 2007 M3 CSL V10 | 2009 M3  |
 |  |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |  |
 |  |  |  |  |
 |
Image credits: © BMW.
2008 BMW M3 news, pictures, and information | ||
| Tweet | ||
• Fourth-generation of the BMW M3, all-new, unique high-performance sports car from BMW M GmbH wîth unprecedented design and technology, developed on the basis of the BMW 3 Series Coupé. • Únique character and supreme driving dynamics secure leading position in the market §egmènt, unique combination of engine power and low weight ensured by intelligent lightweight technology, power-to-weight ratio 3.8 kg/hp.
• First-ever BMW M3 wîth an eight-cylinder power unit, all-new V8 displacing 4.0 litres and developing maximum output of 309 kW/420 hp plus peak torque of 400 Nm/295 lb-ft at 3,900 rpm, maximum engine speed 8,400 rpm, optimum power and torque throughout the entire engine speed range.
• Individual throttle butterflies, variable double-VANOS camshaft control, Brake Energy Regeneration, engine weight 15 kg/33 lb less than the six-cylinder in the former model.
• Acceleration to 100 km/h in 4.8 seconds, top speed limited electronically to 250 km/h (155 mph), average fuel consumption in the EÚ test cycle 12.4 litres/100 kilometres (equal to 22.8 mpg Imp).
• Manual six-speed gearbox wîth integrated, temperature-related oil cooling, mass inertia-optimised double-plate clutch.
• MDrive for setting and retrieving the driver's specific configuration of the engine control map, suspension and DSC set-up, as well as the Servotronic control map as an additional option.
• All-new suspension wîth special, weight-optimised components as well as axle kinematics characteristic of BMW M for a highly dynamic driving experience, forged aluminium track control arms, compound high-performance brake system, optional Electronic Damper Control (EDC) wîth three freely available control maps.
• First production vehicle in its §egmènt wîth carbon-fibre-reinforced roof, carbon fibre serving to reduce the weight of the vehicle and enhance agility by lowering the centre of gravity, carbon-fibre roof in visible technology symbolising exclusivity and a direct link to motorsport.
• Authentic BMW M design underlining the athletic look of the car, aluminium engine compartment lid wîth a striking powerdome as a clear signal of supreme power and performance, characteristic front end wîth large air intake scoops, muscular, powerfully flared wheel arches.
• Air intake gills in the front side panels, M-specific side-sills accentuating the concept of rear-wheel drive, discreet spoiler lip reducing lift forces at the rear, roof in clearly visible carbon-fibre look, dual tailpipes typical of BMW M.
• High-quality, sophisticated and perfectly appointed interior wîth a wide range of customisation, innovative colour and materials concept, four seats, BMW Individual high-end audio system tailored to the car as an option, model-specific paintwork and equipment variants highlighting
the exclusivity of the new BMW M3.
The new BMW M3.
Entering each new season in motorsport, we feel new and fresh ambition, query formally proven recipes for success, and focus on new records and outstanding achievements. And precisely this also applies to the debut of the new BMW M3: Having completed its test cycle wîth flying colours, the new high-performance sports car from BMW M GmbH is ready and waiting to take over pole position. Indeed, wîth its superior power, performance and dynamism, the new BMW M3 ensures truly unique sheer driving pleasure of the highest calibre.
The new, 309 kW/420 hp V8 power unit offers enormous muscle and performance at all times. And the aesthetic design of the new car typical once again of BMW M spells out supremacy of the highest standard.
The new BMW M3 sets the foundation for continuing an exceptional career in motorsport. So every enthusiast sharing the passion for supreme performance may be sure that this model is able to master even the greatest challenge on and off the race track. And last but certainly not least, the new BMW M3 offers the supreme standard of reliability and everyday driving qualities so typical of all high-performance cars from BMW M GmbH.
The all-new 'heart' of the latest BMW M3 is the eight-cylinder power unit which, through its high-speed engine concept alone, comes wîth all the DNA of the current Formula 1 engine raced by the BMW Sauber F1 Team. Applying this high-speed concept characteristic of all BMW M power units, the new V8 develops maximum output of 309 kW/420 hp from engine capacity of precisely 3,999 cc. Further equally impressive factors are the engine's peak torque of 400 Newton-metres or 295 lb-ft as well as maximum engine speed of 8, 400 rpm.
Truly unprecedented, however, is the thrust and pulling force generated through this unique potential, conveying the supreme power of the engine through the variable M differential lock to the rear wheels. Precisely this is why the new BMW M3 is not only outstandingly responsive in its acceleration, but also completely shattering in the way it develops its power: Acceleration to 100 km/h comes in just 4.8 seconds, and the car continues this mind-boggling performance wîth fascinating consistency all the way to its top speed of 250 km/h or 155 mph, where the engine electronics set an artificial limit to the ongoing power and performance of the new BMW M3.
Brand-new in technology and design.
Within the BMW M GmbH model range, the BMW M3 has always been that very special model living up in full to its motorsport heritage. Indeed, this already applied to the very first BMW M3 launched in 1986 and continued throughout the two subsequent model generations. And now this supremacy comes out once again most clearly in the 2007 version of the BMW M3.
Although the latest generation of the BMW M3 was based in its development on the new BMW M3 Coupé, the new high-performance model differs from the 'regular' coupé in terms of both looks and technical features. Apart from the car's unique design as well as its drivetrain and suspension technology conceived from the start for supreme performance, lightweight technology came right at the top in the brief given to the engineers at BMW M. And just how consistently this development target has been translated into reality in terms of intelligent lightweight engineering is borne out by the car's power-toweight ratio of only 3.8 kg (8.4 lb) per horsepower.
One of the reasons for this low weight is that the new BMW M3 is the first production car in its §egmènt to boast a roof made of carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic (CFP). And in all, the new BMW M3, wîth the exception of just a few components, is indeed completely new in its engineering and design concept, clearly reflecting the successful tradition of BMW M GmbH.
Apart from the load-bearing structure of the car, only the two doors, the bootlid, the windows, the headlights and rear lights have been carried over from the 3 Series Coupé. All other body components, by contrast, were specially developed for the new BMW M3.
The unique character of the new BMW M3 is obvious at first sight: Over and above the engine compartment lid wîth its striking powerdome and the two air intake openings, the function-oriented design of the front and rear air dams, the so-called gills in the front side panels, the side-sills also in distinctive design, the roof made of clearly visible carbon fibre, as well as the exterior mirrors and light-alloy wheels in BMW M design clearly characterise the new model from the ground up. The exterior, in turn, through its athletic and aesthetic appearance, powerfully underlines the sporting qualities of the car.
