Comments on: BF Exclusive: 2011 ///M3 Competition Package

By: Michael

Michael — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 15:32:53 +0000

We had a server glitch and lost some content- our apologies. Unfortunately there is no way to get the lost data back.

I think you are right about the codes- just that the info I have seen has 7MA and ZCP as separate codes- what that means is anyone's guess at the moment. All we know is that this thing is coming in one form or another!

By: 5 Rakete

5 Rakete — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 03:26:02 +0000

Michael, what happened to your response?

Seems we’re both right. Option codes like “ZCW”, “ZSP”, and “ZCP” are BMWNA codes, they are not used in Europe. So here it will be “ZCP” (which will include “7MA”) and over there it will just be “7MA” as seen in the price list.

By: 5 Rakete

5 Rakete — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 14:54:26 +0000

"I think it’s just as likely that “7MA”, if it exists (has someone seen the ordering guide?), is just like “7MP”, a catchall for the 5-series M Sport Package,..."

Per the German price list I win, "7MA" is the catchall option code for the Competition Package. Apparently there is no "ZCP" this time around unless that will be used by BMWNA.

By: Club BMW fr » » Un Pack Competition pour l’M3 en 2011 ?

Club BMW fr » » Un Pack Competition pour l’M3 en 2011 ? — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 13:35:24 +0000

[...] (1CAD=0.670908€), ce pack serait donc proposé à environ 3 000€. Sources : – m3post.com, – bimmerfile.com, – bimmertoday.de. Venez discuter de ce Pack Competition sur le forum ! [...]

By: Rumormill: 2011 BMW M3 coming with Competition Package | Napier Auto

Rumormill: 2011 BMW M3 coming with Competition Package | Napier Auto — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 10:01:19 +0000

[...] as we can tell, there’s little if anything wrong the E92 M3. However, according to a post on Bimmerfile, that small point will not be stopping BMW from offering a Competition Package on 2011 models. What [...]

By: Rumormill: 2011 BMW M3 coming with Competition Package | Tuning Imperia

Rumormill: 2011 BMW M3 coming with Competition Package | Tuning Imperia — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 10:00:27 +0000

By: Gabe

Gabe — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 04:03:55 +0000

Micah- Not sure I would agree that the steering is light in the ///M3. Could you point me to somewhere saying that? With the Tech Pack you can choose steering programs already.

The current gen M3 has great feedback and certainly doesn't lack in feel as compared to other modern cars in its segment. Does it feel as good as N E30 M3? No. Is it still a revelation compared to most cars out there today? Yes. Could it be improved further. Probably.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 03:41:45 +0000

[...] As far as we can tell, there's little if anything wrong the E92 M3. However, according to a post on Bimmerfile, that small point will not be stopping BMW from offering a Competition Package on 2011 models. What [...]

By: Rumormill: 2011 BMW M3 coming with Competition Package | cars burner

Rumormill: 2011 BMW M3 coming with Competition Package | cars burner — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 03:00:39 +0000

By: Micah

Micah — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 00:23:40 +0000

My bad Michael. If you can please delete the info regarding the current M3 having electric steering.

As for the reviews which state that the steering is overly light and lacking some feel, I have read it from numerous sources, including Evo, Car & Driver, and on a Fifth Gear video review among a couple others. I should not speak without having driven the car first, and apologize for my lack of first hand experience -- even owning a MINI GP, no BMW dealers have allowed me to test drive an M3.

By: Michael

Michael — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 23:02:21 +0000

Micah- Not sure I would agree that the steering is light in the ///M3. Could you point me to somewhere saying that? With the Tech Pack you can choose steering programs already- The ///M3 does not use electric steering BTW.

I find my steering to be precise and not over-boosted, actually far better than the E46. Obviously it is not an E30 but nothing is.

-M

By: Rumormill: 2011 BMW M3 coming with Competition Package | BMW Top News

Rumormill: 2011 BMW M3 coming with Competition Package | BMW Top News — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 22:53:59 +0000

By: Micah

Micah — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 22:48:57 +0000

@ 5 Rakete — Thanks for the confimation that ZCP requires EDC. The one consistent critisicm I have read for the current M3 is overly light steering that could use more feedback, although it has been reported as dead accurate. Hopefully additonal tuning of the iDrive system will address this, although I am skeptical about whether any electronic steering system can provide “real” feedback.

By: 5 Rakete

5 Rakete — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 19:47:25 +0000

Micah- ZCP requires EDC from my information. Whether it is an “included” option or a “must select in addition to” option I don’t know, I haven’t seen the ordering guide. The steering boost is already adjustable if you have the Technology Pkg (done through iDrive – Normal and Sport). With the E46 ZCP package a different, quicker steering rack was introduced. So far there are no indications that such will be included in the E9x ZCP.

By: Micah

Micah — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 18:58:53 +0000

Is it known whether the ZCP ///M comes with EDC as a standard part of the package, or if it is an additional add-on as with the current M3? Will be interesting to see if there are efforts to improve steering feel/heft or change the steering ratio, either through EDC or with mechanical changes.

By: Michael

Michael — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 15:31:04 +0000

@ 5 Rakete- Thanks for the added translation, I am not the best at these codes and I am the first to admit it! There are no ordering guides and from the info we had gathered we thought it (7MA) to be more along the lines of a performance adder- so it could actually be the update to the EDC and comes along with the ZCP... 7MA does exist and we have hard evidence of it, just not what exactly it is.

All that really matters is that the US is actually getting it and that there may in fact be some surprises in store!

By: 5 Rakete

5 Rakete — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 15:25:41 +0000

“7MA” could be the GTS door sill finishers. Most 7xx option codes are cosmetic, things like steering wheels, headliners, privacy glass, M body parts, etc. The only “functional” 7xx options I am aware of are 704, the M Sport suspension, and 752, the Extended Audio. I’m not saying that “7MA” isn’t an exhaust (I doubt it is a transmission, they are usually 2xx) but by and large, I found around 10 examples, the 7xx options are cosmetic even if they are M or Sportive related. I think it’s just as likely that “7MA”, if it exists (has someone seen the ordering guide?), is just like “7MP”, a catchall for the 5-series M Sport Package, or some door sill finishers.

By: JonPD

JonPD — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 04:15:10 +0000

Agreed good time in the BMW world which is great since the MINI world is obsessed with SUVs currently.

Very interested in the ZCP for sure though I still would like to see some serious loss of bulk.

By: Sagar

Sagar — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 22:55:12 +0000

Wow! Between news of ///M3 ZCP, ///M3 GTS, Z4 35is, 335is, 135i getting DCT, and the new M1 BMW has redeemed themselves in my enthusiast book.

(Now all I hope is that the new ///M5 doesn't have too much additional weight compared to the E60 ///M5)

By: Competition Paket für den BMW M3 ab März 2010?

Competition Paket für den BMW M3 ab März 2010? — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 22:31:09 +0000

[...] wenn es noch nichts offizielles gibt, vermeldet BimmerFile unter Berufung auf glaubwürdige Quellen, dass es auch für die aktuelle Generation des BMW M3 [...]