BIMMERPOST M3/M4 First Ride Notes, Impressions and More Tech Details

[Falafel Combo]

I'm personally concerned about the steering more than anything else. I know that is a good sign that the M engineers started from scratch with their own version, after deeming the f30 EPS "insufficient".

Every thing else sounds fantastic.

[abcdkv]

Can't wait!

[ozinaldo]

Very good read, thanks!

The more I read about the engine the more I feel like the engineers really wanted a better, more powerful, higher revving and more refined N54T in there in terms of power delivery and engine character, of course minus issues of the N54. Major differences are S55 will rev 500 rpms more and will provide 20% more peak hp. On the other hand, tq seems to be unchanged from 1M as official number is 369 lb.ft with overboost and every single 1M dynoed well over it, usually even over 400. Mine dynoed close to that 369 at the wheels (stock) and on a Mustang dyno which is supposed to be very conservative. Average numbers are 550 to 560 nm, around 10% more than manufacturer claim. No one needs more tq than that anyway, so future buyers of M3/M4, no worries

Trying to make a guess, a simulation in my head about how it should feel, thinking about the 1M as a reference and putting the differences on top of it. S55 should keep the max power flat over an incredible 2300 rpm after starting the fall off from max torque which it will carry between 2000 to 5000 rpm. So, we will feel that max torque will be instantly and explosively ready at low revs, will hold on there up to 5000s and power will continue rising till 5000s but then will stop rising till close to rev limiter, just it will hold.

The sensation (or illusion) will probably be the car will slowly stop pulling after 5000s, despite the fact that it will continue to pull, just not as upward as before. This is very much what the 1M's N54T feels; explosive torque and power low down, then very strong acceleration till 5000s, and the engine will easily hit the limiter at any of the first four gears but indeed sensation is you could change the gear at 6000 max. without loosing any performance and feeling maybe better.

Let's see in real life driving how eager and encouraging the new engine will be between 5000 to 7500. The fact that it can turn 7500 rpm doesn't mean that it will be fun or really necessary to do so. However, since the M division is putting this time its pride on the table, my bet is there will be a magic trick and it will make you shift at redline.

[Needsdecaf]

Outstanding.

Lighter than the previous car. With more power, quite a bit more torque, and with less consumption, while being bigger. Substantially bigger.

Sounds like a win-win-win-win to me.

I will certainly miss the scream of the N/A V8. It will be an all time gem of an engine, and I suspect that the E9X M3 will be revered for some time in the manner of other classic M3's.....E46 CSL and the E30.

I'm excited about the anti-lag features built in for better throttle response.

Time marches on, things change, but M is still singing from the same sheet of music.

Jason / Jens: can you ask when the downshift throttle blipping is active? In the new Corvette, it's active in all modes except the top mode (ESP fully off). Is it tied into some setting like this? A stand alone setting? Or is it not defeatable at all?

[dimabimmer]

those turbos...

I will never ever forget those failing in my previous 335i and the car going into Limp-Mode when it was crucial and outmost importance to have all power...
it would fail over and over again... those countless dreaded visits to BMW Service...
Lost count how many visits to Service... and there, at the Service Department, the verdict would always be the same,- Vanos.

As for my current E92 M3, in 3 years of very spirited driving, this beast needed to be serviced only twice:
- first time 1.2k break-in Oil Change
- second time, just the reg. schedule oil change
That is it.

I will however, get the new M3/M4... since there are none other ///M configuration alternative.

[Nordkeyz73]

The picture of the tach actually goes BEYOND 8.5k
I think M's being mega conservative on redline

[Gjm127]

great read, thanks for the input!!

[IND-Distribution]

So no word on carbon fiber seats that we seen in some spy shots?

[bimmerjph]

Originally Posted by Carlos_Danger

Wow this car sounds better and better,
cant wait to drive it

Really? I don't think anyone would have guessed you were excited about this car at all.

[Needsdecaf]

Originally Posted by dimabimmer

those turbos...

I will never ever forget those failing in my previous 335i and the car going into Limp-Mode when it was crucial and outmost importance to have all power...
it would fail over and over again... those countless dreaded visits to BMW Service...
Lost count how many visits to Service... and there, at the Service Department, the verdict would always be the same,- Vanos.

As for my current E92 M3, in 3 years of very spirited driving, this beast needed to be serviced only twice:
- first time 1.2k break-in Oil Change
- second time, just the reg. schedule oil change
That is it.

I will however, get the new M3/M4... since there are none other ///M configuration alternative.

You had turbo and VANOS issues....and nothing with HPFP?

Odd.

Oh, and this is not an N54. N55 engines have not had issues nearly as often as that one.

[Ezio]

I think we all know this car is going to perform.

for me everything checks out, hell i don't even mind trubos coming from n/a.

if it sounds like a 335i, you can count me out. would rather get a 911.

[dimabimmer]

[QUOTE=Needsdecaf]

Originally Posted by dimabimmer

those turbos...

You had turbo and VANOS issues....and nothing with HPFP?

Odd.

Oh, and this is not an N54. N55 engines have not had issues nearly as often as that one.

nope!
never HPFP issue ever, even though I would always expect it after reading a ton about it here.