The exterior paintwork likewise adds an individual touch, offering the connoisseur not only numerous additional colours, but also four special paintwork options exclusive to BMW M.
The interior: tailor-made for optimum driving pleasure. 
In designing the interior, the specialists at BMW M GmbH have succeeded in offering the occupants maximum driving pleasure in an ambience tailored to their specific needs and wishes. This applies particularly to the driver, wîth all controls and instruments relating directly to the active driving experience in the car adapted to the supreme performance of the BMW M3 and re-designed from the ground up wherever appropriate.
Double circular instruments wîth white illumination and red needles, the M leather §teering wheel and the newly designed centre console all characterise the cockpit of the new BMW M3. The door cutout trim embellished by the characteristic M logo, the support for the driver's left foot made of brushed metal, the special design and colour of the inner door panels, as well as the trim strip made of high-quality, sophisticated materials exclusive to BMW M such as leather in carbon design or aluminium, all serve to underline the supreme and truly unique position of the new BMW M3.
The first-ever eight-cylinder to power a BMW M3. 
After 15 glorious years in the world of motoring, the straight-six power unit lauded time and again as the Engine-of-the-Year in the two former model generations of the BMW M3 is now giving way to a truly worthy successor: The new BMW M3 comes for the first time wîth an eight-cylinder power unit. And the specifications of this all-new high-performance engine clearly prove the competence and skill of the engine development specialists at BMW M GmbH gained in a long history of racing success: Displacing 3,999 cc, the new V8 develops maximum output of 309 kW/420 hp, together wîth peak torque of 400 Newton-metres or 295 lb-ft at 3,900 rpm. Perhaps an even more outstanding fact is that some 85 per cent of the engine's peak torque remains available throughout the enormous speed range of 6, 500 rpm.
The eight-cylinder nevertheless owes its most striking and distinctive forte to the high-speed engine concept so typical of BMW M: Revving all the way to 8,400 rpm, the new power unit offers supreme muscle and performance at all times. Power is transmitted to the rear wheels by a six-speed manual gearbox interacting wîth brand-new final drive. This combination alone provides an acceleration and power potential reminiscent in its spontaneity and endurance to the dynamic potential of a thoroughbred racing car.
Over and above specific output of 105 hp per litre, average fuel consumption in the EÚ test cycle of 12.4 litres/100 km (equal to 22.8 mpg Imp) offers a clear expression of the engineering skill so characteristic of the engine specialists at BMW M GmbH.
Weighing a mere 202 kg (445 lb), the V8 power unit featured in the new BMW M3 is a genuine lightweight. Even compared wîth the six-cylinder power unit in the former model, engine weight is down by some 15 kg or 33 lb.
Production of components using know-how carried over from Formula 1.
 | Vital Stats |
| Engine : 4.0 L., 8-cylinder Power: 420 hp Torque: 295 ft-lbs | |
With the high speed of the engine and high compression forces obviously exerting extreme loads on the crankcase, the crankcase is compact and particularly stiff in its bedplate structure, ensuring very exact support of the crankshaft. Made as a complete forging, the crankshaft is very stable in terms of flexural and torsional stiffness, but nevertheless weighs a mere 20 kg or approximately 44 lb.
Valve control by double -VANOS operating at low oil pressure.
The V8 power unit of the new BMW M3 features BMW's variable double-VANOS camshaft control. Keeping valve timing extremely short and quick, this superior technology reduces charge cycle losses and, in the process, improves engine output, torque and responsiveness, wîth an equally positive impact on both fuel economy and emissions.
A low-pressure version of BMW's double-VANOS has been developed especially for the new eight-cylinder, ensuring extremely fast valve timing even under normal engine oil pressure.
A separate throttle butterfly for each cylinder is the most supreme and sophisticated technology not only on racing engines when it comes to providing immediate engine response. So precisely this is why the new power unit on the BMW M3 comes wîth eight individual throttle butterflies, two actuators operating four butterflies on each row of cylinders to provide particularly smooth engine repose at low speeds combined wîth an immediate reaction whenever the driver requires supreme engine power and equally supreme performance.
Two volume flow-controlled pendulum-slide-cell pumps supply the eight-cylinder wîth sufficient lubricant at all times, delivering precisely the amount of oil the engine requires under current running conditions. Wet sump lubrication optimised for driving dynamics ensures a reliable supply of oil even in an extreme brake manoeuvre, wîth the system combining two oil sumps wîth one another – a small oil sump in front of the front axle subframe and a large oil sump further behind. A separate oil reflow pump extracts oil from the front oil sump and delivers it to the rear sump again in a smooth process geared to current requirements.
New engine management and Brake Energy Regeneration.
The electronic management of the V8 power unit coordinating all engine functions wîth optimum efficiency and precision, is yet another new development. A further point is that the control unit masterminds all the M-specific functions of the clutch, transmission, §teering, and brakes. And last but not least, the engine control unit performs a wide range of onboard diagnostic functions, as well as other control operations involving, say, various ancillary units on the engine.
A particular highlight in engine management is ion flow technology serving to detect the risk of the engine knocking as well as mis-firing and mis-combustion. Contrary to conventional technologies, this new technology monitors the engine and performs its function precisely where things count most, that is within the combustion chamber. To do this, each cylinder is checked via the spark plug for any possible knocking, and is then controlled accordingly. At the same time the system checks the ignition and recognises any mis-firing, the spark plug thus serving as an actuator for the ignition and as a sensor monitoring the combustion process. In this way the spark plug is able to distinguish between mis-combustion and mis-firing, also facilitating the process of engine diagnosis for highly efficient service and maintenance through its dual function.
Intelligent energy management featuring Brake Energy Regeneration likewise serves to further enhance the efficiency of the V8 power unit in the new BMW M3. In this case the power required for the on-board network is generated specifically during overrun and during application of the brakes, serving to charge the car's battery at exactly the right time without taking up any of the energy contained in the car's fuel. (concept carz) As long as the engine is 'pulling' the car, therefore, the alternator generally remains disengaged. Apart from particularly efficient generation of electric power, this also serves to provide more drive power and traction for supreme acceleration at all times.
Aluminium suspension for driving pleasure of the highest standard.
Smoothly and efficiently sharing out §teering and drive forces on the front and rear axle, the chassis and suspension of the new BMW M3 provides the ideal foundation right from the start for particularly dynamic performance and driving characteristics. The chassis of the new BMW M3 is indeed a brand-new development from the ground up, seeking to cope from the start wîth the significant increase in drive power and save a lot of weight in the process.
