Re: Don't touch that M3 just yet

[SMILLER@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Last week, in response to Bubba Duane's advice , David went on a rant
about modifying an M3:

>Date: Fri, 18 Dec 1998 11:30:40 -0500
>From: David Beatty <dbeatty@domain.elided>
>Subject: Don't touch that M3 just yet
<much snippage>
>I say (after break in) touch, caress it, treat it rough if you got the
>jack and don't mind the extra wear.  These cars are compromises for
>soft americans and yuppie poseurs, they beg to be modified.  The m3 is
>the fastest 4dr you can buy, which is sad considering it could be even
>faster without the extra $10k in lthr, gimmick computers and
>buttwarmers.  Any motorcyclist will tell you:  you can't have too much
>power, too much grip, too much brake or too little weight.  Why does the
>glove compartment door on my //m rdstr weigh about 8lbs?  No one
>learns to swim in the shallow end.  If you wrap it around a telephone
>pole, there's one more low mileage //m engine to put in a 2002 (that was
>a JOKE).  When I find a car that will do 0-60 in 2.8 and 0-100 in 5.9 like
>my scoot, I'll probably say enough.  
>
>There's a name for people who make cosmetic changes and no mech
>mods:  poseurs.  Sorry if I just hurt someone's feelings, but someone
>had to tell you.  that's not to say poseurs don't get women, they just
>don't get women worth having (i.e., women that know cars).  
<more snippage>
>Still research is a smart move.  
<and more snippage>
>Sorry, I'm just venting.  
<and final snippage>
>David D. Beatty
>99 //m rdstr

Now it's my turn.  Duane didn't say not to make performance mods.  He
just said to learn the car first.  The cosmetic stuff was just to give the
potential M3 buyer something to do during the "year of learning".  The
performance mods would presumably come later.

Duane offered sound advice, IMHO.  There is a major safety issue here. 
Unless you've had lots of track instruction in a similar high performance
car (one might argue that there is no such similar high performance car,
compared to the M3, save for the M Roadster and M Coupe), you really
aren't ready to handle the M3's 240 HP.  Also, in stock form, the car is
very forgiving (so I've been told).  Once modified, it requires sharper
reflexes to keep control of the car (or any such modified car) when
approaching its limits.  By taking time to get to know the car's stock
behavior, you are reducing the risk of getting in over your head once you
start making performance mods.  You'll also have a better idea of the
kinds of mods you want to make after you've lived with the car for a
while.

Just buying an M3 is a major performance upgrade.  The next upgrade
should be to (how many times have we heard this?) the "nut that holds
the wheel".  Save your money now, make the mods later, you'll be glad
you did.

Just my opinion.  Heck, David, you said it yourself when you said
"research is a smart move".  And, venting is just fine, and what better
place to do it than with 3 or 4 thousand of your friends and
acquaintences "listening"?   :^)

Scott Miller
Golden Gate Chapter
BMW CCA #44977

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