It's been a while since a 2002 BMW M3 ventured to a test track, but with 50,576 miles on the odometer, our black M3 showed definitively that it still is one heck of a machine. While the 0-to-60 and skidpad are a little off "historical" numbers for it, the braking was dead-on and the slalom was actually better. It also beat the M3 Competition Package we had back in early 2005. Chief Road Test Editor Chris Walton immediately knew this M3 felt better through the slalom than any previous edition of this generation he'd tested, guessing 50,000 miles had softened up the dampers making them more compliant and less likely to force a slide. As the above picture shows, though, sometimes a slide can be a good thing.
James Riswick, Associate Editor @ 50,576 miles
0-30 - 2.1 seconds
0-45 - 3.6 seconds
0-60 - 5.3 seconds
0-75 - 7.8 seconds
1/4 mile - 13.9 seconds @ 107.1 mph
Chief Road Test Editor Chris Walton: "Hard to maintain grip with any more than 2500 rpm on the launch. There's some throttle/timing manipulation with each wide-open-throttle upshift that smooths each gear change nicely."
BRAKING
30-0 - 29 feet
60-0 - 111 feet
Walton: "Hard pedal but near zero dive. This is a sports coupe. Tires almost vibrate and hum under full ABS stop. Excellent."
SKIDPAD
.87 g
Walton: "It should not come as a surprise that with near 50/50 left-right weight distribution (including the driver) that this car post nearly identical clockwise/counterclockwise skidpad times."
SLALOM
70.4 MPH
(Previous M3 testing generally showed between 68 and 69 mph)
Walton: "Astounding, excellent steering response and feel of the road. Confident, crisp turn-in with immediate yaw response. Despite previous experiences with this generation M3 that always threatened to spin, this one keeps its tail planted. I love this car more this time around than when it was new."
TESTING SPECS
Curb Weight: 3,472 pounds with 50/50 distribution
Idle dB: 51.5
Full Throttle dB: 85.3
70 MPH dB: 70.8
vvk says:
11:06 AM, 01/ 8/08
Who needs 1-series when you can buy this?!
Supremely fast, quiet, comfortable, safe, practical -- and affordable.
James, I would LOVE to find out what tires you have on this M3. How new are they? What tire pressures do you run for these track tests?
boxermike says:
11:12 AM, 01/ 8/08
Tires are Continental ContiSport Contact. F: 225/45zr18 R: 255/40zr18. Pressure was set to factory spec.
opfreak says:
11:19 AM, 01/ 8/08
you still have this? thought it was gone
joefrompa says:
11:21 AM, 01/ 8/08
Reading this car's long-term test blog is like a mid-day rendezvous. My mouth just watered.
It's interesting how much BMW has stepped up the progression from model to model. The 07 335i Coupe 6-speed posted almost identical-or-better numbers in every aspect to this previous generation M3. Of course, the M3 would be better on the track. But still, the performance differences from one generation M to the next generation top 3 series has never been so closely matched.
Great videos. I'd love a cleaner (brighter) shot of the interior in action. The slalom video really put into perspective how well the M3 can shift 3400 pounds within a few inches of rotating around a cone, again and again. That was an awesome line through it.
You credit th better slalom to dampers...but what tires are on this thing now? Are they stickier? We know two of them are practically brand new...
Joe
joefrompa says:
11:24 AM, 01/ 8/08
Continental ContiSport Contact were on my friend's stock 2001 M3 bought in Germany...and they lasted a LONG time (for those types of tires...of course, he drove them bald).
Definitely not the highest performance of summer tires. Very impressive.
The 1-series is going to have slightly lower weight...but I believe it'll be more agile due to a more compact dimensions...more weight inside a tighter dimension...and less wheelbase. Of course, no LSD on the 1-series...but a torque curve that'll make it a dream to drive. And, of course, it'll be more softly sprung than the '02 M3.
Joe
greenpony says:
11:34 AM, 01/ 8/08
Are those OEM tires?
SubyTrojan says:
11:37 AM, 01/ 8/08
Joe, I'm not an expert by any means so take what I write here with a grain of salt. Usually, the skidpad test is a better measure of tire grip than the slalom test.
joefrompa says:
12:03 PM, 01/ 8/08
Suby,
I think you are right on the mark. However, different tires will produce different slalom results.
