Emperor Has No Clothes-F80 Falls Short on Test Drive

[soberin]

Okay, I'll make it really quick. I have an E90 6MT with the following mods so you know where I'm coming from before my extended test drive yesterday in the new M4 with DCT and adjustable suspension. Highway and back roads all done in full Sport Plus mode for steering, throttle, suspension and DCT.

Ohlin R&T suspension
Dinan intake and exhaust
Dinan monoballs and toelinks
Dinan 4.1 differential
Dinan pulley
Benvo ECU and Servotronic steering tune
Dinan engine strut brace
Advan Neovas

The good:

Great brakes. Kills my car.
Great seats. Way more supportive-really holds you well.
DCT. Instant shifts.

The bad:

Engine. Yes the torque is amazing. But the IS turbo lag no matter what anyone says. It is not instant response like the S65. The engine is the heart of the car, and this thing doesn't do it for me. No sound at all from the engine. Only the exhaust, and not very inspiring.

Suspension. Nice and flat. But it ain't no Ohlin.

Steering. Good for EPS-way better than the Cayman. BUT not as sensitive as my modded hydraulic, and without the same feedback and feel. Too much play on-center. Sorry.

DCT. Instant shifts, but really only good if you track. And I track quite a bit at LRP. DCT too robotic for daily driving without enough driver input. Don't need no stinkin' rev matching done for me.

If you think I'm bitchin' as I have so much invested in my mods for my E90 think again. I would have bought the car yesterday if it was REALLY that much better. I'll supercharge mine now, and have all the torque needed without giving up what makes my car great. Can't comment on folks with unmodded E90s.

[ASAP]

So we are comparing modded to stock cars's again... ones with 5-10K suspensions and modded steering setups... mmm kay

[igom3]

^^^^^^

[DrtyJrze]

Cool story bro...

[Reedomn]

Just think if you did all those same mods to the f80 ????

[MisterEm]

Sounds a lot like the posts from 2007/2008 when the S65 came out...

Lather. Rinse. Repeat.

[1stm3f80]

Quack Quack

[gthal]

Too bad it wasn't for you... the E90 is great, enjoy.

[JL M3]

So I was dating a 25 year old. Great girl. But then a 21 year old came along. More attractive, more energy, a little more wild. Switch to the 21 year old right? But wait, I decided to spend 10k and give the 25 year old implants and a nose job. Now I like the 25 year old more. Next is a butt lift.

Don’t know why your story made me think of this. Blame it on my plastic surgeon buddy I guess. By the way, my story was just a dream.

[sa12]

It seems like you've already made your mind up with regards to the F80 but it would be interesting to know how you would compare your modded E90 M3 to a standard E90....

At the end of the day, everyone is entitled to their opinion and we don't all have to agree so hope you have fun with your 'soon to be' supecharged E90.

[Nordkeyz73]

Apples to pomegranates...

[bmwm4f82]

Same sh@t as modded 335 vs M3 waste-of-time rants.

[soberin]

Originally Posted by ASAP

So we are comparing modded to stock cars's again... ones with 5-10K suspensions and modded steering setups... mmm kay

Agreed, but why not? This forum is loaded with modded cars. Just being realistic based on who is on this thread.

[consolidated]

i quit reading at Ohlins...

[Andrew115]

I am shocked.... this twin-turbo engine doesn't respond like a NA.


Canceling order immediately....

[Brosef]

Originally Posted by sa12

It seems like you've already made your mind up with regards to the F80 but it would be interesting to know how you would compare your modded E90 M3 to a standard E90....

At the end of the day, everyone is entitled to their opinion and we don't all have to agree so hope you have fun with your 'soon to be' supecharged E90.

perfect analogy

[soberin]

I did another two test drives after you guys flamed me for comparing the F80 to my modded E90. Too bad, but I have to compare to what I'm driving now. I'm not a professional driver, but I think 20 years of racing Spec Miatas and tracking BMWs gives me enough experience. So here goes. I did back to back test drives yesterday in an M3 with DCT and stock suspension, followed by an M3 with DCT and adjustable suspension set in Sport Plus. All other settings were in Sport Plus for both cars.


