[Brunotheboxer]

Its funny you mention the lag Ed because I have noticed in my car that is a little over a week that the lag is about 0.5 seconds on my car at worst. Sometimes I feel zero lag at all and once or twice now I have felt a noticeable lag but not enough to worry about.

[JulieDriving]

This worries me.

First of all, THANK-YOU for the detailed and excellent review. You covered the points I was interested in.

Second, CONGRATULATIONS on an awesome M3!

My worry has to do with the large variability between the two M's. Where I live, demos seem to be demos, and I understand why. (When I picked up my new car, I wanted to ensure it had never been test driven and that the km was absolutely minimal).

I am considering a M3 as the other car, and had heard of the DCT lag issue that affects some DCT-equipped cars - but had heard that the problem has been resolved.

My 335i has no perceptible lag whatsoever. Any lag, especially of that length in a M3 - I would be extremely frustrated. And I am sure the dealer would say, "That's normal".

Frak, maybe I should be looking at used ones so that I can try the specific ones beforehand??!

[Edward]

Originally Posted by Brunotheboxer

Its funny you mention the lag Ed because I have noticed in my car that is a little over a week that the lag is about 0.5 seconds on my car at worst. Sometimes I feel zero lag at all and once or twice now I have felt a noticeable lag but not enough to worry about.

yea it happens here and there but sometimes it's not there and the car is ready to pounce forward at your command. Definitely nothing to worry about. But you definitely can't expect a lag free car with the is.

[boostd92]

Originally Posted by Edward

Only once did I feel massive lag in this car to the point where I thought I was going to get rear ended.
I was in stopped traffic on the 10 fwy heading to santa monica and decided I had enough. I see cars heading towards the exit ramp I was just able to slide into and I decide to point the car and mash the pedal down.
In these situations, immediate reaction from the car is crucial and that is not what I received. The car literally didn't move for some split seconds until it reached about 1500+ rpm. I think 1.5 seconds is a decent sized exaggeration because 1.5 seconds is a very long time in car speak. I'd say that it was more like a .7-.8 second delay before the car knew you were really wanting the damn thing to scoot fast.

For those reading this that are concerned about this "lag" from a stop.... if you are buying a 6MT, this does not need to happen. If you have your revs up to 2500 (takes a split second) or even just slip the clutch more while giving it more gas, the turbos spool nearly instantly.

Load + RPM = Boost.

You really can't modulate the "load" on a DCT/Auto like you can with a clutch pedal.

[cap_freez]

[QUOTE=

Next, I started off with the sport button ON, but the stick in NORMAL mode (not sport mode), so that I could baseline the performance, just to make sure it was doing the same thing it did 2 days ago when I first tested it. As expected, it had the same lag. It is between 1 and 1.5 seconds. What happens is (from a dead stop, idling at just under 1K RPM), as soon as I hit the gas pedal hard, the RPM's immediately jump to 1,700 RPM and just hang around for 1 to 1.5 seconds, and then I start to hear the whoosh of the turbos, and then it just takes off hard after that.

[/QUOTE]

This is normal with a DCT... it actually modulates the clutch for you on takeoff in first gear, it's not lag... its gradually letting go of the clutch.

[Go Autobahn]

Originally Posted by rockrboy

This is normal with a DCT... it actually modulates the clutch for you on takeoff in first gear, it's not lag... its gradually letting go of the clutch.

I really want to believe that it is DCT lag, not turbo lag, but in my M3 the DCT has NO such lag at all. The throttle response is instantaneous from a dead stop hitting it hard. Unless they put a different DCT in the 335is or something that isn't tuned as well as the ones they put into the M3's.

[Verbiage]

Originally Posted by Go Autobahn

I really want to believe that it is DCT lag, not turbo lag, but in my M3 the DCT has NO such lag at all. The throttle response is instantaneous from a dead stop hitting it hard. Unless they put a different DCT in the 335is or something that isn't tuned as well as the ones they put into the M3's.

Its gotta be turbo lag. Why would the DCT lag if it works fine in a naturally aspirated car?

[Crazy Bimmer]

Congrats on the M3!

