06' BMW M3 Test Drive

[SilverStone05]

I've always admired the looks of the M3. Also was a big fan of the specs....on paper that is. I finally took some time today and test drove one.

Since I was driving the NSX, I'm going to be comparing the two together...which may or may not be a fair comparison, but hey....if the shoe fits...

Looks are stunning....fit and finish outstanding and the BMW interiors I think have come a long way....they feel pretty luxurious with nice materials.

Beemer obviously sits higher....after getting out of the NSX its like I was sitting in an SUV....however, that was the same feeling I got when I got into my G35 after getting out of the NSX. The steering wheel I couldn't get into a position that was comfortable for me. I like the steering wheel low on my lap, and the adjustment just wouldn't allow for that.

The stick shift was very rubbery. Throws were Looooooong. I wasn't a fan. It felt so disconnected. Very easy to miss a shift in this one. No nice gate to gate snick like you get in say an S2000 or NSX gearbox. Not only that, my test car, with only 90 miles on the clock, clunked in the first three gears. I had to ask the salesman if that was normal...he said he didn't know.

Acceleration was sub par. I couldn't believe I was driving a 333 hp car. On paper, the 0-60 and quarter mile times match the NSX. Not this car. Car felt about as fast as my G35...which isn't saying much. Truly unimpressed in this area.

Handling felt good....ride quality was good as well....planted, but not harsh. Brakes had a nice feel.

Steering was very good...didn't get a chance to check the responsiveness, because the salesman could tell I was really unimpressed. I felt bad so I just looked at him and said that I wasn't going to waste his time and I turned the sucker around and went back to the dealership.

All in all....you can probably tell I wasn't impressed.

Now that M6.........oh boy...they had one in the showroom. Unfortunately I didn't get to drive it. :wink:

 

[docjohn]

I recently was staring at a new m5's front brakes and although massive still looked like run of the mill 2-piece sliding callipers like most common cars,nsx included.

 

[Osiris_x11]

nice tool-kit, though...

Now that M6.........oh boy...they had one in the showroom. Unfortunately I didn't get to drive it. :wink:

I have... it takes off like a jetliner w/ four screaming Pratt-&-Whitney tornadoes! Projectile-type of launch. Definitely not a NSX in terms of cornering, swift lane-changing, or cloverleaf fun. However the 'thrust', err- I mean available power at pretty much all sane speeds is ridiculous. Also, IMHO the best front seats in the game... period! I particularly didn't feel comfortable/snug in the cabin (it's spacious and all), just felt vacant/spacey sorta like a trendy lounge. The moment you step out, the surreal jet-set experience ends and you swear you were driving a M6 yet the car before you is a dead-ringer for a Sebring/Stratus. . . :frown: For that much creme', it's 997 911 Carrera_S all the way. Did I mention thrust, projectile, jet-like? (oye... double-minded!)

What's the model-designation of the '06 M3? This is still the E46 w/ the straight-6, correct?

Thanks for the perspective on the M3, a bit of a "Don Juan" image it's developed here in towne... :biggrin:

 

[rickysals]

Re: nice tool-kit, though...

I hope the next M3 can look even half as good as the M6, if it does it's sure to be a great car

 

[brahtw8]

Did you drive the M3 in Sport mode? Throttle response is greatly increased and the difference is night and day. It sounds like you did not. If so, you really haven't experienced its capability.

The shifter is too long. A short-shift kit helps, but it is still not up to the NSX gearbox.

I still prefer the NSX, but the M3 is far superior to the G35.

 

[SilverStone05]

Did you drive the M3 in Sport mode? Throttle response is greatly increased and the difference is night and day. It sounds like you did not. If so, you really haven't experienced its capability.

The shifter is too long. A short-shift kit helps, but it is still not up to the NSX gearbox.

I still prefer the NSX, but the M3 is far superior to the G35.

Indeed...the car was in sport mode. First thing I checked.

 

[brahtw8]

Indeed...the car was in sport mode. First thing I checked.

Very strange. My M3 is a bit faster than my old 261 rwhp lightened NA1 Coupe, and certainly feels like it.

 

[ChopsJazz]

I just drove the M3 Roadster (Z4).

I like my NSX better. A lot better.

 

[Da Hapa]

Thanks for the write up.

My best friend since 2nd grade is a certifiable car nut just like me. He bought a 2002 M3 (6 speed MT, as God intended) a few months after I bought my second S2000. We trade cars semi-often and I was lucky enough to drive his car for just short of a month and 1,000 miles a few years ago. (I did a long write up of my thoughts on S2ki.com).

I love the interior of the M3. The leather is butter soft, the sightlines are great and the seats are really good. I found a huge difference between the sport and non-sport mode with respect to throttle response.

I absolutely hate the tinny sound of the stock exhaust. A big straight 5 (like in an old Jag, Austin Healey or even the previous M 3) sounds fantastic in most applications but that OEM tinnyness in the E46 M3 blows.

The shifter is garbage although I understand that they've improved it since 2006.

That M car would absolutely destroy my S2K (me driving both cars) in a straight line.

At the end of the day, I never really warmed to the current M3 because to me it always feels very heavy. It settles fine in corners (he has the OEM 18" wheels and not the 19's) but BMW has made the car too heavy, IMO.

After I got my NSX, I've driven the M car several times again (although nowhere near as long as that experience a few years back) and I'm less enamored now. For one, he's had a lot of problems. Mostly minor, nothing that has left him stranded but a lot of electrical issues ("self-leveling" HID's that don't level and instead point at the ground) that are just rediculous. And the dealers suck! I should note that he had a 4 door E36 328i (sport package, MT) for several years before he bought the M and never had one problem and loved the car so his newest take on BMW dealers was surprising to me.

My 3.2L NSX feels lighter, it feels faster, it feels quicker and it's much more visceral to drive.

The only thing the BMW wins in (IMO) is comfort. While I really prefer the simple seats in the NSX, there's a lot more room in the M3 and you can drive it like any other car (no worries about leaving half your bumper behind on every speed bump and driveway and they're a dime a dozen here in S.CA so they don't get anywhere near the attention (good and bad) that the NSX receives.

It's a nice car... but it's not where I'd spend my $

And I'm in the camp that is overwhelmed by the power of the new M6 but find the car oppressively ugly.

 

[WingZ]

Did you drive the M3 in Sport mode? Throttle response is greatly increased and the difference is night and day. It sounds like you did not. If so, you really haven't experienced its capability.

The shifter is too long. A short-shift kit helps, but it is still not up to the NSX gearbox.

I still prefer the NSX, but the M3 is far superior to the G35.

I have an 05 SMG. M3 guys are always arguing about which is better. If most M3 guys knew how crap their stick is they'd have gotten the SMG as well. All M3's clunk when you drive them. It has to do with the flywheel design/engagement ( which sucks when you think about what they want for the car ).

That said M3's do not come alive unless you drive it like you stole it! M3's need to do illegal ( for our country ) speeds. Most people forget it's a high revving engine ( 7900 rpm redline ) and drive it like it's a V8 ( low rpm shifts ) If you get another chance to drive one you have to drive it like you would an NSX and it will feel better ( not as energetic or visceral though as an NSX ).

It's weird because it's such a large comfortable car you wouldn't think to drive it like that. It's a great all season package with snow tires on plus it has heated seats, traction control.

Of course you still spend all winter wanting to drive your NSX:biggrin:

If you get one get the Navi. It works great in that car.