Finally seen and sat in one

[Leg]

I rang Leeds BMW today after getting my invite to the launch on the 8th and 9th of September to say I couldnt make it as I am away on a trip with work.

The sales guy I have been dealing with asked if I would like to see the new M3 today instead and do a testdrive after the launch, as you can imagine I didnt hesitate to go for a peek today.

So I arrived at the dealers and we went up onto the roof car park and there they were. A black M3 with fox red leather and a red M3 with black leather.

As it was a last minute thing I didnt have my camera but here are some observations from an aesthetic perspective (having not driven it yet) and also the engine/exhaust note.

1. The exhaust is extremely obvious to the point of poor design. I cant understand why the box is so much on show?

2. I was underwhelmed by the car's appearance. 'Just another BMW' sprang to mind. They could have gone further in making the car look 'beefier' and more squat in my opinion.

3. The 19s are a must. These cars had them and I believe any smaller would look silly on a car of this size.

4. The Fox Red is more terracotta but nice

5. The interior doesnt feel in any way special, well no more so than any well specced BMW that is.

6. For £55,000 (the price of my spec) the car just doesnt 'Wow' like I would have hoped.

7. Strangest V8 sound I have ever heard. Not saying it is bad, just different. Very metallic and raspy rather than burbly. Sounded very, very nice when revved (in neutral obviously).

Overall I would say that the new M3 just doesnt look special enough but Im waiting until my test drive to decide whether to cancel my order but today's experience has dampened my enthusiasm I am afraid. I left a bit saddened and let down which just shouldnt be the case. I should have been excited and enthused and it just didnt do it.

Overall comment, just not good enough for £55,000!

[aerisolphaln]

Originally Posted by Leg

Overall comment, just not good enough for £55,000!

I hope BMW reads this statement and prices the US M3 accordingly - a direct pound to dollar conversion would be a good place to start (base MSRP of 55 US).

[Giles]

Its funny how different people have different reactions. I saw the car today for the first time and thought it looked fantastic. I just cannot agree with your point 2 at all. However, I do think that in the UK they are asking a lot of money for this car, so I have some sympathy for your conclusion, but then all your cars are relatively pricey.

[ToddMcF2002]

At this point I just want to see a flood of pictures. The 8th cant come fast enough!

[lvwirelessguy]

Its all about supply and demand, The UK gets very few cars compared to The USA and thats why they can rape the Brits on price

[phoenixbmwlife]

To each their own. What is for you is for you. What is not wont be.

[nusevad]

Originally Posted by K3N R3D

To each their own. What is for you is for you. What is not wont be.

+1

im in love with it.

[kishg]

while this isn't encouraging, we already knew the exhaust was overexposed and the interior was plain jane. i'm more concerned about how it drives than what it looks like. v8 noise being different is strange but expected i guess since this is a very high revving engine.

[Robert]

I took myself off the list. I am going to get the 135i for now because it's more bang for the buck and invest the rest real estate.

[MI6]

Originally Posted by Leg

I rang Leeds BMW today after getting my invite to the launch on the 8th and 9th of September to say I couldnt make it as I am away on a trip with work.

The sales guy I have been dealing with asked if I would like to see the new M3 today instead and do a testdrive after the launch, as you can imagine I didnt hesitate to go for a peek today.

So I arrived at the dealers and we went up onto the roof car park and there they were. A black M3 with fox red leather and a red M3 with black leather.

As it was a last minute thing I didnt have my camera but here are some observations from an aesthetic perspective (having not driven it yet) and also the engine/exhaust note.

1. The exhaust is extremely obvious to the point of poor design. I cant understand why the box is so much on show?

2. I was underwhelmed by the car's appearance. 'Just another BMW' sprang to mind. They could have gone further in making the car look 'beefier' and more squat in my opinion.

3. The 19s are a must. These cars had them and I believe any smaller would look silly on a car of this size.

4. The Fox Red is more terracotta but nice

5. The interior doesnt feel in any way special, well no more so than any well specced BMW that is.

6. For £55,000 (the price of my spec) the car just doesnt 'Wow' like I would have hoped.

7. Strangest V8 sound I have ever heard. Not saying it is bad, just different. Very metallic and raspy rather than burbly. Sounded very, very nice when revved (in neutral obviously).

