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| 03-23-2008, 10:20 PM | #1 |
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Private First Class
 
17
Rep 128
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Drives: Alpine White 2008 M3
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Phoenix AZ
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Picked up 2008 BMW M3 Alpine White: my review
Just purchased it on Thursday night.
Short review of the M3 compared to past cars I have had: Just thought I share some thoughts on the car. So far it's still the "new toy" so I am viewing/reviewing with a jaded buyers eye. Racing sofa - my tired old ass certainly is not complaining about the womanly luxery of the 2008 BMW M3 (compared to the 04 GT3 that is!) The seats are better than the stock GT3 996 seats, and the Corvette seats. BMW nutted up and actually put serious side support on their seats that actually works. The side supports on the 996 GT3 were hints rather than useful. Left me sliding around when I took a corner seriously. I don't think that will be a problem with the M3. The car seems responsive, agile and quick to turn. More so than a C5 Z06, less so than the GT3. It is not as tight at the GT3 - but that is not a surprise. It is quiet - like a church - when driving. But this is coming from a GT3 in which road noise is the music of choice. It is quieter than my Z06. The integration options are just positively spoiling. The sound system, is the best of the Z06, GT3 and M3 combo. Absolutely stunning. Love it. The brakes appear to be non-linear. Tho I have not performed any bedding procedures yet. I push the brakes down for about 1" and get gentle braking resistance, and then whammo - serious bite. This only happens at Parking lot speeds under say, 10-15mph or so. Slow enough that there is no serious intertia to even out the braking bite. So braking is a bit of an adventure. At times - very slow, and at other times inadvertently abrupt. I am hoping that this will mitigate as time goes on and the brakes wear in. I intend on bedding them when I have some open road. The clutch is easier than the Z06 or GT3. The GT3 was the stiffest. It is progressive and easy to handle/predict. The shift is roughly like that of the Z06 - kinda spongy/rubber bandy. No where near notchy like the GT3. Easy to flick around with two fingers. Of course, when coming from the rifle bolt of the GT3 - anything/everything is going to feel vague and loose. So far no missed shifts - so it's been an accurate box at least. Still kinda hard to get the feel for the different gearing and downshifting has been an exercise in mismatched RPMs to speed. But then again Heel toeing is out right now until I get past the 1300 mile mark and can redline the car. The gearing appears to be pretty tight. 65-70 in 6th gear nets me about 3100 rpm. Red line is 8300 rpm - tho that redline varies based on engine temp. The redline markings around the tach actually moves to let you know where it currently is. Gas mileage appears to be running around 15.6 mpg. Actually worse than the Vette and the GT3 (which got around 18-19mpg). This even with the 5500 limit and no full throttle application. I am 230 miles into the car so far. |
| 03-23-2008, 11:24 PM | #2 |
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Captain
 
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 Well not completely, but jpg's would help 
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 2009 AW M3 E93 - Black Novillo|DCT|ZTP|ZPP|752 Enh Audio|4UT|Heated Seats|6FL|6NF| For jpg's: http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthr...=186382&page=4 Traded: 2007 335i E93 |
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| 03-23-2008, 11:30 PM | #3 |
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Brigadier General
 
127
Rep 3,071
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Drives: E92M3-E46M3-E46Wagon-E89Z4-E36
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: Greater St Louis Metro area
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Kevin,
Great review thanks for the perspective. Please send your interior color and trim and wheel choice and I'll add you to the March delivery roll call. http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=124050
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Invest Wisely...The best mod for your money?? BMWCCA high performance driver's school. The mod that lasts a lifetime and improves the performance of any car you drive[/LEFT]
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