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BMW M3

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

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

    

Messages Page 9 of 21

#81 of 204 info on the new m3 by acbrbmw

Apr 25, 2006 (12:05 pm)

i was reading alot of questions posted earlyer in the first pages and i'd like to take the opportunity to set the record straight about the new m3.
 
it will not be a m4 as some suggest, but rather a 4 door m3 like the e36 body style 4 door m3. bmw has hinted that they might do a coupe version, but 4 you coupe lovers BMW has said that the will build a twin turbo 335i coupe with 300 hp and 300 lb ft torque. expect a 0-60 time of 5.0 sec. that car will hit show rooms this sept. along with a 328 coupe that performs better than the outgoing 330ci.
 
the new m3 engine is the same as the m5's but a V8 so it displaces 4 liters. BMW has been telling us that to expect 400-425 bhp and rumors hint at a 0-60 time in the mid to high 3 second range.
 
the new convertible will likley come in late winter 2007 and all evidence points to a hard top.
 
the new m3 will be out some time in the summer of 2007 as a 2008 model year with a base price around 52-56 grand.
 
the new 335 is to be a more affordable car than the previous m3 so we expect a base price around 43k. pricing will be out on the new coupes mid summer.
 
also the new 328 coupe will be all-wheel drive, expect awd on the 335 in a year.

#82 of 204 Re: m5 demos??? [acbrbmw] by designman

Apr 25, 2006 (12:11 pm)

Replying to: acbrbmw (Apr 25, 2006 10:50 am)
yes they do offer smg in other cars, the 325ci, 330ci, 325i, 330i, 530i, 550i, 650i, and the z4
 
Thanks, I realize that. But what I asked is if the new SMG 3 WITH IMPROVED TECH will be available on those cars too. From my understanding, they currently have the jerky and much-slower-shifting SMG, nothing like it is on the M5 & M6.

#83 of 204 smg by acbrbmw

Apr 25, 2006 (12:29 pm)

yeah the one on those cars now is not as refined. BMW hasn't told us of any improvements, although i'd expect to see a new version on the new 335i, m roaster and m3 in 2008 model years....i don't know if the will inprove the othe cars for another 3 or 4 years when they do a mid-bodystyle update on the 3

#84 of 204 Re: smg [acbrbmw] by designman

Apr 25, 2006 (1:14 pm)

Replying to: acbrbmw (Apr 25, 2006 12:29 pm)
Really looking forward to the 335 coupe and M3 now that they released pics of the coupe. Love it. Where are you located? Are there any brochures available yet for the coupe?

#85 of 204 coupe by acbrbmw

Apr 25, 2006 (2:25 pm)

we are suppose to get the brochures in late june and pricing in july. i work for bobby rahal BMW in pittsburgh. what kind of car do you have now

#86 of 204 AWD VS RWD by cdwing16

Apr 25, 2006 (5:21 pm)

Replying to: j0mamma (Sep 12, 2005 5:21 pm)
Okay the m3 is quicker around the track against some awd cars, try it against the audi RS4, or hmmmm the new porsche 911 turbo?

#87 of 204 cool by jmaroun

Apr 25, 2006 (9:28 pm)

Hey, I REALLY appreciate the posts by ultimatedriver #74 and especially by acbrbmw #75! Thanks a bunch for the very convincing and detailed info. I'll be reading acbrbmw's post several times in fact. I'm open and eager to learn which type of transmission to get on my next purchase. If I pay alot of money for a car, I wanna choose the right transmission (SMG or manual) that will make me happiest. This probably means, I'll have to learn stick well enough to compare.
 
The M5 is out of my price-range. The M3 however is on my radar for my next lease/buy in 2.5 years after my current 06 330i lease is up. A few questions,
will the 08 M3 have the smooth SMG III (like the current 06 M5)? Is it possible to lease an M3 and also, is it necessary to be on a waiting list for the up and coming new M3?? I don't wanna be stuck with a rental or worse, forced to get a lesser car due to availability in 2.5 years. Also, I wonder what your (everyone's) thoughts would be on how the new M3 will fare against Audi's RS4.
 
Until then, I'll be enjoying my 06 330i.
I must mention that the handling on the 06 330i with sports package is a real joy. I love churning through some of these roads here in San Diego, especially this one leading to Pacific Beach from Lajolla Village Drive. I just gotta feel that road every day after work.
 
