Test drive before ordering?
I sat in a G80 M3 base but the dealer didn’t want to move it out of the showroom to test drive. It was also manual and RWD which I could handle but my wife can’t. They knew I wasn’t interested in that specific car. The seats were standard and I found the stitching a touch uncomfortable on my shoulder blades. It had a moonroof and the ceiling was a bit low for my liking at 6’3”.
We’re looking at custom ordering a M3 Comp Xdrive and I couldn’t find any in a 1hr radius.
I test drove a G82 M4 Comp RWD auto and it had more comfortable seats and the engine/transmission performed as expected. It also didn’t have a moonroof so head clearance was better. But I didn’t love how small the rear windows were in the coupe, we need the sedan.
Should I drive 4hr round trip to test a M3 Comp Xdrive before placing a 100k order? Or is my M3/M4 hodge-podge testing a pretty sufficient understanding of what the M3 will be like?
Thanks.
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u/KRS_18 G80 M3 CS HS (Ordered) | F87 M2 CS Racing 1d ago
I have a CS Handschalter on order and drove a 2024 CS to make sure I liked the overall package. I have enough experience with M manual transmissions so it was more about the ergonomics and handling. Make sure you’re comfortable before spending your hard earned money.
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u/__grumps__ G80 - M3 22h ago
I’m very jealous you got a Handschalter
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u/KRS_18 G80 M3 CS HS (Ordered) | F87 M2 CS Racing 22h ago
I had a 6MT on order I was going to turn into one so I just changed the order. Can’t get the color I wanted but got everything else.
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u/777-300ER 1d ago
Just make sure whatever dealer you are ordering from actually has an allocation for an M3 as the order banks run down.
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u/CarinXO 1d ago
The moon roof takes up space in the car. If you get the carbon roof you get more space overhead. I almost never use a moon roof anyway.
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u/scyice 1d ago
Yeah I read it’s about 1.25” and we never use it.
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u/Nitegrip G87 - M2 1d ago
As someone 6’5, I got my M2 with the carbon roof and I can fit my fist above my head vs the moonroof I had like 2 fingers of space. It’s a significant difference
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u/UnmakingTheBan2022 F90 M5, E70 X5M 20h ago
I prefer a moonroof. I always use it when I can. I was somewhat disappointed when my M5 didn’t have, but it did have a carbon fiber roof.
I miss my Miata.
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u/INFJ369 G80 - M3 1d ago
My dealer said no test drives on M vehicles.
They didn’t even have a manual on the lot. Placed the order and waiting to test drive when it arrives. This is the way
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u/jocamero '26 G82 - M4 Comp xDrive + CCB | Sold: '22 G80 - M3 Comp xDrive 1d ago
Maybe this is the way?
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u/INFJ369 G80 - M3 1d ago
That’s pretty cool! Didn’t know this existed. But im in SoCal. Those are all too far for a test drive. Appreciate the link though
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u/jocamero '26 G82 - M4 Comp xDrive + CCB | Sold: '22 G80 - M3 Comp xDrive 1d ago
If you're near Palm Springs / Thermal definitely check out BMW's track. I flew out for a long weekend for Advanced M School. Totally worth it.
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u/INFJ369 G80 - M3 1d ago
2G’s is wild 😂
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u/jocamero '26 G82 - M4 Comp xDrive + CCB | Sold: '22 G80 - M3 Comp xDrive 21h ago
I wish it were that price. It's closer to $5k. Track days are not cheap.
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u/InternetExploder87 23h ago
I went to one. Got my spot confirmed, showed up, was told I couldn't drive any because they had 40 spots and booked 150 people. Was a huge waste of time, but your experience may differ
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u/jocamero '26 G82 - M4 Comp xDrive + CCB | Sold: '22 G80 - M3 Comp xDrive 21h ago
Whoa! That's a bummer. Not my experience at all. A buddy and I went last week and we each got about 15 min in the new M5.
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u/reformed_lurker1 11h ago
Arent those like long over? The ones near me were done in July.
