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In the last three weeks I have seen more new M3s than rs4s, 4 on the road, 1 black 1 silver 1 red and a white. The white looked the best whilst the others I had to look twice to confirm it was an m3. Couple of months time and you wont be able to move for them.

Yes...saw 2 on the road. Also went to book a test drive of one at the local BMW dealer...they had a red one there. Looks quite good in the flesh but ultimately not that different to the 3-series coupe.

I was also disappointed to find out they don't have a real CF roof...it is CF-reinforced plastic.

I speced one £57K, and it looks the same as 335i.................... NO chance, they really made a "Car for the masses".

audijohn wrote:I speced one £57K, and it looks the same as 335i.................... NO chance, they really made a "Car for the masses".

Yes, I agree John. The options list is worryingly large and expensive. When the DSG/SMG gearbox becomes an option a well specced M3 will cost £60k+, which is frankly preposterous. Maybe as a 1-2 year old low milleage approved used car will be more tempting.

The salesman tried to tell me that the E92 M3 was "faster" than a B7 saloon by 2 seconds around "a track". I am not aware of such a test and I asked him which track he was referring to but he didn't know

are yousure..everywhere ive read its made of CF...

I was also disappointed to find out they don't have a real CF roof...it is CF-reinforced plastic.

Carbon fibre is nothing without the plastic bit. It is literaly like a piece of fabric (a very strong one).

If it is quoted as CF-rienforced plastic, it is the real deal.

If it said carbon fibre effect, well that would be when you get worried. That is what you find on the interior of most "Sporty" cars......

Jack

sorry jackwood you have lost me..carbon fibre is nothing without the plastic bit?? carbon fibre doesn't have plastic in it..does it..i thought it was layers of carbon layed on top of each other in different directions to give strength..F1 cars do not have plastic in them...or am i missing the picture..

and the carbon fibre effect is what exactly..the interior in my old S4 had real carbon not carbon effect..

I had a M3 CSL and all the exposed carbon fibre on the roof and the interior was real carbon fibre. I believe the CF reinforced plastic is used to give it a gloss appearance instead of the normal matt finish. Even the bumper was carbon fibre weave under the paintwork. See the link
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graphite-r ... ed_plastic

I saw my first new M3 at Castle Combe on Saturday. to be fair it looked much better in the flesh and in black but i still prefer the look of the RS. I may have to pop along to my local BMW garage for a drive to be sure

pippyrips wrote:I saw my first new M3 at Castle Combe on Saturday. to be fair it looked much better in the flesh and in black but i still prefer the look of the RS. I may have to pop along to my local BMW garage for a drive to be sure

You may be well disapointed with the everyday drive, it comes alive over 5K which is fine when booting .................. but................... well you be the judge and give us feed back, also remember poor boot space and poor head room in the rear and only two doors.
PS) check the rear veiw from 25 meters away and note the rear exaust box

For reference CF can be made to a high gloss finish very easily. I suspect they have bonded the CF to plastic and the plastic to metal, either that or layered cf and plastic.

Tartan_Rob wrote:For reference CF can be made to a high gloss finish very easily. I suspect they have bonded the CF to plastic and the plastic to metal, either that or layered cf and plastic.

So did they do this in the CSL or did that have a "real" CF roof?

I sat in one in the bm showroom in Inverness on the launch day. Really nice dark blue / black but completely ruined by orange leather interior!! The car had a price tag of £57K which seems well steep and can't see how they can justify it being 10% more than I paid for my car. Seems small inside but seats are smart and the dash is deffo more modern looking than my RS4. Very good driving position though. Overall, other than a few details the shape is too similar to the run of the mill coupe. I have asked for test drive having bought several bm's from them before which I'm hoping to get when i get back from work. Long wait for one though and by that time the csl may be a better option if the media is to be believed. Overall, and having owned a E46 M3 i'm really not regretting switching to the RS. Roof passed the knuckle tap test by the way, looks cool, if it is CF then the gloss finish is amazing.

the new M3 is on ch5 fifth gear now. what a car!

wow and a carbon roof...