Our Interview with BMW M3/M4 Project Manager and Product Manager at NYIAS 2014

[jaehshim]

LOL so where is the weight saving ???
E90 M3 curb weight was 3538, the F80 M3 is 3540?

[Richbot]

Originally Posted by jaehshim

LOL so where is the weight saving ???
E90 M3 curb weight was 3538, the F80 M3 is 3540?

Wife's lightly optioned F34 also came in 60lb heavier than the spec when I weighed it. All of my other BMWs have been below spec by at least 50 lb with a full tank on te same scales, including her previous e90 335xi

Let's be fair to BMW. Today just holding the line on weight while making the car bigger more efficient and faster is an accomplishment in itself. But I think the claims of 100 plus pounds of weight loss are marketing spin, which many other manufacturers are guilty of lately see GM with the C7, rover with the new aluminum trucks which are only half as lighter as they claimed (claimed number during the product launch turned out to be chassis only)

[LDSM]

I hope BMW knows the reason they get asked about an AWD version, is because we want confirmation they are NOT going that route.

I hope they don't take it as public demand for it.

[Richbot]

I think they have been pretty clear AWD is going to be the province of xBimmers, Alpina and the M Performance lines (M135i et al) of vehicles

[LDSM]

Originally Posted by Richbot

I think they have been pretty clear AWD is going to be the province of xBimmers, Alpina and the M Performance lines (M135i et al) of vehicles

Not necessarily, there are talks of offering AWD as an option on the next M5

[jaehshim]

Originally Posted by elevenfive

I hope BMW knows the reason they get asked about an AWD version, is because we want confirmation they are NOT going that route.

I hope they don't take it as public demand for it.

i'm with you on that, but the reason i'm jus disappointed and sad is that we never know.
they are making M look like s-line (M135i, M235i...), making M models for all suvs, they will be discussing whynot make the M3/M4 AWD for the popular demand.

i'm already disappointed with the new M3.
M was never like this, it's not an M without individual throttle body and its crisp response. it's not an M when you jus take over some twin turbo engine from 3 series and tune it for some more power. M always had its specific engine. sorry, E90/E92 marks the end era of true M car, period.

[e39>all]

Thanks for the interview.

Don't know why they don't just make an all black wheel option available. It looks much better on some of the colors.

Also, I hope they add more colors next year, like their more traditional greys and blues. I would like something similar to space grey, mineral grey is too dark for my taste and silverstone/moonstone too light.

[Law]

Originally Posted by ake

That actually is an interesting find (did not read about that anywhere and just now checked it).
It is the same for DCT, but there the weight difference actually is "only" 10 pounds (US lighter then Germany).

This is confusing. Maybe it is due to some options that come default in Europe and are not part of the US default specification (for MT), but are partially added once you pick the DCT.

Hope someone has more insight on this.

http://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=919364

[Drift Master]

What does the US curb weight for the M3/M4 include?
The way the US curb weight is measured includes full fluids in the car, all standard equipment for US market and all options that are expected to be equipped on more than one-thirds of M3/M4 sold (i.e. 19" wheels and DCT are included).

Note: U.S. curb weight for the U.S. 2015 M3 model is 3540 lbs (manual) / 3595 lbs (DCT) and the U.S. 2015 M4 weighs 3530 lbs (manual) / 3585 lbs (DCT).

I think an equaly equipped 2013 M3 is what you need to look at to see the weight saving. M3/4 are not track toys that are stripped down for sheer performance these are perforance daily drivers with all the luxury options we want in our car. I would love to have a lighter weight car but for the price and comfort level its hard to beat. If i had the money i would also love to own a Lamborghini Sesto Elemento 2200 Lb at a cool 2.2 million as carbon fiber doesnt come cheap as we all know. Just get an Atom for the track and a loaded M3/M4 for the roads and it will put a smile on your face between trafic lights also back and forth to get cold milk.

[ake]

Originally Posted by Law

http://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=919364

European/German regulations and accuracy... good to know
Thanks!

[JoeFromPA]

Look at the 2013 M3 and see how frequently certain items were chosen: trans, moonroof, leather options, etc.

My guess is the f30 m3 in MT, carbon roof, and low options with 18" wheels is going to weigh in around 3450 with fluids.

