New M3
 

This month's Automobile mag has a great article on the new V8 powered M3 that will be coming out.

I have to say, the engine alone sounds very very impressive.

A compact all-alloy 4 lite V8 that weights 33 lbs LESS than the 320 HP inline 6 it replaces.

Torque is 295 lbs with 88% available at 2400 RPMs. HP is 414.

Hmm, not bad at all for a NA engine I would say.

Redline? 8400 RPM. Yes, that is 8400.

Wowwie Zowie! Hats off to BMW for this engineering effort.

Also hats off for breaking convention and going to a V8 after SO MANY years with the inline motor.

Sometimes different IS better.

Also, while you are at it, check out the latest Calaway Corvette.

0-100 MPH in around 8.3 seconds.

NICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

No surprise there. The previous inline-6 S54 had an iron block to cope with the high revs that engine turned.

A high-revving V8 makes a lot more engineering sense than a high-revving I-6.

Too bad the car overall is going to be so heavy.

JV

The new M3 has gained 94 HP and 20 lbs in total weight.

So heavy????????????

I think this is the same atittude that people on this board complain about from non-Boxster owners.

The Boxster? "Too bad you couldn't afford a 911"
The S2000? "Too bad you have to redline it to hit triple-digit horsepower"
The new M3? "Too bad it's so heavy"

I'm with Brucelee on this one -- the new M3 is an amazing piece of engineering, and I can't wait to share the road with it-- or better yet, if the wifey will let me -- share the garage with it! :)

3500lbs is not too much for a V8 coupe, at all. Looks like a great car overall. YJ, that was too much garage info that I cared to learn. :)
Z.

The car as a whole has gained more weight than you think, when you compare equivalent cars. BMW's own "unladen" figures (which actually include 75kg of extra weight over an empty car) predict that the new car is 66lbs heavier than the old one.

However, it was possible to option an E46 M3 to be down in the 3300lb weight range by deleting power seats, sunroof, leather, etc. The E92 M3 will not go lower than 3470ish based on the latest reports. Although I do like that they took weight off the nose - exactly the OPPOSITE of what Audi has been doing lately. :rolleyes:

A 170lb weight gain is A LOT. Maybe not to you, but to me, lighter cars are more fun in general. The M3 will be a great, fast street car, that is for sure. For people like me looking to compete, we will look elsewhere.

Ya, they even made carbon fiber roofs for the e46's. They need a CSL model of the new M3 that has carbon fiber bumpers, roof, hood, trunk, rear seat delete (kinda like the GT3), and carbon fiber sport seats. All of those parts are availible for the e46 so it can be done. Probably also have carbon fiber doors, fenders, and other stuff for sale too.

If you want to actually hear the new V8 at the 'Ring, check this out. It's brief, but it'll make you want to buy one.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=G5DFjwkExYg

According to the 3 reports I read, the car gained 20 lbs.

The new M3 has a CF roof (for sure) and hood I believe. Plastic front fenders too.

They have done much to keep weight the same and add 96 HP. I think they have done fine.

When is the last time Porsche added 96 HP in a model revision?

Judging from the couple of youtube N-ring clips, the new V8 sounds and pulls great but the car's moves had porky undertones.
Z.

"When is the last time Porsche added 96 HP in a model revision?"
I seem to recall the 99 boxster having 200 HP, and the new S having 295.... granted its over 8 years and has had steps inbetween, we forget the boxster has been through a lot. While the BMW went up .8 liters to get the power, the boxster went up .9 liters (with .6 liters shy of the BMW).

Gaining 20 lbs is too much ;)

I am sure it will be a fantastic car. But, 3400-3600lbs is a LOT of car. I am a fan of "adding lightness" and pretty much since the late 1980s have been disappointed about the increase in car weights overall.

I remember when a 3000lb 928 was "heavy". Now a base 911 is that much and the 997TT is closer to 3300lbs. Sure it has a lot of technology and advancements that 20 years ago was a pipe dream but still, weight is the enemy! :)

I guess you shouldn't buy one then!

:)

Since you like your cars to get lighter, you will like this fact.

Corvette C4 model year 1996-Curb weight 3245, HP, about 330.

Corvette C6 Zo6, curb weight 3130, HO about 505.

Nice trend?

:)

You have to read between the lines. They never say the cars are comparably equipped.

I've seen enough E46 M3s on scales to know what they really weigh. It's a lot more than 20lbs heavier.

Still, it's a GT. It's not meant to go to the track (the brakes won't survive more than a couple laps anyway), it's meant to cruise public roads. And for that, it'll be a brilliant car.

"Still, it's a GT. It's not meant to go to the track (the brakes won't survive more than a couple laps anyway), it's meant to cruise public roads. And for that, it'll be a brilliant car."

I agree, almost everyone on the m3forum has a brembo BBK. Its just something they have to upgrade.

M3s don't get fancy brakes like we do, and the uneven force on the brake pads from the single-piston caliper doesn't really work so well for hard track use.

Yea lets stay on topic here.....PORSCHE PORSCHE PORSCHE PORSCHE PORSCHE

There are many great automobiles out there. We often speak of them, alone or in comparo mode.

No issue here.

:)

I forgot to mention that the new M3 has a new optional automatic trans.

Dual clutch SEVEN speed auto.

Not bad.

Though technically, it's not an automatic. It's a manual that shifts automatically. Tiptronic is an automatic.

What is the practical difference???

:)

The practical difference is that it can shift faster than a traditional manual but does not have the parasitic losses and slow response of a traditional automatic.

I'd still take the regular stick shift. But I'm sure it will be worlds better than BMW's previous auto-clutch manual, the SMG, which was just horrendous anywhere except on a track.

I have heard that nobody likes the SMG.

It will be interesting to see how this new trans performs.

Candidly, I think it is time for a new Tip in the Boxster.

:)

for what its worth, all the reviewers in the roundel are raving about the new autotranny in the 335i twin turbo, almost all of them are saying it is so good and well mated to the engine they would choose it over the 6 speed stick

but I aint that old yet........

Porsche supposedly will intro a new twin clutch setup like the VW/Audi version in the next 2 yrs or so which should be head and shoulders above the "tip."

I drove the M-3 before I bought the Boxster and I did not like it. The styling line of BMW with the high belt line in the trunk and I don't find pleasing at all to look. I also drove the new body S-4 when it came out in 2004 and it really felt heavy. I thought I was driving a truck. Lots of power but the car felt and looked heavy. In the last few years I don't know if Audi addressed the weight problem. As far as BMW Hans Stuck has been driving the V-8 in competition for a few years so it must be a fine engine at this point. Still I rather have a Boxster which has plenty of power which we can't use and ride that is heavenly.

Audi has addressed the weight problem by making the S4 even heavier than previous iterations.

That thing is a bloody beast I tell ya