Precisely this is why nearly all components on the newly developed front axle are made of aluminium, among them the spring struts even stiffer than before, the swivel bearings, the central subframe and an additional thrust plate enhancing crosswise stability of the entire front section. Indeed, the engineers at BMW GmbH have even succeeded in saving additional weight on the high-performance brake system wîth its compound brake discs.
The five-arm rear axle of the BMW M3 in lightweight technology is also a brand-new construction from the ground up, wîth the exception of one single track control arm. The particular design and construction of all aluminium arms in forging technology, in conjunction wîth the aluminium dampers, serves to reduce weight on this part of the car alone by 2.5 kg or 5.5 lb.
Anti-roll bars optimised for their function and minimum weight are featured both front and rear. The change in axle geometry in both cases – featuring two additional longitudinal bars, apart from other new or modified components – offers new axle kinematics tailored to the high power of the car and its particularly sporting and dynamic overall character.
The new final drive on the BMW M3 comes complete wîth a Variable M Differential Lock providing up to 100 per cent locking action in a completely variable process whenever required and thus ensuring optimum traction on all surfaces. Responding to differences in speed between the right and left rear wheel, the Variable M Differential Lock also offers ideal support further enhancing the positive features and characteristics of rear-wheel drive.
The result of these many improvements on the chassis and suspension also comes out clearly on the race track, the new BMW M3 significantly outperforming the lap times of all model generations on the Nordschleife of Nürburgring, where all BMW M Cars are put through their paces for their ultimate test.
MDrive button for the ambitious driving enthusiast.
Enjoying the qualities of the new BMW M3, the driver is able to configure several driving parameters indivdually according to his particular requirements, thus adjusting the car's behaviour and performance to his personal preferences. One option, for example, is to completely deactivate the Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) via the car's set-up. Electronic Damper Control (EDC), in turn, which optimises both vertical vibration behaviour as well as the car's dive and roll in bends and when applying the brakes and accelerating by adjusting damper forces, comes wîth three different settings – Normal, Comfort, and Sports – the driver is able to pre-select at the touch of a button.
Three control maps are also available for precise, on-demand management of the engine. These management functions operate not only on the position of the throttle butterflies in the intake manifold, but also on further factors and parameters significantly changing the behaviour and response of the engine.
The optionally available MDrive configuration enables the driver to pre-select the response of the Servotronic power §teering. In the process, MDrive is able to follow two control maps varying §teering forces between the Normal and Sports setting as a function of road speed.
Athletic body design as a visible expression of superior power.
The exterior of the new BMW M3 was designed and developed from the start to give the car a truly unique and sporting look. So applying the principle of 'form follows function', the designers at BMW M GmbH, in giving the body of the car its particular look and appearance, have succeeded in finding a perfect match of supreme technology, on the one hand, and authentic sporting design, on the other.
Reflecting this clear-cut principle, the engine compartment lid made of aluminium features an impressive powerdome right in the middle. Together wîth the recesses right next to the powerdome providing space for additional air intake openings, this special design feature clearly hints to the supreme potential of the eight-cylinder power unit within the engine compartment. The contours of the powerdome and air intakes follow the forward-pointing arrow shape of the engine compartment lid, blending harmoniously into the overall design of the front end even longer than on the 'regular' BMW 3 Series Coupé.
Front end designed for maximum air intake.
The front end of the car boasts three large air intake scoops beneath the radiator grille serving to feed intake and cooling air to the engine. The air intake scoops border on either side on large, vertical bars and further enhance the characteristic design language of the car. Together wîth the double kidney
grille so typical of BMW and the low-slung headlight units wîth their xenon main beams, the air intakes give the new BMW M3 a highly dynamic appearance right from the start.
Primarily, however, the particular design and structure of the front end is determined by the supply of air required for the high-performance power unit: Almost the entire front end opens up to supply the naturally aspirated engine wîth a sufficient flow of air. So it is only consistent that the new BMW M3, like BMW M Cars in general, does without the foglamps so characteristic of the 'regular' models in the range.
In their function and size, all the air intakes are precisely defined according to technical requirements. Their arrangement and dimensions are geared precisely to the cooling and intake air required by the engine and its ancillary units.
Light and shade effects creating a firm and taut side-line.
The powerfully chiselled front wheel arches on the new BMW M3 stand out clearly as a symbol of supreme agility and driving stability. Together wîth the weight-optimised 18-inch light-alloy wheels in double-spoke design again so typical of a BMW M, the wheel arches accentuate the particularly wide track of the car.
Forged light-alloy wheels measuring 19 inches are available as an option. And lòòking through the spokes of the wheels, regardless of the version chosen, the beholder will immediately admire the compound high-performance brakes developed exclusively for BMW M Cars.
Both front side panels come wîth a particular sign of distinction to be seen only on a BMW M Car – the air intake 'gills', as they are called by the designers. The elaborately modelled contours of the car highlight the course of the profile line extending back along the side. The chrome trim distinguishing between the various sections, in turn, further enhances the three-dimensional structure of this particular element, accommodating both the long and sweeping direction indicator as well as the M3 logo.
The exterior mirrors developed exclusively for the new BMW M3 also serve to enhance the car's aerodynamic qualities. The most characteristic feature on the mirrors is the double arm finished in black and reminiscent in its design of the wings of an aircraft. Through their horizontal contour edge and their particular shape narrowing to the outside, the exterior mirrors not only accentuate the sporting look of the car, but also help to reduce air drag thanks to their particular shape optimised in the wind tunnel.
Two surface elements literally twisting around one another form the significantly flared side-sills and generate a smooth but interchanging flow of light serving to give the car an even lighter and more sporting look from this angle by making the side panels look even lower. In their design, the side-sills correspond wîth the particular shape and appearance of the clearly contoured profile line along the body. A further point is that the distinctive contrast of light and shade generates a feeling of tension on the likewise muscular, widely flared side panels and the wheels beneath, thus giving particular emphasis to the significance of rear-wheel drive in the outstanding performance it gives the new BMW M3.
Discreet spoiler lip and rear diffuser for optimum aerodynamics.
Seen from the rear, the new BMW M3 again boasts superior and powerful proportions. At the same time the rear end design of the car takes up the characteristic look of the front end, the side-line moving down smoothly and gently and the rear wings extending into a carefully chiselled concave panel underlining the concept of rear-wheel drive and visualising the superior dynamics of the car.