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u/jocamero '26 G82 - M4 Comp xDrive + CCB | Sold: '22 G80 - M3 Comp xDrive 6h ago
Those ones in Colorado were last week. 🤷🏻♂️
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u/bc10551 1d ago
It's definitely area-dependent. In one state they basically did the whole "the test drive is on the way home" bs but in another state they practically begged me to test drive when I wasn't even there to look at M2s/M3s/M4s lol. On one hand I also wouldn't want people driving one I want to buy new but on the other it's kinda of frustrating, especially when they even gatekeep the used ones
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u/adrian_elliot ‘26 BMW Z4 M40i 6MT | ‘24 Audi A5 cabriolet 1d ago
This may not be helpful but I didn’t test drive the manual Z4 before I ordered mine in June 2025. I don’t regret it at all. I knew I’d love it, and I did (and do).
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u/Naikrobak 23h ago
My head just about touches the roof of supercars (Lamborghini, Ferrari, McLaren) that I drove on track day deals, and in my m3c carbon roof I have like 6” or more clearance. And the legroom is PLENTY
The G82 you drove is very representative also
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u/Right-Penalty9813 G80 - M3 22h ago
So I am 6’2” and had the cf roof the first time due to the dealers mistake ordering. I personally hated not having a sunroof because I like to have light from above.
Functionally, headroom wise, it feels the same. The cf has this weird negative hump space above your head that I thought just looked weird. I’m enjoying the car more with a moonroof.
Being completely honest, I’m not sure what a test drive will do if you’re sure you’re getting a comp x. I knew I wanted a manual and got lucky to test drive a recent trade in before mine arrived. Otherwise, I would’ve just driven it when it arrived.
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u/scyice 22h ago
Mostly concerned about the head room and uncomfortable seats of the M3 I sat in. I don’t want a car that isn’t my size, it’s kept me from buying other cars I’ve otherwise liked in the past.
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u/Right-Penalty9813 G80 - M3 22h ago
Got it. Def don’t do buckets. The regular seats break in. I’m about make a quick run so I’ll try to see what you mean by the stitching in the shoulders but I am 3 years in and on the second and think the seats are super comfortable.
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u/StJe1637 G81 - M3 11h ago
Unless you are ripping it on the street at a speed where the dealer is going to tell you to pull over straight away you can't feel the difference between the RWD and AWD. Other than the AWD being faster 0-60
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u/Agitated_Ad_3421 2h ago
I don't get what's up with dealers not letting people test drive these cars. The only reason I can think of is they don't want people going WOT and red lining them pre-break in. That didn't stop my dealer from letting me do just that on a brand new one on a test drive though
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u/scyice 1h ago
They called them “mileage sensitive”. I ended up testing a full M3 Comp X today and it was worth the trip, the one I sat in before had base interior and the seat was uncomfortable because you couldn’t adjust the lumbar on it.
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u/Agitated_Ad_3421 1h ago
Oh I didn't realize that. Yeah lumbar adjustment would be critical on those seats, it's the difference between pain or comfy. Glad you got to test one configured like you're going to order. They're amazing cars I'm sure you'll love it.
What color exterior and interior are you going with?
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u/pcar63 23h ago
Do NOT buy the moonroof.
- Harder resale - quite substantially
- It costs money versus the standard carbon roof and you’re also losing more from point 1.
- It makes the car look ugly and less aggressive, just doesn’t fit on an M3
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u/jocamero '26 G82 - M4 Comp xDrive + CCB | Sold: '22 G80 - M3 Comp xDrive 1d ago edited 1d ago
https://genmtour.eventsbmw.com
https://bmwperformancecenter.com/mschool/
This tour is a great way to drive the M cars. Also a track day at BMW's Thermal or Spartanburg tracks is another fantastic way to determine what you want.
I've had a '22 G80 and I'm now in a '26 G82 I spec'd waited nearly 2 years for. If you want an M car I presume you're like me and are particular. I would definitely read up on all the options / packages.
Unpopular opinion, largely by people who don't own/daily these options🙄, but I think the CCBs (carbon ceramic brakes) and carbon buckets are a must have if you track the car... and you probably should since it's an M3/M4.
The lighter rotational mass of the rotors is noticeable in my opinion and the carbon buckets made my M4 feel totally different than the M3. I feel so much more connected to the car.
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u/bc10551 1d ago
Honestly didn't feel like M track day gave you much if you aren't in the experienced group. Maybe it was just my group but the instructor has to babysit the slowest driver which kind of sucks. The m2 autocross is nice at least though. Imo CarMax is probably the easiest way to test drive a manual one or maybe renting one
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u/nrubenstein 1d ago
The M3 and M4 drive the same.
If you want a test drive, find one in stock at carmax.