BMW and M Power Owners

My car at the time was a 911 turbo, the cla was about 50hp down if I remember right. Very soft as well. I'm sure it's a nice car but it just felt slow. Fair enough if you think it's a ******** post but that was my opinion. Also I have no idea if my car had previously been remapped so it's possible it was higher than standard. Also 0-60 is not everything. This might be obvious but it had none of the theatre I was used to.
Fair enough then I'll take that, I'm sure you'll concede though, on the face of it, the post came across as a truck load of horse dung.... :D
 
My car at the time was a 911 turbo, the cla was about 50hp down if I remember right. Very soft as well. I'm sure it's a nice car but it just felt slow. Fair enough if you think it's a ******** post but that was my opinion. Also I have no idea if my car had previously been remapped so it's possible it was higher than standard. Also 0-60 is not everything. This might be obvious but it had none of the theatre I was used to.

Yeah... there are a lot more factors to consider than the headline figures suggest.

Weight, engine size, power band, torque band, power delivery, gear box ratios, speed of change, type of change, throttle mapping, engine mapping (you can have the exact same engine in different cars that feel like completely different engines because one's been tuned for a relaxing cruise with the power delivery & throttle maps to match and the other is designed to be a more pokey sports car)... more I could go on, but it makes the point.

You can have two cars of identical weight / gearbox and identical peak power figures... let's say 400bhp & 300ftlb... but one gets it from a highly boosted 2.0 4-pot and the other from a nice 5.0 v8... or your 911 tubby.

Even though the figures and specs suggest that they should be practically indistinguishable in their driving characteristics... the 5.0 v8 will be the much nicer car to drive... unless it's and old-school turbo setup that suddenly dumps a load of boost on you at 4,000rpm... which can be a giggle when you get that mega blast following next to nothing.

The reason is the v8 will have a much wider power and torque band & doesn't need to spool up the turbos to get the figures... with the turbo system in the cla45 not being the most efficient of what's out there at the moment (although, there are some implementations - like BMW that do a really good job of hiding the turbo from the feeling the driver has of the power delivery).

Porsche have always been ahead of the curve when it comes to power deliver from turbo engines... so your 911 turbo will have felt closer to an NA engine than turbo cars from most other manufacturers... they know how to do it well.

So yes, I can completely understand why the CLA felt slow... especially in comparison to something like a 911 turbo which has a fantastic gearbox to pair with it, where the one in that Merc is very lacking.
 
Anybody have any dealing with BM Automotive near Wolverhampton? - http://www.bmautomotivesolutions.co.uk

I'm considering my options for my e38's next service (Inspection II) and I'm looking at alternatives to dealers given those I've spoken to seem uninterested at best and I'm looking at circa £580 - with considerable haggling - from them, the general consensus from the e38 groups I'm a member of is steering me toward using a specialist but part of me equally wants to maintain its meticulous BMW history...

It's a long term keeper so ultimate resale value isn't really my goal,but it's a consideration of course,I just want it looking after correctly but without having my pants pulled down....

More than willing to travel for the right place although unfortunately Munich Legends are a bit too far. :D

Any recommendations gratefully received. :)
 
Last edited:
Wouldnt miss mine at all, never use them. (Diesel auto with paddles). The thing which catches me out is turbo lag, not the box really.
I suspect I'd never use them on a big diesel with a proper gearbox either. In my DSG petrol Golf, however, I use them all the time.
 
Well the car I was gonna go see was sold this morning. So maybe the next one will have the paddles.

Not too disappointed about it going, as the dealer said they think it had been remapped but they weren't sure, and it had some other mods not mentioned in the advert.

The search continues!
 
My X3 (2012) is showing its due a "Vehicle Inspection (visual inspection due soon)" and "Engine Oil (oil change due soon)" next month. It's currently done 37,900 miles. The dealer said this will be £442 +GST (VAT), which includes microfilter. He's suggested the fuel and air filters may also be due, but this does not show up in the service requirements, price of the fuel filter is £149 +GST. So he's suggested doing the larger Inspection 2 service which is £645 +GST, which includes the air filter. All sound kosher? I've not told the dealer the mileage but he referred to my past key data.

