[ChrisMWard]

Well guys I took the new V8 M3 out for a blast today.

Interlagos Blue with Palladium Silver Extended Novillo Leather interior. The car being a demonstrator had 19" wheels and electronic dampers as well as a few other options although I must say I thought the standard specification was very good.

The car was already warmed up and the sales advisor immediately took it up to around 8K RPM with the windows down to show off the engine note even though it had only 260 miles on the clock.

I took over and was straight away impressed how easy it was to drive compared to previous M3s. The clutch and steering were light and the gearbox felt slicker than the 120 manual that I also drive. The engine was very tractable, being quite happy at 35mph in sixth gear and accepting full throttle without any protests. The engine seemed to come alive around the 3K RPM mark and was then happy all the way to the red line.

The "Power" button accessed functions controllable from the M Drive interface, which included DSC activation, electronic damper setting, servotronic steering weight and of course the full power of the engine.

After activation of the "Power" button a couple of bursts in second and third gears saw three fiqures on the speedo with the brakes reassuringly scrubbing of the speed with ease.

Unfortunately an accident occured during the test drive which resulted in a fatality. A squirrel couldn't make up its mind which way to go whilst driving through Headley and despite liberal use of the horn, ended up under a back wheel. The car was undamaged but the squirrel was no more.

Without doubt a very impressive car with the only downside being the 13mpg averaged over the test drive.

Now if money was no object, I'd put my name down for one right now, but alas I can't and we'll have to stick with the 335d for a bit longer.

(I won't be buying this demonstrator though as everyone who has driven it has reached 8K RPM and the dealer has got to keep it for six months).

Regards

Chris

[hmi1750]

cool write up.

I saw a red one with the larger alloys on a 57 plate pulling out of Shell in Heston... looked subtle and menacing.. but I dread to think of running costs. Still if you can afford to buy it then I guess the running costs are no object.

[peterg1965]

Great write up Chris. There has to be a lesson there; don't buy an ex dealer demo!

[Steve A]

Originally Posted by peterg1965

There has to be a lesson there; don't buy an ex dealer demo!

i would of thought that was obvious, ragged to death for 5000miles, and in the case of the M3 probbably sold at over sticker.......bastards

[dxb335d]

Good write up chris, regarding not buying a demo?? the engine can handle it, and surely if you bought an m3 thats all you would do... give it large to 8k all of the time... least its not been abused.. doughnutted everyday etc.... thrashed from cold.. which a 1st owner may have done when they come to sell on whereas the demos has just been taken to 8k everyday like every other m3 which will be sold just without the abuse

[silverbmwz3]

Carlos....No. Demo=bad idea. I've had two before this one and had them in and out of garage for various things. My car has been fine (touch wood) so far. Not scientific test but having seen what people do to demos it ISN'T how I'd be driving my m3 day in day out from new no....

[Serjames]

They're right you can't assume all the test drivers can even change gear properly, it's not the ragged engine, it's the trashed trannie etc.

SJ

[mikem]

Not many un supervised demo`s are given, esp. on £50K + cars (unless its a very well known customer, in which case they`re likely to be quite mechanically sympathetic) and no salesman in the world (no matter how desperate for a sale) is going to sit in the passenger seat and let some moron tear the car apart and endanger his own life.

[dxb335d]

Originally Posted by mikem

Not many un supervised demo`s are given, esp. on £50K + cars (unless its a very well known customer, in which case they`re likely to be quite mechanically sympathetic) and no salesman in the world (no matter how desperate for a sale) is going to sit in the passenger seat and let some moron tear the car apart and endanger his own life.

i agree with you, a demo prob gets a hammering on switchgear and the seats get a bashing but the engine and gearbox i dont think so

[peterg1965]

All of my drives in demo's were unsupervised, unless I asked the salesman to join me. (V rarely or unless it was driving on a car with trade plates). When I first tested the 335i (it was an E93) it was on a whim, he chucked me the keys and said there it is! I was driving an E91 320d at the time. I have to admit I have been giving grief to the dealership for three years now, and I only deal with one particular sales bloke so I suppose he knows me quite well!

Interesting to see if they let me have the M3 on my own when I manage to tie them down to a time/date.

[ChrisMWard]

The sales advisor positively wanted me to take it to the red line to show off it's capabilities. I do know him quite well and have been on a few test drives with him before, plus he knows my driving history, so I didn't think he was too worried (in any case I didn't get him holding on to the squab for dear life, not like the salesman when I test drove a Mazda 323 4x4 many years ago).

Regards

Chris