F8x M3/M4
Collected my ride on 25 Jun. As some might know, the previous M3 includes the coupe, cabrio and sedan. For the new model, M3 is strictly used to label the sedan with M4 used to label the coupe and cabrio.
Prior to owning this F80 M3, I had owned the E90 335 sedan and previous model E90 M3.
The 335 is very torquey when tuned but the tune is unreliable and the handling requires a fair bit of aftermarket mods.
The E90 M3 is an orchestra with its distinctive V8. My main grouse is its lack of torque and the small fuel tank which makes this guzzler a frequent visitor to Esso.
Moving on to the F80 M3, I didn't miss the E90 M3. The F80 M3 represents the "best of both worlds" by combining a turbo charged engine with M handling.
The car looks a lot meaner and also stands out more from the non-M 3 series.
The car is no less comfortable than the previous M3 even though it is on wider tyres (255/19 front 275/19 rear vs 235/19, 265/19).
When the engine is switched on, its default setting for damping and steering are both at sports. Some like it some dont. I personally find the sports detting for damping just nice. Not jarring.
What are the immediate plus points of the F80 M3? Here are just some that appeal to me:
- torquey engine, it has 40% more torque despite having 1000cc less (this makes running in a breeze as I only need to keep below 5000rpm and 170 kmh)
- the car is very fast and is supposed to do 100km in 4.1 sec
- the car though slightly bigger is still very easy to drive and begs to be driven fast. It feels light
- the interior is modern and the steering is sporty and has more permutations and two M buttons on the steering wheel to change the characteristics of the car
- the lighter steering in normal mode makes city driving a breeze
- the rear seat space is a lot more spacious
- the heads up display and rear view camera are nice options
- the CF roof on the sedan is a bonus (used to be only available on the coupe in the previous model)
- the side mirrors have better viewing angles than before
- the seats are super comfy and you can seat lower than before. The seats are single piece (ala Porsche style) and slim thereby also giving more space to the rear
- the sound system is so much better than its predecessor
- the display of bhp and torque on the iDrive screen is a nice touch
Some minor grouses:
- the car is quite quiet compared to the predecessor but it still has a very sporty note with a nice purring sound very audible from outside (I will lookout for the M performance exhaust and AKRA exhaust when they are out)
- the tyre pressure monitoring system still doesnt show individual tyre pressure (they should learn from Porsche)
- the FC gauge still a bit retarded (not live info like in Porsches)
So far I have been pretty happy with the car. Here are some pics of my mineral grey ride to share. The brakes are gold in colour as they are carbon ceramics. The stock ones would be blue which I think would not have gelled with grey. My first time owning ceramics and they are fantastic.
I have done my usual rituals which are Vkool 75, external film to protect the windscreen, side mirrors and xenon and lastly detailed/groomed.
I hope to give a further review after I have taken it north.
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