Test driving an M3 tomorrow; Any tips on how to do it RIGHT?

Fragger · 05-07-2011, 02:24 AM

Hi Guys,

I hope everyone is well. As some of you may know, I have been scouring for the right 335xi (xDrive preferred) for a number of weeks now, but I haven't found it.

Much like how many of must have gotten slightly desperate, I kept expanding the parameters of my search, until I got more cars. When I put the mileage up, I noticed that some of the 08' M3 Sedans are going for just above mid-30s, with close to 50K miles on them. If I wait another year (which I think I will do anyway, to get more choices and hits on post LCI 335s), I figured a high mileage M3, might actually end up being the same ballpark price as a low mileage 335. I am talking 08' M3s of course.

Rather than asking which one is better or what people think, I have decided to do the only right thing a person can do, while trying to buy a car, and that is, to test drive it myself.

That brings me to my question for you guys. In order to make sure I have the most optimal test drive on an M3, can anyone give me any tips on what options should be set, how to set them, and some of the things that are a MUST doing, while testing one? I understand the constraints of a test drive, so don't worry, I will be civil :P, but I needed to run this by everyone for their opinion. Any help would be appreciated, thank you!

John 070 · 05-07-2011, 05:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fragger

I noticed that some of the 08' M3 Sedans are going for just above mid-30s, with close to 50K miles on them.

Of course, the warranty expires at 50k, and the extended warranty is almost 7k.

eisenb11 · 05-07-2011, 05:14 AM

Settings vary significantly depending on options. Are you getting 6MT or DCT? What about the optional EDC? Even knowing that, it's a matter of preference. If there were one "best" setting, there would be no point in having the other settings.

GarySL · 05-07-2011, 10:09 AM

WOT

Drivaar · 05-07-2011, 10:15 AM

Pay close attention to the ultra-responsiveness of the engine to accelerator input... that's one of the awesome differences between a 335i and M3... probably the biggest one that cannot be removed without a lot of $$$.

gos · 05-07-2011, 10:16 AM

don't get arrested and don't wreck the car

Fragger · 05-07-2011, 10:50 AM

LOL! All good advice guys.

For the ones wondering, I'm gonna be driving the 6MT. And forgive the ignorant question but, what does EDC On and Off mean? Thanks.

FVM3 · 05-07-2011, 11:26 AM

the car doesnt move even though its engaged to D.

Fragger · 05-07-2011, 11:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by christopherchenm

the car doesnt move even though its engaged to D.

LOL! Where would we be, without the sarcasm of this board

?

Thanks christopherchenm

!

JoosyJoos · 05-07-2011, 11:32 AM

-You'll notice a huge lack of torque down low

- The steering ratio sucks even in M sport

- The clutch feels like you stuck your foot in mashed potatoes

- Interior is better than the 335i

- Lighting is cooler than the 335i

- It sounds like the world is ending when you get past 6600rpm and its awesome

All in all I'm not a huge fan of the M3 but I respect it... my father has an E93 and I have an E92 335i. I just preferred the old S54 over the new S65.

FVM3 · 05-07-2011, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fragger

LOL! Where would we be, without the sarcasm of this board

?

Thanks christopherchenm

!

i mean its not like regular automatic, wont roll once you release the brake. Less low end torque and gotta rev it up to get the power. Theres a button right behind the shift knob and thats for adjusting the changing gear speed. Only set it to the highest level when you drive fast or else leave it at level 2-3 . if thats a tick then totally different story

PandaBear · 05-07-2011, 03:52 PM

Very important- make sure you slowly go out of the dealership and the second the front tire touches the street, push your feet on the pedal all the way until it doesn't go down any further.

jopa489 · 05-07-2011, 03:56 PM

I don't have any real advice (only driven an E9x M3 very briefly), but looking forward to hearing your thoughts.

Just be sure you're comparing "apples to apples" though. As someone mentioned, the car is out of warranty at 50k miles which explains the attractive price point. M's are more expensive to repair out of warranty, so factor that into your decision.

eisenb11 · 05-07-2011, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fragger

LOL! All good advice guys.

For the ones wondering, I'm gonna be driving the 6MT. And forgive the ignorant question but, what does EDC On and Off mean? Thanks.

EDC is Electronic Dampening Control. It is optional and allows you to control how hard or soft your suspension is. I believe the standard EDC has 3 modes: Comfort, Normal, Sport. The Competition Package (option on 2010+ M3) adds M Dynamic Mode on top of that.

shazzy04 · 05-07-2011, 06:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PandaBear

Very important- make sure you slowly go out of the dealership and the second the front tire touches the street, push your feet on the pedal all the way until it doesn't go down any further.

Chillax · 05-07-2011, 07:01 PM

fdriller9 · 05-07-2011, 07:05 PM

DSC off. But be careful!!

Alex_bm · 05-07-2011, 07:23 PM

I would ask the dealer not to warm up the engine before your visit, so you get the idea how it sounds when cold.
Before you drive play with the gearbox to make sure every single gear engaged smoothly.
Also try to imitate as many road scenarios as possible, hard braking, accelerating slowly and agressively, etc.

In regards to settings which control trottle sensetivity and suspension (if EDC option), I would just make sure they work and you can actually feel a difference between one and the other.

