[Jaws]

http://http://www.caranddriver.com/previews/13419/first-drive-2008-bmw-m3.html

Sorry if this is a repost. Watch the video.


Highs: Fast, handles great, sounds better

Lows: Proceed equipped 335 is just as fast, expensive, light steering, squeaky brakes, thirsty.

[herbz]

In its normal setting, the steering is feather light, far lighter than in a regular 3-series and, according to BMW, “enables the driver to park the car much more easily.” Come on, is this what we really need on the M3?

what a joke, the American market is a fuckin joke if this is really what people want.

And the brakes—massive single-piston units with huge cross-drilled 14.2-inch front and 13.8-inch rear discs (significantly larger than even the brakes with the E46 Competition package)—are phenomenal, with progressive feel and never once fading during our track time or extended mountain-road abuse. The trade-off is that they squeal. A lot. And this started even before we hit the track.

at least they're not fading like the other "first drive" publications have stated

Equipped with Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 tires—some of the stickiest street tires known to man—in 245/40R-18 front and 265/40R-18 rear sizes (19s are optional), the limits are upped significantly as well, despite a roughly 250-pound weight gain. (We hope never to see the day of a two-ton M3, but now it doesn’t seem impossible.) An impromptu skidpad test showed 0.94 g, a whopping 0.07 g higher than in the last E46 M3 we tested and about 0.04 g higher than in a Sport-package-equipped 335i.

so it doesn't really grip that much better than a sport package 335i.

But the biggest problem with the new M3 is likely the price, which is expected to climb to about $62,000 when it goes on sale next spring. That’s some $7000 more than the outgoing model, nearly double the price of a base 328i, and it's getting steep for a 3-series-based car.

yup that's the worst part. a procede only 335i will do 0-60 in 4.4, and 1/4 in 12.9, basically matching the M3. for literally 20 thousand less. and also gets way better gas mileage.

sorry the new M3 is not worth the dough, but neither will the RS4, IS-F, or C63 AMG. all overpriced pigs with fake enthusiasts driving them these days.

Don’t you want to experience first-hand the 8400-rpm shriek from BMW’s highest-revving (and best) engine?

ill take my $40k 135i with like 3 mods and 500lb/ft of torque at 1800rpm and laugh as i put a $60k "M"3 far back in my rearview.

[Greeney]

Originally Posted by herbz

what a joke, the American market is a fuckin joke if this is really what people want.



at least they're not fading like the other "first drive" publications have stated



so it doesn't really grip that much better than a sport package 335i.



yup that's the worst part. a procede only 335i will do 0-60 in 4.4, and 1/4 in 12.9, basically matching the M3. for literally 20 thousand less. and also gets way better gas mileage.

sorry the new M3 is not worth the dough, but neither will the RS4, IS-F, or C63 AMG. all overpriced pigs with fake enthusiasts driving them these days.



ill take my $40k 135i with like 3 mods and 500lb/ft of torque at 1800rpm and laugh as i put a $60k "M"3 far back in my rearview.

Yeah, but who cares your car will be ugly looking...

[derryck]

so it doesn't really grip that much better than a sport package 335i.

And if you put equivalent tires on the 335 I'm betting that would improve.

[NaViT]

Originally Posted by Greeney

Yeah, but who cares your car will be ugly looking...

lol yea i dont wunna see that

[nusevad]

Originally Posted by Greeney

Yeah, but who cares your car will be ugly looking...

Haha seriously, also good luck on re-selling your heavy modded 135.

[herbz]

Originally Posted by Greeney

Yeah, but who cares your car will be ugly looking...

that's okay, i'd rather have 20 grand than some widened fenders, ugly hood scoop, -11lb carbon fiber roof (wow 11 lbs such a big friggen deal!) and an "m" badge

also, the rear on the 135i is beautiful, and that's all anyones gonna be seeing.

Haha seriously, also good luck on re-selling your heavy modded 135.

since when is an ECU tune (reversible) exhaust (reversible) and downpipe (reversible) considered heavily modded?

those mods alone put the N54 way above the new V8.

granted the M3 has an 8400 RPM redline which will allow you to stay in the powerband better on a racetrack, true, but won't really do anything against the massive torque of the N54 on the highway

besides, if i bought a 135i, i'd definetely want to keep it until its gonna be worth crap anyway.

