[bri1042]

Three years ago yesterday I signed the paperwork to trade in my DCT M2C, which I mostly loved with the some grumbles, for my 2021 IOMG M3 Manual. Due to the embargo, which was being randomly enforced depending on location, I was asked to hold off actually taking the car home until the 10th. Which was fine as I needed to return the audio system to stock in the M2C anyway.

I didn't really intend on buying the car that day. My SO was sick at home and I had wandered out to enjoy the sunny late Winter day. A random browse of my dealership's website showed the car, I sent my saleshuman an email without expecting a response, and he called before I could finish my coffee. It was such a laugh, and if I had anything to do that day, I probably wouldn't have gone to the dealership. I had SEEN the pictures of the new M3. I was sure I didn't actually want it. But I went to see it in real life instead of pictures.

My first view of the car was from the front and, all shiny and green, it didn't look that bad. I talked to my saleshuman and then just wandered around it and sat in it. My hand on the gearshift felt like coming home after 8 years of trying to be OK with automatic transmissions after a lifetime of manuals.

So I bought it, my SO wasn't surprised and assumed I would when I told him that I was going to "stop by" and see it. I was, after all, past two and a half years with the M2C and I haven't managed to keep a car for 3 years in a very, very long time.

Now I have. I've finally owned a BMW long enough to get the last included-with-purchase Maintenance Service completed. Fresh air filter, spark plugs, and oil for a 3 year-old Frog. Compared to every other car I've ever owned, I have loved this ownership experience. My M3 has been the best car I've owned. Zero actual issues in the first 3 years. There's no question that you can pick any particular attribute and find some other car that does it better, but with the entire package taken into account, and for the price I paid for it, I just don't think there's another car that matches it as an "only car" solution.

But it's not perfect, of course. Random list of things that I have not been all that fond of:

• I'm still not 100% onboard with the grille. I never hated it as much as others, but my SO and my friends all actually like the front more than I do.
• The hard armrest on the door. My arm isn't generally touching it while driving, but I sit in the car with a book and a coffee quite often (post-work drives, other times...just something I like to do). That thing is awful.
• Ground clearance and approach angle are still a problem with my stupid driveway/hill. Less so than with my M2C, thanks the longer wheelbase but still an issue. As long as I only go up the hill on the left side, I have the angle down so that I don't scrape anything. Sigh.
• The audio system, while better than what BMW served up in my previous BMWs, doesn't make me happy. The dumb center channel and the distance to each driver without timing control means that at some point if I keep the car I will spend money on it. The fact that isn't as bad as the M2C's has kept me from doing so yet, but that won't last.
• My particular build, which I did not spec, isn't exactly what I want it to be. I do wish I had a different color interior. I love IOMG but I have days of dreaming of having a red car again. I have a thing for red cars...always have. I also wish I was young enough to deal with the bucket seats, but I know that my lower back and right hip wouldn't be happy with the ingress/egress from them. I do yearn for full leather, too.
• Steering feel will never be what my brain wants it to be. It is, however, leagues ahead of what BMW was doing with EPS in 2013 or so. After 3 years of experimenting with Sport and Comfort steering on this car, I've come to the conclusion that the Sport setting should never be used.

That's about it for the "bad" list.

While the Frog was being serviced on Wednesday, they gave me a new M240i X-Drive as a loaner, which was great compared to the various -30i cars that they usually give us. It was an interesting experience. The shorter wheelbase had its charms, but I had to park it on the street as it freaked out (PDC yelling) when I stopped home with it and tried to go up my dumb hill. I didn't want to risk damaging a loaner. I don't think I could own the current M2 without buying a different house.
The M-lite version of "sporty chassis" was about what I remember from my 340. Competent but boring and a bit floppy. I don't think I can go back to cars that aren't full M (or similar from other manufacturers). It was a much better chassis experience than any of the electric cars I've been test driving off an on over the last few years, though.


Why I love this car was highlighted by my time with the loaner:

1. The way the car handles overall, on curves or just driving down the road. BMW knocked it out of the park with the way this car's chassis behaves in all conditions. The fact that it does what it does without punishing the occupants is nearly magic.
   
2. The S58 is probably my favorite engine I've ever gotten to experience for any significant amount of time.
   
3. Seating and trunk space match my only-car requirements very well. We've never failed to get purchases into this car easily. Anything we didn't buy because it wouldn't have fit would have been an issue for any Sedan or Coupe. This is a huge difference compared to my M2C that caused us cargo or seating issues constantly.
   
4. It's a modern sports sedan with a manual transmission. That it even exists is a near-miracle. And, yes, I have driven the CT4V-BW. I've stayed out of conversations about that car for the most part, but (in short) ignoring everything that's not stellar about that car just for the moderately better 6MT is something I find pretty funny when reviewers do so. Cadillac and BMW deserve really nice cookies for creating these cars when everyone else has chickened out.

So I made it to three years. I own the car outright now. Do I want a new car when I absolutely should NOT trade this car in?

