[Mollox]

Firstly, Hello - I know a couple of you from Tyresmoke but as I've just made the jump from Audi S3 to M3 I thought I'd hop over here and get some dedicated wisdom.

Just this week picked up a year old SG coupe and am in pure awe of the car - what a machine.

I've had it 4 days and am on my 3rd tank already so clearly we're bonding well. Got 258 miles from tank #2 and did a little dance! I'm sure I'll think of lots to ask you all over time but for the meantime, I have a couple of q's...

Performance - this is the 3rd M3 I've driven and if I'm honest, it seems a little down on power most of the time. Every now and again I'll put my foot down all I can do is hold on to the wheel yet most of the time I have this nagging feeling that its not really pulling to its full potential. Perhaps its me being so used to the turbocharged response of the S3 and it doesn't like me stamping on the gas - but just wondering if this sounds familiar to anyone? Is there, for example, a software update out there? For info, the Beast drinks Optimax.

Kangaroo-ing (this mainly makes me laugh but thought I'd ask) - sometimes pulling away in first I get kangaroo-age with the clutch fully out. In my mind, I *think* its the fact that i'm going over bumps and my foot is actually moving on the accelerator that's causing it but, again, thought I'd ask. If that's it then its pretty funny.

Carbon roof - the car was flawless apart from 3 minor stone chips in the roof. Dealer touched them up slightly and to be honest if nothing can be done I don't care - but does anyone repair/retouch carbon rooves?

Apart from that its marvellous and I can't wait to take it to Le Mans

[Mr_Patience]

You just knew that was coming....

[Mollox]

True

I wish I could take better photos though

[dxb335d]

Superb looking car.

It will drive very differently to a turbocharged car, its lacking torque.. Just ring its neck EVERY where for maximum satisfaction.

[Hoops]

Originally Posted by Mollox

it seems a little down on power most of the time

Im afraid thats most E92 M3 owners biggest gripe with the car - certainly mine anyway. I always felt it lacked around 50bhp. Ive recently had mine remapped plus a BMC filter and its pushing around 440bhp now. I always run on Optimax. It feels a little better but I still feel it lacks more grunt, especially mid range. So it actually probably lacks around 60-70bhp from stock. Im having a race exhaust fitted very soon and that may add a few more bhp but im not holding out too much hope (i just want more noise!!). There is a lot of talk about supercharging these at the moment and to be fair thats probably the only way these cars will ever be ballistically quick but then its a lot of money imo and im not sure i want that much power that badly!! One thing i will say though in the E92 M3's defence, ive NEVER had anyone on the road give me any cause for concern or leave me standing - if you seriously rag the arse out of these cars and get the revs high up in the range then they really do come alive - and with the M power button depressed the how handling to power ratio makes more sense and becomes a pretty impressive package. It takes a while to get it into its sweet spot each time you want to ring its neck but when you get it right it is a very rewarding car.
ps; HOW THE HELL DID YOU MANAGE 250 MILES TO A TANK!!!?? Must have been all downhill with a tail wind!!!

[Mr_Patience]

Very nice indeed Mr M......

[PeteJ]

I have to agree about the "lack of power" in the M3. I got to drive one at the launch of the new z4 (E90 M3) and an amazing looking car with all the toys however I had just got out of a 535D and to be honest, they where about the same (power wise).

Don't get me wrong, the noise was fantasic and still an amazing car to drive (and if your very lucky own) however I was expecting it to rip my face off and it just didn't.

535D, really hard car to beat!

[CardinalZeus77]

Nice looking car

[I335]

Great looking car and very nice color - congrats!

[Mollox]

Thanks for the welcomes

Fritzed another 2/3 tank of Optimax today

On the power front I thought I'd clarify - I don't think the car is in any way underpowered (far from that, its a beast) just that I'm finding throttle response to fluctuate greatly. A lot (I'd even go so far as to say Most) of the time it just doesn't seem to be pulling as hard as it can. I realise its a complex engine and there are many environmental variables but the feeling I get is that not all of my 414 Bavarian Horses are having their noses jammed into the road at once. In trying to be objective, I'm talking pick-up from around 3,500 - 4,000 rpm in 2nd/3rd/4th....

Its never anything other than quick but every now and again it takes off properly and reminds me just what it can do, i.e.

