[///M TOWN]

Originally Posted by ynguldyn

I've got a column shifter on my Tesla!

Yes indeed.

[buckybadger]

This shows that BMW is still an enthusiast company. They still care about building a balanced driving machine. Respect!

[evo-mike]

Originally Posted by vasi_M3

Ha, there are only two things that usually happen when launching an AWD car with a manual transmission...Bog down or Burn some clutch...anything else is pure luck...That is why most OEMs do not offer launch control in a manual AWD ( except Focus RS)

Drive an Evo IX and you'll sing a different tune. It's called feathering, btw.

[ASAP]

Originally Posted by Ibiza

The CS residuals are in the mid 4's, the monthly lease payment must be around a M5.

lol i honestly think that bmw's saving grace was the leases were significantly cheaper than anyone elses due to massively inflated residuals... those cheap leases are long gone, so people dont mind looking at the competition; I would say the market is more leveled out than ever before

[M3GymNut]

So question, by this rumor BMW will be offering separate versions of the M3 like AWD 6MT, ZF and RWD 6MT,ZF? That sounds like too much. What I think is BMW may like the current M5 which has (RWD, AWD, AWD Sport) it will also have RWD sport for those purists but will have to deal with the added weight of the AWD system. But it seemed BMW was very big on trimming weight for the G80 even saying multiple times they want it to be even slimmer than the F80...

Very curious where and how they go.

[BMthusiast]

I think it's a great idea to release stock and ZCP at the same time. I feel bad for people out there that purchased an M2, M3, M4, or M5 right when they were released due to excitement but then would much rather have the ZCP version once it finally came out.

RWD vs xDrive is an interesting topic in terms of an M car. If the optional xDrive feature that's in the F90 is offered, that would actually be more enticing to me than RWD. There are moments where xDrive can really come in handy but for an M car to be exclusively xDrive defeats the purpose of the ///M experience in my subjective opinion. Although this is just me and I'm sure there are people out there that prefer xDrive over RWD and simply want an M car because they're "cool" and not for thrill. That's perfectly fine and I like that BMW is going to cater to all types of drivers, even those that get drivers cars just for status. Those type of drivers deserve to drive an M car just as much as enthusiasts, even if they drive it like a standard vehicle and never push it.

[Takumi587]

I got a DCT instead of a manual F80 M3 and wish I went with the manual. Don’t get me wrong it is still a fun car and I love putting in auto in traffic but on days where I just want to go through the gears...

Still haven’t driven a manual Porsche though. Hmm

[BM dnobagaV]

1. If it's the same xDrive system in the M5, then by all means keep it. Fantastic system.
2. Hopefully the engine doesn't sound like a raspy lawnmower, which all but ruined the M3/M4 of the F-generation.
3. Also, contrary to what the spokesperson said, let's hope it's raw & visceral. Not a lifeless, automatic cheesemobile.

[Rupes]

Great that we have an option, but surprised at the number of people advocating for AWD on an M3/4. BMW said their demographic shifted - clients now prefer AWD. I've been fighting this thinking for years, but see I'm (sadly) mistaken.

If I don't move to Porsche, I'll be getting mine with RWD and a 6spd...probably the last time I'll be able to so.

Remember this, BMW fans? Wasn't that long ago...

[MParallel]

Somebody, for once and for all, explain to me why these driver's always get blurred out?

[Remonster]

Originally Posted by adc

You got it all wrong. The die hard 6MT enthusiast understands all that perfectly well, but just simply doesn’t care. They are having way too much fun driving around with their antiquated afterthought gearboxes to worry about all this precision German engineering voodoo.

The interesting thing is, what determines if I pass you on a racetrack or whether you pass me, has absolutely nothing to do with the gearboxes in our cars.

I would also point out that the CS models are not exactly flying off the shelves, there are no angry mobs breaking windows to get at them.


But go ahead and try to buy a 911 GT3 Touring with a manual transmission. The demand is insane. Must be a lot of people who simply don’t understand that the 6MT in the $150k GT3 is an afterthought and that the engine was developed around the wonderful 7PDK gearbox.

I think you nailed it and I completely agree. I absolutely love driving my current manual F80 M3 and loved my previous manual E92 M3 as well. I recently drove somebody else’s DCT M4 for a couple days and was bored out of my mind. If the M3 was only offered with DCT, I would not have bought one. Plain and simple.

As far as RWD vs AWD, if they do offer both choices that will be fantastic. I’d have to drive both to decide which way I’d go but I think I’d probably opt for M xDrive if it works like it does in the F90 M5.

[Graves]

Originally Posted by Remonster

I think you nailed it and I completely agree. I absolutely love driving my current manual F80 M3 and loved my previous manual E92 M3 as well. I recently drove somebody else’s DCT M4 for a couple days and was bored out of my mind. If the M3 was only offered with DCT, I would not have bought one. Plain and simple.

As far as RWD vs AWD, if they do offer both choices that will be fantastic. I’d have to drive both to decide which way I’d go but I think I’d probably opt for M xDrive if it works like it does in the F90 M5.

I love my DCT. First auto I have ever owned. Glad I went that route. I don't get bored at all.

[goj]

Originally Posted by SG-GM

Why not make it like the M5. AWD with the option to go RWD. Two birds one stone

Because weight. They know that m3 buyers still care about it.

[hinckley]

Originally Posted by Rupes

Great that we have an option, but surprised at the number of people advocating for AWD on an M3/4.