SubyTrojan says:
12:34 PM, 01/ 8/08
The difference between the handling numbers of the 2004-2007 Subaru Impreza WRX STI (chassis code: GDB) versus the 2008 Subaru Impreza WRX STI (chassis code: GRB) is a good example.
The previous generation GDB STI was shod with Bridgestone Potenza RE070 tires. If you don't recall seeing that tire on any cars lately, know that the Nissan GT-R wears a run-flat variant of this same tire. The current GRB STI wears Dunlop SP Sport 600 tires which aren't as sticky as the Bridgestone Potenza RE070s or the RE050A tires the Japanese-market STIs have.
At the same time, the new STI is softer than the old one and exhibits more body roll. That compliance allows it to make the quick transitions in the slalom test without it becoming unsettled as much as the old car when knifing through the cones.
Comparison Test: 2006 Subaru Impreza WRX STI vs. 2006 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drives/Comparos/articleId=109126
Full Test: 2008 Subaru Impreza WRX STI
http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Drives/FullTests/articleId=123768
Skidpad
GDB (USDM MY 2004-2007) STI: 0.93g
GRB (USDM MY 2008-?) STI: 0.90g
Slalom
GDB (USDM MY2004-2007) STI: 68.1 mph
GRB (USDM MY2008-?) STI: 72.0 mph
joefrompa says:
04:03 PM, 01/ 8/08
Suby...for ease of reading, it helps to use years instead of model codes, especially model codes so similar :)
I understand your statement, but I have to express concern over your logic. Slaloms are, to my knowledge, primarily based upon a vehicle's ability to change the direction of the inertia as quickly as possible. Thus, properly balanced cars with the lowest centers of gravity tend to do especially well. Witness the Porsche Boxster S.
Why then, on a smooth surface, would a suspension setup that allows more weight transfer to the outside wheels, and thus more weight to transfer back around, be better in a slalom on a smooth surface?
I would think that:
A. Cars with the least compliance would be better on a smooth-surfaced slalom
B. FWD/AWD cars would be inherently better due to the car's tendency for the front to pull it's way towards the next cone.
Which, to me, makes it all the more impressive for the M3 and Boxster S to pull the times they do, being RWD.
Anyway, back to the M3....
Any comments on the exhaust sound so far? How about ride comfort?
Joe
SubyTrojan says:
04:22 PM, 01/ 8/08
Joe, using years would require more typing than chassis codes!
Fixed. :o)
hondacura4 says:
07:24 PM, 01/ 8/08
"The Ultimate Driving Machine" certainly lives up to its name. Ive always been a big BMW fan and this car is one of the reasons why. I cant think of another car in the M3's segment that can offer this kind of refined, tactile, performance and telepathic response. The "M" is the definition of BMW's purpose.
hondacura4 says:
07:30 PM, 01/ 8/08
I had to watch the braking test again and again as the car just stayed so composed and planted.
dougtheeng says:
07:12 AM, 01/ 9/08
Does your insurance company know you are standing directly in the line of fire in order to film the slalom? I guess its nice to know you have faith in the test driver and the car.
boxermike says:
07:58 AM, 01/ 9/08
Doug, the way our driver enters the slalom if he were to lose it on exit the car would slide away from the camera operator.
Mostly it's trust, though. He's yet to kill anybody in such situations. Well, there was that intern, but that's what they're for, right?
stephen987 says:
10:03 AM, 01/ 9/08
opfreak,
They just bought it. Perhaps you missed the initial entry http://66.160.188.111/roadtests/1812 while you were busy "discussing" the irrationality of the Ferrari purchase. . .
cenox says:
10:52 AM, 01/10/08
"Discussing" is far too kind. More like ongoing ranting of a lunatic...Can't wait to see his arguments against M3, possibly list how he can buy new Civic Si and use money saved to tune the car...
tjbeck says:
08:41 AM, 01/13/08
That car looks so much better than the tank they're selling now.
I'd like to see this car with a new set of Michelin PS2s.