New ZCP F80

[Falafel Combo]

Originally Posted by LukeM15

Yay. Congrats!!! Enjoy welcome to the ZCP Family

Lol!!

What's next? "Congrats! Welcome to the executive package family!!! We're so awesome!!!!"

[dmboone25]

Originally Posted by amw896

amazing car, congrats! Question though - why were you so disappointed with the m235i? i currently own and love it! Its my first BMW but I've driven several and find the 235i very similar to my friends e46 m3. Just curious what you really dislike about it or maybe what you like so much more about the m3 as I'm hoping to move into one possibly in 2019-2020.

Originally Posted by Falafel Combo

Looks great! Congrats!!!

I'm a bit surprised frankly at your disappointment in the M235i. If one is to believe the reviews and all the hype, it seems to be a competent car at worst. Can you elaborate?

The 235 was just not a good fit for me - I was ready for something that is more dialed in than a standard BMW - hence the move to the 981 and now F80. If I had never been exposed to a BMW, I am sure it would have been a very good car. But having had 2 135s right before it...I was expecting more from the car, and it felt like a let down to me, especially compared to my N54 135.

I was especially disappointed in the bounciness of the suspension - it was simply too soft, and I could discern no appreciable difference in any of the settings - Sport Plus on the dampers still bounced along far too much for my taste. In the car's defense, I bought it sight unseen (the 135 lease was ending and I had one of the first 235s delivered) - I liked it at first, but it didn't blow me away. As I spent more time with it, it just felt like I had bought into the marketing too much - those who were early adopters will remember comparisons to the 1M and whatnot...it's just not on that level from multiple perspectives.

Good car, for sure - just not for me in that configuration.

[dmboone25]

Originally Posted by csbear

Congrats!

From one (previous) Cayman owner to another, that's one great combo: Cayman S + M3.

And for all the unsubstantiated flack BMW is getting nowadays from the likes of Motor Trend, Jalopnik, and other hack "media," the ZCP M3/M4 are still really, really good cars. Give me a manual (or DCT) F80/F82 over any bloated C63S AMG or Audi RS any day...

Enjoy!

I hope I have the physical space and financial wherewithal to have one again someday, as a car that you drive just for wringing the shit out of it.

I do truly believe the car is underpowered after spending all weekend in the M3 - the Cayman shines in the handling, feel, and sound departments - but I do understand why folks think it's "slow" - it's definitely not slow, but it is a different kind of fast for sure.

The F80 is much more immediate, and much much faster in a straight line - it is like an unrelenting freight train, and that is intoxicating. I do think I will need to improve the sound of the M3 in some way, but that will be down the line somewhere - I am truly happy with it and have already seen the benefits of the increased utility.

[dmboone25]

Thanks to everyone for the welcome backs and well wishes - loving the new M3.

[SupremePower1]

Congrats on the new ZCP. I have one just like it and love it. So happy I waited for the Competition package over the non based on the multiple reviews alone. Any plans for the car?

[csbear]

Originally Posted by dmboone25

I hope I have the physical space and financial wherewithal to have one again someday, as a car that you drive just for wringing the shit out of it.

I do truly believe the car is underpowered after spending all weekend in the M3 - the Cayman shines in the handling, feel, and sound departments - but I do understand why folks think it's "slow" - it's definitely not slow, but it is a different kind of fast for sure.

The F80 is much more immediate, and much much faster in a straight line - it is like an unrelenting freight train, and that is intoxicating. I do think I will need to improve the sound of the M3 in some way, but that will be down the line somewhere - I am truly happy with it and have already seen the benefits of the increased utility.

Ah gotcha! So the M3 is the sole car right now. Regardless, great choice, and yes, the M3 is a monster compared to the 981 S when it comes to straight up power. A different experience, but addictive in its own way.

[dmboone25]

Originally Posted by csbear

Ah gotcha! So the M3 is the sole car right now. Regardless, great choice, and yes, the M3 is a monster compared to the 981 S when it comes to straight up power. A different experience, but addictive in its own way.

Yes sir.

I still have the Ducati, so I am not completely void of the Audi/Porsche family.

[dmboone25]

Originally Posted by neilum

I think you are exaggerating greatly the overall opinion of people who have non zcp cars. I think people understand the differences and improvements BMW made with the ZCP, but it's not a completely different car.

The ZCP sounds a little better, and puts the power down a little better but the base M3 is still a perfect blend of all of those things listed above, without the subtle improvements BMW made to the ZCP. It seems like you are alluding to the fact that the non zcp M3 are lacking or somehow flawed.

If I was new to M cars and trying to learn and educate myself, your post makes it sound like the base non comp cars are completely different cars overall which is just not true.

Well, think of the comparison like this - when I had my 235, and was looking to get into something else, I test drove both the F80 and F82 multiple times. The car was definitely on a completely different level than the 235, and was undoubtedly very very nice...however, it didn't blow me away. And I ended up in a 981 instead.

Fast forward two years, and I end up trading the 981 in for the F80 ZCP. While I am not at all making broad conclusions here, the ZCP made an impression that led to me buying it. The 2015 non-ZCP M3 and M4 two years ago did not.