Uh, sort of. I'm having a hard time fighting my desire to try something else. I am drawn to the AWD G8x but I'm very hesitant about the automatic. I still haven't driven it. I've driven everything adjacent to it...X3M, M-lites, etc...but not an M3/4 X-Drive. I recognize that I have purposefully avoided doing so.

I know that if I end up being bored by the automatic that I can just order another 6MT before the model run ends. It would all be really dumb financially, of course, but that's never stopped me before. Life is about living. We'll see what happens.

When I first saw the Frog and a third-birthday shot:

[secretariat]

Nice write up. I love IOMG but am very disappointed with the computer screen for a dashboard on all M cars now. Integrate the damn screen into the dashboard what do you have to lose.

[bri1042]

Originally Posted by secretariat

Nice write up. I love IOMG but am very disappointed with the computer screen for a dashboard on all M cars now. Integrate the damn screen into the dashboard what do you have to lose.

I've been happy enough with iDrive 7. I know what the magic BMW lady wants me to say to get the voice control to do what I want and rarely touch the iDrive knob or the legacy shortcut keys anymore between Voice Control, HVAC buttons, and Steering Wheel buttons. I've driven several cars with iDrive 8 as loaners or on other opportunities and I'm still not sold on it.

[LuckyBrand]

Very, very nice write up. I will have my IOMG 3 years in May as well. What an awesome car and experience. This is what makes this forum so much fun! Everyone telling their experiences and these are the ones I like to see.

I too am very happy still with ID7. We are looking at getting a new X5 and I think the new screens definitely fit that vehicle better. We actually like it on the X5.

As far as looking at other vehicles. I just think that as enthusiasts it's just the way were wired. We want to try different things even if what we have is awesome. I plan on keeping mine several more years but I do look and wonder at times lol. The problem I have with if I make a mistake and want to get back into a manual G80 is the price is at least 6 grand higher right off the bat for basically the same car I bought 3 years ago and I can't get .9 or 1.9% financing either. Now if they come out with a last hurrah M3 manual with an updated tranny and over 500 HP that'd make me think for sure.

[2011ninja]

Great write up and journey.

No way I’m selling my 40th Anniversary G80 6 Speed Manual unless BMW makes another 6 MT that either looks exotic or has some significant improvements!

Happy Birthday IOMG M3

[Mike02z]

Very nice write up! My frog turns 1 tomorrow…..1 week 😉

I’m really enjoying the manual. The only feature I miss from my prior M4 is full leather. This one only has ext leather😪Other than that, it’s already more fun for me than the auto even though I can’t push it yet. Only need 900 more miles to break-in service! Putting 300 miles on in a week is very unusual for me since I work from home and only drive it Saturday and Sunday

She goes in for the XPEL “cross country” package and 35% tint next week. I just purchased the SST valve controller, dash camera, and mirror tap for my Uniden R7.

[ipilcher]

If you love the car, but want to scratch the itch for change, look into doing some mods. Keeps it fresh, keeps you in the manual that you love, and costs an order of magnitude less than a new car.

[bri1042]

Originally Posted by ipilcher

If you love the car, but want to scratch the itch for change, look into doing some mods. Keeps it fresh, keeps you in the manual that you love, and costs an order of magnitude less than a new car.

Many mods are out of the question with my stupid driveway hill. Front splitter? Will break as soon as I get home. Lower it? Park in the street instead of the garage. If we'd seen this house earlier in our house-hunting day way back when, I might have realized how much of a problem the driveway would end up being, but I was tired and literally didn't notice it as I walked up it. Oh well.

I've already done the exhaust and I'm happy with it. And I don't enjoy some other mods that can be done, I'm a bit mellow in that regard. There are a few things I'm considering (audio changes, change the shift knob...stuff like that).

[Mike02z]

Originally Posted by bri1042

Many mods are out of the question with my stupid driveway hill. Front splitter? Will break as soon as I get home. Lower it? Park in the street instead of the garage. If we'd seen this house earlier in our house-hunting day way back when, I might have realized how much of a problem the driveway would end up being, but I was tired and literally didn't notice it as I walked up it. Oh well.

I've already done the exhaust and I'm happy with it. And I don't enjoy some other mods that can be done, I'm a bit mellow in that regard. There are a few things I'm considering (audio changes, change the shift knob...stuff like that).

Look on the bright side. At least you don’t have this driveway😂

[bri1042]

Originally Posted by Mike02z

Look on the bright side. At least you don’t have this driveway😂

That would, indeed, be slightly worse.

[BryanCO]

Great to see owners enjoying their car - especially the manual.

If you have the space, add something like a Shelby GT350. Buy one right and an 1-2 year ownership cost will be low.

[Mike02z]

Originally Posted by BryanCO

Great to see owners enjoying their car - especially the manual.

If you have the space, add something like a Shelby GT350. Buy one right and an 1-2 year ownership cost will be low.

I had a 17 GT350. Did not like it on the street. Tramlines like crazy. Also made very little tq down low so you really needed to drive it above 3500 RPM which drew cops for miles. It was a fun car but more track focused IMO.