- I find myself hanging onto the wheel for dear life
- full bottles of water get teleported from the cupholder into the back
- its blatantly much bloody faster than most of the time, pure and simple

I'm conscious that I'm used to on/off Audi throttles so have been varying between stamping on the gas and being progressive but still I get that feeling.

I'm scratching my head and wondering whether the DSC is holding it back slightly? I find the light is quite easy to miss so maybe that's kicking in a bit? Is there any way that there's a degree of traction control that takes place before it deems it necessary to flash a yellow light at you? (I've only had it 5 days so DSC has stayed ON!)

Just wondering if any of this sounds familiar?

Finally, what are BMW Assist like? If I called up and said my car feels a little down on power, would they come out? I just want all my Munich nags in time for Le Mans on thursday and dont have time to pop by a dealer.

Oh, and re:

Originally Posted by bmwbailey

ps; HOW THE HELL DID YOU MANAGE 250 MILES TO A TANK!!!?? Must have been all downhill with a tail wind!!!

Trust me I'm far from a fuel miser, I make cars drink!

That tank was my own particular Combined Cycle: lots of 6th gear M25 (roadworks and speed restrictions everywhere at the moment), regular doses of 'Juha Kankunnen' and lots of gratuitous acceleration, listening to that noise and of course countless 3.5 - 4k pulls trying to fathom this power thing.

Love it

[Dr.Crap]

I have similar issues with my M3. The only thing to be aware of is how fast you are actually going not how fast you think you are going. I read something similar in a review. The current M3 is so unfussed doing corners at stupid speeds that it doesnt feel particularly fast until you look at the speedo. I went around a large - empty! -roundabout the other day at 65 and I thought I was doing 45. If you want the most performance you need the revs above 4000 and make sure all the M button modes are set to sport plus etc. The kangarooing effect seems to go once the car gets used to you - i had it for a bit as well or you could just switch the DSC off but then you'd probably end up in an obituary.

I am seriously thinking about the ESS supercharger - for next year once there's more info on it, but i'll probably have to buy shares in Michelin first

[Sales@Evolve]

The lack of torque can be largely improved upon by upgrading to the following parts:

Active Autowerke Power Pulley
Active Autowerke Midsection
Any decent rear exhaust

We just did the above conversion to a car and got it to 450 bhp with 20-30lb.ft torque increase from the word go and throughout the rpm range.

ECU remaps and filters tend to make a difference only to the top end of the rpm range but the exhaust and pulley give it so much more everywhere.

I have yet to see such a dramatic change in performance from an NA M Power car.

[E902717]

Beautiful car mate i really like that colour, RE the lack of low down power put diesel in it we don't suffer from that problem

[MEGA]

I take it your changing gear at 8k? Because you should be...

[SiKkBaSs]

Nice car mate. Hmph! These M3 drivers complaining about lack of power.

[dxb335d]

Originally Posted by MEGA

I take it your changing gear at 8k? Because you should be...

8300 more like it LOL.

They do peak close to the redline!

[Hoops]

Originally Posted by lightweight

These M3 drivers complaining about lack of power.

Yes, i am!! It does lack power for an M car, fact!

[sales@ESSTuning]

Originally Posted by bmwbailey

Yes, i am!! It does lack power for an M car, fact!

Simple fix

[Aurora Bearialis]

OMG Such a nice color car. Don't see a lot of M3s in that color

[Mollox]

Thanks again guys - not sure I need such a dramatic solution though!

Just for clarity, what I'm saying is that it doesn't lack absolute power (its plenty fast when i think its giving 100%), its just that the power I get in response to throttle inputs seems inconsistent - specifically that most of the time it seems like its being held back and then just as I think it must be me, it reminds me just how hard/fast it can go.

I.e. I think its not on song and wondered if this was a typical M3 characteristic you might be aware of or a specific fault with my car.

Thanks

[biscuits]

Hi Mollox,

One other thing that can make the M3 feel this way is the traction control, it does cut in quite a bit and often with the slightest of flash from the yellow triangle, this often bogs the car. Try driving it with the DSC button switched off (OBVIOUSLY, TAKE A SHED LOAD OF CARE!!!) and see if you get the same.

You will find however the rear tyres let go pretty easily.

[DonM3]

In my opinion BHP is more than adequate. Its just lacks low end torque; however, the car never fails to put a smile on my face when I drive it hard, especially through the twisties