Buying a M3 soon. Nothing but questions? Please help...

[luis_m3]

Hi everyone,

I'm in the process of ordering my first bimmer; a M3. First of all, trust me... I've learned a lot about the M3 in this website (THANKS!!!), but still have a couple of doubts/questions I'd like to resolve before I place my order:

1) Does anyone have any good pics of the factory Carbon Front Splitters? Is it worthy?
2) The Enhanced Premium Sound... is it worty?
3) I'll be getting the Competition package, but I'd like to order a set of black double spoke wheels (19"). Any website recommendations?

Please help!

[PKL]

1) Splitters can be done after you order no problem, so don't sweat this now.
2) You will receive MANY opinions about this, my opinion is that Premium Sound is a requirement.
3) No idea, but they look nice.

[Jason]

Some clear photos of performance carbon fiber splitters:

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=357280
http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=388007
http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=378401

[James T. Kirk]

1) OEM splitters are not cheap and there are alot of really cool alternatives. Wait on it until after you get your M3 and revisit physical mods after she's in front of you.

2) Get the Enhanced Premium Sound. It sounds great.

3) A big part of the ZCP package ARE the wheels. Wider tire, newer rim style. It's kind of a waste of money to get ZCP and then additionally buy double spoke. Get the EDC damper control option for $1,000 and save the additional $1,500 it would cost for the ZCP. ($2,500 total for ZCP which includes EDC and wheels) That money could go toward lowering the suspension if you really, really needed to. Don't forget to check compatibility between your new rims and the tires that are coming with the car. You may find yourself needed to buy all new tires, too, if you're not careful.

[luis_m3]

[QUOTE=Jason;8580071]Some clear photos of performance carbon fiber splitters:

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=357280
http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=388007
http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=378401[/QUOTE

This really helped bro. Thanks! Now I know what they look like up close and personal. You guys are right; I can wait for this mod.

[luis_m3]

Thanks for all the advice. I'm going for the Enhanced sound, and wait on the wheels. You're right. I might not want to make changes after I see my future baby.

[Gkap]

^ keep surfing these boards and your car wont stay stock for long.

[BKMK5]

Originally Posted by Gkap

^ keep surfing these boards and your car wont stay stock for long.

+1

I don't even own one yet(doing ED in March) and I already got refelector deletes and LEDs for my halos.

[White Shark]

Originally Posted by James T. Kirk

3) A big part of the ZCP package ARE the wheels. Wider tire, newer rim style.

I might be wrong, but both ZCP and Regular M3 Civic use the same size staggered tires (245/35/19 front and 265/35/19 rear)...

To OP, 19" GTS wheel looks great even in silver... Get ZCP !!

Enhanced sound....S65 V8 sound is not good enough for you? (BMW should have offered NO-AUDIO/NAVI option for M3...) Save money and buy something good for your wife/family, IMHO...

[Erhan]

Originally Posted by James T. Kirk

Wider tire, newer rim style.

It's not the tire, it is the wheel that is wider in ZCP. Tires are same size.

@OP: People say enhanced sound is pretty good. The way I looked at it is, it is a car that I care about performance. It already has a stereo, how bad could it be? I saw in couple posts the the enhanced sound is quite heavy, which makes sense.

[BKMK5]

Originally Posted by erhanh

@OP: People say enhanced sound is pretty good. The way I looked at it is, it is a car that I care about performance. It already has a stereo, how bad couldn't it be? I saw in couple posts the the enhanced sound is quite heavy, which makes sense.

Even if its heavy, I also found interior noise from the V8 to be alittle more intrusive than the i6 in my 335i. With that said, I didn't feel the need to spend nearly 2k on an upgraded system when I feel all I have to do is crank the radio up just alittle more when I don't want to hear the pure sex coming from the v8! We'll see if I regret not getting it in a couple months. I doubt it. Stock radio seemed just fine in my 2 test cars.

[Erhan]

Originally Posted by BKMK5

Even if its heavy, I also found interior noise from the V8 to be alittle more intrusive than the i6 in my 335i. With that said, I didn't feel the need to spend nearly 2k on an upgraded system when I feel all I have to do is crank the radio up just alittle more when I don't want to hear the pure sex coming from the v8! We'll see if I regret not getting it in a couple months. I doubt it. Stock radio seemed just fine in my 2 test cars.