[BryanCO]

Originally Posted by Mike02z

I had a 17 GT350. Did not like it on the street. Tramlines like crazy. Also made very little tq down low so you really needed to drive it above 3500 RPM which drew cops for miles. It was a fun car but more track focused IMO.

Yep! Horrible DD (I DDed mine for most of a year) but special every drive.

[bri1042]

Originally Posted by BryanCO

Great to see owners enjoying their car - especially the manual.

If you have the space, add something like a Shelby GT350. Buy one right and an 1-2 year ownership cost will be low.

Nope, no space for a third car. One spot in the garage for me, one for my SO. Thanks to the age of our neighborhood, all the folk who bought the houses when they were built have teenagers, most of whom are driving. Even street parking is a good question from day to day.

[Mike02z]

Damn man. My wife read the OP and now she insists on calling my car “The Frog” 😉

[bri1042]

Originally Posted by Mike02z

Damn man. My wife read the OP and now she insists on calling my car “The Frog” 😉

It's not easy being Green.

[mieh100]

This Frog gets more attention then exotic cars.

[bri1042]

Update:

I'm continuing to waffle on keeping the Frog or switching to an X-Drive M3 or M4. I've come close to pulling the trigger on several not-quite-spec'd-correctly used G8x's but haven't picked up the phone or sent the email. I've also indicated to my SA that I'm open to ordering an LCI M4, and I've been told I wouldn't have to wait long for an allocation.

This is probably the hardest car decision I've ever been in the position to make. The Frog is probably my favorite car I've ever owned and my reasons for wanting to make the switch are not terribly strong, but they are there and aren't going away.

A couple of waffle-time thoughts:

A recent Carmuddgeon show that included a lot of "30 Helens agree, it was better before" BS pointed at BMW by Jason did have a very good point that I knew was an issue instinctively but hadn't put into words. The turbos do spool down too much between shifts, no matter how well and quickly I execute the shift. There was another bizarre rant about big cars not being right for manuals on that episode based on manual sales on an 80's 7-series that made me laugh, but he wasn't wrong on the turbos-vs-shifting issue. I recall that being a massive problem on an early US-spec WRX that a friend of mine owned. Not as much of an issue with our cars, but it is there.

Going back to a manual was like coming home, and that's still a factor. But I have to admit that after 3 years, there is still a disconnect between what this engine wants and what the 6MT gives it. I'm not interested in having an argument about this point, it's how I feel about the mechanical sympathy of the car. And it took a lot for me to allow myself to admit that.

I originally switched from Acura to BMW when I had my RSX-S to move to AWD as much as for any other reason. My two M cars have been my only non-AWD BMWs, though I have historical experience with RWD BMWs. I don't ever think the AWD is more than it is like so many consumers do, but I do know what it does and does not add to the driving equation during the winter and during good weather months. I know I can't step back from M cars now that I've spent so much time with them, but it's hard not to want to meld my original BMW intentions with what M cars bring to the table, and without having to go to an SUV (X3M).

I thought that having the Frog paid off with title in hand would be more of a glorious thing than it is. The good feeling of paid-off car hasn't overridden the "what's next" and "life is short" impulses. I'm very surprised by that.

So the waffling continues. If a used AWD G8x with a "good enough" spec at a good enough price pops up, it'll probably end the waffling. If I'm presented with an allocation on the right day, that will probably end it, too.

[Llarry]

I'm at two years-plus and 100% with you on the front end styling: I went from "no way" to "well, I like the other aspects" and now grudging acceptance. The front end is not pretty but it has a certain aggressiveness that I now appreciate. And I'm firmly in the manual transmission camp, horsepower and torque be damned.

[bri1042]

Originally Posted by Llarry

I'm at two years-plus and 100% with you on the front end styling: I went from "no way" to "well, I like the other aspects" and now grudging acceptance. The front end is not pretty but it has a certain aggressiveness that I now appreciate. And I'm firmly in the manual transmission camp, horsepower and torque be damned.

I'm not sure I was clear enough...the "waffle" is that I'm not sure I can really live with an auto, mechanical sympathy issues or not. I actually don't care if the car is faster or not. I'm not racing people and I'm not a professional driver despite having had more training than many folk (it was a very long time ago). The dance of the manual is the only sort of dancing I'm any good at.

[GOLFFRR]

Originally Posted by Mike02z

Look on the bright side. At least you don’t have this driveway😂

no way thats real lol wow

[mjj]

Originally Posted by bri1042

Many mods are out of the question with my stupid driveway hill. Front splitter? Will break as soon as I get home. Lower it? Park in the street instead of the garage. If we'd seen this house earlier in our house-hunting day way back when, I might have realized how much of a problem the driveway would end up being, but I was tired and literally didn't notice it as I walked up it. Oh well.

I've already done the exhaust and I'm happy with it. And I don't enjoy some other mods that can be done, I'm a bit mellow in that regard. There are a few things I'm considering (audio changes, change the shift knob...stuff like that).

Google…curb ramp. Several options available.