PLUS: Superb brakes. Sensitive, but not overly so. Nice modulation. Far superior stopping power compared to E90 stock brakes.


Great seats. Much more supportive than E90. You sit in them, as opposed to on top of them.

Torque. Major big deal push you in the back rocket launcher torque. Very easy to pass in 7th gear, compared to having to downshift to 4th in my E90. And that's with Dinan intake, exhaust, 4.1 differential and underdrive pulley.

MINUS: DCT. Simply too fast and too good to enjoy. Really. On the track, I would take it every time. But daily driving, the DCT really isolates you as a driver. More like a video game than a car.

Suspension: The adjustable suspension in Sport Plus is stiffer and flatter cornering than stock, but by a small margin. Regardless, neither in the class of my Ohlin R&Ts.

Engine: Lots of noise from the rear. Absolutely nothing from the engine up front. No ripping mechanical noises at 8600 rpm--I'm not the only one here with a tune.

Steering: Yes, the electric steering is good, but not great. The dealer in the passenger seat could not believe when I showed him the 4 inches of play in the wheel on center. And this is the third test drive in different M's, so it's not a fluke. Yes, it loads up effort as you go faster, but does not give me the feel and feedback of the hydraulic steering with Benvo's tune. Sorry again. It's accurate, but the wheel doesn't tingle in a way to really know what the front wheels are doing. Yes, I have the Ohlins, Advans, camber plates etc, but that's the way it is.

Design: The car is lighter, but when you look at it, it looks much more massive than the E90. It looks too big. The exterior styling is not as well balanced. I don't find it aggressive, but instead, it looks too thick.

Interior: Not significantly better or different than the E90. Not Audi or Bentley quality, obviously. Also, the navigation screen sticks up over the top of the dash, unlike the screen in the E90 which is located lower down in the dash, and is less distracting.

Conclusion--I'm supercharging to get the torque, and will be quite happy without buying a new M3. I've got 82K miles on it.

[mercedesc63]

I felt like the steering was so heavy in the f80 m3 I drove.

I also felt like the seats are way suckier.

Do u feel like the steering was heavy?

[consolidated]

Hopefully a mod will combine this with your other thread, because I can't tell the difference, and the convo will degrade into the same.

I race too, much prefer the new car, not even close for me. Comparing a track set up E90 to a stock F80 is folly. My biggest disagreement with you post is this:

Design: The car is lighter, but when you look at it, it looks much more massive than the E90. It looks too big. The exterior styling is not as well balanced. I don't find it aggressive, but instead, it looks too thick.

Interior: Not significantly better or different than the E90. Not Audi or Bentley quality, obviously. Also, the navigation screen sticks up over the top of the dash, unlike the screen in the E90 which is located lower down in the dash, and is less distracting.

Interior is a big upgrade, with full leather the car not even close honestly.

The exterior of the F80 looks much more aggressive, sculpted and taut, parked next to my E90 M3, the old car looked quite tired, a bit puffy and with pedestrian brakes...and no carbon roof.

[/// M sa]

Great two less buyers enjoy other cars. 60 positive reviews vs 5 negative it is what it is the car won't appeal to everyone.

[ss134]

Originally Posted by consolidated

Hopefully a mod will combine this with your other thread, because I can't tell the difference, and the convo will degrade into the same.

I race too, much prefer the new car, not even close for me. Comparing a track set up E90 to a stock F80 is folly. My biggest disagreement with you post is this:



Interior is a big upgrade, with full leather the car not even close honestly.

The exterior of the F80 looks much more aggressive, sculpted and taut, parked next to my E90 M3, the old car looked quite tired, a bit puffy and with pedestrian brakes...and no carbon roof.

I'd have to say that I totally agree with you.

[M3guy3]

I also like the interior setup more on the E90. Cant stand that Ipad looking nav