Daily Honest Review: If I didn't like cars, this would be fantastic (F34 GT)

[GarethFishr]

Alongside the Z4, I have a daily for comfortable drives.

Swapped the E92 M3 for something more practical about a year ago (more doors, proper boot, comfier ride, etc.).

Honest Review:
If I didn't like cars, this would be fantastic.
It has everything, it's not bad looking, M Brakes, 19" shiny wheels, heated leather, Harman Kardon speakers, etc. etc.
However, it's a bit meh on power unless in sport mode. And when it's in sport mode the diesel engine revs too high and makes a racket. It doesn't give any sense you're actually driving, more like floating around.
#FirstWorldProblems

I'm thinking about an F34 M3 Comp or a C63S to replace..

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[Nictrix]

It sounds like you may have got the wrong engine for the car.
I assume it is the 2.0L

[buzyg]

What was wrong with the M3.

[Mr Tidy]

Maybe a 4 door E92 M3 would have been a better idea!

[LordOxygen]

"It doesn't give any sense you're actually driving, more like floating around. "


That could be said of many run of the mill, mainstream cars these days. Nice places to be on a commute but a very disconnected driving experience.

[road warrior]

It's an automatic diesel, all comfort and no soul

[Jembo]

+1 for a C63 if you can...

[JamieZ4C]

You could always get it remapped. 20% increase (power & torque) is normally achievable and might make all the difference to your enjoyment of the car.

[GarethFishr]

I think it's the feel of the Z4's smooth petrol with lots of smiles which has caused the lack of love!

It's not even that economical either because it weighs so much. I get about 45mpg on a decent 200mi motorway run. I probably get 40mpg out of the Z4 on a similar journey.. plus gives the option of taking the backroads in the sun's out.

[ben g]

I love the looks of the 3 series GT. It's a bit of a quirky looking thing, which makes it stand out from every other 3/5 series rep mobile on the road.

I understand what you mean about feeling disconnected. When I drive my wifes A200, it doesn't give any feedback. Great car to cruise about/do long journeys in, but it just doesn't feel like i'm controlling where the car wants to go. I do love the automatic gearbox with the paddles though.

The Z4 is like the complete opposite bumpy, corners well enough, you can hear someone fart when driving past them and the engine/exhaust sound great.

I would not be selling a V8 M3 for anything though

[GarethFishr]

Tried something controversial with it and bought a tuning box from Tiger Tuning. Looked around and didn't go with the cheapest box and didn't go ridiculous. Balanced up how much I was willing to lose if it was totally rubbish - which equated to about £60.

The results are great though.. from what I can tell on the balanced mode of performance/economy it's smoothed the way the car changes gear. I doubt there's any real performance gain but the way it's controlling the revs and gear changes has transformed the car when pootling around town.. it's a bit less diesel-y.
Haven't tried it on a long motorway trip yet but will be in the next few days.

So far, £60 well spent.

[99ron]

The GT doesn't get a lot of love from the motoring press. Wagon is great if you need the convenience. 330d with xdrive is a great daily. 0 to 60 5.4. 6 pot diesel not too noisy. Then this sort of economy if keeping to legal speeds.