[SunnyD]

Originally Posted by herbz

sorry the new M3 is not worth the dough, but neither will the RS4, IS-F, or C63 AMG. all overpriced pigs with fake enthusiasts driving them these days.

Sounds like all you care about is price. If that's the case then you're buying the wrong car with the 135i. You should get an EVO or STi for cheaper and mod that for the difference in price between a 135. You'd want AWD anyway for the type of power that you seem to want to make.

[nusevad]

Originally Posted by herbz

since when is an ECU tune (reversible) exhaust (reversible) and downpipe (reversible) considered heavily modded?

those mods alone put the N54 way above the new V8.

granted the M3 has an 8400 RPM redline which will allow you to stay in the powerband better on a racetrack, true, but won't really do anything against the massive torque of the N54 on the highway

besides, if i bought a 135i, i'd definetely want to keep it until its gonna be worth crap anyway.

If you wanted to take the time to put on all the performance mods available to try to match or beat the M thats fine, ill just take the performance that i will get from my M3 out of the box.

After some quality parts and mods to make a 135 a "m3 killer" it'll probably be a 10-15K difference... to me 10-15k isn't a big deal, id rather shell that out than play catch up.

Originally Posted by herbz

-11lb carbon fiber roof (wow 11 lbs such a big friggen deal!) and an "m" badge

Theres more purpose to the CF roof than -11lbs saved. It lowers the cars center of gravity thus giving it better handling performance and decreasing body roll.

[FirstClass]

Originally Posted by herbz

so it doesn't really grip that much better than a sport package 335i.

Actually .04g is a heck of a lot.

[FirstClass]

Originally Posted by SunnyD

Sounds like all you care about is price. If that's the case then you're buying the wrong car with the 135i. You should get an EVO or STi for cheaper and mod that for the difference in price between a 135. You'd want AWD anyway for the type of power that you seem to want to make.

Except if a PROcede 335i now can beat a modified Evo imagine what a 135i will do with the mods that will be available for it in a few years.

[vAnt826]

In its normal setting, the steering is feather light, far lighter than in a regular 3-series and, according to BMW, “enables the driver to park the car much more easily.” Come on, is this what we really need on the M3?

That is a joke right?

Seriously, it's a joke right?

...

Anyone?...

...

[ALPINE6SPD]

Originally Posted by herbz

what a joke, the American market is a fuckin joke if this is really what people want.



at least they're not fading like the other "first drive" publications have stated



so it doesn't really grip that much better than a sport package 335i.



yup that's the worst part. a procede only 335i will do 0-60 in 4.4, and 1/4 in 12.9, basically matching the M3. for literally 20 thousand less. and also gets way better gas mileage.

sorry the new M3 is not worth the dough, but neither will the RS4, IS-F, or C63 AMG. all overpriced pigs with fake enthusiasts driving them these days.



ill take my $40k 135i with like 3 mods and 500lb/ft of torque at 1800rpm and laugh as i put a $60k "M"3 far back in my rearview.

where are these 3 mods that get 500 lb ft? The is not one person who has even got 425 lb feet here. Please explain you exageration (sp?) to me.

[ironjw]

[FinInk]

I'm aiming on getting a 335i (or possible if the weight rumors are right and price is good, a 135i) and as much as I love the 335i when/if I see this car on the street I will cream my pants wether or not the 335i is faster. I'd want to be that guy driving that car.

It's a freakin M3, its built for the track and now it has a screaming v8 in there that I'm sure sounds awesome. It has history and a legacy that demands respect and the review wasn't bad at all execpt for the small technical things and it's gas comsumption. I'm sure though, that those willing to pay for this car are making a lot in their salary and wouldn't mind the cost of putting a supercharger or something along the lines adding more power to it.

In conclusion, I love the 335i and plan on getting it in the future but give respect where it's due.

[spacedogg]

Originally Posted by herbz

also, the rear on the 135i is beautiful, and that's all anyones gonna be seeing.

Are you blind?


j/k. You're entitled to your opinion...but I thought the rear was the ugliest part of the 135i...

[Das M]

Originally Posted by ironjw

what he said

[SpecC]

i mean if you really wanted to go fast, you could easily grab an Evo or STi for about 35k, drop a bigger turbo in there for about 15k and gain a massive 700hp and no E92 M3 would be able to match you for quite some time. Does that make you better? In the racing sense, yes. But which car would you rather own on a daily basis?