[Pablo68]

So today I was lucky enough to have the use of my local dealers Alpine White M3 for the day. I picked it up at 11am this morning and was greeted with half a tank of fuel and told to use it all and then some!

I've covered nearly 200 miles over A-Roads, B-Roads and Dual Carriageways and my thoughts on the car are as follows:

The Good
- The Engine is great. It does not feel in anyway like a turbo. Power delivery is smooth and linear, smoother than my 335i. Speed builds ridiculously easily from anywhere. BUT it is definitely a petrol! To get the very best you need to be above 3000 RPM. I had a very enjoyable B road blast in slightly damp conditions (More on that below) with some great chaps in a a lovely Mk1 Escort (see pics) and without a doubt the best way to drive the M3 was staying in 2nd and 3rd and working it hard.

- The HUD (I realise this not just M) but the HUD is awesome in the M HUD mode with the gears and rev counter along with the speedo. How I wish I had this on my car, especially when "pressing on".

- The Gear Box. Wow that DCT box shifts fast, shifts so smooth and is brilliant in manual. It really made my car's ZF8 feel slow and harsh in sport mode. Combined with the engine they make a fantastic pair.

- The Chassis and Suspension. Brilliant. No other word can describe them. The car was always planted always poised and gave superb feedback on how it was behaving. At the same time it was nothing like the E92 suspension and I did not feel every leaf like a spine shattering jolt. With all the nannies turned off (10 seconds press on the DCT button) and pushing hard on damp roads I never once felt the car was going to try to kill me without at least having the courtesy of telling me first. A couple of times I managed to get the back to squirt out a little but it came back in line without any real drama or fighting. I would imagine that on a track this car would be utterly superb.

- The seats. Mixed bag this. I loved them from a drivers POV. My wife hated them from a passengers POV. She complained the back stitching pushed into her back. I was too busy having fun to notice.


The Bad

- The Active sound. Why? Really BMW Why? It sounds like a playstation, has no real bearing on what the car is doing (other than getting VERY LOUD at high revs) and with the windows down the car sounds brilliant anyway. It does not need this. Remove it.

- It's a 3 series inside. A very fast, very nice and special 3 series but an F30 none the less. The cabin (seats not withstanding) was nothing special at all. I think BMW could have done something here so you really knew you were in a top of the line car. I had a quick play in an M5 when I took the M3 back to the dealer and the interior of that is leagues better than the M3.

- Fuel economy. Well what can I say? I got an average of 17 MPG. But you if if are concerned with fuel economy you shouldn't really be thinking of an M car period.

So anyway, too much waffle so summary:

Day to day driving: My 335i is 9/10s of the M3. I would not spot the difference much between them. DC blasts and traffic light GP's and generally driving within (or close to) the legal limits, nothing in it.

Pushing hard: The M3's suspension comes to the fore and makes my 335i feel wallowy and unbalanced. Get on the proper twisties and get the M3 in it's "sweet spot" and the 335i would really struggle to stay up.

On the track: No contest. The M3 would utterly demolish the 335i.

How it makes you feel: The M3 sounds good (turn off that damn active sound please), looks good, and feels very good. I would be more than happy to pootle around in one.

Will I buy one? Well that depends on what money is involved and theres plenty of haggle to come. Now this is not meant to be "snobby" but if I was coming out of say a 4 pot or older E90/92 335i then I would seriously tempted. It would be a massive step up, not just to the M car but to a top of the range F30. Coming from a 9 month old F30 335i with almost the same interior and options? Its hard to justify. Really hard, it feels like it wouldn't be enough of a change for the money IF there is no deal to be had....if the money is close then I shall be taking one.

Finally, a really big thumbs up to the chaps in the Escort who gave me a great run and also were kind enough to let me photo their awesome car with the M3...as they said "From Old Age to Space Age"

And to Sytner BMW for letting me go and play in the M3 for a day on my own. Trusting fools

[Alkidrew]

I agree about the fake sound. Terrible idea. Would put me off buying any car with it. As bad as m badges on a 316i. What were they thinking.....

