BIMMERPOST Tests BMW M3 Competition with M Performance Parts at COTA

[Jason]

This post is part of a three part series. See the other posts/videos on the M2 and M3 with M Performance parts at:

BIMMERPOST Tests BMW M2 with M Performance Parts at COTA
BIMMERPOST Tests BMW 340i with M Performance Parts at COTA


Review: M3 with M Performance Parts

BIMMERPOST was recently at Circuit of the Americas to sample a variety of BMWs equipped with M Performance Parts. The final car I drove was the M3 Competition with M Performance Parts.

Some additional notes:

The M3 proves that it is still the daddy. In its current form with the Competition package and M Performance parts, it has moved the game forward significantly compared to the original F80 M3 I drove at launch some years ago. It changes direction more quickly, offers far more steering feedback, accelerates harder, feels firmer and sounds much better. It has become a scalpel for the track. The incremental improvements made to the M3 over its current lifecycle -- including these M Performance parts -- is making me fall in love with the M3 all over again. BMW has not been idle!

I adore the M Performance exhaust. I think it's a must-have. The sound mix in my video gives you an idea, but you have to experience this for yourself to truly judge. It is lighter, louder and makes more delicious noises than even the M Performance exhaust in the M2.

This M3's steering is now amazing good. It is perfectly weighted in sport plus and finally gives the driver real feedback. Since the advent of electric steering in BMW vehicles, I have lamented the absence of the sinewy, granular feedback which builds confidence through a direct connection with the tires. This is now rectified. The improvements are likely due to the combination of Cup 2 tires, lighter wheels, improved software calibration and the firmer coilover suspension. It has better steering feel than the M2! I love this set up!

This drive in the M3 Competition with M Performance parts has restored my excitement in the M3. With the practicality of 5 seats and the convenience of 4 doors, this is my M car of choice. The legend continues.

Please refer to the following documents for more information.

[auf Deutsch]

I can only imagine the price tag of that F80 with all of those M Perf parts

[raysspl]

That steering wheel!

[Jockey]

Is this the M performance exhaust with or without the titanium cracks?

[mtoosexy]

looks awesome!!! But the car is just tooooooo damn BIG!!

[M3 Adjuster]

Sam sez .. The ZCP has Better steering feel than the M2. (Which was better than the M4)

That's good news in that it definitely seems that the best iteration of BMW Electric steering is the most recently designed iteration. They appear to be making incremental but definitely recognizable improvement on what started out as a dismal abomination.

I've always felt that their initial algorithms were lacking and that fine tuning over time would occur. I'll still take my manual steering rack at this point however.

[Aaaaaaaaa]

Originally Posted by mtoosexy

looks awesome!!! But the car is just tooooooo damn BIG!!

Unsure how M Performance parts increased the size of the car.

[Aaaaaaaaa]

Originally Posted by raysspl

That steering wheel!

Those floor mats!!

[mtoosexy]

Originally Posted by pheerlx

Unsure how M Performance parts increased the size of the car.

I will allow you a few seconds to re-read my comment.

[Aaaaaaaaa]

Originally Posted by mtoosexy

I will allow you a few seconds to re-read my comment.

Challenge accepted. Hold my beer.

[mtoosexy]

Originally Posted by pheerlx

Challenge accepted. HMB.

it's all good. I think the car looks great, the add-ons look wonderful. What i cant get past is how big the M3 has gotten over the years.

[kenf80]

Damn, i wonder how much that HAS kit will cost? I find it ridiculous that they don't let you install aftermarket springs without keeping warranty. I guess thats how they make their money though right...

[Jockey]

Originally Posted by Kenny Singh

Damn, i wonder how much that HAS kit will cost? I find it ridiculous that they don't let you install aftermarket springs without keeping warranty. I guess thats how they make their money though right...

$1200

I have it on my M3.

And it was worth every penny

[AustinTrkJunkie]

Hate to be the contrarian, but without laptimes from a stock CP M3 to compare to the modded car, this ends up being totally subjective and a lot of "the steering feels much better..." "the drive has restored my excitement..." etc. This kind of review, IMHO, is bunk without some data.

They were there at COTA, shit, the M-Perf wheel has a laptimer in it! Getting data from the modded car would be easy. Why they didn't download Harry's or some other free app and *at a minimum* get a base line from a stock CP is beyond me.

I would really have liked to see the value of the HAS kit - and more - on the car's performance...call me crazy!

[SanchoDivine]

Originally Posted by Kenny Singh

Damn, i wonder how much that HAS kit will cost? I find it ridiculous that they don't let you install aftermarket springs without keeping warranty. I guess thats how they make their money though right...

$1080 using forum vendor BMWPartsPro

Why would you think that it's ridiculous for a company to not want to warranty a product that has random parts slapped on it? That's a good way to lose money.

[KINY3RA]

Everything on this, apart from that rear wing.

[TommyGuk]

Originally Posted by Jockey

$1200

I have it on my M3.

And it was worth every penny

This ^

Originally Posted by KINY3RA

Everything on this, apart from that rear wing.

and This ^

[manuelf]

Originally Posted by AustinTrkJunkie

Hate to be the contrarian, but without laptimes from a stock CP M3 to compare to the modded car, this ends up being totally subjective and a lot of "the steering feels much better..." "the drive has restored my excitement..." etc. This kind of review, IMHO, is bunk without some data.

They were there at COTA, shit, the M-Perf wheel has a laptimer in it! Getting data from the modded car would be easy. Why they didn't download Harry's or some other free app and *at a minimum* get a base line from a stock CP is beyond me.

I would really have liked to see the value of the HAS kit - and more - on the car's performance...call me crazy!

Exactly. Thank you for your posting!

I am very interested in the HAS Kit. For the sheer looks it is clear, that it is an advancement!
But for performance? Maybe it gets even worse? Nobody knows without a proper track comparison!

[Vectors2final]

I must have been under a rock, but I would have come to see this. I live about 20ish minutes away.

[Jockey]

Originally Posted by manuelf

Exactly. Thank you for your posting!

I am very interested in the HAS Kit. For the sheer looks it is clear, that it is an advancement!
But for performance? Maybe it gets even worse? Nobody knows without a proper track comparison!

No, it's definitely not worse for performance as anyone who has it installed can attest.

You don't need to wring it out on a track to know it allows the car to be much more planted and handle upsets much, much better. And this is true for non-CP and CP cars alike. I've driven both before and after.

[Throttleblip]

I would guess that the extra steering feel comes mostly from the lighter 19/20 wheel setup and the cup tires. This is the same setup as the CS which reviewers have also commented on the improved steering feel. Those changes would be the ones I would consider I thinks, and maybe the springs.

[waygorked]

Are any of the software updates to the steering available to older F80s?