Free F80 M3 24hr test drive... thank you BMW!

ph001 · Post by **ph001** » Tue May 01, 2018 3:55 pm

So a pretty standard looking marketing letter arrived from BMW corporate last week offering free 24hr test drives of selected BMW models so I obviously fired up the PC and went online to the website expecting a 320d to be about the most exciting thing on offer. Surprised then indeed to find an M3 competition pack at the top of the list with a tick box next to it just waiting to be clicked!

Within about 48hrs I had a call from my local main dealer with a string of the usual questions along the lines of:

When are you looking to buy? - Answer, not really looking at swapping at the mo.
What finance package can I sell you? - Answer none, because I'm not really looking to buy one!

After that revelation, the nice lady said she would have to speak to her manager and would be in touch!! Yeh right.

So you can imagine my surprise yesterday when she called back to say the 24hr test drive had been APPROVED!!!

It gets delivered on Monday!

WTF!

Smartbear · Post by **Smartbear** » Tue May 01, 2018 4:06 pm

Make sure you’ve plenty of petrol money

Rob

ph001 · Post by **ph001** » Tue May 01, 2018 4:13 pm

... just looking up 'launch control' on Youtube

slick · Post by **slick** » Tue May 01, 2018 5:05 pm

Get a track day booked .......

Maniac · Post by **Maniac** » Tue May 01, 2018 5:06 pm

ph001 wrote: ↑Tue May 01, 2018 4:13 pm ... just looking up 'launch control' on Youtube

A) pity the final owner
B) launch won’t work during running in period

RustyZ4 · Post by **RustyZ4** » Tue May 01, 2018 5:37 pm

Spare set of rubber and watch out for the speed cameras,,, A perfect toy to play with, what's not to like

ph001 · Post by **ph001** » Tue May 01, 2018 5:46 pm

RustyZ4 wrote: ↑Tue May 01, 2018 5:37 pm Spare set of rubber and watch out for the speed cameras

No fixed speed cameras in N.Yorkshire

...but plenty of mobile vans so you never know where they are

Looking forward to giving an unbiased review actually. I have an E46 M3 at present but suspect it will be a radically different driving experience with the 3.0L twin turbo.

MrPT · Post by **MrPT** » Tue May 01, 2018 5:47 pm

I'd be offended. They clearly think you are an unprincipled man who will cave in and buy one at the first turn of the wheel.

When you hand it back, say it was good but you wish they did something a bit smaller, maybe with 404bhp and 2 doors. And when you return that one, which could be later in the summer, look the guy in the eye and say "I liked that one too, but on second thoughts I'd love something much bigger with a lot more power, mate... mmmmmmm-eight.... M...8...".

ph001 · Post by **ph001** » Tue May 01, 2018 5:48 pm

slick wrote: ↑Tue May 01, 2018 5:05 pm Get a track day booked .......

Haha, tempting but maybe taking things a bit far

Maniac wrote: ↑Tue May 01, 2018 5:06 pm B) launch won’t work during running in period

Whaaaaaaaaat!!! Actually it turns out from a little research that launch control on the M3 / M4 aint very controlled at all. The only thing it does is hold the throttle at a preset rpm - there is no traction management at all. Sounds like a great way to find the nearest hedge to me!

buzyg · Post by **buzyg** » Tue May 01, 2018 5:49 pm

Book the day off and enjoy

Look forward to a full writeup with pics.

buzyg · Post by **buzyg** » Tue May 01, 2018 5:51 pm

ph001 wrote: ↑Tue May 01, 2018 5:48 pm
slick wrote: ↑Tue May 01, 2018 5:05 pm Get a track day booked .......
Haha, tempting but maybe taking things a bit far

Maniac wrote: ↑Tue May 01, 2018 5:06 pm B) launch won’t work during running in period
Whaaaaaaaaat!!! Actually it turns out from a little research that launch control on the M3 / M4 aint very controlled at all. The only thing it does is hold the throttle at a preset rpm - there is no traction management at all. Sounds like a great way to find the nearest hedge to me!

Mind the Hedgehogs.

MrPT · Post by **MrPT** » Tue May 01, 2018 6:13 pm

ph001 wrote: ↑Tue May 01, 2018 5:48 pm
Whaaaaaaaaat!!! Actually it turns out from a little research that launch control on the M3 / M4 aint very controlled at all. The only thing it does is hold the throttle at a preset rpm - there is no traction management at all. Sounds like a great way to find the nearest hedge to me!

I heard that. It's insane that there are so many things done in these cars to "nanny" the driver, but they make the launch control mode totally unhinged. Not sure what they were thinking because it's both dangerous (especially with the gen 1 F8x's traction) and slow.

ph001 · Post by **ph001** » Tue May 01, 2018 7:56 pm

Yeh, don’t see why they can’t still have some control enabled but with loose reigns...bit like the M track mode on the CSL. I wonder how many owners binned it the first time they tried launch control

Mr Tidy · Post by **Mr Tidy** » Tue May 01, 2018 8:07 pm

I hope you have a great 24 hours.

It'll be interesting to see how many miles you can put on it!

Yorkie Z · Post by **Yorkie Z** » Tue May 01, 2018 8:38 pm

Soooooo Jealous!!! That's going to be so much fun, I'd be planning a late night run and £100 for fuel. Have a great time

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