05-07-2011, 02:24 AM	#1
Fragger Private First Class 28 Rep 142 Posts Drives: BMW M3 Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: North East iTrader: (0)	Test driving an M3 tomorrow; Any tips on how to do it RIGHT? Hi Guys, I hope everyone is well. As some of you may know, I have been scouring for the right 335xi (xDrive preferred) for a number of weeks now, but I haven't found it. Much like how many of must have gotten slightly desperate, I kept expanding the parameters of my search, until I got more cars. When I put the mileage up, I noticed that some of the 08' M3 Sedans are going for just above mid-30s, with close to 50K miles on them. If I wait another year (which I think I will do anyway, to get more choices and hits on post LCI 335s), I figured a high mileage M3, might actually end up being the same ballpark price as a low mileage 335. I am talking 08' M3s of course. Rather than asking which one is better or what people think, I have decided to do the only right thing a person can do, while trying to buy a car, and that is, to test drive it myself. That brings me to my question for you guys. In order to make sure I have the most optimal test drive on an M3, can anyone give me any tips on what options should be set, how to set them, and some of the things that are a MUST doing, while testing one? I understand the constraints of a test drive, so don't worry, I will be civil :P, but I needed to run this by everyone for their opinion. Any help would be appreciated, thank you!
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05-07-2011, 05:14 AM	#3
eisenb11 Major 53 Rep 1,153 Posts Drives: 2012 E92 M3 SSII Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Redondo Beach, CA, USA iTrader: (0)	Settings vary significantly depending on options. Are you getting 6MT or DCT? What about the optional EDC? Even knowing that, it's a matter of preference. If there were one "best" setting, there would be no point in having the other settings.
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05-07-2011, 10:09 AM	#4
GarySL Lieutenant 1539 Rep 409 Posts Drives: 2006 Carrera 4S Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Humboldt Co., CA iTrader: (0)	WOT __________________ '08 335xi (E90), 6MT, Arctic/Black, ZPP, ZSP (18"s), ZCW, CA, PDC, i-Pod Ordered-March 7, 2008, Shipped via Graceful Leader-March 21, 2008, Arrived Port Hueneme-April 11, 2008, Delivered-April 21, 2008
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05-07-2011, 10:15 AM	#5
Drivaar Lieutenant 73 Rep 463 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Earth iTrader: (0)	Pay close attention to the ultra-responsiveness of the engine to accelerator input... that's one of the awesome differences between a 335i and M3... probably the biggest one that cannot be removed without a lot of $$$.
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05-07-2011, 10:16 AM	#6
gos Captain 27 Rep 959 Posts Drives: E90 330xi Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Colorado iTrader: (0)	don't get arrested and don't wreck the car __________________ -- 330xi SG/Terra/Burl -- ZPP, ZSP, ZCW, CA, Sirius, PDC
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05-07-2011, 10:50 AM	#7
Fragger Private First Class 28 Rep 142 Posts Drives: BMW M3 Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: North East iTrader: (0)	LOL! All good advice guys. For the ones wondering, I'm gonna be driving the 6MT. And forgive the ignorant question but, what does EDC On and Off mean? Thanks.
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05-07-2011, 11:26 AM	#8
FVM3 Major General 273 Rep 5,751 Posts Drives: e92 m3, f30 328i Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (2)	the car doesnt move even though its engaged to D.
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05-07-2011, 11:32 AM	#10
JoosyJoos Major 113 Rep 1,347 Posts Drives: 2011 335d Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Atlanta, GA iTrader: (1) Garage List 2008 BMW 335i [0.00]	-You'll notice a huge lack of torque down low - The steering ratio sucks even in M sport - The clutch feels like you stuck your foot in mashed potatoes - Interior is better than the 335i - Lighting is cooler than the 335i - It sounds like the world is ending when you get past 6600rpm and its awesome All in all I'm not a huge fan of the M3 but I respect it... my father has an E93 and I have an E92 335i. I just preferred the old S54 over the new S65. __________________ 1997 M3 Coupe - BMWCCA I-Prepared #22 2006 M Roadster - 23,000 miles and slowly counting
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05-07-2011, 03:52 PM	#12
PandaBear Banned 184 Rep 7,269 Posts Drives: 2009 335i X-Drive Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Long Island, New York iTrader: (1) Garage List 2009 335i X-Drive [0.00] 2007 328xi [0.00]	Very important- make sure you slowly go out of the dealership and the second the front tire touches the street, push your feet on the pedal all the way until it doesn't go down any further.
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05-07-2011, 03:56 PM	#13
jopa489 Major General 122 Rep 6,594 Posts Drives: Anything with Wheels Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: USA iTrader: (9)	I don't have any real advice (only driven an E9x M3 very briefly), but looking forward to hearing your thoughts. Just be sure you're comparing "apples to apples" though. As someone mentioned, the car is out of warranty at 50k miles which explains the attractive price point. M's are more expensive to repair out of warranty, so factor that into your decision. __________________ X7 LCI // Incoming C7 ZR1 ZTK // Sebring + TRX // Hydro + Raptor Gen1 Roush // Tuxedo
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05-07-2011, 07:01 PM	#16
Chillax New Member 0 Rep 28 Posts Drives: E92 335is Join Date: May 2011 Location: NY iTrader: (0)
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05-07-2011, 07:05 PM	#17
fdriller9 Banned 255 Rep 7,089 Posts Drives: '06 AW 330xi Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: North Jersey/Philly/NYC iTrader: (4) Garage List 2006 330xi [6.44]	DSC off. But be careful!!
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05-07-2011, 07:23 PM	#18
Alex_bm Major 175 Rep 1,040 Posts Drives: Giulia QV Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Canada, Toronto iTrader: (1)	I would ask the dealer not to warm up the engine before your visit, so you get the idea how it sounds when cold. Before you drive play with the gearbox to make sure every single gear engaged smoothly. Also try to imitate as many road scenarios as possible, hard braking, accelerating slowly and agressively, etc. In regards to settings which control trottle sensetivity and suspension (if EDC option), I would just make sure they work and you can actually feel a difference between one and the other.
	Appreciate 0 Quote