For anyone who is interested .... just thought I put together a few thoughts after owning my M3 CP for nearly 3 weeks. I’ve only done 350 miles so it’s far from run in however I have “tested” it a couple of times
Performance …….. well compared to my old 335d, its certainly much quicker when you open it up to full chat. It’s really not bad at all considering it’s a new tight engine. Has quite a fair bit of torque however the 335d is a torque monster so it does feel slightly down on initial “pull” when you press throttle a couple of inches. However, I’m comparing a 335d that had done 20K miles vs a new tight engine, I’m sure my 335d wasn’t too impressive when it was brand new!
As Guy said a few months ago when he reviewed an M3……. “the M3 has enough torque to keep the diesel boys happy” which I’d agree with completely. It’s not disappointing at all and pretty good for a petrol. Been driving in Efficient mode most of the time while running it in, but tried Sport+ a few times (cant see the point in using Sport!) and it picks up a heck of a lot quicker, but is nosier as the flaps are open more.
Its difficult so say just “how fast” it is in words but according to ACS’s website the standard non tuned M3 is 80 - 180 km/h is 7.9s whereas the standard 335d is 11.8s, so that gives you an idea. Also EVO magazine timed the 0-100mph at around 8.6s I believe. Some have alluded to the fact it is has the performance of supercars from 10-12 years ago.
Handling ……. this car can make you drive like a hero without trying too much at all. You can press on at alarming speeds down the lanes without much talent needed. As the car is so tied down to the road that the only fear you have is either something pulling out on you or what you could meet around the next bend. You feel pretty much invincible and have so much confidence in the car. Seems no chance of the car bouncing off into a ditch (again comparing to my 335d!) as it’s so tied down to the road. I think I mentioned the other week (on the F80 forum) that there didn’t seem to be a lot of difference between the damper modes, well I think I'm talking bollox as I’ve had chance to play and there is certainly a difference albeit subtle. I tend to leave it in Sport damper setting most of the time, although Sport+ is fine also IMO and reduces body roll further. Not a night and day difference between the two TBH into terms of ride quality so I don’t find Sport+ too firm really. I use Comfort when the missus is in the car to keep her happy
. Was surprised there is a little body roll in Sport going around some tight slow bends near where I live, but Sport+ improves this quite a bit.
Sound ……. I’ll be honest, listening to all the Youtube clips of many older standard M3/4’s over the past couple of years, I’ve never been that impressed. But you listen to it in the flesh and it soooo much better, more so with the CP. I love the sound it makes, especially on cold start up. Fire it up and it angrily barks back at you, deep and throaty, its bloody awesome and nothing really like the vids. The pops and crackles you get of the over-run is a giggle too, although the CP is absent from the “farts” of the standard M3 – which is a good thing IMO!
Traction …… this has been one of the things that has surprised me the most, this car has awesome traction given its torque and RWD. Only once on a full bore acceleration did I see the faintest of a flicker from the TC, probably due to the road surface as I’ve not seen this since. Ok, some other M3/4 drivers will probably tell me I’m not driving it properly, lol, but certainly the odd time I’ve wellied it, it not been a problem at all. Fantastic traction in this CP, cant comment on the standard M3/4 ….. I think Guy has said it will break traction a little sooner. Not really wellied it in the wet that much, but again it certainly does NOT appear to be breaking traction at every opportunity in the wet.
Ride ……. ok, its an M3 so it has much stiffer springs than a 3 series, but its not that uncomfortable – and nothing like Sutcliffe says in his Autocar vid on the CP. Stick it in Comfort dampers and its fine/acceptable. However, one difference I have noticed over the 3 series is that anything you have in door pockets or the cup holder WILL vibrate and rattle due to the stiffer springs!!!! You need to make sure everything is well wedged in if rattles annoy you!!
Road Noise ….. certainly more road noise than the 3 series, mainly coming from the rear of the car. Kind of reminds me of a hatchback or an estate with the seats down and parcel shelf out. Doesn’t really bother me TBH, but if you want a refined, quiet but fast car, I guess you’d buy an M5.
Gearbox ….. lightning fast as you would expect from a DCT, cracking bit of machinery. Has a very slight whining noise, especially when coming to a stop. Different characteristics from a different type of ‘box for sure. There is no creep on the DCT like the ZF, however, if you gently blip the throttle it will go into creep mode.
Steering ….. much nicer than the 335d although better tyres probably play some part in that! I find Comfort mode perfectly fine and see no reason to stiffen the steering in the other modes.
Fuel economy …… probably about 10mpg less than the 335d is in all scenarios (around town, on a run etc…), no big deal for me as I only do around 8K miles a year. I certainly would want to think twice about buying an M3 if doing double that mileage or near 20K as you’d be at the pumps every 3-4 days, which would cheese me off I’m sure.
Other stuff……
Doors are lighter than my old 335d. Don’t know whether this is a weight saving M3 thing or an LCI thing, but they definitely don’t need to be slammed as hard!
Surprisingly, it hasn’t yet attracted the boy racers, which suits me fine. Not going mad anyway while it’s being run in. Quite a few people are interested in chatting about this car – funny how they couldn’t give a monkeys when I had the 335d, which is not that far off the pace of an M3 (well, to legal speeds anyway)!
All in all I think it’s a cracking package and to me, things like the additional noises you get over the 3 series which some could see as a negative (road noise, slight DCT whine, exhaust noise, bumpiness, engine noise) add to the drama of owning a car like this. It’s fun, exciting and old school in terms of refinement making each drive an occasion. It reminds me back in the day when cars where a little nosier and bumpier, but boy were they fun.