Overall I would say that the new M3 just doesnt look special enough but Im waiting until my test drive to decide whether to cancel my order but today's experience has dampened my enthusiasm I am afraid. I left a bit saddened and let down which just shouldnt be the case. I should have been excited and enthused and it just didnt do it.

Overall comment, just not good enough for £55,000!

Different strokes for different folks.........

Funny thing is, when I first sat in the E46 M3 in Jan 2001 I was NOT impressed at all.

It was LSB (sorry, it's ugly to me) had the even uglier 18's and.........
had the crappy 2001 cheap black plastic trim pieces. I was so underwhelmed....

But then I saw a 2002 TiAg M3 with 19" AC 5 spoke Schnitzers and that gorgeous SMG shifter with the titanium trim and I just had to sell my soul to get it...

Funny how a few changes can change your whole perspective!

[MI6]

Originally Posted by bobbo

I took myself off the list. I am going to get the 135i for now because it's more bang for the buck and invest the rest real estate.

Then later sell the real estate and buy yourself one- or two......

[mickey knox]

Originally Posted by bobbo

I took myself off the list. I am going to get the 135i for now because it's more bang for the buck and invest the rest real estate.

Bobbo,
Somewhat ot but you can't be serious about the re investment. Real estate is in for a rough ride over the next while and is heading nowhere but down. Cash is king for the next while, we live in interesting times. Just a firendly note, not intended to be a contrarian.

[Leg]

I really, really want to like this car believe me guys. Without it Im a bit stuck for a £50K 2+2 coupe with this kind of performance so Im committed to liking it if at all possible.

Possibly my expectations have built up to a point where they are unachievable, afterall, I have never spent £50K on a car before.

Im waiting because I have also, as per another poster above, disliked cars (and houses for that matter) on first viewing and ended up buying them and loving them in the long term. Also, these cars were not prepped, were dirty and still had interior packaging on.

On the 10th Ill get a reasonably long test drive in a prepped, shiny car. Only then can I make a decision. However, the M3 has an uphill battle to win my money now, when I ordered it, it didnt.

[DonM3]

I saw and sat in one a couple of months ago and absolutely loved it. I even told my friennds to come have a look and they too loved it. One thing is for sure- pictures do not give this car justice!
Yeh your right- 19s are a absolute must!

[888]

How a car looks is often affected by the environment it is in. A car parked on a coastal road with bright blue sky up ahead often looks better than the same car sitting at a miserable distribution centre. I love the look of the 335 coupe so if the M simply is that car with 4 exhausts then you can mark me down as happy. Looks are important but not everything.

[JEllis]

I find the comment that it looks like any other BMW kinda funny. Some or probably most people dont look at M cars as being much different.

Jeremy Clarkson in his video review of the E46 M3 commented on how normal looking the M3 looked despite its performance potential. Look it up on YouTube. Its the first review of the E46 M by Top Gear and he drives a LSB M.

Again, to each his own.

Jason

[mofomat]

Originally Posted by Leg

I Also, these cars were not prepped, were dirty and still had interior packaging on..

And they probably still had the suspension blocks on too, which means they sit a lot higher.

[swamp2]

Originally Posted by aerisolphaln

I hope BMW reads this statement and prices the US M3 accordingly - a direct pound to dollar conversion would be a good place to start (base MSRP of 55 US).

Every time I hear a statement like this they just irk me enough to reply. First thoughts: dream on. Yes we know BMW folks read here but we (should) also know that we here are a tiny minority. Secondly a tiny bit of common sense would tell you that the US price for this car was determined and set in stone probably at least 18 months ago. Lastly if you think this forum can have any effect on price

[mkoesel]

Originally Posted by Leg

Overall I would say that the new M3 just doesnt look special enough...

What would you do to fix this? What, specifically, would you change?

[The CSL]

The interior needs better seats! Something racier, like the RS4 has.

[Technic]

Originally Posted by The CSL

The interior needs better seats! Something racier, like the RS4 has.

IMO, the interior needs a better dash. Something that looks more like a cockpit and less than furniture...

[Garrett]

Originally Posted by DonM3

....

Yeh your right- 19s are a absolute must! .....

Why, when your going to replace those with and aftermarket real rim that has some tech in it.... and doesn't look like shit!








-Garrett