[Edward]

Whatever bit of lag I'm talking about is probably no different from what you feel in every other normal N54 that came along before the 335is. Torque kicks in at the same 1500 rpm. I think that having a manual might be the only way to shorten lag because you can rev before moving to spool the turbos early. I don't think it has anything to do with DCT. DCT is faster than the stig can shift on his best day and a transmission delay in transferring power to the wheels makes very little sense when the car is already in gear.

[RedBarron]

So you live in tallahasee! Maybe I will see you around, I'm at capitaleuro cars all the time!

[Go Autobahn]

Originally Posted by Bavarian III

Its gotta be turbo lag. Why would the DCT lag if it works fine in a naturally aspirated car?

Exactly. That was my conclusion as well.

[Go Autobahn]

Originally Posted by RedBarron

So you live in tallahasee! Maybe I will see you around, I'm at capitaleuro cars all the time!

Cool! Run me down when you see me on the road, and we'll have a chat. Just give me the E90Post hand sign, and I'll know it's not some kid trying to race me.

[Go Autobahn]

Originally Posted by JulieDriving

This worries me.

First of all, THANK-YOU for the detailed and excellent review. You covered the points I was interested in.

Second, CONGRATULATIONS on an awesome M3!

My worry has to do with the large variability between the two M's. Where I live, demos seem to be demos, and I understand why. (When I picked up my new car, I wanted to ensure it had never been test driven and that the km was absolutely minimal).

I am considering a M3 as the other car, and had heard of the DCT lag issue that affects some DCT-equipped cars - but had heard that the problem has been resolved.

My 335i has no perceptible lag whatsoever. Any lag, especially of that length in a M3 - I would be extremely frustrated. And I am sure the dealer would say, "That's normal".

Frak, maybe I should be looking at used ones so that I can try the specific ones beforehand??!

My advice to you would be to not custom order your car, but somehow (if possible) find several cars you can test drive first and pick one that you know performs flawlessly.

[zoom335is]

Great review I just picked up my 335is yesterday and threw up some pic and a quick review. http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=401410

In the end I took the 335is over the M3 because I don't want a heavy V8 engine, the inline six is what made BMW. And since the inline 6 could be chipped to produce more than 500 HP and I can always upgrade the breaks and suspension I didn't see a reason to get an M3 with a big V8. Besides M3 is for image where the 335is a rare and collectors model. Now if we are talking about the M3 GTS thats different lol. In any case you have posted a great review, covering important issues. In the end we are all bimmer fans

Cheers!

[E92BSM10]

like the red m3 better im not a fan of the 4 door m3

[Go Autobahn]

Originally Posted by zoom335is

Great review I just picked up my 335is yesterday and threw up some pic and a quick review. http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=401410

In the end I took the 335is over the M3 because I don't want a heavy V8 engine, the inline six is what made BMW. And since the inline 6 could be chipped to produce more than 500 HP and I can always upgrade the breaks and suspension I didn't see a reason to get an M3 with a big V8. Besides M3 is for image where the 335is a rare and collectors model. Now if we are talking about the M3 GTS thats different lol. In any case you have posted a great review, covering important issues. In the end we are all bimmer fans

Cheers!

Understood. If it weren't for the hot chick in your photo, I might be able to respond intelligently, but for now I'm just like...

[Hedges]

Your loss buddy! You didnt test out the 328I with PBX!!!!







haha jk Good choice on the ride man, i'm jealous!

[CarForHire]

Originally Posted by Hedges

Your loss buddy! You didnt test out the 328I with PBX!!!!







haha jk Good choice on the ride man, i'm jealous!

[ImStig]

Go Autobahn - Great in-depth review! I was wondering if you can comment on the ride difference between the M3 ZCP (on comfort & normal) vs the 335is? Was the ride quality noticeable?

Also, what are your impressions now that you have the car for more than 1 month? Do you still feel the same about the stock stereo?

[Fugly M3]

with tinted windows the red will look amazing. stole my heart too. not an M3 but and not red interior but still is a unique color, congrats!

[EDM92]

Wonderful write up! Can we get this on the front page?

[RC3]

Great review.

Off topic question: the dealer let you test drive all these brand new car in the States?
In Hong Kong, we have demo cars. People would only buy brand new cars fresh from delivery.