BMW "Drive for Team USA" experience vs the E36 M3

desertdriver · Sat, Aug-11-2012, 05:39:08 PM

Hi everybody. I just got home from a BMW "Drive for Team USA" event. It was kind of busy and I didn't stick around to drive the Audi or Merc--I drove the 2013 335i with the sport package. Unfortunately it was an automatic, but I can't imagine them opening a true manual up to the general public.

Anyway, the engine was very responsive (obviously). It didn't make a lot of noise, even at high revs, and the torque was rather impressive.

The steering feel was very strange. It felt like it turned the wheels quite a lot for only a little bit of steering input, but it also seemed like the suspension geometry could support it smoothly, although I wonder what different forms of electronic nonsense were involved.

I took the car to its "limit" in some relatively low speed tight corners, and at first it seemed much more solid than my car. However, after the 335i test, I drove my car through those same corners and my car felt better. The 335i was letting the tires squeal a little bit, but it was not constant--so again, fancy-pants electronic interference. My car (95 E36 M3) was very smooth, and I could control how much squeal I was producing directly.

I couldn't figure out how to turn all the DSC/traction control options off, so I have no idea as the the propensity for understeer/oversteer. I didn't have a good route for testing this either--and I wasn't able to break the rear end free at all.

Anyway, what I'm wondering is, how does the (well maintained, relatievely stock) E36 M3 stack up to these newer cyber-car beasts?

Side question: anybody know about a kit for a HUD for the E36? That might actually be useful . . .

enderw88 · Sat, Aug-11-2012, 06:18:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by desertdriver

Side question: anybody know about a kit for a HUD for the E36? That might actually be useful . . .

The windshield makes an excellent HUD! I use mine all the time!

**ECSTuning** · Mon, Aug-13-2012, 08:48:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by desertdriver

Side question: anybody know about a kit for a HUD for the E36? That might actually be useful . . .

Small tablet/cell phone + something to hold it on the dash + HUD app and makes for a great HUD.

Sat, Aug-11-2012, 05:39:08 PM	#1
desertdriver Registered User Join Date: Sep 2011 Posts: 47 Reputation: 0	BMW "Drive for Team USA" experience vs the E36 M3 Hi everybody. I just got home from a BMW "Drive for Team USA" event. It was kind of busy and I didn't stick around to drive the Audi or Merc--I drove the 2013 335i with the sport package. Unfortunately it was an automatic, but I can't imagine them opening a true manual up to the general public. Anyway, the engine was very responsive (obviously). It didn't make a lot of noise, even at high revs, and the torque was rather impressive. The steering feel was very strange. It felt like it turned the wheels quite a lot for only a little bit of steering input, but it also seemed like the suspension geometry could support it smoothly, although I wonder what different forms of electronic nonsense were involved. I took the car to its "limit" in some relatively low speed tight corners, and at first it seemed much more solid than my car. However, after the 335i test, I drove my car through those same corners and my car felt better. The 335i was letting the tires squeal a little bit, but it was not constant--so again, fancy-pants electronic interference. My car (95 E36 M3) was very smooth, and I could control how much squeal I was producing directly. I couldn't figure out how to turn all the DSC/traction control options off, so I have no idea as the the propensity for understeer/oversteer. I didn't have a good route for testing this either--and I wasn't able to break the rear end free at all. Anyway, what I'm wondering is, how does the (well maintained, relatievely stock) E36 M3 stack up to these newer cyber-car beasts? Side question: anybody know about a kit for a HUD for the E36? That might actually be useful . . . __________________ Why did Heisenberg hate driving cars? ------Because every time he looked at the speedometer he got lost.

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