The AC has also not been working very well (doesn't really get cold, particularly through the left side vents), so he's said the AC will firstly need re-gassing to detect if the level is low and to check for any leaks. The price for this is £139 +GST, he said they inject a UV die which will help discovering any leaks. If a leak is found is this just wear and tear or is it covered by the comprehensive extended warranty?

Also, my front brakes are showing due for change in 7,000km, but I only had them changed in August 2017 and have barely done 10,000km since then (always short journeys, low speed), this cant be right surely. The rears were changed about 3 months before the fronts and show 36,000km left :confused: Did they install brake pads made out of fudge?
 
Fair enough then I'll take that, I'm sure you'll concede though, on the face of it, the post came across as a truck load of horse dung.... :D
Yea, I find it hard on forums to word things so absolutely however if I owned a 918 (I wish) then it would have been true. Speeds a relative thing, a 911 is quite a bit lower which makes it feel faster. I actually feel my e92 m3 is slow compared to my 911 (until it gets to 5,000 revs or so). I realise I'm digressing but I'm amazed Porsche don't do something to rival m3/4, it's n9t as though they'd be diluting the brand anymore than they already have done. I believe the Portland on the 911 is more akin to a N/A engine then a current modern turbo I.e power climbs at 4,000 rather then being there from idle.
 
Think I've decided to sell the 340i :(
  • 2 speeding offences within the past few months meaning that (even if i) keep my license I won't be able to properly enjoy the car; i mean realistically I never really could in this country but nevertheless.
  • Furthermore, it's costing me £600 a month on finance and insurance;
  • I regularly use my (motor)bike for work although yes I do drive home (230 mile each way) maybe once a month which it is comfortable for
  • It was incredible driving it over in Germany last September; I'm going over again this September for 5 days, could be the 'swan song' so to speak.
  • If i were to hire a car for a week next year lets say to go over to Germany for a week, I'm pretty sure I could hire even an M3 for far far less than the amount I'd be saving by not having the 340i year-round.
I've gone back and forth, but i've had the car for 18 months now and whenever a big bill comes up, namely for example, my other speeding offence :p which originally came up as an £880 fine :( my first thought is 'should i sell the car?' When I moved south last June and it was much easier to use my bike for work due to traffic, it didn't move for a month, 'Should I sell the car?'

All that said? I ******* adore the car, the engine, the noise :D Parents have told me I'd regret getting rid and I totally agree, but, £600 a month is a lot of money and I'm in a pretty privileged position career wise where in my option B) in 5 years lets say, I could comfortably get another one, or Option A) 15 years down the line we'd be looking at Lamborghini's :p
 
Just make sure you don't regret it, and lose even more money buying something else.

For replacements I've thought about a few things. Something decent, but still (in relative terms)cheap. Top of my head, let's say a Fiesta/Seat Leon for example (Something light, change suspension and stuff so it handles like a dog :D ). A small van with a bed in the back and a trackbike, slightly larger van also with a bed and a trackbike in there. Carbon road bike if i lose my license :(
 
For replacements I've thought about a few things. Something decent, but still (in relative terms)cheap. Top of my head, let's say a Fiesta/Seat Leon for example (Something light, change suspension and stuff so it handles like a dog :D ). A small van with a bed in the back and a trackbike, slightly larger van also with a bed and a trackbike in there. Carbon road bike if i lose my license :(
Honestly, just use Waze. Or pretend your nan was driving :D

I did something similar when I lost my licence for a week YEARS ago for going too fast on an empty motorway on a lovely summer's afternoon.
Anyway, long story short. Ended up getting a 3.0 Volvo S90 to "slow me down", only to buy a Z3 Coupe a few weeks later :o
 
Honestly, just use Waze. Or pretend your nan was driving :D

I did something similar when I lost my licence for a week YEARS ago for going too fast on an empty motorway on a lovely summer's afternoon.
Anyway, long story short. Ended up getting a 3.0 Volvo S90 to "slow me down", only to buy a Z3 Coupe a few weeks later :o

I've downloaded waze and given it a go. Will use it if i feel like driving enthusiastically :p But even still, its £600 a month which I'd kinda prefer to spend on doing trackdays on my bike. Also going 4-in on a track car in the next few months :)
 
2 speeding offences within the past few months meaning that (even if i) keep my license I won't be able to properly enjoy the car; i mean realistically I never really could in this country but nevertheless.

