BMW M3 Aftersales Training Manual - Everything you wanted to know and more

Am I the only one who finds himself sick of this vehicle though it has yet to even hit the dealership?

I miss the days of driving my E30/M3 around L.A. knowing that there was little chance of encountering another one at every other intersection.

The M3 has definitely lost its exclusivity...

That's brilliant!

I have some questions:

1. BMW M3 built on front MacPherson strut. This suspension is tipical cheap suspension implemented for conventional cars. The M3 has rather heavy front needed double wishbone suspension.
2. The different legth of output shafts means different inbound and rebounfd characteristic by side. Of course the inbound resultant torque fluctuation will be generate inballance as well.
3. Vanos is a hydraulic system. Lexus changed the hydraulic actuation on intake camshaft for electric reason:
- faster reaction
- no hydraulic delay
- no cavitation.
My expectation was that BMW will change Vanos to electric, but it remains conventional.
4.Hydraulic power steering has similar disadvantage comparing to electric as cavitation, hydraulic delay and complicated system.

The conventional customers does not know about these basic disadvantages, the "M power" can delight them. Let's drive IS-F for better experience of sporty cars.

Lets deal with the resulting cars and their capabilities.

1. The MacPherson struts on the M3 don't resemble the "cheap suspension implementedt for normal cars", just because it has MacPherson front struts doesn't mean they compare identically to those of other cars with macphurson struts. They have been tuned by the M division to offer the best performance for the car.

2. From the manual: "Due to their function, the shafts of the right and left stub axles in the final drive have different lengths. In an idle state, this results in a noticeably different vertical clearance of both
flanges, which is a feature of the design.
This does not affect the function and is not a
cause for complaint. This uneven clearance applies for all models with fully variable M slip differential and may affect either the right or the left flange,
depending on the version and model."

3. The M3 engine was derived from the current 8-cylinder BMW uses for their Formula 1 team. Tell me, how are Toyota doing in Formula 1 lately?

4. Whats your point? Conventional power steering offers far more feel than any electrically operated steering, this is a performance car, the steering should transmit everything to the driver and not be numbed by an electrically operated system. BMW's Active Steering is also available as an option for people who would like an electronically operated system.

"Let's drive IS-F for better experience of sporty cars."

The ISF isn't even out yet, with all the hype and the length of time between Lexus unveiling it and it actually being released it will have a hard time living up to expectatons. Lexus have stated that it won't be a direct rival to the likes of the M3, what makes you think it will?

Someone is missing the point. Just because a lot of people believe something, that doesn't necessarily make it true.

There are a LOT of leaf spring haters out there. Every one of the car rags talks crap about leaf spring suspensions, and how they are meant for trucks, and not performance cars. But the Z06 will make one hell of a lap around the 'Ring on that TRUCK suspension.

As did the previous CSL, with the "cheap, conventional car" suspension.

Competitor comparison? Something tells me it will resemble the Toyota Tundra Competitor Comparison: M3 wins everything. I guess that can be expected since they're trying to sell the car.

Hi Kinger,

The MacPherson strut - both geometry and the force flow - designed for front wheel drive vehicles originally. Every car manufacturer know, this suspension designed in order to save cost and space.
http://www.internetautoguide.com/auto-recalls/09-int/2002/bmw/3-series/index.html

If you look for Audi, they are using multi arm front suspension.

The asymmetric shafts occours asymmetric and inballanced swing of rear suspension. This is physic. The Cardano acceleration will be different on both side if the drive shafts has different length and the suspension rebounds or inbounds.
As far as hydraulic power steering concerned, let you try the following: Start the engine, open the driver window, get ot the car. Close the door and try to turn the steering wheel fast as possible outside of the car. This is a basic excercise to check the hydraulic resistance and the cavity of the steering system. If you feel hard resistance means the steering could not follow the driver intention.
BMW allready developed an built an electric power steering for Z4.
http://www.bmwworld.com/models/z4/suspension.htm
Do not forget, the active steering is rather different technology from electric power steering. This is similar with Lexus VGRS.

As far as sporty car concerned, I'm completely disappointed with the car manufacturers, even RS, Mseries, AMG or IS-F. The big engines are not a real future. Using kevlar (like M3) made parts by titanium, power boost with hybrid technology, unique aero packs, lightweight comfort specs (airco, power steering). Frankly speaking the car manufacturers does not have any revolutionary ideas, the "muscle" cars built on same scheme since 40 years.

From what i have read on the new M3, the reason for using a double pivot front suspension is to keep the weight down, the M3 only shares the same lower control arm I beleive with the 335i, the rest of the suspension components are bespoke and made from aluminium. Also from what i've read the steering is incredibly light when used in normal mode, but also very precise, the sport mode apparently clears up much of the lightness in the steering. The rack has a much quicker 12.5:1 than that of the regular 3-series.

I fully agree with you on the weight issue, it's already gotten out of hand. Think how far removed from the original M3 the new M3 is. The new model has double the horse power but also weighs 3483 lbs (although impressively that is 100 lbs lighter than the 335i). Cars like the Lotus exige are great track cars because they are very light but also offer a great power to weight ratio. I think saying that car manufacturers don't have any revolutinary ideas is a bit harsh though, BMW are currently working on nanostructure-controlled foamed aluminum, which has shown weight savings of up to 30%, plus better sound and vibration damping plus greater stiffness:

http://www.industryweek.com/ReadArticle.aspx?ArticleID=12210