Disappointed (only a little) with my new M3

[notused]

Pretty simple really, happy with the car, the options, the handling, the looks, the practicality, the ability to scare, the ability to far exceed my driving skills but what I'm disappointed with is acceleration on motorways.

I don't track my cars or modify them at all. I'm more of a GT guy and what I want is unbelievable acceleration when the guy infront of me doing 90mph moves out of the fast lane. The M3 is fast but it's not spectacular.

Had my RIS done and currently at 1700 miles. I was most impressed during running in period thinking "there's even more on tap". Now I know exactly what's there, it's "OK".

I think (it's been a while) that my AMG C63 and E60 M5 felt faster in said situation. Could it be a turbos vs normally aspirated thing or to do with number of cylinders? I'm no expert.

Disappointed but only a little.

[te37]

Really? I feel the exact opposite. Now I have never driven a C63 or M5, but I have a 6mt F80 and if I am on the highway and pop it down to 5th I feel a rush of torque like no other and quickly encroach on 100mph and pass a car like they were doing half the speed limit. Even more so if I were to shift down to 4th or even 3rd!

[gatsojon]

Do you drop it a couple of gears? I imagine that at 90, 5th would be optimum? I know I'm going to have to remember I've got nearly twice the Rev range to play with from my 330d. I can't wait to play up there again after 6 years of diesel.

[F80Dreamer]

I'm surprised at that, but obviously it's what you are feeling. I don't have mine yet, but I have read countless reviews saying the mid range acceleration is world class...in fact, the mid range acceleration was almost identical to some super cars in a review I read last year.

[blake9220]

I felt this way too after my JB4 and downpipe install. Turned out that traction control was turning on when I'd downshift

[notused]

Originally Posted by te37

... pop it down to 5th I feel a rush of torque like no other and quickly encroach on 100mph...

Yes, at that speed but I want the same feeling from 90-130mph.

[notused]

Originally Posted by gatsojon

Do you drop it a couple of gears?

I drop it one gear. It is still good just not spectacular. Maybe I'm getting used to it and needs working ie two gears down.

[DazC]

You're only 1700miles in buddy.

The engine is still tight and will loosen up a fair bit over the next few thousand miles. If you're still not happy after that there's a plethora of remap options out there!

[Blksnowflake]

90-130? wtf, are you trying to pass Hamilton. I'm not sure many cars with a six cylinder will throw you back at those speeds. It's more progressive, but the speed is there. The GTR being the exception.
You're comparing NA V8s and the one in an M5 is another something else altogether, not fair.

If you're aim is to get thrown back in your seat at 100mph, you will need a tune or a different car. Gotta admit, I'm not sure I even see the point of blowing by so aggressively at that speed as a driving habit on public roads, even the autobahn. As they move right you keep flooring it, I think the more dramatic overtakes happen between 50-80mph.

[Simon H]

Are you manual or DCT ?

[Karlj]

RWD, I definitely get where you're coming from, in a lot of situations I'd put my foot down and think "is that it?" - however after a bit of trial and error I realised the issue was how I was driving it and the various modes used. I find even in MDM the TC kicks in too much during harsh acceleration, and depending on the 'box mode kick-down is useless.

I'd recommend giving the following a try once the tyres are warm:

Manual or auto:
Gearbox: lvl. 3
Throttle: S+
Dampers: Comfort
TC: OFF
If in manual mode: 2nd gear, 35mph - floor it, keep going until you see a speed you don't want written on a ticket. See what you think.
If in auto, with the above settings try going WOT at any speed without hitting the KD button- this should cause the box to drop a cog without going too far (I find the KD button can cause it to drop to 2nd at 50mph, meaning it has to change immediately to 3rd and delaying the acceleration).

Should definitely give you a clear example how fast it can be with only 1700mi on the clock.

I've also found the following can make the car feel like a 328i:

• Gearbox in lvl. 1 (lvl. 2 sometimes, but generally I find lvl. 2 & 3 the same except 3 holds onto a lower gear for longer once you've lifted off)
• TC in anything but OFF (MDM is useful in the rain, but I find it still gets in the way in the dry when changing gear or going WOT out of the blue)
• Efficient throttle (Sport+ is good when you're on the move, Sport when around town for stop/start as S+ doesn't let you pull away smoothly)

I've also found the car has its off moments/days, be it due to the weather or once the system is heat soaked. As mentioned above, our cars are still on the tight side, so would be worth holding out another few thousand miles.

