RE: New tweaked BMW M3 debuts
Wednesday 24th November 2004
New tweaked BMW M3 debuts
More power, better handling and brakes -- all this and Alcantara too.
BMW's new M3 Competition Package makes its world debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show in January. Every aspect of the M3's handling has been tweaked, resulting in the best-handling M3 ever, reckons BMW America.
The wheels are 19-inch forged-alloy wheels with high-performance tyres, connecting to a suspension tuned specifically for the Competition Package. 
Turn-in is quicker with a more direct steering ratio of 14.5:1 against the standard 15.4:1.
The Dynamic Stability Control system includes a less intrusive M track mode, as on the M3 CSL while the brakes, also adopted from the M3 CSL, include compound and cross-drilled discs. The front discs grow from 12.8 to 13.6 inches. Transmissions include the standard six-speed manual or the optional sequential manual gearbox.
Interior changes include an Alcantara steering wheel and handbrake grip with a steering wheel-mounted button for the DSC M track mode, which requires the deletion of the multi-function controls and cruise control.
The Competition Package is available with all M3 Coupe interior and exterior colour combinations, reckons BMW, though two trim items are exclusive to the Competition Package. A special Competition Package aluminium trim is included on the interior and a new exterior colour, Interlagos Blue, is offered only with this package.
The Competition Package will be available for 2005 M3 Coupes beginning with December 2004 production. The price for the package will be $4,000 (about £2,500) in the US -- there's no sign of a UK version yet.
Discussion
sjp63 said:Sorry, but that is misleading, sjp63. Only 82 people replied to the poll out of a total membership of 5000 at bm3w (admittedly not all M3 owners). People without blown engines are much less likely to reply to such a poll. If the true figure were 18%, there would be much more noise being made about the issue than there is.
nothing to do with tracking, all M3's have had 2 recalls for new big end bearings and a recent poll on BM3W suggested about 18% of owners had suffered blown engines. I was one of them.
It is not all M3s, but M3s up to July 2003. Not all those recalled were subject to two recalls. There was a big end bearing issue and by recalling the cars BMW did the right thing.
I would be pissed off if I had suffered a blown engine in any of my three E46 M3s, but like the vast majority of owners, I haven't.
As far as I am aware, no CSLs have blown engines (in the same way as the regular M3s have)
I think this must be because BMW have been using the new design of crankshaft bearing shell in these engines - and the reason for the most recent recall is to put these bearing shells into older engines. So hopefully that's the end of the matter..
Apparently some of the above components will be retrofittable - I doubt it will be better handling than the CSL, but some of the stuff looks good.
I think this must be because BMW have been using the new design of crankshaft bearing shell in these engines - and the reason for the most recent recall is to put these bearing shells into older engines. So hopefully that's the end of the matter..
Apparently some of the above components will be retrofittable - I doubt it will be better handling than the CSL, but some of the stuff looks good.
I had a bearing failure on my first E46 M3 but BMW were really good about it (they replaced my 12,000 mile car at no cost to me). Since then I've had 3 M3s including my current M3 CSL and absolutely no engine problems whatsoever. I was the first UK owner to experience an engine failure and it hasn't dented my confidence in the brand. Btw, I am an experienced race driver and track all my M3s, so I don't pussy foot around.
Zod said:
nothing to do with tracking, all M3's have had 2 recalls for new big end bearings and a recent poll on BM3W suggested about 18% of owners had suffered blown engines. I was one of them.
Sorry, but that is misleading, sjp63. Only 82 people replied to the poll out of a total membership of 5000 at bm3w (admittedly not all M3 owners). People without blown engines are much less likely to reply to such a poll. If the true figure were 18%, there would be much more noise being made about the issue than there is.
It is not all M3s, but M3s up to July 2003. Not all those recalled were subject to two recalls. There was a big end bearing issue and by recalling the cars BMW did the right thing.
I would be pissed off if I had suffered a blown engine in any of my three E46 M3s, but like the vast majority of owners, I haven't.
No you are splitting hairs mr zod. I mearly reported a fact about the poll, not wether it was fair or accurate. The other fact is that I have thrashed the living daylights out of a string of company cars over the years and to have 2 recalls and an engine failure on a BMW is pretty poor and not an isolated case. You know M3 values are beginning to suffer and that BMW is increasing the cost of extended warrenties next year. And I dont subscribe to the "but its a supercar" club, my Cerbera broke down once in 3 years due to a fuse blowing.
There is a reliability issue with the M3 engine fact.
sjp63 said:
BMW have a reputation for reliability, TVR do not. sometimes those reputations are not deserved.