I don't think there's any surprise in this. AWD is a really nice-to-have option in snowy climates (but not need-to-have), and more important, the increased horsepower that we all love is much more effectively put down to the ground by four wheels rather than two. But, those two AWD advantages are obviously offset by the disadvantage of the added weight of AWD systems. No simple answers.

As a side note . . . the rabbit ad was a great old memory. Thanks for that!

[brad850csi]

Originally Posted by thermalc

You're in luck, the M8 comes with a transaxle DCT...

I read that but I've also read that the drivetrain is the same as the F90 M5. Considering the M850i has the same drivetrain as the M550i I highly doubt that they would rebuild the whole chassis to put a DCT in there. It would also make it RWD which would make it slower to 60mph than the M5 which while we all know this isn't the only thing that matters but it is a thing on the spec sheet that people pay attention to.

[brad850csi]

Originally Posted by tastes jigga

Anyone care to guess what the weight distribution will look like RWD vs xDrive?

From the F series to the G series, the majority of the cars in the same config have had their weight move about 2% further to the front.

Obviously the G20 isn't out yet so I don't have weight figures for them, but if you look at G12 and G30 vs F02 and F10:

car type lbs %front %rear lbs f lbs r
740Li f02 4432 49.8 50.2 2207 2225
740Li g12 4195 51.4 48.6 2156 2039

528i f10 3814 49.4 50.6 1884 1930
530i g30 3746 51.5 48.5 1929 1817

So one chassis went up by 1.6% to the front and the other by 2.1%.

If we look at the current F30 and G80:

340i rwd 3704 51.2 48.8 1896 1808
340i xdrive 3858 52.8 47.2 2037 1821
m3 dct 3630 51.9 48.1 1884 1746

You'd imagine that a G80 M3 with an auto would be around 53% even without xdrive. With xdrive it should be closer to 55%.

FWIW this is the F90 M5

m5 f90 4370 54.7 45.3 2390 1980

[brad850csi]

Originally Posted by Transfer

Awesome news. AWD is inevitable but they really are smart to offer both AWD M-xDrive and RWD. No one else is doing that. Traction is such an issue with modern power levels that if BMW wants to stay competitive then they have to go AWD or start designing their RWD M cars to include 305+ width tires. This is how Chevy, Ford, and Porsche are getting it done.

I am all in on an M-xDrive M3/4 and would expect it will be AT only as MT and DCT would have to be incredibly stout and probably not cost effective to develop. I just hope optioned MSRP stays closer to $75k than $85k.

Look at the various V12 Ferraris and the AMG GT and how they perform. RWD only but with a transaxle and ~45% weight at the front they really get moving. Unfortunately most BMW M cars are ~52.5% front weight which really makes them struggle.

[Malloy]

I bet it will be either xDrive or RWD. If it has the same M xDrive system as the M5 I bet very few M3 buyers will opt for RWD. Also, many on the fence between M3 and M5 will just stay M3. My dream daily would be an M xDrive M3.

[M3GymNut]

Originally Posted by MParallel

Somebody, for once and for all, explain to me why these driver's always get blurred out?

That's to hide their identity so they won't get kidnapped and leak the true information about how the G80 will be released...

[trey100]

Originally Posted by evo-mike

Drive an Evo IX and you'll sing a different tune. It's called feathering, btw.

I had a 335 xdrive with 6MT (F30) and it launched like a bat at out of hell - well for the 1st 60'. I'm sure if I did that a hundred times I'd blow something but did a bunch of launches over 45k miles and no issues at all.

[trey100]

Originally Posted by Rupes

Great that we have an option, but surprised at the number of people advocating for AWD on an M3/4. BMW said their demographic shifted - clients now prefer AWD. I've been fighting this thinking for years, but see I'm (sadly) mistaken.

If I don't move to Porsche, I'll be getting mine with RWD and a 6spd...probably the last time I'll be able to so.

Remember this, BMW fans? Wasn't that long ago...

The same could be said for a DCT vs manual. I never got it but people had no problems going to a DCT for performance reasons. With power now approaching 500 HP, AWD is becoming more necessary to harness the power better.

Don't get me wrong, I love the M3 as RWD but if the system is like the one in the M5 and gives you the best of both worlds, that sounds good to me.

[paliknight]

Originally Posted by Kuato2084

I think it's a great idea to release stock and ZCP at the same time. I feel bad for people out there that purchased an M2, M3, M4, or M5 right when they were released due to excitement but then would much rather have the ZCP version once it finally came out.

RWD vs xDrive is an interesting topic in terms of an M car. If the optional xDrive feature that's in the F90 is offered, that would actually be more enticing to me than RWD. There are moments where xDrive can really come in handy but for an M car to be exclusively xDrive defeats the purpose of the ///M experience in my subjective opinion. Although this is just me and I'm sure there are people out there that prefer xDrive over RWD and simply want an M car because they're "cool" and not for thrill. That's perfectly fine and I like that BMW is going to cater to all types of drivers, even those that get drivers cars just for status. Those type of drivers deserve to drive an M car just as much as enthusiasts, even if they drive it like a standard vehicle and never push it.

That's what happened to me. Bought my F82 December 2015 then a few months or so after the ZCP was announced. Was deploying more often so just sold the car, but had I had The comp pack I may have been more enticed to keep it.

Would much prefer to get the Comp from the start rather than wait a couple of years. BMW knows this so they figured why lose a potential sale because some buyers are willing to wait when they could just sell them the car they want from the start.