4 hours ago, skomaz said:

 

Both the car and colour schemes will appeal to a certain section of society no doubt - probably footballers, z-list 'celebrities' or those with more money than sense that want to say 'look at me!'...

 

The rest of us will just laugh at them and be sick in a corner at the sight of them.

 

I've probably said it be fore but BMW 'design' is terrible at the moment in my opinion...   and Adrian van Hooydonk has to take a lot of that blame...   I was hoping Domagoj Dukec might change a few things but it appears he won't as he was one of the main protagonists with respect to responding to the desire to 'stand out' and has been instrumental in the ungainly maw on new BMW's.

 

The thing is, they're not really trying to sell to you or me any more.

They are trying to sell in the far east particualrly China. And out there, subtle doesn't sell. It's got to be brash, garish and ott.

To you and me it looks tasteless but out there that's the style that is wanted.

 

Last time I went round BMW I jus couldn't see anything I could bring myself to part with money for.

Edited 23 September, 20205 yr by Aspman

Going to cost at least £70,000 for the M3, probably £72,000 for the less practical M4 and if you wait until 2022 then the M3 Touring will probably be £74,000.

6 hours ago, Aspman said:

 

The thing is, they're not really trying to sell to you or me any more.

They are trying to sell in the far east particualrly China. And out there, subtle doesn't sell. It's got to be brash, garish and ott.

To you and me it looks tasteless but out there that's the style that is wanted.

 

Last time I went round BMW I jus couldn't see anything I could bring myself to part with money for.

 

Yeah - I guess so - the market is 'elsewhere' these days...

 

Have you seen the latest 7 series in the flesh - it's almost like they grafted this wierd squared off, big grilled front onto the old body - it's a total mis-match...

 

Mind you it's probably good for 'scaring' other drivers out of the offside lane of the motorway - you see that coming up in your rear view mirror and just want it past and out of sight!

Edited 23 September, 20205 yr by skomaz

2 hours ago, skomaz said:

you see that coming up in your rear view mirror and think "aaahhhhhh its going swallow me whole!"

 

 

ftfy

 

14 hours ago, Warrior193 said:

H C ! those corner entry speeds scared me just watching - and he only got slightly offline once that I saw - instantly corrected. Do you know what the lap time was for that?

 

 

No idea, but his speed of correction at one point was bordering on telepathic and the nervousness under braking that would have me rather ''excited' didn't phase him remotely   

 

When you think how many powerful RWD cars crash at the Ring, it just makes me appreciate people like Robert Kubica even more. I'd like to know the spec of the M4 too 

I get the polarising effect of the looks, but I still think in the right 'sensible' colour and interior fittings, the car will look pretty good and as we get used to it, will become quite admired. But the most important thing by a country mile for me at least, is how does it drive? If it's as good as we hope I couldn't give a fig if it even looked like a Superb

I like Matt Watson, he just a regular car guy, so I was interested on his first take on the M3/4. No spoilers, but I was surprised. I think the front works better too (as he does) on the M car rather than the stock version and I reckon it's because the grill isn't framed as it is on the regular car and the indents in the bonnet follow the top line of the grill and draw your eyes over the bonnet. Apparently it's 2cm wider than mine though :( WHY!!!!!!! Stop making cars bigger everybody, it's killing fun driving. big cars are not as much fun! And now it's 4x4 it's too heavy!! I'd still like one though 

 

When I am Empress of the world I will stop this guys, so don't worry. I will also ban electric cars that run on batteries and make everyone who asks nicely be allowed to drive a V8 without paying road tax. This will also apply to Straight 6, V10, V12 and all true Boxer engines, oh and 5 cylinder engines and W engines and rotary engines... oh hell, anything interesting then that isn't a straight 4 pot or a V6 (Dino and Stratos get a pass and maybe the Alfa Quattro-Stagioni)

 

 

 

I'm going to have to rethink this plan perhaps? 

 

 

Oh and he gets to rev it  

 

 

Edited 24 September, 20205 yr by Lady Elanore

15 hours ago, skomaz said:

Have you seen the latest 7 series in the flesh - it's almost like they grafted this wierd squared off, big grilled front onto the old body - it's a total mis-match...

 

 

Yep thought about one for a while, I've always liked a big barge but it's fearsome ugly.

