motor

ae86_16v · 10-02-2007, 12:58 PM

The new M3 boasts an impressive list of technologies to lighten the car: a lighter engine (by 33lb), a lighter suspension (by 5.5lb), carbon bumper supports (by 12lb), composite seat structure (by 15lb) and a carbon-fiber roof, along with removing the sunroof in the process (weight savings undisclosed, but probably at least 30 pounds). All totaled, around 95 pounds of things they told us about - and probably many more they didn't mention that I can't see.

Then why is the new M3 150 pounds heavier than the last one?

It seems that with every subsequent model we gain 150 pounds. I am sorry, but 3,650 pounds is too much for a sports car - or even a sport sedan. Where is all this weight coming from, you ask? I don't know for sure - but I would guess it comes from having a lot of air bags, sound deadening, and gadgets - as well as each subsequent model getting slightly bigger.

But I appreciate the effort BMW went through to make the car lighter. Think how heavy it would have been if they hadn't! To be honest, their hands are tied: The car must have the airbags to meet current government crash requirements. Besides, dead customers don't purchase new cars, so this is good for repeat business.

However, when I ask why there are so many gadgets in the car, they say they do this because the marketplace demands it. If that's true, I respectfully request that all my fellow BMW CCA members hereby stop wanting the gadgets - and start wanting a lighter car.

Demand for a product is what will change a manufacturer's priorities, because obviously they want to sell more cars; so if you ask for it, it will come.

- Steve Dinan
Roundel Magazine, Sept 2007

gucom · 10-02-2007, 01:02 PM

i like the piece and the idea, however im afraid most M3 buyers arent enthusiasts but rather people who fancy the car's image, and after that to some extent its capabilities... they wont care much about how light it is, they love the gimmicks...

PS i'm really hoping the 1-series coupe will bring some relief, the more i think about that car the more i love the concept

5vz-fe · 10-02-2007, 01:20 PM

^M3 CSL prolly become the M3 enthusiast desires (at a higher cost).

M3 prolly consider as a Grand Tourer instead.

dutchmasterflex · 10-02-2007, 08:10 PM

Yeah I could not believe it weighs as much as the RS4. I have lost all hope in all new BMW s as true sports cars. :bah:

Looking forward to my E30 though

chest3r · 10-02-2007, 08:44 PM

That text doesn't make any sense!!

Everyone knows each generation of a car is a little heavier than the previous one, even if when some components are lighter. The M3 never was a light car, even if the E30 seems light nowadays I bet it wasn't that light compared to the other 3 series E30 or other sports cars of that period.

The M3 is a coupe to be used everyday and needs all that comfort, equipment, gadgets and stuff, otherwise it wouldn't sell as much as they do. And since the M3 is such a good car, with so much potential, BMW builds the CSL version, for those who don't want all that comfort and prefer the pure driving!!

I just hope the new CSL won't take long to come out, even if I'm afraid I won't like it as much as I did with the E46. 8)

Just my 2 cents

ZfrkS62 · 10-03-2007, 03:32 AM

here's the thing:

Coupes require more structural reinforcement that a sedan because you don't have the B pillar in the middle of the car to create a rigid frame. if you were to try and twist a sedan's cage, it would take a lot more force than to twist a coupe. The A and C pillars just don't have the strength to resist twisting on their own, so you have to build up the other parts of the chassis to compensate. When you have a longer vehicle than the previous generation, this means more material, which means more weight.

You also throw in the fact that everyone's crash requirements are getting tighter and tighter. In fact, the old 5 star rating system in the US has been completely redone so that the current 5 star vehicles, are now only scoring 3. BMW has prided itself on making fast, comfortable and SAFE vehicles. they are simply not going to settle for 3 stars. The more structural safety engineered into a car, the heavier it's going to get.

The E92 really doesn't have that much in the way of gadgets, so blaming them isn't going to get you very far. Steve Dinan is just pissed off that BMW has finally had enough of his shit and is forcing the dealers to get rid of his stuff (mine included).

