M3 Touring

[mik]

Harry - unusually - doesn't obscure/blur the speedo for this vid. He hits 62mph at one point - I bet someone complains.

[Ascender]

So, first impressions of the car. About 45 miles done today on a variety of local roads, but almost every mile was done in torrential downpour and/or snow. Some of these notes will also be as a back to back comparison to the M2 which got dropped off this morning.

It's also worth saying that the whole car, idrive and instrument setup seems to be infinitely configurable so I need to have a look through some bits of the manual. The shame!

Cosmetic Stuff

• I think it looks really good in that dark blue colour with the lighter coloured alloys. It really makes the blue "pop" and shows up some of the lines on the body.

• I'm genuinely not bothered by the beaver grille - partly the dark colour which disguises it, but I quite like the stance it gives the car and going by what some other manufacturers seem to be doing with the front ends and grilles at the moment, I think its going to age very well.

• Getting into the seats is really easy. The seats are the most comfortable I've ever sat-in in a car and the fact they're fully electric, adjustable, memory etc is great.

• Fvck knows how you're supposed to get out of the seats. That's a work in progress, but I wouldn't change them for anything.

• Main display and HUD are very clear with all the info you need.

• iDrive 8 (I think its 8) is a lot to take in, but the single curved screen for both parts really works in terms of one single source of info and one flowing display. I still think it looks a bit "bolted on" looking in towards the back of it from outside, but inside it's very immersive.

• The screen isn't laggy. It's not iPad-responsive, but it's way, way better than anything else I've tried. Wireless CarPlay also isn't laggy.

• Leather is nice and I'm glad I went for red as it lightens up the interior.

• Lots of room in the back for the teenagers.

• Split tailgate boot is nice, as are the way the seats go down; built-in dog net is handy

• I have the 50th anniversary badges but also the originals which came off. Still undecided

Driving
Again, the weather was properly miserable today which is partly why I'm even more impressed with how it handles. I've also been pootling around in the default efficient, slow, comfortable settings as the weather really was that bad.

• Steering wheel is a nice size. Too many buttons on it, but at least they're actual buttons you have to press, so you don't get any mistaken inputs.

• Who'd have thought a heated steering wheel could be so pleasing when its snowing?

• Driving assistants - not tried any at all. I'll dick about with those on the motorway when its a nice day. They seem infinitely configurable though.

• Car feels about the same width as the M2 but clearly it's longer. So at the moment, when turning in, it's nice and sharp but I'm clearly not judging it quite right as I'm still in M2 mode.

• Steering wheel has less feel than the M2 but does have a nice weight, loads up well, but its electric steering innit?

• ZF gearbox is much smoother and responsive at slow speeds and reverse than the DCT. Shifting seems very good - smooth & fast - not tried it in the more sporty/aggressive modes.

• Its noticeably more powerful and faster than the M2 even when trundling along, but clearly feels different.

• The combined 4WD and weight of the car makes it feel incredibly well planted on the road. I was able to drive in that weather today like any normal run of the mill car - I'd have been tiptoeing around it in the M2.

• So I'm going to state the obvious - that I'll be trading a bit of feel, excitement, maybe the car feeling more alive, for something I can use all year round with dogs in the back and bikes on the roof etc. That's OK for me.

• Suspension in comfort mode is way more comfortable than the M2 which obviously doesn't have adjustable suspension. M2 wasn't crashy, but you felt everything. In the M3, it barely registers the stuff on the local roads which had me cursing. Its making me quite optimistic that the M Performance wheels are going to be just fine (they're an inch bigger front and rear).

• It really does go like stink, even with the run-in rev limit in play. It also feels way more composed on the twisty roads where the surfaces aren't that great - I've driven M3s which seem to be very sensitive to little camber changes and imperfections when you're hustling it. I guess it's 4WD to thank for that. So again, probably losing some character but gaining all round ability - it really inspires confidence in crappy conditions which again, is something I was looking-for in this sort of car.

Oh yeah, one other thing... I don't know if I'm keeping it or not. They fvcked up the order meaning that the roof and its spoiler are black, not the blue I ordered.

Today was pretty much a case of

[DeskJockey]

Nice and grrr! Would you keep it if they offered you a chunk of money back?

