"Too many M's" (toomanyms)
10/02/2014 at 15:51 • Filed to: None
2
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"Too many M's" (toomanyms)
10/02/2014 at 15:51 • Filed to: None | 2
| 13 |
To start. A pic of the car. It does look quite sinister in black.
But a bit about me. I quite enjoy a great M-car and currently own three. I've also driven a great many save for the mega rare M1, E28 and E34 M5s and the E30 M3. I definitely don't let my cars sit, when driven they see red line consistently, triple digit speeds almost daily and everything is going to the track at some point (even the X1).
So with that knowledge the local BMW dealer thought it was a brilliant idea to loan me a new M3 for a few hours to see what I thought of it. And of course to try and get me to buy one, but that isn't important right now.
When you sit in the cockpit you are greeted by the M3 logo, just in case you forgot which model you are in. This is cute but I wonder if it can be programmed with a different file. The steering wheel has the standard assortment of buttons, plus two count 'em TWO M button. This car was programmed to have one be the super comfort eco setting and the other is all hardcore sport plus.
I really do love the seats. Compared to the E46 and E9X M3s these hold you in place with almost the same support as the previous BMW Performance seats albeit more comfortable. Approximately half a million adjustment settings ensure everything can be set just so.
So onto the driving....
The car has a press button start and the default on this tester was to keep everyone in the quiet/eco setting. The DCT is set for automatic shifting so you can just put it in drive and go. Normal driving is fine in this setting. If I were in an area that had ridiculous amounts of traffic this would be the way to go. I would get bored without a third pedal but my sanity would thank me from not having to do the first-gear-neutral dance prevalent with stop and go traffic.
As I left the dealer I drove around the city until the car warmed up and headed for the nearest autobahn enroute to my favorite back road. I promptly hit traffic due to construction (yeah, jinxed myself there) so I trundled along with the pace of traffic (80kph).
After 15 minutes in that hell......Finally! I made it to my twisty taste of asphalt through the Rhineland forest. And to begin, WOW! The acceleration between turns is almost unnoticeable until I need to get hard onto the brakes. After the first few corners my confidence builds in the platform slightly and begin to carry more speed. With the aggressive M button the down and upshifts make the car snort, gurgle and growl in tones reminiscent of the F10 M5. I was brutal to the brakes and they only started to give a little about 45 minutes into the higher speed back road drive. No fade mind you but a slightly extend pedal motion.
Through the corners and over the surface I noticed the rear end of the car didn't shift around as much as my E90M over the same patch of pavement. Power came on in every part of the rev range, there was a slight amount of lag but when I found a rhythm I was not wanting for more and could keep the turbos spooled. The E90s S65 begs to be rev'd and needs to be above 5k to build up speed. In MDM mode the tail slips enough as before to keep me in line and out of the trees. My E90M doesn't have MDM and it's been a while since I've used it on another car so I don't recall blow for blow between the two.
As my drive through the forest came to an end I made my way again to a clear patch of unlimited autobahn. I circled the on-ramp and opened up the tap. The acceleration is ridiculous and before I knew it I was climbing to 286kph. Sadly I had to brake but at least it was for a tunnel where I could enjoy the symphony of sounds that came from the engine and exhaust. For reference my E90 usually gets to 260kph before having to slow down.
With the fuel light glaring at me I made my way back to the dealer. I returned the car and got back into my E90. Interior wise I love how the new F80 is more driver oriented with regard to layout and the seats are amazing. But I am a minimalist guy and just don't dig all the screens and active-radar-missle launchers. My E90 is basic without EDC, no nav, and a manual trans.
But Damn dat ass....
I really only compared this to my E90 since it is pretty much stock save for Stoptech pads and Motul600 brake fluid. The E46 has poly bushings and TCKline coilovers, HP+ pads, and Supersprint exhaust. And the E36 is just an uncivilized track car.
Final thoughts? For my needs, I would daily the crap out of this and would feel completely confident taking to it the track as it sits. With some wider rubber (only slightly) and track pads this this would be a serious weapon. This car has potential to do both so well that I would consider selling the E90 and E36 to have just this one. Let's just see if they'll let me have it in green :)
AlmostJalop
> Too many M's
10/02/2014 at 17:53 |
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No pictures of the other M's??
Sounds like you enjoyed it. Ive been talking to a few E90 owners and they feel a lot better about stepping into one after driving it.
DasWauto
> Too many M's
10/02/2014 at 17:55 |
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Edited your reshare to make it more appealing/informative. When you write "resharing because I suck at this", it's not going to entice everyone to read the post. Also, enlarged the image on Oppo's main page, that should help too. Cheers.
Cé hé sin
> Too many M's
10/02/2014 at 18:06 |
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I think (s)he rather enjoyed it.
BZiel
> Too many M's
10/02/2014 at 18:33 |
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Offenbach tags...you are right next to me. I'm in Sachsenhausen.
I'm guessing you either drove on 8 out of Konigstein im Taunus, or, on 275 Usingen-Idstein
Came back to FFam on 3 from Limburg direction.
Close?
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Too many M's
> DasWauto
10/03/2014 at 00:31 |
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Thanks! I was trying share on my tablet, then got frustrated and went to bed. :)
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Too many M's
> BZiel
10/03/2014 at 00:41 |
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I'm in the little town of Kaiserslautern. The dealer here borrowed a car from Offenbach though.
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Too many M's
> AlmostJalop
10/03/2014 at 00:59 |
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Yeah, I kinda did. And I forgot to mention the steering! It is pretty accurate, there were points that I knew I'd get more feedback from the E90/E46. Because of that lack of feedback I this the car was making me feel like it was more planted than it was letting on.
I was trying to get one uploaded, kept getting Kinja'd. Here's one that I was trying to post.
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Too many M's
> Cé hé sin
10/03/2014 at 00:59 |
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I (he) rather did.
Mr. FiSTer of Team FiST Fetish
> Too many M's
10/03/2014 at 02:11 |
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And you didn't come pick me up to give me a ride?!
Old-Busted-Hotness
> Too many M's
10/03/2014 at 06:33 |
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Needs a shaker scoop.
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BZiel
> Too many M's
10/03/2014 at 07:45 |
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I see.
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AlmostJalop
> Too many M's
10/03/2014 at 19:46 |
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sparkling graphite! You have a great taste in color sir! I almost didn't see the E36 back there. Very nice garage, I bet it's tough picking which to drive in the mornings.
Aca
> Too many M's
07/31/2016 at 11:33 |
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The car is perfect. No one complain. ;)