My new SS/SS F80 CP..

[M5essex]

Well what can I say… here it is!

What a handsome, aggressive, stylish sports saloon… minus the planned Carbon spoiler for now as this was damaged in transit to the dealer… 

I am so pleased with the front splitter painting in high gloss black, rather than carbon or matt black.

The Silverstone ii colour is very special and looks beautiful in the sunlight and seems to change from blue to silver depending on your angle and the Full Silverstone leather is gorgeous too and I'm so glad I chose it. those CP seats are seriously sexy and very comfortable. Perhaps no lumber support but I was never a fan of lower back arching support anyway. There isn’t a lot of padding on the bum of the seat, so not sure how it will fare on a long journey, but certainly more comfortable that I thought they would be. They hug you perfectly on the love handles and below the shoulder blades. The head rest is a perfect angle too. I'm 6’2 and about 15 st. and they feel like they are made bespoke for me…

It really does feel like a special place to be. More up-to-date than the M5 and personable. Leagues ahead from the M135 in terms of build quality, better materials and less road/tyre noise.

The wheels are way better in the metal than any promo picture or review pic gives them credit for. Initially I would have liked an option for darker/gun metal colouring, but they work for me, for now. In fact, I’d say this morning I am sold on them and now love them. So many compliments of the car in general and especially the wheels.

The exhaust sounds is deeper than stock, but not the bark or growl of MPE. I have been told the sound will deepen and improve over time. There are not the pops and bangs yet like I had on the MPE from the M135, but at WOT the sound is great. I still might get MPE in the future.

The ride is comfortable. Certainly not as harsh as the M5 CP I had and I can’t really notice it being much different to non-CP M3. I’d say in comfort mode it is very smooth and well… ‘comfortable’ and even in Sp+ it is not bone shaking or teeth crunchingly harsh, like other cars I have had.

It feels so light and agile it’s untrue. Much like the M135 I have traded it for. As I haven’t really pushed it yet so is hard to tell if it feels quicker than non-CP. Right now it feels no different at all from the one I test drove a month ago. and that felt perfect!

Steering is so precise and you get great feel from the road. Even in the wet I pushed it home yesterday and felt total confidence in terms of traction and steering.

Throttle response is on the money and the DCT changes are super swift, much like PDK. So different from a Sports Auto box as in the M135. A little slower to react perhaps and mid-range pull feels similar at the moment. As the engine is new and so tight, I am assured it will loosen up and feel stonkingly quick after my 1200 miles service. The oil in it now is said to be abrasive and must come out by 1200 miles. The tech guy said, do not nanny the car in this period. Break it in properly and give it the beans!

Hope you like it. I certainly do

Cheers

[dopper99]

That looks absolutely fantastic!!! Same exterior colour I've gone for and loving the look of that.

Good to hear your enjoying the car, great first write-up. Will be interested to how you get on with it as the weeks go by.

[derekh929]

Oh god this is going to be costly, stunning car congrats , where do I start from colour with the carbon parts make it stand out to the wheels starting to love them was not sure in beginning like anything new.
The seats look fantastic and do you think they have reduced padding from seat base to save weight compared to Non CP? The full leather looks very nice as well and I think I'm nearly sure know I would go that colour for Interior it is so light and bright.

The exhaust is another thing I'm very keen to here some video's and your thoughts on any Improvements in sound and how the noise in the cabin feels?

So I was worried about being to hard with CP as currently in F31 330D M Sport with 19'' and adaptive , but by what you are saying in comfort its acceptable of poor surfaced roads? We have just got an F56 JCW and its firm ish, are you basing the Firmness against non CP or the M135i in sport.

So many questions I ask look forward to updates on your findings but great Initial review , and traction seems to be Improved and sounds promising re how it feels agile and not over heavy and good steering feel, thanks for the pics as well, oh man I want one soon lol

[gtsussex]

That is all.....