Svensson · 10-03-2007, 06:25 AM

Originally Posted by dani_d_mas

As for BMW... I hope they release a M version of the 1-Series Coupe. That would be like a new beggining

Me too!

That would be a true successor to the E30 M3, although I doubt it will happen...

ae86_16v · 10-03-2007, 02:28 PM

As much as I agree that partially it is because of government safety regulations that makes the cars heavier, a large part of it I know is not attributed to only that.

Think about it, ever since the 2nd generation E36 M3, they have gotten more and more comfortable more and more of a cruiser than the E30 M3 was. I think the M3 and M brand itself has lost a lot of it's original core values.

But the business side, you have to look at who buys these cars. And seriously, 98.5% of people that do buy these cars will never take it to a back road much less a track. (Much like 99.8% of people that buy SUVs never take it off road.) Especially down here in Southern California, people will buy the M3 because it is the top of the line. Not because it is an M car, or what an M car use to stand for.

And what do those people want? They want horsepower and they want comfort and they want to look bad ass. Do they really care that the car weights 3650lbs? No not really since now it will still be "fast" with the V8. But we as car enthusiasts do care, because weight is the single biggest detrimental factor in performance. Shoot, give me a car that weights 2200lb with a 150hp motor. And this doesn't say anything about "driving feel".

But it is the cycle of evolution, each successive generation will be come bigger and fatter and more and more disconnected. It happened with the E36 from the E30. The E46 from the E36. And now with the E92. Not really surprising.

I personally see the E92 M3 more as a CLK competitor now than a real sports car.

dutchmasterflex · 10-03-2007, 07:06 PM

Z makes a great point.. Safety is such a big issue, especially with "high-end" companies such as BMW.

Constantly building cars that are bigger and the increasing rigidity is means for a much heavier car. The extra weight from electronics barely make a difference in comparison.

Bottom line, they need to sell a product and are just following what the market wants..and that is a Veyron, anyone can drive type sports car.

twboy1999 · 10-03-2007, 07:14 PM

maybe is bigger then before?

who said the it weight the same as rs4?
please do some resarch instead of assuming

rs4 = 3957lb = 1798kg (NA) on audi.ca

dutchmasterflex · 10-03-2007, 09:43 PM

The new M3 comes in at around 3500lbs.. only a few hundred off

bmwmpower · 10-04-2007, 03:53 AM

weight is not problem only with m3 , look at superminis how much they weight,
also for new elise, first generation was 100 kg lighter,its crazy but thats evolution

ae86_16v · 10-07-2007, 06:38 AM

Okay just finished with the comprehensive article written by Steve Dinan. It is weird because he bitch about the gadgets in the car, but he actually loves all the technology in the new M3. Things like the ionization monitors from the M5's V10, the ECU mapping of air/fuel ratios, electronic suspension, electronic differential, etc.

He also notes that even though the car is over 3,600lbs, he doesn't at all feel that heavy. As usual BMW manages the entire package really well and "hides" its weight so it doesn't hamper the driving experience.

O

Originally Posted by Steve Dinan

At the start of this article I mentioned that you need two BMW's; my preference has always been one M5 and one M3. After driving the new M3, however, I find this notion obsolete - because this new M3 is a lot like a baby M5, halfway between the old M3 and the current M5 in power, weight, and refinement.

Originally Posted by Steve Dinan

It carries its extra weight very well, still delivers a sporty feel, and may just be the perfect compromise.

pagani · 10-07-2007, 08:36 AM

I guess you have strip of weight of the new m3 to make it a real sportscar
And i wonder wath the tuners/hot rodders will do with this car.
Supercharger anyone?
8)

ae86_16v · 10-08-2007, 03:46 PM

^ I am sure Dinan would be offering one within 1 year.

But it should be interesting to see how Dinan and BMW NA play out, if it is true what Zfrk alluded to that they aren't playing nice anymore.