M3 - Finally picked it up
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Joined: Jul 2005
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M3 - Finally picked it up
Finally picked it up after a week of messing around from BMW citing the steering wheel being unable to update to the BMW mainframe.
Have to say i'm impressed. Very impressed. Not been this excited about a car since..well possibly ever. It's also certainly the fastest thing i've ever been in - my old man's tuned R34 GTR included.
The engine still absolutely dominates the experience. I'm thinking that an exhaust may be a bit OTT now, as it sounds so awesome with the standard exhaust I think there's a danger it might be slightly chav with another exhaust - then the devil that sits on my other shoulder says if it's as good as it is standard imagine how good it could be with jus that little bit more!
Love the way that the noise is all intake/engine - the sound is nascar at low revs and then f1 at high revs - a few mates have said it sounded awesome through the manchester tunnels - and they have Porsche/Ferrari
I don't think i've ever touched a throttle with so much trepidation either. After 6,000 rpm the engine goes absolutely ballistic - I think the description I gave previously of an S2000 engine with bigger lungs holds true.
Negatives? Still surprised by how light the steering is, would prefer a much weightier rack, so I think I'm going to get the geo changed by Centre of Gravity so there's a touch less understeer and more feel in the steering - then the car really will be perfect! Gearbox is okay - should be more direct though, as it doesn't match the machined from granite feel of the engine.
Was interesting to drive my mates 911 back down the road from the cat and fiddle the other day - loved it's compactness, the lack of understeer and inertia turning in, but thought the engine was absolutely crap compared to the M3. It's an incredible engine.
Mike
Have to say i'm impressed. Very impressed. Not been this excited about a car since..well possibly ever. It's also certainly the fastest thing i've ever been in - my old man's tuned R34 GTR included.
The engine still absolutely dominates the experience. I'm thinking that an exhaust may be a bit OTT now, as it sounds so awesome with the standard exhaust I think there's a danger it might be slightly chav with another exhaust - then the devil that sits on my other shoulder says if it's as good as it is standard imagine how good it could be with jus that little bit more!
Love the way that the noise is all intake/engine - the sound is nascar at low revs and then f1 at high revs - a few mates have said it sounded awesome through the manchester tunnels - and they have Porsche/Ferrari
I don't think i've ever touched a throttle with so much trepidation either. After 6,000 rpm the engine goes absolutely ballistic - I think the description I gave previously of an S2000 engine with bigger lungs holds true.
Negatives? Still surprised by how light the steering is, would prefer a much weightier rack, so I think I'm going to get the geo changed by Centre of Gravity so there's a touch less understeer and more feel in the steering - then the car really will be perfect! Gearbox is okay - should be more direct though, as it doesn't match the machined from granite feel of the engine.
Was interesting to drive my mates 911 back down the road from the cat and fiddle the other day - loved it's compactness, the lack of understeer and inertia turning in, but thought the engine was absolutely crap compared to the M3. It's an incredible engine.
Mike
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Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 952
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Thanks for the replies - Steering wheel was an option I had installed. Top LCD shows either water temp/oil temp, G force, Lap timer, 1/4 mile timer. The LCD on either side are like an F1 wheel showing revs ( you can change the shift up).
I bought the wheel because I thought the standard E93 wheel was plasticy and rather nasty - this is covered in alcantara like the CSL wheel. Feels great to hold
I bought the wheel because I thought the standard E93 wheel was plasticy and rather nasty - this is covered in alcantara like the CSL wheel. Feels great to hold