But that's just my experience - it is not an affront to those who have an non-ZCP M3...

[dmboone25]

Delete

[NewM3driver]

Originally Posted by neilum

I think you are exaggerating greatly the overall opinion of people who have non zcp cars. I think people understand the differences and improvements BMW made with the ZCP, but it's not a completely different car.

The ZCP sounds a little better, and puts the power down a little better but the base M3 is still a perfect blend of all of those things listed above, without the subtle improvements BMW made to the ZCP. It seems like you are alluding to the fact that the non zcp M3 are lacking or somehow flawed.

If I was new to M cars and trying to learn and educate myself, your post makes it sound like the base non comp cars are completely different cars overall which is just not true.

I said missed the mark "ever so slightly". I don't think that is a gross exaggeration at all.

The car handles a lot better, and hooks up coming out of a corner under hard acceleration like a completely different car.

Although I can't say the car feels faster, the power comes on in a much smoother, more linear sort of way. That huge swell of power your car has at 4K comes on earlier and more gradually, which is why some say the car doesn't feel as fast. Truth is it is just more linear.

It does sound better, deeper, more refined throughout the rev range. The sound of my 2016 always left me feeling I needed to look at a modded exhaust. I've never once felt that way with the ZCP car.

I love the 666 wheels, and don't feel they ride any harsher than the 18's I had on my '16. It all boils down to personal taste, but to my eyes the new wheels fill out the fenders better and make the car look more upscale.

The new lightweight seats look very cool, but if I had the choice I would have preferred to have the lumbar support. Not sure what BMW was thinking on this one. I would have sacrificed a pound or two.

The blacked out badging looks good.

Overall the sum of all the little improvements adds up to a much more refined car. Thats not saying the non ZCP cars purchased before it became available are bad.

HOWEVER, anyone ordering an M3 or M4 from today forward would be very foolish, in my humble opinion, to neglect to order a competition package on their car. I think the name "competition package" is misleading. It's not about being more of a race car. It is simply a refined version of the original. They worked out the kinks, smoothed out the rough edges and have indeed created a better car.

Sorry if that offends you because that is not my intention at all.

[StealthFish]

I don't understand the "anyone is foolish to not order the ZCP that is ordering their future car..." aspect. I understand that the car is refined, but it is just a nice out of the package car nonetheless. I do agree, again, it is a very nice and refined vehicle out of the box car. Let's not forget the most imporatant thing is that both cars are the exact same cars, mechanically speaking. If it was a different car, BMW should probably just make the ZCP a standard model instead of making the non ZCP version. I'm not offended in anyway, just telling my side why the ZCP is an improvement but not a completely better car than its same counterpart, the non ZCP.

To the OP, why didn't you get a M4 instead since you had coupes up until your M3 purchase? I am just wondering, interesting regardless. Congrats btw and I love the color combo.

[dmboone25]

Originally Posted by StealthFish

I don't understand the "anyone is foolish to not order the ZCP that is ordering their future car..." aspect. I understand that the car is refined, but it is just a nice out of the package car nonetheless. I do agree, again, it is a very nice refined vehicle out of the box car. Let's not forget the most imporatant thing is that both cars are the exact same cars, mechanically speaking. If it was a different car, BMW should probably just make the ZCP a standard model instead of making non ZCP versions. I'm not offended in anyway, just telling my side why the ZCP is an improvement but not a completely better car than its same counterpart, the non ZCP.

To the OP, why didn't you get a M4 instead since you had coupes up until your M3 purchase? I am just wondering, interesting regardless. Congrats btw and I love the color combo.

I was torn between both cars - I think the M4 looks really mean when it is moving (there's a guy who works somewhere close to me who has one, and I see him on the highway regularly - it looks great).

But I don't love it as much when it is sitting still - I like the M3's stance better and prefer the "fat ass" the M4 is undoubtedly a beautiful car, but it looks a little stretched or something when it is parked - I can't put a better description on it, because the effect to my eyes is very slight.

Also, I am obviously not very rational when it comes to these things - a lot of it has to do with gut feelings and whatnot - love both cars for sure, but decided on the M3 this time around.

And I would never say that the non-ZCP isn't worth purchasing - I know it is a really good car, because it is very similar to what I ended up getting. There were just enough touches here and there from an aesthetic standpoint (love the seats, wheels, and tail lights), and the car felt more connected than my recollection of the 2015 M3 and M4s that I test drove. It was those touches that pushed me over the edge and got me out of my 981 and into the F80.

[StealthFish]

I agree with you that the coupe looks longer. When I had my 335i, it did seem longer from different angles. I have noticed the same thing with the coupes now too.

Another prime example of expenditure worth preference for non- ZCP and ZCP, my point was this. Some believe it was worth it, others don't, it's just preference. For me, the 437 wheels, lumber support was enough to be at 50/50 for my decision. My tuner personality swayed against the extra cost, however I did select every other option I could chose from. Lol.

...but back to your thread, your M3 is a very superb vehicle. Looks amazing, with my preference of color choice, congrats again!