[blacknbean]

Originally Posted by ///M235i

I know that is a good sign that the M engineers started from scratch with their own version, after deeming the f30 EPS "insufficient".

Lol at bmw calling f30 EPS insufficient. Cant wait for the reviews

[Savory]

Originally Posted by Nordkeyz73

The picture of the tach actually goes BEYOND 8.5k
I think M's being mega conservative on redline

Not sure if BMW would hold back on telling us the real redline. 7500 seems like plenty, and hopefully tunes can push the limiter safely!

[SoCalS2k]

Originally Posted by Nordkeyz73

The picture of the tach actually goes BEYOND 8.5k
I think M's being mega conservative on redline

Article says what the redline is -"just beyond 7500 rpm"

[Marioalex24]

Omg. Im Speechless. Ill Get Back To You.

[motorsport_cat]

Mitsubishi turbos?

[Needsdecaf]

Important steering information gleaned from Car and Driver:

Originally Posted by CarandDriver

The electric power steering that he so effortlessly wields might end up as the M division’s greatest triumph regarding these new models. Engineers and executives know that the shift from hydraulic to electric assistance comes with enough stigma to fill an X6, and they claim to have taken great pains to ensure they got it right. The M3 and M4 use bespoke hardware from supplier ZF that makes their steering systems closer to that of the 5-series than the 3-series, but whether it passes judgment ultimately comes down to the calibration. “We don’t use [this] EPS to cover up deficiencies,â€� says Albert Biermann, head of development for M GmbH, meaning that the power-steering motor won’t compensate for understeer, oversteer, a crown in the road, or a coarse road surface. In fact, the lines of code that BMW deleted may be as important as the code that was included. [b]While virtually all electric steering systems use the motor to help unwind the steering wheel, BMW has omitted this function in the M3 and M4. The steering wheel will return to center by the natural self-centering forces of the suspension geometry, just as God intended.[b]

I added the bold.

There is hope for this steering!!!

Then again, their article is so filled with missed facts, maybe I shouldn't get my hopes up.

[ki__]

Great write-up! Can't wait to see it at Detroit!

[CanAutM3]

Originally Posted by ozinaldo

Very good read, thanks!

The more I read about the engine the more I feel like the engineers really wanted a better, more powerful, higher revving and more refined N54T in there in terms of power delivery and engine character, of course minus issues of the N54. Major differences are S55 will rev 500 rpms more and will provide 20% more peak hp. On the other hand, tq seems to be unchanged from 1M as official number is 369 lb.ft with overboost and every single 1M dynoed well over it, usually even over 400. Mine dynoed close to that 369 at the wheels (stock) and on a Mustang dyno which is supposed to be very conservative. Average numbers are 550 to 560 nm, around 10% more than manufacturer claim. No one needs more tq than that anyway, so future buyers of M3/M4, no worries

Trying to make a guess, a simulation in my head about how it should feel, thinking about the 1M as a reference and putting the differences on top of it. S55 should keep the max power flat over an incredible 2300 rpm after starting the fall off from max torque which it will carry between 2000 to 5000 rpm. So, we will feel that max torque will be instantly and explosively ready at low revs, will hold on there up to 5000s and power will continue rising till 5000s but then will stop rising till close to rev limiter, just it will hold.

The sensation (or illusion) will probably be the car will slowly stop pulling after 5000s, despite the fact that it will continue to pull, just not as upward as before. This is very much what the 1M's N54T feels; explosive torque and power low down, then very strong acceleration till 5000s, and the engine will easily hit the limiter at any of the first four gears but indeed sensation is you could change the gear at 6000 max. without loosing any performance and feeling maybe better.

Let's see in real life driving how eager and encouraging the new engine will be between 5000 to 7500. The fact that it can turn 7500 rpm doesn't mean that it will be fun or really necessary to do so. However, since the M division is putting this time its pride on the table, my bet is there will be a magic trick and it will make you shift at redline.

I have to disagree with this statement. IMO, shifting at 6000RPM, especially in the lower gears, will leave some performance on the table...

To maximize acceleration, you need to keep the revs in the fat portion of the power curve, not the torque curve. Without knowing gearing, it is difficult to assess exact numbers, but any shift that brings the revs below the power plateau (guessing from about 5500RPM to 7300RPM based on the press release graph) will not leverage the maximum performance potential.

On another note, the press release quote "Its peak torque soars far beyond 500 Newton metres (369 lb-ft), outstripping the figures recorded by the outgoing BMW M3 by well over 30 per cent.". This means "well over" 383 lb-ft (295 x 1.3).

[CanAutM3]

Originally Posted by davesaddiction

The weight (and power to weight) compared with its competitors is truly impressive.

I hope the feel is still there, though. If they've nailed their EPS as well as Porsche, we've got a winner.

Hope the engine proves to be as robust as the S65.

Now, what's the weight target of the M2?!

Don't get too flabbergasted by the marketing hype. I believe we need a bit more info to draw conclusions. Doing quick math with the numbers we have now, a DCT F8X only improves power to weight by 6% compared to a DCT E92... (E46 to E92 saw a 16% improvement)

[SD-E93-11]

As a current e93 owner I resent being called a "lantern parker" !

(psst..what's a lantern parker?)