It’s the tires. Regular PS4S have soft sidewalls that make the handling less confidence inspiring. Cup 2’s or at least BMW star-marked 4S’s would help a lot.
Nah, stage 2+ is overkill unless all you care about is highway races & burn outs. The power you can get out of the car with FBO is insane but quickly outperforms what the chassis is capable of for spirited driving
Hard to deny the m3, all the practicality of a normal sedan but with a playful character. Installed Ohlins RT and upgraded bushings, feels like a completely different car.
I had an F80 Comp Manual that was a Dinan S3 but tuned it with Bootmod and tuned the steering/suspension/diff etc to CS/GTS stuff as well. I drove it around most of the time in the CS+ Tune, as you stated, it can have too much power and it just isn't as fun as it just builds so much torque you don't ever need to rev it out. The CS tune is more NA-ish. You'll also want the rear stabilizer links, the car under hard acceleration can toe out in the rear from the bushing flex which could be what you're feeling. Overall F80 is a terrible backroads car (i live in norcal too), horrible steering communication, and if you ever try the brakes on a downhill section, you'll find them to be overmatched and lack of confidence. The motor/engine/transmission is incredible though
I found the og M2 the same, so much hype then drove it. Arcade machine steering feel, no finesse, felt like a pig with high cog. Haven't driven one but I'd imagine the E9x gen M3 was probably the last goodun..
@@patrickbateman7122 each generation introduced more electrical shenanigans that further deviated from the pure driving experience + weight gain. Our days are limited
@@akkando yeah i just looked and they're around 1600kg so probably not for me either. Why couldn't BMW just make a modern version of an e30 m3, it doesn't even have to be the top model..i just want manual,tops 1350kg, 2 door 😭
Think that is a fair sentiment, certainly a German muscle car! Will definitely be looking into proper coilovers. Previously (as in two weeks before this video was filmed), I had been living in the northeast where the public roads were the limiting factor of running any sort of track focused suspension. Some friend/fellow enthusiasts had everything from KWs off a M4 GTS to Ohlins R&T which are supposed to be dual purpose and they all wanted to shake your teeth filings out haha.
One thing I'll say about mechanical "weak links" in the S55 is the charge pipes, j pipe, and the top mount intercooler. Each of these have failed me on my dual-purpose M2C, which has never been tuned and is on the OEM turbo. It sees half a dozen track days a year and a decent amount of street miles. If you track an S55, you might run into these issues. If tuned, it is even more probable. Still, I'm considering picking up a ZCP F80 with DCT so I can have a family sedan that my wife can drive in a pinch, but that can also hang for a full day of lapping if my M2C is sidelined. I'm awfully tempted by the 8Y Audi RS3 (2022+), since it'd be a great family sedan, can send a bit more torque to the rear compared to other Audis with the old Haldex system, and with some very minor tweaks it might handle a day of lapping in a pinch. I hesitate because I fear it'd feel artificial and lack a sense of humor on the street that the F8X platforms bring in spades. Anyone drive an 8Y RS3? Fenton, got any plans to get your hands on one?
I agree with you in that last month I bought an F80 CS. Tracked it and have some street miles on it, but I like my M2C much more. They’re similar, but the F80 is now redundant in my garage. I’ll flash the very linear tune of the CS to my M2C. The CS’s tune is S55 perfected, but I much prefer my manual box and the shorter wheelbase of my F87.
I know this is an M3 but when I installed RSR springs to my IS, it drove more sloppy than stock suspension. I feel like you really have to get proper coil over set ups or stick with stock than throwing on some springs
Nice video! I have a 600 whp flex thned F80 and I do it all a lot of canyons too. You have to trust the car point where you want to go and the car sorts itself out. It's an amazing machine and very satisfying to drive. But, you have to respect it but not be scared of it too much. It slides it spins but if you point where you want to go it just goes. If you want all traction no slide f80 is not for you imo. You can spin the entire way and have total control I've never driven a car this precise and so playful. When you go into it half ass it won't reward you as much. I agree with suspension 100% I have similar and it's comfortable but NOT inspiring like my last setup but more comfy. Oh well.
I would delete edc and get proper coilovers on this f80, like ohlins road and track. I don’t have f80 but f30 with adaptive msport suspension, by far best mod was bilstein coilovers. I only have around 470whp, it feels just right for this chassis and suspension. Granted f80 chassis is better, should handle 500whp no issues with proper suspension.
I had a 435i so obviously no way near as powerful but my feelings were still similar. Numb steering and the chassis just never felt settled. Even with B12 pro kit and eibach ARBs.
Do you feel the extra weight/size on the m3 over the m2c? Trying to decide between the two as a daily, however I don't really care for 4 doors/extra space. I liked how easy it was the slide around in the m2c. Have yet to drive the m3
Too much engine without proper money spent on suspension and braking. Its a very 'American' build. 12 grand set of wheels but no brake upgrade? Bizarre.
The Dads in the Costco parking lot love the 12k wheels so…..😂 For my uses of highway cruising and grocery runs, the factory suspension (especially the EDC) is a better fit. Running upgraded brake pads works for my current uses. Definitely sacrifice a bit of the handling sharpness, but have a C8 Z51 for that.
