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BMW M3

204 messages,  Last post on Apr 02, 2008 at 8:01 AM

You are in the BMW M/M3/M6 Forum.

What is this discussion about? BMW M3, Coupe, Convertible

    

Messages Page 20 of 21

#191 of 204 Re: Random thought [fedlawman] by roadburner

Feb 16, 2008 (9:03 pm)

Replying to: fedlawman (Feb 16, 2008 9:56 am)
Seems to me the new BMW M3 is nothing more than a German Pontiac GTO.
 
I wouldn't go quite that far, I tend to think of it as a replacement for the E28 M5 or E24 M6. The weight and dimensions are similar, aonly with 150 more horsepower. The new M3 is a nice GT or sports sedan, but it's just to massive to be an M3 in spirit.
Having said all that, I still think I might buy that nice 2002 tii I was looking at awhile back; as the great Colin Chapman put it, "Simplify and add lightness!"

#192 of 204 Help! 2004 Stereo/Speakers by jjohnjohn

Feb 24, 2008 (5:57 pm)

Hello, I have a 2004 M3 and having problems with my speakers/stereo. The music/sound tends to fade by itself randomly. The fade is subtle but noticeable, very annoying. Any ideas or solutions? Thanks!

#193 of 204 Just sawr the M3 at a local dealer in San Diego by jmaroun

Mar 07, 2008 (8:23 pm)

After years of waiting, anticipating, discussing, considering...it arrives.
 
14 mpg
$70k Sticker .. no thanks
 
It took me less than 5 minutes to conclude, Meh. The 335i looks cleaner and lighter. This M3 is what the M5 should be and the M5 is what the M6 should be. Actually, the M6 shouldn't be, IMO. A more aggressive 335i with slightly larger inline 6 + bi-turbos is what this M3 should have been. BMW should take example from 911TT and GTR rather than join the V8 bandwagon with Audi's RS4 and Merc's C63AMG.
 
To think I waisted so much time researching this car!!
 
Joseph
San Diego
blog: http://www.carspace.com/blogs/enthusiastsdilemma08

#194 of 204 Re: Just sawr the M3 at a local dealer in San Diego [jmaroun] by nyccarguy

Mar 07, 2008 (9:00 pm)

Replying to: jmaroun (Mar 07, 2008 8:23 pm)
14 mpg The M3 is about performance, not fuel economy. In a perfect world, us car guys would be driving 150 mph cars that do 0 - 60 in the 4 second range that in turn get 50 mpg. We live & drive in the real world. The 14city/20highway numbers are the EPA's new rating system which is supposed to reflect real world mileage numbers. After PROPER break in then at 5K & 10K intervals BMWs performance and mileage historically increase.
 
$70k Sticker .. no thanks I just "built my own" M3 on BMWUSA's website. The MSRP came out to $56,720. My M3 sedan's only options are heated front seats, power glass moonroof, & SIRIUS Radio (can't live without HOWARD).
 
I'm sure this M3 is a V8 in part because of competititon, but there is only so much they could wring out of the Inline 6. They wanted to keep it naturally aspirated, so the next progression is a high revving V8. The V8 is what makes the M3 special. If it were just a 335i with bigger wheels, a sharper suspension, and more power from the same Twin Turbo Inline 6 BMW couldn't justify the price jump.
 
The 335 is one amazing car. I think a lot of the world's problems would be solved if more cars have the N54 under the hood
 
Good luck with your car search.