Just my view but one i'm entiltled to express without the need for toys to be thrown...
stop talking jaber, jaber.
there is a major difference between a preventative and pro-active recall (no doubt with courtesy cars) and tvr style engine blow ups, dealers shrugging shoulders and cars going to blackpool to be left with their window open in the yard for 3 months for finger followers etc.
bennno
bennno said:
BMW have a reputation for reliability, TVR do not. sometimes those reputations are not deserved.
Just my view but one i'm entiltled to express without the need for toys to be thrown...
stop talking jaber, jaber.
there is a major difference between a preventative and pro-active recall (no doubt with courtesy cars) and tvr style engine blow ups, dealers shrugging shoulders and cars going to blackpool to be left with their window open in the yard for 3 months for finger followers etc.
bennno
Thanks for your advice benny but you seem to be losing the thread a bit there
To be fair, although there were some issues with the early cars being stripped down then BMW realising they didn't have the parts etc, I think BMW have handled the whole recall process pretty well, when you consider what a major job it is, and how many M3s there are in the UK.
My car went in for an Inspection 1, which is a two day job, and they were able to do the recall at the same time. Dropped the car off Monday morning, picked it up Tuesday afternoon. No inconvenience or hassle at all.
Most annoying thing is that they recommend to run the car in again!
My car went in for an Inspection 1, which is a two day job, and they were able to do the recall at the same time. Dropped the car off Monday morning, picked it up Tuesday afternoon. No inconvenience or hassle at all.
Most annoying thing is that they recommend to run the car in again!
sjp63 said:
BMW have a reputation for reliability, TVR do not. sometimes those reputations are not deserved.
Just my view but one i'm entiltled to express without the need for toys to be thrown...
As I mentioned earlier, I'm a long standing E46 M3 owner having owned 4 cars and travelled many tens of thousands of miles in them. Probably a third of that mileage has been on tracks using the engine harder than most people would ever do in a lifetime of driving. The consequences? Not a squeak. My cars have been uttlerly reliable on track and on a par with a string of 911s and latterly a 996 GT3 that I drove in a similar fashion.
You are of course welcome to express your viewpoint, but don't present it as fact, because it's not. To be factual you would need to present the information in context, percentage of cars affected, comparison with other manufacturers track records etc. There's actually a proper global database that was created some time ago that was used to collect details of any engine failures and their associated causes, so the information is out there, has been shared with BMW and they have responded accordingly to the satisfaction of most customers in my experience.
p.s. I've had 2 Cerberas, with the customary litany of issues and am also Customer No.1 for the new Typhon, so I'm familiar with TVR.
Quote
You are of course welcome to express your viewpoint, but don't present it as fact, because it's not. To be factual you would need to present the information in context, percentage of cars affected, comparison with other manufacturers track records etc.
No you are wrong. The "fact" I refered to was that the E46 M3 has a reliability problem. How can you claim otherwise? BMW have TWICE campaigned the car for BIG END BEARING changes and once for oil pump change. If that is not a reliabilty issue then I'm afraid you are sticking you head in the sand and ignoring the facts.
The M3 put a huge smile on my face every time I drove it BUT, anyone who knows anything about engines also knows that a big end bearing change is not a minor issue and it certainly spoiled my enjoyment of the car. Then after the change, my car started to vibrate and dumped oil on my drive. The engine was replaced. All in all normal behavour for a mainstream manufacturer with a huge development budget and not insignificant worldwide M3 sales figures? I think not. You lose credibility by claiming it's not an issue.
>> Edited by sjp63 on Thursday 25th November 12:12
sjp63, your M3 had a reliability problem. Most do not. It's bad luck for you and for the others who've had problems, but there are plenty of other cars with similar issues, including Porsches and TVRs. It doesn't mean that there is a general problem,but that some engines are affected. Most cars are not.
Zod said:
sjp63, your M3 had a reliability problem. Most do not. It's bad luck for you and for the others who've had problems, but there are plenty of other cars with similar issues, including Porsches and TVRs. It doesn't mean that there is a general problem,but that some engines are affected. Most cars are not.
mmmmm...you are a member on BM3W, right? I would encourage anyone who is is any doubt on this issue to visit the M3 forum and read the "letter to BMW" thread, which I had nothing to do with. Some of you may find it shocking, others informative. What you will see is that engine reliability is not an isolated case as some people seem hell bent on suggesting.
No, it's not isolated, but it's still very much a minority thing. The motivation behind the letter is to get BMW to extend the warranties (asa they have in the US) and to complain about the dopiness of some of the dealers who didn't check they had the bolts before stripping down engines and many of whom know nothing about the need for running in post-recall.
The original letter plan got nowhere because not enough people signed up. I did.
The original letter plan got nowhere because not enough people signed up. I did.
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