[notused]

Originally Posted by Blksnowflake

Gotta admit, I'm not sure I even see the point of blowing by so aggressively at that speed as a driving habit on public roads, even the autobahn.

It's how I get my buzz. I'm not reckless around town, I don't do tracks, just like the straight line passing others with silly acceleration.

[notused]

Originally Posted by Simon H

Are you manual or DCT ?

DCT

[Blksnowflake]

Originally Posted by RWDpetrol

It's how I get my buzz. I'm not reckless around town, I don't do tracks, just like the straight line passing others with silly acceleration.

seems legit.
consider turning off dsc. be careful in the low gears.

[notused]

Originally Posted by Karlj

I'd recommend giving the following a try once the tyres are warm:

Manual or auto:
Gearbox: lvl. 3
Throttle: S+
Dampers: Comfort
TC: OFF
If in manual mode: 2nd gear, 35mph - floor it, keep going until you see a speed you don't want written on a ticket. See what you think.
If in auto, with the above settings try going WOT at any speed without hitting the KD button

Thanks. Not sure I'm brave enough to turn TC off.

Sorry but what is:
WOT?
KD is kickdown?

Will try...

[TommyGuk]

Wide open throttle

[Wills2]

I agree having come from an F10 M5 which was biblical from 90-130mph in fact stupidly fast, the F80 M3 hasn't quite got the power to perform like that.

But it does get better I'm on 13k now and the engine is performing better at high speed.

The trade off is the wonderful handling and intense nature of the car on give and take roads.

It's more fun overall I never took the M5 out just to drive it, I do that all the time in the M3.

I've driven a friend RS6 quite a bit I think that would suit you perfectly but again the trade off would be it's not a sporty car to drive just a quick one. (if that makes sense)

[F83]

Originally Posted by te37

Really? I feel the exact opposite. Now I have never driven a C63 or M5, but I have a 6mt F80 and if I am on the highway and pop it down to 5th I feel a rush of torque like no other and quickly encroach on 100mph and pass a car like they were doing half the speed limit. Even more so if I were to shift down to 4th or even 3rd!

The 6 to 3rd drop on the 6MT is magic when overtaking someone. +1 to your post.

[Karlj]

Originally Posted by RWDpetrol

Thanks. Not sure I'm brave enough to turn TC off.

Sorry but what is:
WOT?
KD is kickdown?

Will try...

My apologies, WOT as mentioned is wide open/full throttle, and KD is kickdown.

In regards to TC, I actually find it a much more predictable beast with TC off than on/MDM- simply because the TC reacts so slowly. Sometimes you can be mid-correction when the brakes start panicking and bring the car back to traction too quickly for the lock to be wound off. The F80 has a beautifully communicative chassis, so you'd have to be a bit numb in the arse to let it bite you.

[notused]

Originally Posted by Wills2

I agree having come from an F10 M5 which was biblical from 90-130mph in fact stupidly fast.

I've driven a friend RS6 quite a bit I think that would suit you perfectly but again the trade off would be it's not a sporty car to drive just a quick one. (if that makes sense)

My E60 M5 really surprised a 996 Turbo driver once. His expression was priceless and that was the first time I realised it was amazing.

I seriously considered an RS6 this time but the numbers didn't work out, maybe in 11 months

[saleen556]

Originally Posted by RWDpetrol

It's how I get my buzz. I'm not reckless around town, I don't do tracks, just like the straight line passing others with silly acceleration.

Sounds like you need to get to a track for your buzz. That's reckless weather you think so or not on public roads. You'll eventually find yourself in deep trouble or dead.

[notused]

Originally Posted by saleen556

That's wreckless weather you think so or not on public roads. You'll eventually find yourself in deep trouble or dead.

Everything's risky. I do plenty of business trips and holidays to Germany and 130mph is cruising speed. It really is nothing on a dry traffic free autobahn.