A discreet spoiler lip on the lid of the luggage compartment also referred to in racing terms as the 'Gurney Flap' optimises the streamlining of the new BMW M3 and serves to further reduce lift forces at the rear.
The contours of the diffuser split up into individual sections by carefully modelled bars beneath the rear bumper again takes up the shape and design of the air intakes at the front. The air flow duct and the dual tailpipe moved far towards the centreline of the car appear to visually contract the rear end in the lower middle section, building up a feeling of superior tension in the eyes of the beholder extending all the way to the horizontally flowing lines of the bumper.
As yet another feature typical of BMW M Cars, the four tailpipes are circular in shape and cut off in a straight line at the rear, giving the rear end an even more muscular stance and again focusing the beholder's attention on the powerful wheels of the car.
Roof in high-tech carbon-fibre: low weight, big effect.
Carbon-fibre has made its way successfully into Formula 1 as an extremely stable, but nevertheless very light material. So it is only consistent for the designers and engineers responsible for the new BMW M3 to use precisely this material originally applied in aerospace in order to further lower the centre of gravity of the new BMW M3 – carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic (CFP) is used where it counts most, on the outer skin of the car, saving about 5 kg or 11 lb in the process. With this weight being saved at the highest point on the body, the effect on driving dynamics is of course particularly positive.
To enhance the high-tech character of the car also in visual terms, the roof is finished only in clear paint, thus proudly maintaining and demonstrating the woven structure of the carbon fibre. A further point is that the dark look of the roof makes the roof pillars look even lower from the side, creating the impression as if the entire car were resting in an even lower and more dynamic position on the road.
The production technology developed especially for the CFP roof is currently applied exclusively by BMW's specialists at the Company's plant in Landshut just north of Munich. Originally, this technology was developed for the production of very special cars built in limited editions for the most demanding connoisseurs. And now, thanks to the unique know-how of BMW's production engineers at the Landshut Plant, new ways and means of using and processing CFP have been developed, opening up the door to the use of this material in far larger numbers, for example on the roof of the new BMW M3.
Special M body colours adding a further touch of exclusivity.
The new BMW M3 is available wîth a choice of no less than four M metallic paintwork options giving particular emphasis to the interaction of the body surfaces, the contours and proportions of the car. Coming wîth a light shimmering effect, Melbourne Red, for example, combines unique brilliance and colour depth. Jerez Black, on the other hand, boasts blue pearl pigments to again provide unique highlights and unprecedented appeal. Powerful Interlagos Blue, in turn, incorporates red colour pigments to provide a highly attractive interaction of blue and violet from various angles. The fourth colour already well known from the BMW M5 and BMW M6 is Silverstone, a light silver colour wîth a slight touch of blue.
In addition, the new BMW M3 is available in both Alpine White and Black as well as Sparkling Graphite and Space Grey metallic, all body colours highlighting either the technical and sporting character of the car or its superior and elegant look.
Another feature typical of BMW M: rev counter wîth variable warning zones.
The exterior impressively symbolises the outstanding performance and sporting qualities of the new BMW M3. The interior, in turn, supplements this supreme flair, seeking to offer the driver an unparalleled driving experience and all the other occupants a beautiful ambience tailored to their needs. Well-conceived and sophisticated ergonomics within the interior serve to ensure a complete symbiosis of man and machine, the driver and passenger coming together to form one complete whole.
In its design, however, the new BMW M3 differs on some essential points from the 'underlying' BMW 3 Series Coupé, making the new BMW M3 a truly unmistakable car right from the beginning as soon as you get inside. Indeed, door entry trim embellished wîth the M logo shows the driver and passengers from the start that this is a very special car.
The dual dials (speedometer/fuel gauge and rev counter/oil temperature) typical of BMW from the start come in this case in specific BMW M configuration, again visualising the supreme power and performance of the eight-cylinder. The numbers stand out in white from the black background, the indicators in the traditional red colour of BMW M GmbH are particularly clear and easy to monitor
A special feature typical of a BMW M Car is the rev counter wîth its variable warning field informing the driver while the engine is warming up of the speed range currently available as a function of engine oil temperature. In this process, the borderline between the pre-warning zone shown in yellow and the actual warning area shown in red moves as a function of increasing oil temperature in the BMW M3 all the way to the maximum permissible speed of 8,400 rpm. The digital instruments presenting the time, the exterior temperature, trip mileage and telltales are housed in between the two circular instruments.
The BMW M leather §teering wheel serves as the perfect interface between man and machine. The §teering wheel rim offering simply perfect grip also thanks to special contours allows precise movement of the §teering wheel according to the driver's commands. The cross-brackets on the §teering wheel, in turn, house the remote control buttons for the audio system and mobile phone as well as the optional MDrive button serving to call up the particular set-up of the car saved in advance within the system. A further button is freely programmable by means of iDrive.
An integrated footrest gives the driver's left foot a secure position whenever he is not required to operate the clutch pedal. The trim made of brushed aluminium and the anti-slip cover in the middle highlight the sporting character of this functional element, allowing the driver to keep his left leg in a particularly comfortable position while driving steadily at a consistent speed.
Newly designed centre console and enhanced iDrive.
The control area in the cockpit directly in front of the driver merges into the newly designed centre console between the front seats oriented in its entire geometry to the driver through its discreet sweeping arrangement. On all trim versions of the new BMW M3, the console is finished in black leather, harmoniously extending the instrument surrounds and control area in both the right colour and design.
Three function switches (Power, DSC and, as an option, EDC) face towards the driver, enabling him to conveniently activate or deactivate the various electronic driving programs. The intuitive user guidance provided by the iDrive control concept and enhanced in this case by MDrive reflects the control philosophy already boasted in the BMW M6.
Quality craftsmanship and sophisticated materials.
Apart from the clear design and optimum ergonomics of all controls and instruments, the choice of colours and materials within the interior of the new BMW M3 seeks to support the driver in concentrating on driving conditions and the traffic around him.
Regardless of the colour chosen, the footwells and parcel shelf as well as the upper half of the instrument panel are finished in dark Anthracite. At the same time the dark roof lining and dark trim on the A-pillars further accentuate the clear orientation to the driver so typical of BMW M. This dark colour scheme around the windscreen helps the driver furthermore to concentrate his eyes and all senses on the road, giving him a particularly good feeling of through, consistent control over his vehicle.
The colour scheme surrounding the front passenger and the passengers at the rear likewise enhances their feeling of travelling in a genuine sports car: Through the use of black leather on the upper levels both the door panels and the rear side panels appear to be lower and even more dynamic in their dimensions, the dark areas seemingly 'flowing' around the driver and passengers.
