Joined the club! '17 M3 (from '14 S4)

[Bleser]

I ordered the light strips; excited to see the result!

Red M1/M2 buttons and starter button on my list as well.

[jmg]

Congrats! Former Audi enthusiast and A4 and S4 owner here as well! I've fully embraced the dark side and not looking back. I took a bit more steps from the S4 to M3 though...

First a B5 A4:



...then my B7 S4 25Quattro:



to a 328i:



to a 340i:

BMW 340i M Sport ZTR by JMG, on Flickr

Then a civic M3:

Angeles Crest V2 by JMG, on Flickr

...then added an i3 as a commuter:



...then I got the m3 CS:

20200105 - Streets Of Willow - 6D - IMG_3968_100 by JMG, on Flickr

...then got a new commuter:



...then replaced that i3 less than 10 months later for the same color but upgraded options. No pic yet!

So as you can see, i've been fully brainwashed by BMW marketing.

[FreeDarko]

How is the i3 in winter?

What kind of real life mileage are you getting?

My wife is considering this as her city car to use but unsure if she can handle the rwd in winter here.

[DadVibes]

Originally Posted by jmg

Congrats! Former Audi enthusiast and A4 and S4 owner here as well! I've fully embraced the dark side and not looking back. ...

Funny, while I love my M3, with news of a new baby on the way, I've been taking a serious look at the new Audi RS5 sportback to replace my M3 as a year around daily driver.

The new found mod bug to make the M3 more personalized is really helping alleviate the urge to jump ship so quickly. In the Fall, once the baby is here and winter approaches, I'll re-evaluate on whether I'll keep the M3 and get a designated winter car, or pick up an RS5 to cover year around duties.

[DadVibes]

Red M1/M2 and Start/Stop buttons installed. Love these subtle little additions.

[Bleser]

New buttons looks great! How was the installation?

I would drive the RS5 Sportback for a while before pulling the trigger. I drove it a few times before buying the M3 was not impressed. However, I was looking for something with a 'sportscar feel' and the noise and 6MT in the M3 does as good a job of that as any sedan on earth.

The sportback, though beautiful, was very sedate. No manual on offer, and you had to really get on it to hear the drivetrain. Then it did these 'farting up-shifts' that I just didn't think sounded good.

Not trying to hate on the RS5, just saying go drive it as when I did my dreams of it being the perfect car kind of fell apart; but that was based on what I was looking for.

[DadVibes]

Originally Posted by Bleser

New buttons looks great! How was the installation?

I would drive the RS5 Sportback for a while before pulling the trigger. I drove it a few times before buying the M3 was not impressed. However, I was looking for something with a 'sportscar feel' and the noise and 6MT in the M3 does as good a job of that as any sedan on earth.

The sportback, though beautiful, was very sedate. No manual on offer, and you had to really get on it to hear the drivetrain. Then it did these 'farting up-shifts' that I just didn't think sounded good.

Not trying to hate on the RS5, just saying go drive it as when I did my dreams of it being the perfect car kind of fell apart; but that was based on what I was looking for.

Thanks! Despite their size, I really love the change these buttons made to the interior. they are the first thing you see when you open the door. It's amazing how much just a couple of buttons can change the overall "feel" of the interior.

Installation is a breeze. As usual, I followed install videos created by Tommy L garage:

Steering wheel buttons:

Start button:

I absolutely get what you're saying about the RS5 Sportback. I do LOVE the interior and tech. But I do agree that it feels much more "numb" than the M3. The exterior styling is lacking in aggressiveness, compared to the M3, as well. For now I am very happy with the M3 and will keep it to see how it fares with the new baby in a few months before making any further decisions.

Especially since (while it's embarrassing to admit) I just started trying to drive it in Sport Plus with traction set to MDM, rather than Sport with traction fully on. These two changes have made the car feel even more "awake" than it did previously.

I just wish auto-rev match was enabled in Sport Plus. I'm too lazy to do that myself.

[Bleser]

Thanks for the links! Yes, his videos make this stuff easy for the rest of us. Those buttons are nearing the top of my priority list...

I recently switched to Sport Plus for the throttle response and forgot it didn't have rev-matching on the downshift and WHOOPS - dropped to 2nd and lurched forward!

[DadVibes]

Originally Posted by Bleser

I recently switched to Sport Plus for the throttle response and forgot it didn't have rev-matching on the downshift and WHOOPS - dropped to 2nd and lurched forward!

Yeah, I didn't realize how handy auto-rev match was until I switched to Sport Plus. Now it's like re-learning how to drive a manual again. But it has added in a new fun factor, that's for sure.

[sna66]

I was never really an Audi fan, I really don't think I'll ever own anything but a bimmer, for me it just fits like a glove.

[jmg]

Originally Posted by FreeDarko

How is the i3 in winter?

What kind of real life mileage are you getting?

My wife is considering this as her city car to use but unsure if she can handle the rwd in winter here.

It's as cold as it gets here, and my range is around 130-140. It's 140-160 in warmer weather. I've never driven it in the snow though!