[Ascender]

I’m seeing these badges on quite a few 330e and 520i Ubers already which is reason enough not to want them. I’m guessing they’re not buying the genuine items and going for the eBay special
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/37449590122 ... z7AwAAAAAA
I guess it’s less cringe than slapping a M badge on.

Yeah, from the factory they're no longer available - was just for cars produced during the 50th model year - but it didn't take long for them to appear on eBay and Ali etc.

[integrale_evo]

They’ve been around on eBay for years. I was tempted by some for the centre caps on my m5 turbines about 5 years ago

I think because they’re now ‘official’ they’re getting more exposure so more people are searching out and fitting the fakes all of a sudden.

[Jobbo]

I didn’t realise until Harry’s video that they were even available with a black roof, let alone that it was the default spec (if it is?). I can’t understand that when it’s not a carbon roof, just black paint. Although some Mercs have a black roof - saloons with the pano roof I think - and it works. It’s not visible on your photos so is it odd in the flesh?

[Ascender]

Yes, black roof is default spec and especially on this colour, unless you were looking for it, in many conditions you won't even notice. The rails are black, as is the rear spoiler and a lot of the external styling like the diffuser. So you can kind of see a black "theme" from the roof backwards and down.

I am talking to the dealer. Options are reject, or ask for some "gesture" and either keep as-is or get them to paint it.

A few pics, now with added https goodness... Really wasn't a day for pics!







One of the offending badge and the massively-too-wide numberplate.

[Jobbo]

I like the black spoiler and the black roof works with it, so I’d say stick with it - it’s a great looking car.

I’d get them to put a better rear plate on though. That one looks like it was cut badly round the dealer logo at the bottom so there is yellow visible.

[speedingfine]

No pics of the front end Mike?

I can understand why you would want the roof and wing body colour but it looks alright to me

PS to state the obvious - it's CAF

[Rich B]

Great colour choice!

Interesting to hear m2 comparisons - though the m2 is bloody useless this time of year on the standard tyres!!

[Ascender]

I like the black spoiler and the black roof works with it, so I’d say stick with it - it’s a great looking car.

I’d get them to put a better rear plate on though. That one looks like it was cut badly round the dealer logo at the bottom so there is yellow visible.

My OCD would also struggle with the fact that the smartphone app and all the images of the car in the iDrive would then be correct as it shows it with the black roof

I've already got a set of shorter plates here for it - I think the car looks much better with shorter plates.

[Mito Man]

I like the black too. It’s a massive panel with no sunroof etc so having it all blue could be too much blue?

[Jobbo]

How much of the front grilles does a short plate reveal, I wonder?

[Ascender]

Interesting to hear m2 comparisons - though the m2 is bloody useless this time of year on the standard tyres!!

Yes, that's a very good point I didn't make - my M2 was on P4S and is indeed at this time of the year. Was very impressed with Mrs Mike who came back from giving it a final drive last night and apparently had it very sideways on the last roundabout.

I would quite fancy getting a manual M2 comp and doing some mods to it actually...

[Ascender]

How much of the front grilles does a short plate reveal, I wonder?

I've seen one and I think it looks better, but I won't rush in to it! Will maybe photoshop it first..

[Ascender]

I like the black too. It’s a massive panel with no sunroof etc so having it all blue could be too much blue?

Yip, I like the contrast and how much blue is too much blue?

[integrale_evo]

Would definitely look better blue. I’d probably be ok with them painting it as long as you had it in writing that it would get the same bodywork warranty as the rest of the car / paint, and they were able to get a good colour match.

[mik]

Interesting to hear m2 comparisons - though the m2 is bloody useless this time of year on the standard tyres!!

You’re not still on MPSS Shirley?

[Rich B]

Interesting to hear m2 comparisons - though the m2 is bloody useless this time of year on the standard tyres!!

You’re not still on MPSS Shirley?

yeah, I've done about 9k miles in the car and they still somehow have tread! I don't think they actually wear out in the winter because they don't actually grip!

[mik]

Interesting to hear m2 comparisons - though the m2 is bloody useless this time of year on the standard tyres!!

You’re not still on MPSS Shirley?

yeah, I've done about 9k miles in the car and they still somehow have tread! I don't think they actually wear out in the winter because they don't actually grip!

That’s probably true. It will fell like a new car on MPS4S. I am repeating myself, but they have all the warm weather capability of MPSS with massively increased capability in cooler conditions. I had at least 3x very near big offs in the Evora with MPSS in the cold.