9 hours ago, Lady Elanore said:

I like Matt Watson, he just a regular car guy, so I was interested on his first take on the M3/4. No spoilers, but I was surprised. I think the front works better too (as he does) on the M car rather than the stock version and I reckon it's because the grill isn't framed as it is on the regular car and the indents in the bonnet follow the top line of the grill and draw your eyes over the bonnet. Apparently it's 2cm wider than mine though :( WHY!!!!!!! Stop making cars bigger everybody, it's killing fun driving. big cars are not as much fun! And now it's 4x4 it's too heavy!! I'd still like one though 

 

When I am Empress of the world I will stop this guys, so don't worry. I will also ban electric cars that run on batteries and make everyone who asks nicely be allowed to drive a V8 without paying road tax. This will also apply to Straight 6, V10, V12 and all true Boxer engines, oh and 5 cylinder engines and W engines and rotary engines... oh hell, anything interesting then that isn't a straight 4 pot or a V6 (Dino and Stratos get a pass and maybe the Alfa Quattro-Stagioni)

 

 

 

I'm going to have to rethink this plan perhaps? 

 

 

Oh and he gets to rev it  

 

 

 

 

Oh I don't even like that blue. And I'm a blue car guy.

Nope sorry, if I'm going to drop 60-80k on a car I'm afraid it'll it'll be an Aston or a Porsche.

 

I'd definitely be interested if

 

a) I had the money

b) It was a bit smaller

c) I could get a deal similar to my current M4 

 

It bodes well for the next M2 though, The engine is by all accounts, superb and the enhanced technology will filter down to lesser models ie the M2 in a couple of years. I am a big fan of the straight 6 engine, it's a lovely thing even if it doesn't sound quite as fruity as a V6 these days. I've wondered how much the sound of an engine appeals to me in its importance. Would I prefer a car with a better sounding engine over one that had another 30bhp for instance? The Mustang still calls to me, even though IT'S TOO BIG and has an awful reputation for visiting the scenery. It's that sound, even though it's slower than the M4 and nowhere near as well built, the interior is a bit tacky imho, but the Bullitt with those Recaro seats and that soundtrack. There are several pre-reg going for very sensible money these days, which bodes well for the future if I get back on top of my finances in a couple of years  

Mustang is good value I think at least in fun per £.

Probably after a couple of years the M3 will be around £65K with discount and all the features I would ever want. It makes it's price pretty similar to the outgoing car really, as by the time you spec up a CP, add an auto gearbox the prices are pretty similar. I expect the 0-62 and in gear acceleration to be a lot better than the current car, regardless of what BMW claim. They do generally underrate their performance and power figures. The power figures they currently quote for the M4 are based on high temperatures and moderate altitude as they say the figure they show is the minimum you should expect in any reasonable circumstance. Probably partially explains why in the cool, damp, UK, the car feels a bit quicker than you  might expect.

 

Edited 24 September, 20205 yr by vrskeith

 

 

 

 

https://www.bmwblog.com/2020/09/25/bmw-m3-m-m-performance-parts-black/

https://www.bmwblog.com/2020/09/25/bmw-m3-m-m-performance-parts-black/

This is an interesting follow up to the M4 after Mr Kubica drove it. So it turns out he hired the car for 3 separate sessions and ended up doing 36 laps in it. The video was shot around lap 16. The car itself is surprisingly stock. Suspension has been changed as has the discs and pads, also they used a serious tyre for the sessions. But the engine, calipers,  transmission, bulk of suspension, cooling and exhaust are all stock. The car apparently got a bit hot and he melted a bit of it Also George the engineer seemed to hint that Mr K was hitting a '7 minute flat' lap at some point.  Anyhoo for a follow up on what happens when a top pro driver tries to kill your car with fun, follows.

 

 

Edited 29 September, 20205 yr by Lady Elanore

https://www.carthrottle.com/post/m4-undergoes-damage-assessment-after-robert-kubica-does-36-ring-laps-in-it/

36 laps destroyed the wheel bearings, and only minced 1/2 a set of brakes because he had the driver aids turned off, wouldve been gone the backing plate if they were turned on.

thats an impressive amount of damage inflicted in such a short time.

I think it was the heat that caused the seal failure of the wheel bearings rather than the loading, although they did mention spacers so the bearing loads would have been increased but the rumbling would not have caused the seal failure.

 

In 2003 (I think) I was pit crew for the John Cooper Works Mini Cooper team at the Nurburgring 24 hour race, the team was financed by and shared the garage with the works BMW team, two of our drivers were German BMW execs, I cant even recall what series of BMW the works team were running, that sort of thing has never been my bag & we had more than enough to keep us busy but they were highly modified, very impressive & they had a mix of experienced drivers and some very young "hot shoe" newbies.

