M3 - How would you have done it if you had been BMW?

[FesterNath]

All this talk of the new M3 not being sporty / raw / involving enough got me thinking: what has been BMWs logic behind bringing it to market. For sure, because of the name it will sell well, and nobody disputes it is a great car. But the M brand's purpose is also to provide a halo, a sysnthesis of what makes a BMW the car it is. And in this case it doesn't seem to have hit the spot quite as well as in previous incarnations. What strikes me as strange is that there was a golden opportunity for BMW to make the E92 M3 ultra sporting. The 335i is accepted as being almost as quick as the E46 M3, yet does without that car's highly strung nature, and high maintenance costs. To me, this has the comfort/performance base covered. So why didn't BMW make the M3 an M3 CSL from the off, and bring out the 'true' spirit of the M3, which is the only thing that seems to be lacking from the new car?

[JakeR]

From a business perspective (what counts in the real world) it looks like they have chased big sales at big £££, and I guess you cant argue with maximum £profit.

From an enthusiast's persective, I would have liked to have seen a lower price tag and a much lower weight, with a proper msport engine (the V8 would do nicely!), something with that 'racecar with numberplates' feel

Edited by JakeR on Friday 21st September 21:30

[MitchT]

If I'd been BMW I'd have done it in whatever way makes the most money.
I'd I'd been me with a gun to BMW's top-brass's head...

Smaller (bit difficult, I admit, 'cause it's essentially a 3 series coupe)
Lighter
Straight 6 for the classic BMW sound rather than the somewhat agricultural V8 muscle car sound that it now has
Price in the £40k ballpark
Scrap all the tecno nonsense and build a real machine

Edited by MitchT on Friday 21st September 23:22

[Vixpy1]

I would have gone for a 3.8 six

[sleep envy]

and a flat one in the boot

[belleair302]

Turbo charged six....ie Alpina....less electronics, high end brakes....made the car a CSL to begin with and given it race car dynamics. Costs around GBP 44K with performance of 0-60 in under 5, 0-100 in around 11 and a top end close to 180mph. Enough to beat the Audi R8 and Cayman / 911 boys. No electric seats, yes to xenons, some sort of TC but can be switched off....yes amazing steering and sound / feel. More GTI than GT.

[Vixpy1]

Noooo.. M cars should be N/A , always. The standard M3 should be a good everyday car, the perfect compromise. There is always room for a CSL as well, now THAT can be hardcore!

[Zod]

don't really care, so long as they get the CSL right.

[Ravell]

Lower Cg
Lower overall weight
Little or no creature comforts
Smaller car overall
Inline 6
Manual gearbox
No buttons for traction/gearbox/suspension, everyhting mechanical

I need an E30 don't I?

[derestrictor]

Yes, the problem with all this talk is quite simple.

It's boocks.

The only issue with the M3 is the notion of a £50k+ 3 series but it hasn't stopped Audi and Mercedes charging similar amounts for their compact rockets.

It probably serves up a proportional thrill quotient ito impact/£ to a 997 Carrera so again, isn't overpriced, relatively speaking and the CSL variant will no doubt enliven the nerve endings this one might not quite reach.

[Zod]

derestrictor said:

Yes, the problem with all this talk is quite simple.

It's boocks.

[FesterNath]

derestrictor said:

Yes, the problem with all this talk is quite simple.

It's boocks.

The only issue with the M3 is the notion of a £50k+ 3 series but it hasn't stopped Audi and Mercedes charging similar amounts for their compact rockets.

It probably serves up a proportional thrill quotient ito impact/£ to a 997 Carrera so again, isn't overpriced, relatively speaking and the CSL variant will no doubt enliven the nerve endings this one might not quite reach.

Not as much bo**ocks as a quote like that. If you don't have anything interesting to say, why bother, you!
Edited to remove nasty comment!

Edited by FesterNath on Sunday 23 September 15:25

[Olf]

FesterNath said:

derestrictor said:

Yes, the problem with all this talk is quite simple.

It's boocks.

The only issue with the M3 is the notion of a £50k+ 3 series but it hasn't stopped Audi and Mercedes charging similar amounts for their compact rockets.

