[BK]

DISCLAIMER: No pics. Sorry to steal your click if you were hoping for some.

I checked out the new M3s at BMW of Sterling during lunch today. They have a Jerez Black E90 outside and two Interlagos Blue E92s, one outside and one inside.

Both of the outside cars, the E90 and E92, sticker at $70K. The E90 is fully loaded, every box checked. The E92 has the CF roof and the one outside appears to be fully loaded. The one inside has no nav. Both the E90 and E92 outside have the 19" wheels.

I was mostly interested in the E90, so I didn't look at the E92 except to admire the CF roof. Jerez Black on the E90 looks fantastic, somewhere between the old Carbon Black and Jet Black. Light was overcast, so I haven't seen it in the sun, where it would undoubtedly look bluer.

They let me start it up, get in, open the hood, and poke around, but not drive it. There were 4 miles on the odo, so I doubt anyone has test driven it. Seats are comfy, everything feels very familiar coming from my own E90.

The iDrive knob is different. The knob itself feels a bit lighter and more plasticky, I hate to say. But the feedback -- a clicking instead of force feedback -- feels better when you make menu selections. Is this iDrive feedback the same as the regular 3-series now?

The "menu" button under the iDrive controller didn't "click" like the menu and voice buttons under mine. It felt like it didn't push down at all. Was it broken? Is that how it feels now? It felt like it was broken, but it worked when I pushed it.

The shifter felt like the thows were exactly the same as the regular E90. The stick itself might be a bit shorter, but it felt basically the same.

The fat steering wheel didn't feel too fat, a criticism I've read in some magazines.

The engine sounded damn rough at the start, but after idling for a minute or so, it sounded great. Too bad I couldn't take it for a spin.

It looks like only one air intake on the hood near the power bulge is actually functional. I suppose that's common knowledge, but I didn't realize it.

The 19" wheels (245F, 265R) looked fantastic.

Met a CA named Dennis who wanted to sell me the E90. If it were a year from now, I'd be more interested, but now is not the time for me to buy a new car. Also, it had every option. I could do without PDC, HD radio, and sat radio, and save a few grand. The rest of the options, I'll take, though. Jerez Black was just beautiful, though, so it was tempting. He said they're currently marking up $3K over MSRP. I'm sure that markup will fade over time.

Dennis let me know about a black E92 he has on order that should be available for sale in the coming weeks. It's not as optioned out as the display models, so it's "only" $60K sticker. Not a terrible jump if someone is already thinking $50K+ for a loaded E92 335i.

[VVA330]

[Raja Ventureshield]

pix of those cars are on this link.
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...ht=raja&page=2

[BK]

Originally Posted by Raja Ventureshield

pix of those cars are on this link.
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showth...ht=raja&page=2

D'oh - I probably shouldn't have started a new thread.

The E90 in your photo has been moved to the front doors, and there's an IB E92 M3 next to it. Lined up to their left and right are an E60 M5 and an E64(? the convertible) M6. Another IB E92 M3 inside the showroom.

The M6 is Silverstone, which is the E90 M3 color in the brochure, and I didn't like it in person. Looks great in the brochure, though. M5 is Space Grey and looks gorgeous.

[Raja Ventureshield]

bk,

no worries. i am just waiting to see a white one with fox interior.

raja

[JuniorDee]

i saw those two cars last night at about 9:30pm after carmax gave me a quote on my 335i. It was nice to see the CF roof up close since both of the cars at passport have moonroofs and see the sedan. Also neat to see them buy the m5 and the m6.

[Raja Ventureshield]

Originally Posted by JuniorDee

i saw those two cars last night at about 9:30pm after carmax gave me a quote on my 335i. It was nice to see the CF roof up close since both of the cars at passport have moonroofs and see the sedan. Also neat to see them buy the m5 and the m6.

did u end up selling to carmax?
i know you got a quote from them for 37k before.

hit me up.

[JuniorDee]

If I dont find a seller before saturday, carmax will be the owner of my car.

[Bama M3]

I saw those three M3s at Sterling on Saturday. They look awesome, but I wish the interiors were a little nicer. I'm sure the package with extra leather looks pretty nice, however.

[ase2dais]

I agree BK, if this is 09/10 and my car is paid in full, I'll be ready to dive in debt again.

Sometimes, I wonder if doing what wxSquid was thinking is the way to go.

get it at base price out the door, what more do one need, by God its an M3. Who cares if its not metalic paint or iPod/USB or ZCP or 19"

ZTP WTF folks buy it for performance not gadget

I dunno, just thinking out loud, beats talking to myself

[ase2dais]

well I look it and ask this question to myself ?

Would one get a fully equipped 335i e92 at $53k or get a vanilla M3 at $56k.

looks like the answer is clear

[ase2dais]

What the heck! M3 fully equipped FTW

[japac1]

Originally Posted by Raja Ventureshield

bk,

no worries. i am just waiting to see a white one with fox interior.

raja

Russell had/has a White E92 with Fox interior, CF trim and roof....Awesome!!

[Raja Ventureshield]

Originally Posted by japac1

Russell had/has a White E92 with Fox interior, CF trim and roof....Awesome!!

wonder is the trip to Russell BMW is worth the trip.
hmmm. can u post any pictures?

[tman]

Nice write up BK!

[BK]

Thanks, tman. Just my quick thoughts. I really wish I could have driven it!

I, too, want to see the red interior. I'm wondering how it will look with Jerez on a sedan. I'm afraid it may be too "loud" for the sedan's more sedate style.

[Scottz71]

next year I am getting an M3...I just love it...not sure I can part with the e92 yet, as we've JUST become friends...seems like yesterday I got it...

[japac1]

Originally Posted by Raja Ventureshield

wonder is the trip to Russell BMW is worth the trip.
hmmm. can u post any pictures?

I am pretty sure it's sold. It was ordered by a customer and looked like it was getting prepped for delivery. It was unbelievably gorgeous!!!

[bavarian19]

Maybe its just me, but I do not like Jerez. I did not like Carbon Black either. If you are going to be a black color, dont have any hints of midnight blue in it.

I know it is not an M color, but I would love to see an alpine white on saddle M3 Coupe

[dinkoh]

I really like the concept color that I saw, "Shadow Chrome" was it? It was the color at the Geneva show when the M3 was introduced.

[BK]

Originally Posted by bavarian19

Maybe its just me, but I do not like Jerez. I did not like Carbon Black either. If you are going to be a black color, dont have any hints of midnight blue in it.

For the coupe, my choice would be either AW with Fox Red or IB with Saddle (is that an option for the M3?). CF roof would be a must with the coupe.

For the sedan, the only choice I really like is Jerez, with any of the interiors except the bluish-gray one (black, bamboo, or fox red).

[bavarian19]

Originally Posted by BK

For the coupe, my choice would be either AW with Fox Red or IB with Saddle (is that an option for the M3?). CF roof would be a must with the coupe.

For the sedan, the only choice I really like is Jerez, with any of the interiors except the bluish-gray one (black, bamboo, or fox red).

There is no saddle


They do have a bamboo beige which is a two tone beige, but does not have the pop saddle has...