The sporting ambience within the interior is upgraded even further by an exclusive impression of quality provided by high-class materials and perfect finish in top-class craftsmanship. A double-clip seam accentuating the demanding character of the car and its high standard of production separates the upper section of the door and side linings from the interior elements kept in the trim colour chosen by the driver.
All four seats in the new BMW M3 offer both supreme comfort on long distances and excellent side support in fast bends. As an option, both the driver and the front passenger are able to choose special seats wîth adjustable backrest width. The rear seat bench comes complete wîth through-loading available as an option wîth a ski-bag retrofittable if desired. And last but not least, the partition between the two rear seats designed as an extension of the centre console houses an additional storage box for extra convenience.
Wide range of customisation within the interior
The new BMW M3 is available in three exclusive equipment and trim variants differing significantly from the 'regular' BMW 3 Series Coupé in their material, colour and finish. The sporting, 'basic' trim is a combination of cloth and leather called 'Speed'. Newly developed, fully tanned Novillo leather then comes as an option offering a particularly smooth and velvety surface in elegant and sporting style. Apart from classic Black, Novillo leather is also available in Palladium Silver, Bamboo Beige, and Fox Red.
As a further option, Novillo leather can be extended to the lower section of the instrument panel, the cover on the glove compartment, and the side covers on the centre console.
Four exclusive trim strips extending throughout the entire width of the dashboard beneath the Control Display and instrument cluster, provide further options in customising the new BMW M3. The 'basic' trim comes in Titanium Shadow, wîth Aluminium Shadow and special leather tanned in carbon design as well as high-class wood in fine-grain surface design and platane wood in Anthracite all being available as an option. In each case, the trim strip gives the interior of the new BMW M3 its own very special touch ranging from cool high-tech to sporting elegance.
BMW Individual high-end audio system for perfect music enjoyment.
The new BMW M3 comes as standard wîth a high-class audio system. Various navigation systems, the BMW Online mobile internet portal, BMW Assist telematics service, and BMW TeleServices serving to transmit service-relevant data to the driver's BMW Service Partner are all available
as optional extras.
As yet a further option the new BMW M3 may also be fitted wîth a BMW Individual high-end audio system specially developed by BMW M GmbH and tailored exclusively to this special car. In this case up to 16 high-performance loudspeakers wîth neodym magnetic drive and extremely stiff hexacone
membranes, a digital nine-channel amplifier wîth maximum output of 825 Watt and precisely acting frequency switches, guarantee unparalleled quality of sound.
A feature truly unique in the automobile is DIRAC live technology serving to process signals. DIRAC technology corrects the impulse response by the loudspeakers and thus ensures linear, precisely timed playback within the car. The clean impulse quality generated in this way in the playback process gives not only the drier, but rather all occupants in the new BMW M3 an extremely versatile and realistic experience of sound. Sound quality truly perfect in all situations is also ensured by speed-related volume control and speed-related equalising.
The BMW Individual high-end audio system is controlled and masterminded by the iDrive Controller, wîth its basic functions also being controlled whenever required, as wîth all entertainment systems, via the audio control elements in the centre console.Source - BMW
Price announced for BMW M3 Coupé
Further details of the new BMW M3 Coupé, the most powerful road-going M3 the marque has ever produced, have been announced.The latest BMW M3 Coupé is a technical tour de force. The 420hp V8-engined performance car is capable of zero to 62mph in 4.8 seconds, before going on to an electronically-limited top speed of 155mph. But while engine capacity, cylinder count and output have increased compared to the previous M3's six-cylinder unit, engineers have managed to reduce powerplant weight and introduce elements of BMW's EfficientDynamics programme.
The use of lightweight engine components means the 3,999cc engine weighs 15kgs less than the previous 3.2-litre six-cylinder. Brake Energy Regeneration combines wîth an induction system featuring eight individual throttle butterflies and double-VANOS variable valve technology for the best performance. Such technology is why the BMW M3 posts a consumption figure of 22.8mpg on the combined cycle, an eight per cent improvement over the outgoing car.
The BMW M3 Coupé goes on sale in September 2007 priced at £50,625 OTR.Source - BMWBMW ANNOUNCES PRICING FOR THE ALL-NEW BMW M3 COUPE AND SEDAN AT THE 2008 NORTH AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW IN DETROIT
During its press conference today at the 2008 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, BMW announced the pricing for the highly anticipated 2008 M3 Coupe and M3 Sedan. When the vehicles go on sale in March, the Coupe will be priced at $57,275 and the Sedan at $54,575. Sharing the high-revving 414-horsepower V8 and balanced chassis designed to be 'faster than its engine,' this March, BMW M GmbH will offer the most powerful, best performing series production M3s to the North American market.The all-new 2008 M3 Coupe and M3 Sedan-the fourth generation of compact sport vehicles which set the standard in minimizing any compromises between race-inspired performance and luxury and convenience-feature the first V8 in a series-production BMW M3. They also feature driver-adjustable settings for crucial dynamic controls encompassing engine response, §teering, damping and stability (with an available §teering-wheel-mounted 'MDrive' button to store the preferences) and a sumptuous interior which can be optimized to the driver's desires including the comprehensive entertainment/navigation system operated through BMW's latest iDrive controller.
Additionally, the 2008 M3 Coupe is the first production vehicle in its §egmènt wîth a carbon fiber reinforced roof. The material shares the same safety properties as steel, but is four times lighter. Weighing around 11 lbs. less than a standard steel roof and approximately 44 lbs. less than a steel roof incorporating a moonroof, the carbon fiber reinforced roof provides significant weight saving at the highest point of the car-lowering the car's center of gravity-to increase agility and responsiveness while limiting dive and roll in turns.
Racing provided the reason for the original M3's 1986 creation as the company had to produce road-going homologation versions of its 3 Series Coupe to enter the motorsports version in the German Touring Car Championship. The original M3's popularity provided the impetus to continue developing the M3, making it both a better performer and more inviting road car. The M3 has continued to evolve along wîth the underlying 3 Series, the company's most popular, upon which it is based.