It probably serves up a proportional thrill quotient ito impact/£ to a 997 Carrera so again, isn't overpriced, relatively speaking and the CSL variant will no doubt enliven the nerve endings this one might not quite reach.

Not as much bo**ocks as a quote like that. If you don't have anything interesting to say, why bother, you prick!

Now we're talking. It's about time we got some real hard men around here.

[tomTVR]

I havent driven the new M3 so can only go on the reviews, however..

How about a slightyly more hardcore version as a no cost option? (laugh it up) for the enthusiasts? Call one version a Lux (the one out now) and the other (CS perhaps?)with a quicker steering rack, less soundproofing/non-essential gizmos/ inkeeping with the M3 ethos. Then have the full blown CSL carbon fibre bonanza stripped out with roll cage and fire extinguisher - think GT3 RS.

That way all the people who are only bothered about the badge can go for the Lux, the average pistonheader who wants fine performance but with some practicality can go for CS (or whatever they want to call it) and the hardcore track monster can go for the CSL. The first two could look identical on the outside to stop the badge snobs buying the more focused versions just to beat the neighbours even though it wont go over 4000rpm.

[FesterNath]

tomTVR said:

I havent driven the new M3 so can only go on the reviews, however..

How about a slightyly more hardcore version as a no cost option? (laugh it up) for the enthusiasts? Call one version a Lux (the one out now) and the other (CS perhaps?)with a quicker steering rack, less soundproofing/non-essential gizmos/ inkeeping with the M3 ethos. Then have the full blown CSL carbon fibre bonanza stripped out with roll cage and fire extinguisher - think GT3 RS.

That way all the people who are only bothered about the badge can go for the Lux, the average pistonheader who wants fine performance but with some practicality can go for CS (or whatever they want to call it) and the hardcore track monster can go for the CSL. The first two could look identical on the outside to stop the badge snobs buying the more focused versions just to beat the neighbours even though it wont go over 4000rpm.

Yeh, sounds like a good idea. But to me the 'Lux' is covered by the 335i. But what do I know, I have a 330Ci!

[Zod]

FesterNath said:

derestrictor said:

Yes, the problem with all this talk is quite simple.

It's boocks.

The only issue with the M3 is the notion of a £50k+ 3 series but it hasn't stopped Audi and Mercedes charging similar amounts for their compact rockets.

It probably serves up a proportional thrill quotient ito impact/£ to a 997 Carrera so again, isn't overpriced, relatively speaking and the CSL variant will no doubt enliven the nerve endings this one might not quite reach.

Not as much bo**ocks as a quote like that. If you don't have anything interesting to say, why bother, you!
Edited to remove nasty comment!

Edited by FesterNath on Sunday 23 September 15:25

what a bizarre overreaction.

[french]

I have a E36 M3, its a 1998 with 30,356 miles it was a cat "D" when it was just under a year old. It was hit when parked at the front when a van ran into it. The Insurance company wanted to repair but the owner would not accept it as he had paid around just shy £37,000 I was surprised that he could insist on this anyway it was made a Cat "D".

So that was approx 8 years ago & no problems, although I did have to fit a new set of front tie rod ends & a pair of tyres.......do you think its coming home to roost 8 years later LOL. If you are realistic & check everthing is all above board & it WAS carried out by a BMW Dealership (Mine was) there should be no problem, as for depriciation & 30% keep it for years & have fun, there's not much better out there apart from a newer one.

[griffgrog]

The new M3 is a great car. It's as fast as a 997, twenty grand cheaper and whole lot more refined. It still goes and handles like a supercar. Where's the problem?

[Brink]

griffgrog said:

The new M3 is a great car. It's as fast as a 997, twenty grand cheaper and whole lot more refined. It still goes and handles like a supercar. Where's the problem?

The problem is that BMW are becoming a bit ... yesterday.

[waremark]

griffgrog said:

The new M3 is a great car. It's as fast as a 997, twenty grand cheaper and whole lot more refined. It still goes and handles like a supercar. Where's the problem?

And here sooner and probably a great deal cheaper than the E63 or RS5. I am with Griffgrog, give or take a 'nearly' before 'like a supercar'.

But then, as a happy E36 and E46 M3 owner, I did not like the E30 and have never been tempted by a CSL!!