Crown
Board: Other Sports Cars
Language: English
Region: Worldwide
Close
CloseForum - Thread
Re: BMW M3 Convertible M-DCT Impressions
Now the bad news. The luggage space for what is meant to be a 2+2 is hopeless, much less than in my Boxster's two boots, and even worse it adds 230kg, nearly a quarter of a tonne, to the car's weight, high up so that it adversely affects handling and blunts performance (comparatively speaking) and makes the fuel consumption even worse.
Re: BMW M3 Convertible M-DCT Impressions
Typical BMW cabin, almost identical to my 123d. Except that the speedo reads to 200mph (academic with the 155mph speed limiter) and the rev limit is 8,300 rpm. Note the F1 style lights at the top of the rev counter that go from amber to red as the red line approaches.
Re: BMW M3 Convertible M-DCT Impressions
Neat gear selector for the M-DCT transmission. On the right of the console switches for power settings (throttle response, "Electronic Damper Control" BMW's version of PASM, and for the brave Dynamic Stability Control off switch. Behind the gear selector the adjustment for gear change speed. To start, foot on the brake, press the start button. Engine burbles into life with a superb cultured growl. Snick the lever to the right and you're in automatic mode. drive off and the gearchanges are so smooth as to be imperceptible. A nice relaxing cossetting drive. Could be in a 335d. Then, press that little "M" button on the steering wheel. All the sport modes are engaged at once, fastest setting in the gearchange and throttle rsponses. You are now in manual mode, using the paddles behind the wheel. The car is now transformed. Everything becomes brutal, acceleration, gearchanges, suspension. The car behaves like a Can-Am racer, and sounds like one, too. You certainly don't notice the extra weight of that roof as the car hurls itself towards the horizon, a definite thump at each gear change up, and a brief ferocious bellow on downchanges.
Re: BMW M3 Convertible M-DCT Impressions
Quote:
moto said:
How does it compare to the boxster then drive wise?
When I took the car back to the BMW dealer I came to the final impression that for all it's awesome performance and super-clever engineering it felt just like any other BMW unless you switched on the reheat and attempted to achieve the sound barrier. When I got back in my Boxster it immediately felt special and exclusive, the precision was immediately noticeable. The M3 is almost too fast for UK roads. If I wanted a fast BMW I reckon that 95% of the time a 135i coupe would do the job better. It's lighter, smaller and therefore more manoeuvrable. In the real world it's almost as quick, and therefore a better sports car. It's also 12mpg better on fuel, no small advantage as super unleaded here in the UK approaches Pounds6 per gallon.
But if the M3 proved anything to me, it was just how wonderful my Boxster is. After over 100 miles in the M3 I was just so pleased to get back in the Boxey.
I didn't know it was a three piece construction. To fold like a deck of card is unbelievable. 
Re: BMW M3 Convertible M-DCT Impressions
Very much LOLed at the trunk space
I know it's not something we should mention, but really you can't even go for a trip out of town for 2 days if you wanna go with the roof down.
Huge turnoff if you need ANY usability.
Thanks for this write up, I dindn't know the M on the steering wheel is really a button, and such a cool one at that.
I know it's not something we should mention, but really you can't even go for a trip out of town for 2 days if you wanna go with the roof down.
Huge turnoff if you need ANY usability.
Thanks for this write up, I dindn't know the M on the steering wheel is really a button, and such a cool one at that.
Re: BMW M3 Convertible M-DCT Impressions
Quote:
dreamcar said:Quote:
janus said:
I didn't know the M on the steering wheel is really a button, and such a cool one at that.
It's the button on the right steering wheel spoke, the upper inner one of the four. Not the "M" badge on the bottom spoke.
Ah, damn.
I guess that would be something Italian designers would do.
The German ones just make a inconspicuous button with black and white icon.
Re: BMW M3 Convertible M-DCT Impressions
I have added some test drive impressions here:
www.rennteam.com/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=457981&page=0&vc=1&PHPSESSID=#Post457981
www.rennteam.com/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=457981&page=0&vc=1&PHPSESSID=#Post457981
Re: BMW M3 Convertible M-DCT Impressions
Quote:
kashmir said:
Thanks for the impressions, good summary.
I could imagine the next serie 3 will get again or soft top or at least an option to choose. Space reduction and weights speaks definitely against the steel version.
That's true. As nice as this steel roof is - an extra weight of nearly 200kg is a big problem. Such weight burden is too much in the sporty limo segment
Forum
About Rennteam | Help | Terms of use | Privacy Policy | Support | Contact | Imprint | Archive
Powered by
Community
and