[scottc]

That looks so so good, I really love that colour and am tempted to change my order

Thanks for the write up, really glad I went for the CP now as it seems to be a lot of kit for the money esp with the suspension changes..

Does the front splitter come ready to be painted then? I thought it was only if CF?

[washy]

Very nice

[Wills2]

Stunning Damo! Incredible spec as well full leather/LED and lashings of carbon looks beautiful in SSII.

I really want to put the carbon stuff on mine but it's too rich for me at the moment, but my black CP M3 badge arrived at the dealer today so I'll have to console myself with that!

[ajfoggy]

Awesome!!!! Great colour, glad I picked the same :-)

[Wills2]

Originally Posted by scottc

Does the front splitter come ready to be painted then? I thought it was only if CF?

They do the lower splitter in either carbon or paintable plastic IIRC.

[Ade_7]

That really does look fantastic!

It almost makes me regret not going for SS... almost

I'm getting a bit down about the wait for mine now but I will still enjoy hearing all about your impressions and any vids of the CP exhaust etc

Get yourself back out in it and be sure to follow the tech guys advise

[Colinv6]

Absolutely beautiful that!

I'd still have to swap to wheels to black 19's though, I just can't get on with those wheels.

From doing a 500 mile round trip in mine a couple of weeks ago, I'd have been in agony if I wasn't able to inflate the lower lumbar support.
I definitely think for me personally the comp pack is one to miss if I order another M3, but it's great to finally see one in Silverstone

[M5essex]

thank you all guys for your comments. I will answer some questions a bit latter derekh929

for now, does anyone know if the underside of the bonnet should have a heat shield? mine doesn't, see pic. but has holes ready for what appears to be where a heat shield should/could be. surely paint will discolour or bubble if it gets too hot??

my mate has a new 335d and that does have one... but obviously not the bonnet bulge

[M5essex]

Originally Posted by Wills2

They do the lower splitter in either carbon or paintable plastic IIRC.

correct. the option was either matt black plastic for £ 295 or carbon for +£ 900! so I opted for matt black plastic and painted by the dealer in high gloss black to match the grills, wings and under mirrors and other high gloss black that goes with the CP. great bit of advice from a UK guys on here. not sure who though.... credit to him

[Colinv6]

No underside heat shield on mine either

[M5essex]

Originally Posted by M5essex

correct. the option was either matt black plastic for £ 295 or carbon for +£ 900! so I opted for matt black plastic and painted by the dealer in high gloss black to match the grills, wings and under mirrors and other high gloss black that goes with the CP. great bit of advice from a UK guys on here. not sure who though.... credit to him

it was GeordieMike thanks Mike for good advice

[ajfoggy]

Hmm, i'm surprised there is nothing under there... Bonus weight saving ;-)

[Wills2]

Originally Posted by M5essex

for now, does anyone know if the underside of the bonnet should have a heat shield? mine doesn't, see pic. but has holes ready for what appears to be where a heat shield should/could be. surely paint will discolour or bubble if it gets too hot??

No that's correct just checked mine, lightweight init.

[derekh929]

This along with some other sound deadening has been removed to up the sound it was said on some info I got from a dealer

[JustChris]

What a beast, that looks great!

[rjwojcik]

You're a lucky man!!!

[ajfoggy]

Originally Posted by M5essex

thank you all guys for your comments. I will answer some questions a bit latter derekh929

for now, does anyone know if the underside of the bonnet should have a heat shield? mine doesn't, see pic. but has holes ready for what appears to be where a heat shield should/could be. surely paint will discolour or bubble if it gets too hot??

my mate has a new 335d and that does have one... but obviously not the bonnet bulge

Looks like this is normal:



Ms don't have it because it doesn't fit, told me not needed and it's not a heat shield, it's soundproofing ??????

Either way it's normal..


And a couple of pics of the Ferrari Red M4 that just arrived:

[rjwojcik]

If anything, it would also act as insulation so would say it's better without it.