[DadVibes]

Well, after what was by far the shortest stint I've ever had with a car, the M3 is gone. Replaced over the weekend with an RS5 Sportback.

Navigating our last two major snow storms with RWD was a real eye opener, even with snow tires. I know others can make it work but it just wasn't cutting it for me. So, on Saturday the wife and I took a trip into the Audi dealer and left a couple hours later with this...







By the end of the week the OEM 20" summer wheel/tire setup will be stored away. Replaced with some 19" wheels I ordered to work with the snow tires that I originally bought for the M3.

[swagon]

Originally Posted by S4toM3

Well, after what was by far the shortest stint I've ever had with a car, the M3 is gone. Replaced over the weekend with an RS5 Sportback.

Audi Sport makes some really nice-looking cars, I will give them that.

Better change your username now.

[EricVR4]

Congrats! That's a beautiful car, and I love that color too.

To me, Audi interiors are second to none. I love them. My dad just got a new A6 Prestige and I've been geeking over all the tech/digital everything in it

[Tommy L Garage]

You sir are a hero! Going after what you like. I love your style!

How’s going from a manual to an automatic?

[Fugly M3]

I think Audi has kind of ruined the 2 door A5/S5/RS5. The new 4 door, however, looks great. Congrats!

[DadVibes]

Thanks guys!

Originally Posted by EricVR4

Congrats! That's a beautiful car, and I love that color too.

To me, Audi interiors are second to none. I love them. My dad just got a new A6 Prestige and I've been geeking over all the tech/digital everything in it

I went back and forth between a white one with black optics and this silver with black optics. In the end Silver won out and I'm very happy it did. Keeping it looking clean and hiding any chips/scratches will be so much easier with this color.

I completely agree about the interior. It really is on another level. We met up with my parents for lunch on Sunday and my Dad just couldn't get over the interior. He kept taking pictures of the dash/gauges. And the massaging seats, which are a gimmick but fun to play with, blew him away. Now he wants my Mom to get a Q8 or Q5.

Originally Posted by Tommy L Garage

You sir are a hero! Going after what you like. I love your style!

How’s going from a manual to an automatic?

I was a bit nervous that I'd miss the manual. But so far, no complaints at all. The 8-speed in this car is unbelievably smooth, crazy fast and always seems to shift precisely when I want it to. It's only been about 150 miles so far, but I haven't once felt the desire to use the paddles. I couldn't say any of these things about my old S4.

I must admit, when we walked into the dealer my wife saw the sticker price of the RS5 and immediately gave me the "don't even think about it" look. However, the S5 just wasn't cutting it for me as an M3 replacement and I absolutely did not want to daily drive an SUV.

The dealer was so ready to make a deal on the RS5 that after some pretty quick negotiating, the price came down 10% off sticker. But what really sealed the deal was that they also offered nearly $6k more for the M3 than EchoPark and CarMax, which was shocking. It allowed me to get out of my M3 without taking a hit and even gave me some cash on top to put towards the RS5. All of this was enough to get the approval nod from my wife so I jumped on it before she could change her mind.

[EricVR4]

Originally Posted by S4toM3

I went back and forth between a white one with black optics and this silver with black optics. In the end Silver won out and I'm very happy it did. Keeping it looking clean and hiding any chips/scratches will be so much easier with this color.

I completely agree about the interior. It really is on another level. We met up with my parents for lunch on Sunday and my Dad just couldn't get over the interior. He kept taking pictures of the dash/gauges. And the massaging seats, which are a gimmick but fun to play with, blew him away. Now he wants my Mom to get a Q8 or Q5.

Silver is my favorite color on most cars, so I'm a little biased. I love white too though if it's a mineral/pearl

I love the flat-bottom wheels Audi uses too. My friend has had an S3 and now an S4 and my other friend has the RS5 Coupe and every time I drive them I wish the wheel on the M3 was the same

[DadVibes]

Originally Posted by swagon

Better change your username now.

It's just going to keep getting longer and longer.

[jtuck00]

Nice spec!

[$hah$]

Congrats, welcome to the MG 6spd club!

[GERMAN M3]

Originally Posted by S4toM3

Well, after what was by far the shortest stint I've ever had with a car, the M3 is gone. Replaced over the weekend with an RS5 Sportback.

Navigating our last two major snow storms with RWD was a real eye opener, even with snow tires. I know others can make it work but it just wasn't cutting it for me. So, on Saturday the wife and I took a trip into the Audi dealer and left a couple hours later with this...







By the end of the week the OEM 20" summer wheel/tire setup will be stored away. Replaced with some 19" wheels I ordered to work with the snow tires that I originally bought for the M3.

Congrats on your purchase S4. I definitely like the 4 door RS5 much better than the 2 door. For some reason it looks much sportier in my opinion. My wife drives a 2018 A5 Premium Plus, and that car is a blast to drive.....I can only imagine what the RS5 feels like! Again, congrats on your purchase and doing what you felt was right for the family. I’m sure you will enjoy the new toy. Keep us posted, and hope to see you around the forum.