 

Because of an accident the first few laps were under the safety car & we were ejected from the garage because they were bringing in both of the BMWs for a transmission change, seemingly at the lower safety car speeds the transmission oil coolers were not working efficiently and they had overheated, the first car was jacked up & immediately the mechanics were swarming all over it, in no time at all the coolers and transmissions were dropped down into large trays full of ice (it may even have been dry ice) and the whole garage was blanketted in steam, that was when I realised why they were wearing nomex & kevlar gloves.

 

That "hire car" would have needed brake ducting to have run under endurance racing conditions & probably special wheel bearings with high temperature seals.

51 minutes ago, mac11irl said:

36 laps destroyed the wheel bearings, and only minced 1/2 a set of brakes because he had the driver aids turned off, wouldve been gone the backing plate if they were turned on.

thats an impressive amount of damage inflicted in such a short time.

 

I dunno, 470 miles of continuos ragging of a car around the track sound pretty tortuous. If it had been me driving the miles it would just have needed a spit and polish, I think Mr K gave the car a much more strident workout than 99% of most enthusiasts (not including ham fisted dolts of course  ) Running the mentioned 7-minute laps several times in succession, which is what they seemed to be inferring, is an incredibly stiff task for a none race car, even a mid range 911/Ferrari etc would need some attention after that and to say nothing of the fact the car has 50,000 miles on the clock and is still running mostly original transmission components (30Km as a track car)

 

 

 

 

Edited 1 October, 20205 yr by Lady Elanore

On 24/09/2020 at 15:04, Lady Elanore said:

I'd definitely be interested if

 

a) I had the money

b) It was a bit smaller

c) I could get a deal similar to my current M4 

 

It bodes well for the next M2 though, The engine is by all accounts, superb and the enhanced technology will filter down to lesser models ie the M2 in a couple of years. I am a big fan of the straight 6 engine, it's a lovely thing even if it doesn't sound quite as fruity as a V6 these days. I've wondered how much the sound of an engine appeals to me in its importance. Would I prefer a car with a better sounding engine over one that had another 30bhp for instance? The Mustang still calls to me, even though IT'S TOO BIG and has an awful reputation for visiting the scenery. It's that sound, even though it's slower than the M4 and nowhere near as well built, the interior is a bit tacky imho, but the Bullitt with those Recaro seats and that soundtrack. There are several pre-reg going for very sensible money these days, which bodes well for the future if I get back on top of my finances in a couple of years  

+1 for the sound of a big V8, arguably the best engine sound around.  

I think we are entering an era where we won't hear any new V8 (and upwards) engines ever again. Honda are pulling out of F1 (horrid V6s) as petrol engines are not the future, so does that mean it won't be long before Mercedes and Ferrari also pull out. Where would that leave F1??  Please don't say Formula E is all we will have left! Maybe we can resurrect the Cosworth V8 as there doesn't need to be any real development cost, this in turn offsets the ...ahhemm...cough...cough... slightly high emissions.  

 

The next C63 Merc is rumoured to be a version of the 4 cylinder A45 engine  (with additional hybriddy bit).  It's great that, for many practical reasons, the straight 6 is making a comeback to many prestige marques (although thankfully, at least BMW kept with it), but it may well be that this will become the new high-end petrol engine option for many manufacturers  In fact it might be that my next car will have to be a Mustang or I will miss the boat forever. It's almost like I am being forced into the option  

18 hours ago, Lady Elanore said:

I think we are entering an era where we won't hear any new V8 (and upwards) engines ever again. Honda are pulling out of F1 (horrid V6s) as petrol engines are not the future, so does that mean it won't be long before Mercedes and Ferrari also pull out. Where would that leave F1??  Please don't say Formula E is all we will have left! Maybe we can resurrect the Cosworth V8 as there doesn't need to be any real development cost, this in turn offsets the ...ahhemm...cough...cough... slightly high emissions.  

 

The next C63 Merc is rumoured to be a version of the 4 cylinder A45 engine  (with additional hybriddy bit).  It's great that, for many practical reasons, the straight 6 is making a comeback to many prestige marques (although thankfully, at least BMW kept with it), but it may well be that this will become the new high-end petrol engine option for many manufacturers  In fact it might be that my next car will have to be a Mustang or I will miss the boat forever. It's almost like I am being forced into the option  

How about a really nice, restored big-block Challenger or Camaro?

Watch this on netflix: Rust Bro's

http://www.rustbrosrestos.com/

 

Flight to Canada and shipping/import still be cheaper than some in the UK