Re: Wish List for F30/80 M3
clar;781804 said:
M cars are not benchmarked against prev M model, but against its series model. F10 M5 is one heavy ass car no thanks to the donor F10 platform. M made it very clear that their goal is to reduce weight gain relative to its series model and they are doing better with each model. The F30 is lighter than E90, so it's safe to assume the next M3 will be lighter too.
If you have said, M Cars are developed from its series model, that may have sounded right even though 9x% of the components in a M3 is not alike to its series model. To benchmark against its series model, perhaps not so.
You can't develop a next gen M3 which will easily be quicker than its series model but not be quicker than previous gen M3 otherwise you start going backwards in time. It is not evolution. With every generation of M3, the next gen of M3 has to be quicker in some aspects.
Its interesting that you mentioned the F30. Family just received delivery of a F30 this month and I was just going through the brochure looking at the numbers, in particular, the weight and contrasting those figures with E90.
F30 328 (AT): 1530 Kg
E90 325 (AT): 1535 Kg
Difference: 5Kg
F30 335 (AT): 1595 Kg
E90 335: (AT): 1625 Kg
Difference: 30Kg
The figures are encouraging as BMW managed to stop this weight issue from spiraling upwards but definitely not stellar.
We have to take into consideration that once you put in a LSD, wider rims and tyres at all 4 corners, larger calipers, rotors, EDC, throw in DCT which added another 20Kg compared to 6Spd, strengthening of chassis, control arms etc etc. and weight quickly adds on.
E90 335 (AT): 1625 Kg
E90 M3 (DCT): 1690 Kg
Difference: 65 Kg
65Kg when the S65 weigh in 15-20Kg lighter than S54.
M Tuning Division’s CEO, Ludwig Willisch,
2009
Engines don’t necessarily have to be more powerful for the next car. As long as you have lighter weight, you have better performance. You still need the performance our customers expect. If you have a lighter car, you need the power somewhere in the neighborhood of the current M3.
Source:
The Future of BMWs M Division: New Turbo Fours and Sixes Likely - Motor Trend Blog
If Power remains the same as E9X M3s, I honestly hope weight savings be more than historical figures.
Don't get me wrong, I am not knocking you with my skepticism but weight doesn't magically disappears as you add more items. You can lighten this and that with Aluminum or Carbon Fibre and what not, which quickly adds up costs and whether stingy people like myself is willing to pay a premium or change my uniform to something with 4 rings or a 3 pointed Star.
As an enthusiast, I have always wanted a lighter car. What the M division did not deliver in weight, they compensated in the lap times department and that is good enough for me.
If Dr. Segler were to follow Willisch's philosophy, I certainly hope the decline in weight would be more significant. We are not likely not see triple digits here.
When I first saw the weight of the E92 M3 I nearly fell off my chair. After owning both E46 and E92 M3 concurrently, driving and tracking it, you'll start to see why and the 1690 or 1680 figure doesn't seem to matter so much anymore.
From my stand point, I don't think I will be disappointed with the next M3. Having driven M3s from E30 to E92 except for E36, so far the people at M have done it right.
Consumer's wants are insatiable. We want our M3s to weigh like GT3s yet not willing to part ways with iDrive, 4 seats and a big boot. That's human nature I guess.