#195 of 204 Re: Just sawr(sic) the M3 at a local dealer in San Diego [nyccarguy] by roadburner

Mar 08, 2008 (11:26 am)

Replying to: nyccarguy (Mar 07, 2008 9:00 pm)
I'm considering a M3 sedan for my family hack. With the DCG my wife can drive it and I can still hit the track with it from time to time. I'm guesstimating that my MSRP would be a tick over $60K as the lower base price of the sedan will partially offset the cost of the DCG. The thing is, I consider the latest M3 to be much closer in spirit to the original E28 M5. The E90 is 9 inches shorter and 180 lbs. heavier than the E28 and needless to say, the modern car is much faster- it reaches 60 and the end of the 1/4 mile 2 seconds sooner. It also pulls .95g on the skidpad as opposed to the .83g the E28 can manage. And the new M3 is also a bargain compared to the original M5. Adjust the M5's 1988 MSRP of $48470 for inflation and the 2008 number is $88336. And while I realize that reading several magazine articles and perusing the Monroney sticker will usually tell you all you need to know abou a car, I'm not going to express my final opinion on the new M3 until I actually drive one.
Having said all that, I'd love to see BMW build something with the character of the original E30 M3- edgy, responsive, and covered with a thin veneer of civility. Sad to say, the market would probably be very limited since today's typical BMW buyer thinks trailing throttle oversteer is a band that used to open for Kansas- and even M Car buyers wet their pants at the thought of taking their car to a high speed driving event(shudder). Those individuals should be forced to drive Lexus LS sedans for the rest of their miserable lives.

#196 of 204 if only by jmaroun

Mar 31, 2008 (5:28 pm)

I'll never go anywhere near 150mph..EVER. I'd bet most M3 owners won't as well.
Why not build a street M3 version with a speed limiter at say..100mph. (no, the 135i is not it) Then, the car can be much lighter, and design optimization can be done for lower, more legal speeds, while maintaining great fuel efficiency?
 
Who told BMW that the driving experience is all about driving 90mph over the speed limit??
 
Hmm..I should get paid for such ideas.
 
Joseph
San Diego
blog: http://www.carspace.com/blogs/enthusiastsdilemma08

#197 of 204 Re: if only [jmaroun] by roadburner

Mar 31, 2008 (7:30 pm)

Replying to: jmaroun (Mar 31, 2008 5:28 pm)
Joe, someone already makes a car for you.
It's called a Solara.

#198 of 204 Re: Just sawr(sic) the M3 at a local dealer in San Diego [roadburner] by fedlawman

Mar 31, 2008 (8:39 pm)

Replying to: roadburner (Mar 08, 2008 11:26 am)
I didn't realize that the E28 was such a porker! Is it really that big and heavy? OK, it's off my list...
 
Why don't you just buy an E30 M3 already and be done with it. You know you want too. How about some pictures of mine to give you a little nudge...
 
Timeless styling with plenty of back seat and trunk space for the family (well, a smallish family anyways)...

 
Quiet, smooth, economical, and reliable 4 cylinder engine (OK, maybe not so quiet, smooth, or economical)...

 
Plush leather interior with ergonomically designed controls and power everything (By 1980's standards anyways)...

#199 of 204 Re: Just sawr(sic) the M3 at a local dealer in San Diego [fedlawman] by roadburner

Apr 01, 2008 (8:57 am)

Replying to: fedlawman (Mar 31, 2008 8:39 pm)
Why don't you just buy an E30 M3 already and be done with it. You know you want too. How about some pictures of mine to give you a little nudge...
 
Thanks for the "help"...
 
I have been checking the inventory of this place, which is only a couple of hours away. It's recieved good reviews at S14.net, the only caveat is that their asking prices are pretty high. In adition to several E30-E36 M3s, they have a 318ti fitted with an S52 engine and other appropriate upgrades. All I'd need to do is stick a "316d" badge on the back and I'd be good to go...

#200 of 204 Re: if only [jmaroun] by snck

Apr 01, 2008 (7:59 pm)

Replying to: jmaroun (Mar 31, 2008 5:28 pm)
"Hmm..I should get paid for such ideas."
 
I would almost be willing to pay you to stop coming up with your ideas or opinions. For someone that has repeatedly expressed his dislike for the new M3, you seem very obsessed with commenting on the car. Why don't you just move on and post on the 335 thread. Sure all of you can have a grandeous time pointing and snickering at the M3 owners and tell each other how for 10K worth of mods you can almost be as fast as an M3 and still have a couple K left over.

Messages Page 20 of 21

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