redline, and it starts to sound...not like a modern racing car, because those sound like bumblebees on meth. More like an old-school Cosworth DFV. And since it revs so fast, it's easy to get very carried away. Just one more time. Just a bit higher this time. Yikes. Actually, there's a fourth thing to say about the Engine. Despite it's heroic power, it's actually more tractable at low speeds than the 335, and there's even less driveline lash than in the non-M car. The rest of the car is pretty standard 3 series fare. The leather is a lot nicer, and the car that I was in had the fancy carbon leather trim which looked pretty slick, too. But other than that, the thick wheel, standard M shifter, different gauges and odd-shaped mirrors are the only things that give the game away. The suspension seemed like a marked improvement over the 335, especially in the tire department, but again it was raining so much I reserve judgment. I wasn't really in love with the steering, though, which seemed oddly out-of-whack at low speeds. So is the M3 worth 60 large and up? Is it worth 20K more than a 335? Is the Engine worth the huge hit in mileage? No, of course not, not in any rational way...but, yes. I am afraid it is.

06-01-2008, 09:26 AM	#8
lemming Western Anomaly Join Date: Oct 2003 Carmudgeonly Ride: White Orca Posts: 16,611	as nice as that car is, because of my huge GM bias, i'd suffer the little details not being "spot-on" and get the G8 GXP if i were to slide back into that V8 cesspool of dismal mpg's and brute force commuting again. beyond a certain point, it's pure subjectivity and while the M3 has that in spades, i'm still a bona fide contrarian --or maybe i just like 4-pot brakes. j/k. __________________

05-31-2008, 10:36 PM	#2
FC Solving problems Join Date: Oct 2003 Carmudgeonly Ride: M5 / 718 GTS / Cooper S / GTI / LR4 Location: Metro Boston Posts: 25,263	Thanks. It basically sounds like what I expected.

05-31-2008, 11:17 PM	#3
equ Alphanumeric Join Date: Aug 2005 Carmudgeonly Ride: 981S, 340i Posts: 9,584	I just read the C&D comparo between the m3, gt-r & the 911 turbo. Amazing that the turbo is such a pig, and the M does the slalom better... I've had thoughts on "merging" my two cars in one, such as the 135i, but more and more, it seems like it will be wrong to make such a big decision without trying out the e90m3. Truth is, I'm afraid to drive one. I bought a Cayman within two weeks of my first test drive of one. How is the turn in and steering feel?

06-01-2008, 06:48 PM	#9
IndyMike Elected by grace Join Date: Feb 2006 Carmudgeonly Ride: 11 1 M; 11 328iT; 22 M240ix Location: Brickyard Posts: 1,962	Two numbers regarding the M3 ruin it, at least for me.........14/20. The 14 figure is particularly ludicrous in this day and age of $4+ and rising with no end in sight gas prices. It's probably capable of DD grind, but I'm not de-sensitized enough (yet) to fork over $70 a week for a fill-up. I have a hard enough time trying to justify the 17/25 of the 135. The 20/30 of the ZHP make it sublime as a DD. Assuming you use it for those purposes. 18/23 for the R32 make it borderline, but its AWD capability makes it tolerable. But there's no doubt that the M3 engine is a thing of beauty. 8400 redline is bonafide race car territory. Unfortunately (at least for me) it's just one generation too late.

06-01-2008, 06:53 PM	#10
IndyMike Elected by grace Join Date: Feb 2006 Carmudgeonly Ride: 11 1 M; 11 328iT; 22 M240ix Location: Brickyard Posts: 1,962	What's your opinion of the clutch and stick? Did the clutch seem ultra light and the throw's fairly long, or are these just typical M3 etchings?