And I will be quite happy with that 500 pound weight loss compared to my e39 m5, which is the same size as the f80 and has pretty darn similar power output.

[Mako]

Bummer on M4 GC, but that sounded like a good explanation and a final one! So M3 or go non Bimmer I guess. I don't agree that the GC and Coupe are the same customer base, I am not in the market for the coupe at all but would love the GC.

Really wish they made San Marino Blue as a color option or even individual option, saw that on a M6 in a showroom and its AMAZING, only Blue I like better than the EB II, but not willing to spend $5K that BMW wants for "custom" colors (would pay $2K though).

[Falafel Combo]

Made my day! Great read! Getting real excited to see them in person next week.

[Falafel Combo]

Originally Posted by Mako

Bummer on M4 GC, but that sounded like a good explanation and a final one! So M3 or go non Bimmer I guess. I don't agree that the GC and Coupe are the same customer base, I am not in the market for the coupe at all but would love the GC.

...

I agree that they are not the same customer base. I mean come on. At the very basic level, one is 4 door and the other is 2.


But anyway, hatchbacks just do not have the same rigidity as sedans and coupes. And they creak a lot. He gave a pretty reasonable explanation.

[bradleyland]

Originally Posted by jaehshim

LOL so where is the weight saving ???
E90 M3 curb weight was 3538, the F80 M3 is 3540?

You're quoting actual weight (E90 M3) against published curb weight (F80 M3). The truth is, we won't know the weight of cars "in the wild" until someone takes it to the scales. Remember that the published curb weight for the E90 was over 3700 lbs.

I'm not saying the car will be 150 lbs lighter as BMW is claiming. I'm just saying we don't know the real numbers yet, and it's unlikely that cars will weigh in exactly at the published curb weight.

[Black Gold]

Originally Posted by bradleyland

You're quoting actual weight (E90 M3) against published curb weight (F80 M3). The truth is, we won't know the weight of cars "in the wild" until someone takes it to the scales. Remember that the published curb weight for the E90 was over 3700 lbs.

I'm not saying the car will be 150 lbs lighter as BMW is claiming. I'm just saying we don't know the real numbers yet, and it's unlikely that cars will weigh in exactly at the published curb weight.

All of this

[basscadet]

So much for the 3300 lb pipe dream. Hate to say it, but I told you. Whatever performance improvement this F80 will bring will be entirely on the shoulders of the improved torque of the new engine. It's basically going to weigh the same as the old car and have nearly exactly the same amount of horsepower.

[Dave2011M3]

Can we expect a competition package?
At the moment we can't tell you the whole story. Stay tuned.

That meant yes...

[Sir Loin]

Originally Posted by solstice

Thanks for asking the passive suspension question. Even better, the answer is perfect. The only reason for me to select adaptive would have been a spongy passive suspension. Now I can stick with passive with no concerns.

For me, the answer reinforces that I need the M Adaptive Suspension so my family will be more comfortable in my car. They do not like sitting in my E46 M3 as its suspension is too stiff for them. With this option, my M3 will be relatively more comfortable when my family is in the car, and be stiff and jaw-jarring when I am driving it by myself.

[Roadkiller]

Originally Posted by Richbot

Wife's lightly optioned F34 also came in 60lb heavier than the spec when I weighed it. All of my other BMWs have been below spec by at least 50 lb with a full tank on te same scales, including her previous e90 335xi

Let's be fair to BMW. Today just holding the line on weight while making the car bigger more efficient and faster is an accomplishment in itself. But I think the claims of 100 plus pounds of weight loss are marketing spin, which many other manufacturers are guilty of lately see GM with the C7, rover with the new aluminum trucks which are only half as lighter as they claimed (claimed number during the product launch turned out to be chassis only)

Not sure we can say this -- yet. Lets wait and see.

[dlbrooks18]

Originally Posted by ss134

3595lbs is around 1630kg without driver!!!! This is approx the same as the E90 M3 DCT?????? I must be missing something but how is this the 150lbs + weight reduction from the previous gen that is being advertised?

Would be great if someone could explain because I am slightly confused.

+1, same thoughts. Good interview, thanks.

[Wild_Will]

Crappy Individual colors!

No one is going to order an M3/M4 in brown and pay extra for it.

They need to offer Melborne red again or just let you order any color you desire through individual.