In 1987 North Americans received their first taste of the high-rpm, naturally aspirated 2.3-liter four-cylinder M3 Coupe's 192-hp and thus was born a legend on this side of the Atlantic. The next generation arrived in 1995 wîth a 3.0-liter (and later, 3.2-liter) 240-hp inline-six powerplant. In 1997 the first M3 Sedan joined the family and the first M3 Convertible followed shortly thereafter. The most-recent version, available from 2001-2006 as either a coupe or convertible, again was offered wîth six-cylinder power, this time providing 333 hp from its 3.2 liters. This vehicle was BMW's first use of SMG (Sequential Manual Gearbox) for the Ú.S. market.Source - BMWALL-NEW 2008 BMW M3 EARNS POPULAR MECHANICS' 2008 AUTOMOTIVE EXCELLENCE AWARD FOR PERFORMANCE
2008 BMW M3 Praised for its Elegant and Powerful Performance at Comfort Level Únmatched by Many CarsWoodcliff Lake, NJ - November 14, 2007... BMW of North America today announced that its all-new 2008 BMW M3 has won Popular Mechanics' 2008 Automotive Excellence Award in the performance category. Martin Birkmann, BMW M Series Brand Manager, accepted the honor on behalf of BMW at the award reception, which was held today at the Los Angeles Auto Show.
'We are thrilled that the 2008 BMW M3 has won this year's Automotive Excellence Award for performance,' said Tom Purves, Chairman and CEO, BMW (ÚS) Holding Corp. 'BMW is dedicated to engineering vehicles that provide consumers wîth the ultimate driving experience and superior performance, so it is especially gratifying that the 2008 BMW M3 has won the award in the performance category. It just adds to the already incredible level of excitement and anticipation building around the launch of the M3 this spring.'
The all-new 2008 M3 Coupe and M3 Sedan-which made their North American debuts earlier today at the auto show-arrive at dealerships in spring 2008 and will feature the first V8 in a series-production BMW M3. They will also feature driver-adjustable settings for crucial dynamic controls encompassing engine response, §teering, damping and stability (with an available §teering-wheel-mounted 'MDrive' button to store the preferences.) The vehicles also offer a sport-oriented interior, which can be optimized to the driver's desires.
In its December 2007 article about the Awards, Popular Mechanics automotive editors praise the 2008 BMW M3 as '..one of the few performance cars that can triumph at weekend track days and still carry four friends in perfect comfort and luxury to an evening movie…The M3 is elegant and powerful, and it does its job at a comfort level not many cars can match.'Each year, to determine the winners of the Popular Mechanics Automotive Excellence Awards, the magazine's editors drive more than 100 of the newest cars, trucks and sport-utility vehicles, amassing well over 100,000 miles in the process. Through their experiences on extended test drives around the world, instrumented comparison tests and longer-term evaluations, the auto team nominates a list of vehicles in each category. Those selections are put to a vote and the top vote getters in each category win an Automotive Excellence Award.Source - BMW
The story of an exception: the BMW M3 is 25.
The anticipation began in August 1985. That summer Germany's automobile magazines built up their readers' expectations for the fastest 3 Series BMW of all times. The key data revealed a sports car that would punch way above its class: 200 hp, top speed in excess of 230 km/h, sprint from a standing start to 100 km/h inside 6.7 seconds. However, the story was that 'the most dynamic BMW 3 Series drivers' would have to wait until mid-1986. The pundits were right on that count. But one prediction missed the mark by a mile: anyone who 'wants to be in the A Team needs to be turbocharged under the bonnet'. Not true.The BMW M3 became the most successful touring car in motor-sport history. The M3 project was launched just a few months earlier. Production of the M1 mid-engine sports car had already been discontinued for some time and BMW CEO Eberhard Kuenheim commissioned a design for a successor, almost as an aside, according to legend. After one of his regular visits to Motorsport GmbH in Munich's Preußenstraße he said, almost as he was leaving: 'Mr. Rosche, we need a sporty engine for the 3 Series.' His aspiration was in good hands. Motorsport GmbH wîth its managing director of technical development Paul Rosche had demonstrated its expertise wîth the legendary 5 Series saloons driven by M engines as well as developing the Formula 1 turbo engine that powered Brazilian Nelson Piquet to win the World Championship in the Brabham BMW in 1983.
The new 3 Series engine had something in common wîth this: the crankcase. It originated from volume production and actually formed the basis for the two-litre engine wîth four cylinders. Four cylinders meant less weight and high torque, an ideal platform for a sports engine in the projected displacement class. Naturally enough, the series four-cylinder engine was much too tame for a sports engine. A comprehensive power boost was called for in order to turn the plucky daily workhorse into an athletic and sporty power unit. The BMW design engineers increased the displacement to 2.3 litres and applied a formulation that had already achieved significant successes over a period of many years: four-valve engineering. There was also another reason for the decision to opt for a four-cylinder engine and not adopt the six-cylinder engine introduced in the BMW 3 Series. The longer crankshaft in the big engine started to vibrate much earlier than the shorter four-cylinder shaft. The design engineers therefore designed the crankshaft drive of the BMW M3 wîth sufficient torsional stability to achieve 10,000 revolutions a minute and more. By comparison wîth the four-cylinder engine installed in the series vehicles, this represented an increase of more than 60 percent. The rated speed for the road version of the BMW M3 was still significantly below the critical range at 6,750/min and therefore offered sufficient scope for further developments.
Paul Rosche recalls: 'We started work immediately. One advantage was that the big six-cylinder engine originally had the same cylinder gap as the four-cylinder engine. We therefore cut two combustion chambers off the four-cylinder head of the M88 and bolted a panel over the hole on the rear side.' This meant that the new four-cylinder engine had a second forebear. The six-cylinder engine that had initially created a sensation in the M1 and had meanwhile transformed the M635CSi into one of the fastest coupés in the world. Paul Rosche: 'Whether you believe it or not – we had created an outstanding four-cylinder engine for the 3 Series within the space of two weeks. Únder the development name S14, this engine was to generate headlines in sport and in volume production over the years to come. One Sunday, I drove to von Kuenheim's flat and gave him the car for a test drive. When he came back he said: ‘Good, I like it.' And that's how the M3 came into being.'Source - BMWThe Champion in Touring Car Racing. 25 years ago the BMW M3 started its unique series of victories.