[....,,,,..,,..]

Really good write up.

Escort looks brilliant.

What's the odds that the red leather has problems after 6 or so months.

I noticed same with interior of the M3 we have a local dealer in baby blue.

They could up it a little.

M2 is the way forward anyhow, more affordable (hopefully) and smaller / lighter

What about 335i with acs springs and acs performance upgrade v M3 for daily driving....

[Billyray911]

A nice write up and it's interesting that in real world use,the void between the 335 and M3 is getting ever closer.
Whilst the M looks great,that Escort looks awesome!

[dopper99]

Nice write up thanks.
Interesting that you think it's so close to the 335i on daily driving (I can't comment on that as I've not driven either car!)

[matk]

Great write up, for me im going to look at its replacement in 8 years time. I will be keeping my car until then and we will see how the replacement for this one is. I would be more tempted to get a e92 to go with my 330 than change it for one of them. Lovely wheels on it tho i would love a set of them as reps on my estate!

[Tengocity]

Nice write up. 17mpg is not too bad for a days blast. Thoughts on what the real world everyday consumption would be?

Unfortunately fuel economy is of concern to me... Would still love an M car though!

[Pablo68]

An ACS tuned and sprung 335i would be a very interesting drive.

When I say the 335i is 9/10s the M3 for daily driving I should clarify: I mean by this is you cannot utilise the potential of the M3 at all daily driving which means the 335i feels very, very similar in that situation and with the interior of both being almost the same the M3 loses it sense of occaision somewhat. This is where I think BMW have missed a trick (maybe deliberately to give the M5 a niche), but if they had invested in a more "premium" interior on the M3 it would have been better.

Of course I know which I would rather be sat in, even doing 30 mph in traffic

[....,,,,..,,..]

Originally Posted by Pablo68

An ACS tuned and sprung 335i would be a very interesting drive.

When I say the 335i is 9/10s the M3 for daily driving I should clarify: I mean by this is you cannot utilise the potential of the M3 at all daily driving which means the 335i feels very, very similar in that situation and with the interior of both being almost the same the M3 loses it sense of occaision somewhat. This is where I think BMW have missed a trick (maybe deliberately to give the M5 a niche), but if they had invested in a more "premium" interior on the M3 it would have been better.

Of course I know which I would rather be sat in, even doing 30 mph in traffic

Well there you are Pablo, we have a 335d with acs springs and acs power upgrade. Fancy doing the first 335i ?

That would show just what a petrol 335 can do.

[Nick the Greek]

Interesting that you felt in day to day driving the 335 was close to the M3. The recorded figures indicate the M3 is on another level altogether.

[d4springer]

Just looks like a great car, I still prefer the look of the M3 over the M4 (especially in AW, although SO would be tempting also). I suppose if you wanted more interior refinement you would need to look at the Alpina, although no idea how good that is dynamically compared to an M3.

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by Pablo68

When I say the 335i is 9/10s the M3 for daily driving I should clarify: I mean by this is you cannot utilise the potential of the M3 at all daily driving which means the 335i feels very, very similar in that situation and with the interior of both being almost the same the M3 loses it sense of occaision somewhat.

I understand what you are saying. When I had a quick drive in the M4, I concluded if I owned an M3, I'd not be buying it to use the full performance more than a fraction of the driving time, but buying it more for what it is, top of the range. BMW engineering at its best.

I find these days it is hard to be at the limits of even more modest performing cars, without appearing like an anti-social driver. So often daily driving is simply controlled by other users and conditions. An M3/M4 would still be a great place to be in such conditions, but easy to see it as an expensive toy.

HighlandPete

[Tengocity]

Originally Posted by Pablo68

An ACS tuned and sprung 335i would be a very interesting drive.

When I say the 335i is 9/10s the M3 for daily driving I should clarify: I mean by this is you cannot utilise the potential of the M3 at all daily driving which means the 335i feels very, very similar in that situation and with the interior of both being almost the same the M3 loses it sense of occaision somewhat. This is where I think BMW have missed a trick (maybe deliberately to give the M5 a niche), but if they had invested in a more "premium" interior on the M3 it would have been better.

