When I signed out our long-term 2009 BMW M3 sedan last night, I initially didn't notice the note on the board: "49xx miles, milestone approaching." That means the lucky person who witnesses the milestone achievement of 5000 miles needs to snap a pic of the odo.
The M3 at 5000 miles drives like it's new (because it is new). I noticed that the clutch and shifter are slightly heavier than our LT 135. Perhaps to handle the greater torque generated by the 4.0L V8?
The car says the next oil change is due in 2011! and the next major service in 2013!!
By this time, the service will be conducted not by BMW, but by Skynet.
Our M3 shares its birthday with our colleague subytrojan.
Both of them will be celebrating this weekend at the Chuck-E-Cheese in Chino, CA.
Albert Austria, Sr Vehicle Eval Engineer @ 5000 + 15 miles
carguy622 says:
12:08 PM, 06/26/09
Where do they come up with these dates? Based on how quickly it got to 5,000 miles you think the computer would recalculate those dates.
It's funny that as BMW and Mercedes have added complimentary service to their vehicles the intervals have gotten a lot longer...coincidence?
dragonflight says:
12:08 PM, 06/26/09
Probably the most entertaining Milestone post in a while. I'll never understand just where the computer pulls those dates from.
And, happy birthday to our favorite commenter, subytrojan!
powell_jr says:
12:10 PM, 06/26/09
I thouhgt the 135 has about the same amount of torque but less HP.
caheew says:
12:11 PM, 06/26/09
" I noticed that the clutch and shifter are slightly heavier than our LT 135. Perhaps to handle the greater torque generated by the 4.0L V8?"
Doesn't the 135i have 300 torques (Top Gear ftw) whereas the M3 has something like 295?
louiswei says:
12:16 PM, 06/26/09
I think powell_jr is right.
Doesn't the 135i have 300 lb-ft (stock, before the flash) but the M3 is in the 290s?
caheew says:
12:23 PM, 06/26/09
Yeah, we are right. The M3 only produces 295 lb-ft (TORQUES!). Hmmm.
fuhteng says:
12:27 PM, 06/26/09
Albert was celebrating the birthday with a little Lau-Brau beer, that's why he was confused.
subytrojan says:
12:33 PM, 06/26/09
Today is also Tommi Makinen's birthday (4-time WRC drivers' champion)!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tommi_Makinen
And 3-time Tour de France winner Greg LeMond, too.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greg_LeMond
sherief says:
12:34 PM, 06/26/09
Judging by the dyno numbers the 135i makes a bit more than 300 lb-ft at the crank. But yes, it has alot more midrange torque then the M3.
sevenbob says:
12:37 PM, 06/26/09
The service is needed at the date or mileage which ever comes first, and the 135 has more torques than the M3. I would love to see a drag race between the chiped 135 and the M3. I think the 135 is quicker out of the hole but will lose it at top end.
nealibob says:
01:07 PM, 06/26/09
@sevenbob, I believe you are right on all counts. I just got my oil changed at a BMW dealership today. After giving them the key and getting everything squared away, they then called me 5 minutes later to tell me my car is not due for an oil change. I had to explain that I understood that, and that I would be paying for it. They tried to talk me out of it, which I do not understand. I just do not see how changing the oil frequently could be a bad thing, other than the added cost.
The second WTF was that some idiot rotated the tires at some point before I bought the car. This is a WTF because the wheels are different sizes, etc. The third WTF (and the real WTF) is that I did not notice this myself. I remember thinking about the numbers, not understanding them, and forgetting about it. The final WTF is that I have had this car in for service two other times at this same dealership, and no one noticed then. I guess that is really my fault, but still, when you bend over for an oil change, you expect them to find this sort of thing. :)
audisport says:
01:11 PM, 06/26/09
Darn it, 20 people beat me to it! The 135i makes more torque...!!! ZING!!
cheslin says:
01:59 PM, 06/26/09
Weak torque... Give me 443 torques any day!
majin_ssj_eric says:
05:06 PM, 06/26/09
Thers a very good reason for the extended service plans. Its called the BMW free maintenace program. All maintenance is free if you never get to have it done....
lazyhater says:
08:38 AM, 06/29/09
According to Inside Line dyno result, a stock 135i make 20 more lb-ft of torque then a stock E90 M3. 135i with a chip makes 80 lb-ft more then the M3. http://blogs.edmunds.com/roadtests/2009/06/2008-bmw-135i-full-on-dyno-comparison-geek-out.html#more