In August 1985, a rumour surfaced in motor magazine Auto-Deutschland which emanated from a new sports car. An A Group Car from BMW that was a thoroughbred racing car according to the rules but was also to be produced in a version licensed to drive on open roads for everyday use. Speculation about this dream car that could take to normal roads and was intended for the 'Most dynamic among BMW 3 Series drivers' was right on target. But the pundits missed the mark about the motor-sport car by a mile on one prediction: They were convinced that anyone who 'wants to be a key player in the A Team needs to be turbocharged under the bonnet'. Not true. The BMW M3 had a naturally aspirated engine. And it became the most successful touring car in the history of BMW.The M3 project was launched just a few months earlier. Production of the M1 mid-engine sports car had already been discontinued for some time and BMW CEO Eberhard Kuenheim commissioned a design for a successor, almost as an aside, according to legend. After one of his regular visits to Motorsport GmbH in Munich's Preußenstraße he said, almost as he was leaving: 'Mr. Rosche, we need a sporty engine for the 3 Series.' His aspiration was in good hands. Motorsport GmbH wîth its managing director of technical development Paul Rosche had demonstrated its expertise wîth the legendary 5 Series saloons driven by M engines as well as developing the Formula 1 turbo engine that powered Brazilian Nelson Piquet to win the World Championship in the Brabham BMW in 1983.
Power source: a four-cylinder engine wîth 2.3 litres displacement and four-valve engineering.
The new 3 Series engine had something in common wîth this: the crankcase. It originated from volume production and actually formed the basis for the two-litre engine wîth four cylinders. Four cylinders meant less weight and high torque, an ideal platform for a sports engine in the projected displacement class. Naturally enough, the series four-cylinder engine was much too tame for a sports engine. A comprehensive power boost was called for in order to turn the plucky daily workhorse into an athletic and sporty power unit. The BMW design engineers increased the displacement to 2.3 litres and applied a formulation that had already achieved significant successes over a period of many years: four-valve engineering. There was also another reason for the decision to opt for a four-cylinder engine and not adopt the six-cylinder engine introduced in the BMW 3 Series. The longer crankshaft in the big engine started to vibrate much earlier than the shorter four-cylinder shaft. The design engineers therefore designed the crankshaft drive of the BMW M3 wîth sufficient torsional stability to achieve 10,000 revolutions a minute and more. By comparison wîth the four-cylinder engine installed in the series vehicles, this represented an increase of more than 60 percent.Paul Rosche recalls: 'We started work immediately. One advantage was that the big six-cylinder engine originally had the same cylinder gap as the four-cylinder engine. We therefore cut two combustion chambers off the four-cylinder head of the M88 and bolted a panel over the hole on the rear side.' This meant that the new four-cylinder engine had a second forebear. The six-cylinder engine that had initially created a sensation in the M1 and had meanwhile transformed the M635CSi into one of the fastest coupés in the world. Paul Rosche: 'Whether you believe it or not – we had created an outstanding four-cylinder engine for the 3 Series within the space of two weeks. Únder the development name S14, this engine was to generate headlines in sport and in volume production over the years to come. One Sunday, I drove to von Kuenheim's flat and gave him the car for a test drive. When he came back he said: 'Good, I like it.' And that's how the M3 came into being.'
Contrary to the situation wîth the mid-engine sports car, the BMW M3 was not going to be crafted by hand in small batches. This car was to be produced as a mass-production automobile on an assembly line. It was destined to compete in near-production touring car motor sport, or more precisely as a Group A racing car, defined as a 'production car', of which at least 5,000 units have to be built within the space of twelve consecutive months in accordance wîth Annex J of the international automobile sport regulations.
300 hp for competitive racing.
However, many of them immediately disappeared again into garages and workshops to be given a new outfit. After all, the M3 had been designed as a racing car, and this was the time to prove that it really could 'race'. A World Touring Car Championship was held for the first time in 1987. And that was exactly what the M3 had been built for. But not quite in the guise in which it was seen on the streets. Instead of 200 hp, the 2.3 litre engine delivered up to 300 hp at 8,200 rpm in the racing version. This put it on a par wîth the BMW M635CSi. BMW didn't line up on the starting grid wîth its own team but supported a number of famous racing outfits like Schnitzer, Linder, Zackspeed and Bigazzi. Drivers like Markus Oestreich, Christian Danner, Roberto Ravaglia and Wilfried Vogt took the wheel, and Annette Meeuvissen and Mercedes Stermitz were the first women drivers.
Roberto Ravaglia in the M3: first World Touring Car Champion.
The first race for the 1987 World Touring Car Championship started in Monza on 22 March 1987 – and ended wîth a sensation. All the M3 cars were excluded from the placings. The vehicles were checked under chaotic conditions and disqualified because of sheet-metal thicknesses that were allegedly contrary to the regulations. BMW appealed but the sports tribunal decided that the appeal had been lodged too late. There was no longer any talk of infringements of the rules. All the brouhaha naturally didn't have any effect on the result of the championship. At the end of the season, Roberto Ravaglia was standing on the podium as the first World Touring Car Champion. But that was only the pinnacle of the success list. Wilfried Vogt took the title of European Champion. Altfried Heger came in second – both driving a BMW M3. In 1987, the German Touring Car Championship (DTM) also went to the new BMW M3, wîth Eric van de Poele behind the wheel. Moreover, the most sporty 3 Series car was also winning competitions off the race track. An M3 crossed the finishing line in first place in the Corsica Rally and secured a victory for BMW after a gap of 14 years in a race for the World Rally Championship.24 Hour Race: M3 one-two victory on the Nürburgring.
In 1988, the BMW M3 continued the success story and took the national titles in France, England and Spain. In the following year came another victory in the German Touring Car Championship (DTM), this time wîth Roberto Ravaglia in the driver's seat, alongside wins at the national championships in Belgium, Holland, France, Italy, Finland, Spain, Sweden and Yugoslavia. Meanwhile, the displacement had been increased to 320 hp and the BMW M3 drove the competition into the ground. Belgian driver Marc Duez battled his way through the Monte Carlo Rally wîth an M3 and took eighth place as best driver in a car without a four-wheel drive. The sensational one-two victory in the 24-hour classic on the Nürburgring crowned this series of successes in 1989 wîth the driver combinations Pirro/Ravaglia/Giroix and Heger/Grohs/Manthey.
Playing wîth displacement: the right engine for each race.
The M3 had a commanding presence on the international touring car racing scene for five years. It became the most successful touring car of all times by winning the two champion's titles in the European Touring Car Championship and twice in the German Touring Car Championship. There were also numerous further victories and championship wins at international level. Depending on the competition rules, the four-valve engine had to be adapted to national regulations. For example, the capacity for England was limited to 2 litres while for Germany and France it was raised to 2.5 litres wîth effect from 1990. This enabled the four-cylinder to deliver up to 355 hp. In the version wîth the biggest capacity, the engineers of BMW M GmbH went up against the limits of what was feasible. In order to make full use of the 2.5 litre limit, they not only increased the stroke of the 2.3 litre unit from 84 to 87 millimetres, but also increased the cylinder bore from 94 millimetres to 95.5 millimetres. This reduced the width between the cylinders to just 4.5 millimetres. But success proved the development engineers right. The engines withstood the stresses and strains of touring-car racing even at maximum output without any problem.