Joseph
in San Diego

#88 of 204 Re: AWD VS RWD [cdwing16] by ultimatedriver

Apr 25, 2006 (11:16 pm)

Replying to: cdwing16 (Apr 25, 2006 5:21 pm)
Nice hypothetical, cdwing. There are a lot of variables at work here. As any racer knows, stats and numbers don't tell the whole story.
 
Both companies field very accomplished racing programs. It's obvious that they can't trickle down all the technology of a mega-buck single seater into a compact sports sedan. However BMW seems to understand the factors that are required for production car-based road racing a bit better than Audi ever has. These factors include weight distribution, low weight engineering(not just replacing steel pieces with aluminum ones), powertrain/drivetrain engineering, polar moment of inertia, steering quickness, etc.
 
Not that Audi doesn't know about these things, but it doesn't reflect in their product nor has it since the Quattro coupe in the 80's.
 
That's also dependent on what type of track these cars have it out on. If it's a tight track, I'd say their numbers are going to be closer(with the BMW on top, of course) because of the Four Ringer's ability to put the power down more efficiently out of the tighter corners.
 
However if BMW decides to leave well enough alone, the Variable M differential will remain. Anyone with technical knowledge of the automotive market's offerings will tell you that this is one of the best differentials on the market today and it makes all the difference in the world when your trying to go around a corner. Hopefully the one in the new M3 will be the same unit(or updated) used in the E46, as that one was flawless and can handle insane amounts of torque.
 
As far as the Porsche 997 Turbo is concerned, I'm not sure if the M3 will be able to beat it around a big track. The shear speeds the Turbo is capable of producing would overtake the M on the straight(I should know, I just crashed my 993). It would definitely shut it out around a smaller track if this new one is anything like the 996 series(the AWD system didn't act fast enough in the tighter, faster transitions).
 
If BMW decides to do a CSL version of the E90 M3, I'll have my money on the M. With the tighter suspension geometry, a warm set of Michelin Primacy Sports(used on the E46 CSL) and the Variable M differential, BMW can definitely send the 997 S packing and the 997 Turbo sweating.
 
Everyone racing fan here should remember how much noise Porsche made the last time BMW put a V8 in an M3(please refer to below, hehe).
 

#89 of 204 Audi has by dhamilton

Apr 26, 2006 (9:22 am)

a very storied racing heritage of it's own. Ultimate driver thinking that a new M3 will beat a 911 turbo around a "smaller track" reminds me of a certain DC mayor smoking crack. I'm not even sure it could beat a new Lancer evo but that's neither here nor there. I got nothing bad to say about bimmers. They make awesome cars. You have to consider that these companies are going in separate directions. [eerrrr with the exception of BMW putting all wheel drive in everything to get Audi customers, and Audi working hard to better weight distribution to get bimmer customers.] The biggest issue to me is that Audi builds a more complete GT car IMO as well as great rally and now endurance racing car being added to the list. BMW has it's own list of accomplishments but lets not get ahead of ourselves. All of these companies do what they do well but back to the original point....The new M3 will "shut out" a 911 turbo around a short track Let's wait till it comes out before we make ridiculous statements.

#90 of 204 will the new m3 have a smooth shifting smg like the m5 by acbrbmw

Apr 26, 2006 (9:23 am)

first off a the new m3, if it does infact have 425bhp out of the 4.0 V8....look out! the e46 currently puts out 104 bhp per liter in the smooth easy reving straight six set up. if m can pull of 425 in the e90 thats 106 bhp per liter out of a 90 degree V8, wow! look out porsche.
 
yes the new m3 will have a twin clutch smg, its in the works right now and although bmw is tight on releasing info with all their upcomming cars, rumor has it that it will be a 7 speed.
 
just my thought, the V8 will bring the m3 up to play with the porsches, but a 7 speed smg will make it king on the short circuit. also the fact that bmw is now putting the compound floating rotors off the m3 csl on all m cars makes me think that the m3 will out brake the porsche.
 
with concern to weight, the e39 m5's v8 is actually heavyer than the v10. that takes engineering! so i'm confident m can pull of a v8 4 door m3 and make it under 3600 pounds.

Messages Page 9 of 21

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