Agreed. I rarely listen the radio in my Z4 M. If anything I'll listen even less with the M3

[valeram]

Which do you prefer? Listening to the sound of the M3's engine or to the car's audio sound system. I seldom listen to the radio when I am driving it. No matter how good the audio system is, the noise of the engine will be heard. The M3 is not a luxury car that insulate the road and engine's noise. Just get the stock radio and it will serve the purpose for its price. Just my .02 opinion.

[mdosu]

if you're not into music and only listen to talk radio like myself, do not get premium sound, it's a waste of money.

If you're an audiophile and love good sound systems, do not get it either, you'll do much better installing an aftermarket system for the same price.

If you fall somewhere in the middle and money is not an issue, get it, if money is a issue, dont' get it.

[Brosef]

Originally Posted by erhanh

It's not the tire, it is the wheel that is wider in ZCP. Tires are same size.

Wrong. Both the tires and the wheels are wider in the ZCP. I believe the wheels are each 0.5" wider, and the tires for the ZCP are F/R: 255/275, whereas on the non-ZCP they're F/R: 245/265.


I agree with the previous posts. To reiterate,

1. Don't get ZCP if you're just going to replace the wheels. Waste of money IMO.
2. Get premium sound - totally worth it and, unlike many other options, it can't be retrofitted (without paying huge $$$, anyway).
3. Hold off on front splitters. They can be added at anytime.

good luck.

[llis]

Originally Posted by Brosef

Wrong. Both the tires and the wheels are wider in the ZCP. I believe the wheels are each 0.5" wider, and the tires for the ZCP are F/R: 255/275, whereas on the non-ZCP they're F/R: 245/265.

My ZCP wheels came with ContiSportContact 265/35 ZR 19s on the rear. 245s on the front.

[Erhan]

Originally Posted by Brosef

Wrong. Both the tires and the wheels are wider in the ZCP. I believe the wheels are each 0.5" wider, and the tires for the ZCP are F/R: 255/275, whereas on the non-ZCP they're F/R: 245/265.

Sorry but you're wrong. The tires are same size. Wheels are (as you said) 0.5" wider. If you don't believe me (which looks that way) go search the tires&wheels section. Btw, it would make more sense to have 18" forged wheels and 255/275 tires with a competition package.

[Z06M3]

This is my second M3. The first one I had included premium sound. The second one will not have it. I wasn't thrilled with it the first time around. I intend to do a few upgrades for better sound.

[BKMK5]

Originally Posted by erhanh

Sorry but you're wrong. The tires are same size. Wheels are (as you said) 0.5" wider. If you don't believe me (which looks that way) go search the tires&wheels section. Btw, it would make more sense to have 18" forged wheels and 255/275 tires with a competition package.

Correct the 19" rims vs the Competition package 19" rims both come with 245/35 (f) / 265/35(r). Just checked it out at BMWUSA.com.

[jml]

Originally Posted by erhanh

It's not the tire, it is the wheel that is wider in ZCP. Tires are same size.

@OP: People say enhanced sound is pretty good. The way I looked at it is, it is a car that I care about performance. It already has a stereo, how bad couldn't it be? I saw in couple posts the the enhanced sound is quite heavy, which makes sense.

actually, i find that statement hard to believe for US spec cars, since they come with nearly the name number of speakers and an outboard amp for both configurations. I can see premium sound adding maybe 10lbs to the car. The Amp weighs nearly nothing, it's small and aluminum. The subs are also very similar in weight. Has someone had all elements of both systems out and weighed them?

[Erhan]

You have a good point. The enhanced sound is heavy, but is it heavier than regular?

[James T. Kirk]

Originally Posted by erhanh

Agreed. I rarely listen the radio in my Z4 M. If anything I'll listen even less with the M3

Good point. I'm a total audiophile and I find myself turning down the stereo more and more to hear the full symphony of my V-freakin-8.

Bach has nothin' on my 4.0 liter!