Of course I know which I would rather be sat in, even doing 30 mph in traffic

I think the standard interior is a bit disappointing even on a 335, so definitely on a £60k M3. If I was spending this amount I would really have to have the extended leather option, though I don't think that helps with the crappy plastic on the centre console.
It might seem that talking about this stuff shouldn't be that important with a car of this performance and handling, but have to agree with Pablo that if you can't always be using that performance then other things need to help you feel the outlay is worthwhile.

[batty]

that's a beautiful Escort. It looks like a concourse example and you rarely see those on the road.
M3 looks fab, but I am like you - struggling to see the reason to buy one. My 330d is so good.
But I ought to take one out for a good drive, just to make sure....

[Nick the Greek]

The size of the M3 compared to the Escort neatly sums up were manufacturers have gone wrong over the last thirty years.....

[335i nthehouse]

Originally Posted by d4springer

Just looks like a great car, I still prefer the look of the M3 over the M4 (especially in AW, although SO would be tempting also). I suppose if you wanted more interior refinement you would need to look at the Alpina, although no idea how good that is dynamically compared to an M3.

I couldn't agree more, checking them out at dealer the other day, the M3 looks a brute, where the M4 is so close the 4 series, I thought maybe that was as I own a 3 I see the difference more, but the dealer says the same.

Also, 'M3' has become synonymous with perfoance cars over more than 25 years, the reference M4 is primarily a way to get from Bristol to London!

[....,,,,..,,..]

Originally Posted by Nick the Greek

The size of the M3 compared to the Escort neatly sums up were manufacturers have gone wrong over the last thirty years.....

Yes very much so, hence my M2 comment

[PrinceBarin]

Great write-up. Love that Escort!!

Totally agree on the interior feel. I spent some time sat in my local dealer's M4 last weekend and, as I soaked it up and looked around I thought 'this looks pretty much identical to my 4'. No doubt the individual leather interior and dash would help but, as you say, the 5 does a great job of putting the 3/4 interior into perspective. It's 'fine' but nothing special, and a shame to see it repeated in the M car.

[Dave_3]

Cracking car. M3 is not bad either.

D.

[Pablo68]

Ok so a few days of being back in my 335i and do I miss the M3?

A few post M3 observations:

As good as the ZF8 is the DCT is in totally another league. Now mine just feels snatchy and rough in sport mode.

I have really come to realise how bloody obnoxiously intrusive and quickly annoying the Active Sound in the M3 is when giving it beans compared to the subtly pleasing noises of the 35i...especially on a commute.

The 335i definitely still feels a bit wallowly on the edge when cornering but not too bad and definitely too light and vague through the steering. I would still very much prefer both the M3's suspension and steering.

Sat in traffic, or even giving it some wellie within legal bounds my car feels just as rewarding and pleasing.

Driving through town no more nor less people looked at or were in the least bit interested in my car than the M3.

So overall I do not miss the M3 at all so far. No if I were to turn up for a track day I am sure I would, but nearly a weeks worth of normal driving? Nope. Very soon I am going to have a day with an XK-R and see how that makes me feel.

Edited to say:

Whilst MPG does not normally bother me in the slightest. It is nice getting 30+ mpg rather an 20+mpg when not going balls to the wall.

[Cootie]

Xkr has real character albeit much more GT than sportscar - the engine is a cracker. Will be interested to hear your thoughts relative to the 335i and M3

[chiark]

Interesting. I took a test drive in an E92 M3 when I had an E91 330i, and whilst it was a stunning car in every possible way to drive, it still felt too much like getting into my 3 series... It was also a proper headbanger of a car, as it felt like it should be caned at every possible opportunity, and with that engine I'd have lost my licence in days . (Went for a 911 instead, which again I would recommend to anyone and everyone at least once in their life)

TL;DR; M3 = stunning, but it still feels like you're getting into a 3 series, which may or may not be what you want