Topic: Test Drive: 2015 BMW M3

[Autos_Editor]

The beastly business of driving pleasure.

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[Hannibalsmith]

Actually saw my first M3 yesterday in white...beastly describes it well. At first glance its a sedan, but something about it feels different and you know its special. Also love that blue color on your tester.

[carcrazed]

It looks like a four door version of the M4.  I don't always like BMWs, but this one in blue looks great.

However, optioned out like the way I'd want it, it's $85K... 

I recently sat in a friend's M5 and then another friend's 3 series; I couldn't tell there was much difference in interior room between the two.

[jyarkony]

It looks like a four door version of the M4.  I don't always like BMWs, but this one in blue looks great.

However, optioned out like the way I'd want it, it's $85K... 

I recently sat in a friend's M5 and then another friend's 3 series; I couldn't tell there was much difference in interior room between the two.

you can tell the difference driving them. the M5 is much heavier, and a bit of a pig... even one of the BMW driving instructors gave it a bit of a shot when he was finishing up his hot lap for being such a porker (and carrying three 'large-ish' passengers to boot). but damn, it still moved pretty well.

base price is reasonable, but these days, you pay for the nose for this mixture of performance and everyday livability. unlike the M5, which is just a high-powered, bloated exec sedan in my eyes, the M3 is both practical and a brilliant track toy! splitting your resources by buying an MX-5/or FR-S and Accord or 320i means you might be just as happy or happier on track days but don't have as much fun on a day to day basis.

[Northernridge]

Since I'm in a coupe mood this week, if I had to replace the Berlin taxi today this would be my top pick. I fancy it to be a decent commuter...plus all the real M goodies.

[Fobroader]

What a great looking car...and those brakes. Good on ya BMW!!!

[aquadorhj]

hmm... what color is this blue called?  this is even more "Smurf-y" than my blue...

[johngenx]

I've read some numbers tests on this car, and BMW is either totally sandbagging the HP or providing hopped-up test cars.

[EV-Light]

I've read some numbers tests on this car, and BMW is either totally sandbagging the HP or providing hopped-up test cars.

BMW is known to underrate their engines...just look at the numbers their 2.0T can pull.

[Snowman]

Awesome car but ceramic brakes are useless on a street as you can never keep enough heat in them.

[jyarkony]

Awesome car but ceramic brakes are useless on a street as you can never keep enough heat in them.

that's why I was happy they had the base steel brakes on the press car. even the track cars probably didn't need the carbon ceramics, as there is no way we were pushing the cars to brake-overheating territory. but still, for ceramics, they were smooth on initial braking instead of going straight to whack-your-head-on-the-steering-wheel eager.

[Fobroader]

Awesome car but ceramic brakes are useless on a street as you can never keep enough heat in them.

How cool would it be to have to run at 10/10ths on your way to get groceries just to make the brakes work 

[aquadorhj]

Awesome car but ceramic brakes are useless on a street as you can never keep enough heat in them.

How cool would it be to have to run at 10/10ths on your way to get groceries just to make the brakes work 

or just keep one foot on the brake all the time...  practice left foot braking.   ....and. it's automatic anyway. 

[Great_Big_Abyss]

So carbon ceramic brakes don't work well unless they're hot?  AS in, they have reduced braking power when cold?  Or they're just more grabby?

[Northernridge]

You don't have to ge the ceramic brakes...but I like that they cost over 10% of the price of the car. 

[Fobroader]

So carbon ceramic brakes don't work well unless they're hot?  AS in, they have reduced braking power when cold?  Or they're just more grabby?

They do not grip as well until they have some heat in them.

[johngenx]

BMW is known to underrate their engines...just look at the numbers their 2.0T can pull.

Looking at the accel numbers for the M3, it would seem BMW has left 80-100hp off the spec sheet.  That's a LOT of power to "miss."  I know some of it is launch control, etc, but even with that, at 425hp gross, its laying down unattainable sprints.

[tpl]

So carbon ceramic brakes don't work well unless they're hot?  AS in, they have reduced braking power when cold?  Or they're just more grabby?

They do not grip as well until they have some heat in them.

That is obviously true for the varieties fitted to F1 cars but wouldn't you think that the liability lawyers at BMW  NA would INSIST that ANY brakes on a car sold in NA would work all the way from starting at -35 to full track day hot?

[OliverD]

hmm... what color is this blue called?  this is even more "Smurf-y" than my blue...

Yas Marina, which is the marina and racetrack in Abu Dhabi.

[Fobroader]

So carbon ceramic brakes don't work well unless they're hot?  AS in, they have reduced braking power when cold?  Or they're just more grabby?

They do not grip as well until they have some heat in them.

That is obviously true for the varieties fitted to F1 cars but wouldn't you think that the liability lawyers at BMW  NA would INSIST that ANY brakes on a car sold in NA would work all the way from starting at -35 to full track day hot?

Ive heard that about a lot of the ceramic brake options, they are noisy and don't brake well till you get some heat into them.

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