I don't understand when people say stuff like this. How can you not control yourself? It's not like it's a super lightweight car that reaches silly speeds in the blink of an eye either!

We all drive a little enthusiastically more often than none, but there's a time and a place for all of that. I imagine you are a much younger driver though? My license is still clean!

Drive smart!

l22RVKS.gif
 
I don't understand when people say stuff like this. How can you not control yourself? It's not like it's a super lightweight car that reaches silly speeds in the blink of an eye either!

We all drive a little enthusiastically more often than none, but there's a time and a place for all of that. I imagine you are a much younger driver though? My license is still clean!
Drive smart!

Because it's addictive? And i enjoy driving quick. And while it's not a 'super lightweight car' it is pretty ******* quick... Just turned 26, it was clean until June or so, and then I've had this one aswell :(

I think part of it isn't not being able to control myself, but not wanting to? For example, this speeding offence, dual carriageway, central reservation, Sunny, bright, bone dry conditions, excellent visibility, me and one other car in this mile long stretch. It sucks that in these as close to perfect conditions as we're going to get, I can't enjoy the car I spend a hell of a lot of money on. Now of course, it's my decision to own what car I own, and ironically i said visibility was excellent and yet I didn't see the camera van in time, but again, that's entirely on me.


I think fundamentally, our road network is terrible. We(Brits) can't be trusted to drive safely taking into account the conditions of the road. Furthermore, driving over in Germany was incredible. In the 30kmph villages in Germany, did I speed once? No, was i temtped to? Not at all. Because I know on the other side of the village, the road will be back up to 85mph(ish) limit, and it was always raining while i was over there so i was nowhere near this 85mph limit.

I just ******* hate driving in the UK and I want to move to Germany, literally because of the roads.


This post got long, turned into more of a rant than an actual reply to you :p
 
Last edited:
Speed is addictive, but great power = great responsibility etc etc. Just use some smarts and you'll never have an issue, ever.
 
Speed is addictive, but great power = great responsibility etc etc. Just use some smarts and you'll never have an issue, ever.

Of course, had I had better awareness then i'd have avoided both (which sucks; I pride myself on demanding high-standards of myself in everything I do :( )
 
Not at all. Because I know on the other side of the village, the road will be back up to 85mph(ish) limit, and it was always raining while i was over there so i was nowhere near this 85mph limit.

What German roads have an 85mph limit? With the exception of derestricted aurobahns the limits there are largely the same as here. You certainly can't go around at 85mph on anything but an autobahn.
 
What German roads have an 85mph limit? With the exception of derestricted aurobahns the limits there are largely the same as here. You certainly can't go around at 85mph on anything but an autobahn.

It was last year so may have the figures wrong :p But my point being in Germany I never felt the need to speed :)

I've had a google and I've no idea where I've plucked the 85mph from..
 
Even with that gearbox, I use them a lot if I'm out for an "enthusiastic drive". If I leave it in Auto it's in too high of a gear when coming out of corners so there's a slight delay when putting the power down and it drops down again. I downshift into the corners knowing what gear I'll need to be in and then it's a smooth exit from the corner.

If you're just driving day-to-day though, there's no real point to them. The constant gear changing you'd be doing in an 8-speed would quickly become tedious, it might be a bit better in a 6 or 7 speed.

This. I found this especially true in my M135i. Auto for the commute, paddles for the weekend :)
 
Back
Top Bottom