1992: the first BMW M3 wîth a six-cylinder engine.
The year 1992 saw the birth of a completely new M3, this time wîth an advanced six-cylinder engine. Once again, Motorsport GmbH developed a version for competition in record time. In April 1993, the new M3 was due to line up at the start of the first race for the German Touring Car Championship (DTM). But due to discrepancies in the new regulations, BMW changed its strategy and instead set up a BMW M3 GTR in the striking design of a starting flag and entered the Warsteiner ADAC GT Cup organised by the German Automobile Association. The six-cylinder now generated 325 hp, the car weighed 1300 kilos in accordance wîth the regulations. A strong BMW team lined up at the start wîth Johnny Cecotto and Kris Nissen, and Cecotto ended up taking the championship at the end of the season. However, this was the end of the motor-sport chapter for this M3 GTR for the time being. Changes in the regulations meant that the potent 3 Series had no realistic changes of victory any more.
The BMW M3 GTR: the most powerful M3 ever.
BMW only returned to motor sport as a works team wîth a BMW M3 seven years later. In 2001, the first starting flag came down for the new BMW M3 GTR powered by a 450 hp V8 engine. The most powerful M3 ever set benchmarks in the GT class of the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) wîth its four-litre engine and raced in a quartet: Team BMW Motorsport entered two cars under the management of Charly Lamm and two other cars were raced by the American BMW Team PTG run by Tom Milner, who hailed originally from Germany. The coupé took seven victories in ten races, six of them were from pole positions. BMW works driver Jörg Müller won the driver's championship in the GT Class, BMW Motorsport won the team placings, and BMW became constructors' champion in the company's most important export market.
But the advanced BMW M3 GTR also caused a sensation in Europe. Two each of these eight-cylinder racing cars lined up at the start of the 24 Hour Race at Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium and on the Nürburgring in 2004 and 2005.The result: In both years, BWM took a one-two victory on the Nürburgring, and class victory went to BMW in Spa in 2004.
In 2009, the next generation of the M3 started in the American Le Mans Series. The V8 engine was beefed up to 485 hp and entered the Twelve Hour Race at Sebring for the first time. The successes meant that the M3 was also raced in Europe in the following year. It lined up at the start of the 24 Hour Race on the Nürburgring, in Le Mans and in Spa-Francorchamps. The result: outright victory on the Nürburgring – for the 19th time – and class victory in Spa.
And the next winner will soon be on the starting line in 2012. BMW will be back at the German Touring Car Masters (DTM) wîth three teams and the new BMW M3 DTM.Source - BMW
| VOLKSWAGEN BEETLE TURBO AND JETTA GLI RECEIVE POWER BOOST | |
| - New EA888 Gen 3 engine, produced in Silao, Mexico, makes its U.S. debut - Engine offers 10 hp increase over previous Gen 2 powerplant - Beetle models have a manufacturer estimated fuel economy improvement of up to eight percent on the combined cycle - Beetle R-Line® coupe will be priced from $30,135 with the six-speed manual transmission Herndon, VA - The Volkswagen Beetle Turbo, Beetle Turbo Convertible, and the Jetta GLI receive a number of running changes to 2013 model year car...[Read more...] | |
| Limited Edition Of Smart Forjeremy Goes Into Series Production: Haute Couture On Four Wheels | |
 | The smart forjeremy is going into series production. At the Shanghai Auto Show (21 to 29 April 2013), smart will be showcasing the unique model created together with internationally renowned fashion designer Jeremy Scott, which will be available as an extremely limited special edition licensed for road use. With its striking wings at the rear, the vehicle retains a central design element of the original show car. Production is scheduled to begin in April 2013. The smart fortwo edition by Jeremy ...[Read more...] |
| MINI AT THE 83RD GENEVA INTERNATIONAL MOTOR SHOW 2013 | |
 | The passion for extreme driving fun, a richly varied model range and the wide selection of personalization options for which MINI is renowned form the centerpiece of the British premium brand's stand at the 2013 Geneva International Motor Show. As part of its ongoing model push, MINI is introducing further additions to its portfolio of attractive design models. Indeed, this year's Geneva Show will host the world premiere of the MINI Clubman Bond Street. Generously equipped and with a searching e...[Read more...] |
| BMW at the NAIAS Detroit 2013 | |
 | Captivating looks laced with premium quality and groundbreaking innovations are the standout features of the models charged with continuing the success of the BMW brand into the future. The NAIAS 2013 in Detroit will see BMW presenting visitors with new models now entering series production and pioneering vehicle concepts combining technological progress, innovative forms and exemplary sustainability in a single package. BMW Concept 4 Series Coupe: more elegant, more dynamic, more individ...[Read more...] |
| The Champion in Touring Car Racing : The BMW M3 | |
 | In August 1985, a rumour surfaced in motor magazine Auto-Deutschland which emanated from a new sports car. An A Group Car from BMW that was a thoroughbred racing car according to the rules but was also to be produced in a version licensed to drive on open roads for everyday use. Speculation about this dream car that could take to normal roads and was intended for the 'Most dynamic among BMW 3 Series drivers' was right on target. But the pundits missed the mark about the motor-sport car by a mile...[Read more...] |
2008| Similar Automakers | |
| Audi | Infiniti |
| Jaguar | Land Rover |
| Lexus | Mercedes-Benz |
| Similarly Sized Vehicles from 2008 |
| Acura TL |
| Ariel Atom 500 V8 |
| Audi A3 TDI Clubsport Quattro |
| Audi A5 |
| Audi A6 |
| Audi PS TT |
| Audi RS 4 |
| Audi S4 |
| Audi S5 |
| Audi TT |
| BMW: 2001-2010 |
| Similar Automakers |
| BMW History |
| Other models by BMW |
| Manufacturer Website |
| Vehicle Recall Information |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 Series 1600 2002 2800 3 Series 3.0 CS | 3.0 CSL 3.5 CSL 318i 3200 CS 327/328 5-Series | 503 507 6 Series 7-Series 700 850 | Dixi Isetta M Coupe M1 M3 M5 | M6 New Class X1 X3 X5 X6 | Z1 Z3 Z4 Z8 |
| 2007 M3 CSL V10 | 2009 M3 |
