M3/M4 CarMag 2008 M3 Review

[chonkoa]

You’ve driven the new BMW M3 then?

Oh yes. The E92 model is the fourth generation of the M3, a car that first arrived in 1986. Back then it had a four-cylinder engine with around 200bhp. The new car doubles that with a V8 and 414bhp, but the basic ingredients remain the same: rear-wheel drive, a limited slip differential and a motorsport-inspired engine that revs to a whopping 8400rpm.

When it goes on sale in the UK in early September, the M3 will cost £50,625 and will, at first, be available only as a two-door coupe. A convertible and four-door saloon are expected to follow next year, while a Touring wagon is under evalution but less likely to make production. All in all, the broadened range will help break (hopes BMW) the 100,000-unit barrier for the first time. The last M3 – 2000’s six-cylinder E46 – is a tough act to follow, however.

Read full review

New BMW M3 - First Drives - Carmagazine.co.uk

 

[Centurion]

Hmmm it seem like the new M3 isn't as hardcore as the previous model. The new one seem to be more of an allrounder which is a bit disappointing since the E46 M3 was so popular because of it's raw nature. Further more I didn't know that there is an optional suspension program for the M3 for people who want to select between three settings. Four stars is a bit less than what I expected they would give it.

Head to head comparisons against the competitors should be popping up next month.

 

[LaArtist]

wow is this review good?
does not sound like that
sounds like BMW has gone MB ..and MB gone BMW..
new world order..
and that crap about waiting for the CSL..it will take a long while..and be dead expensive..
so where does this leave the purists.. cause the M3 just gone soft..according to Carmag

totall SHOCk

 

[Centurion]

wow is this review good?
does not sound like that
sounds like BMW has gone MB ..and MB gone BMW..
new world order..
and that crap about waiting for the CSL..it will take a long while..and be dead expensive..
so where does this leave the purists.. cause the M3 just gone soft..according to Carmag

totall SHOCk

The CSL will also be dead expensive and far too brutal to be used as a daily driver. I'm really disappointed if the the M3 has gone soft because the E46 M3 was bad ass. I have never felt that connected to the road as I did in the M3.
It seem like BMW and MB are going to be meeting in the middle, and we shouldn't forget the RS4 either. I would love all three cars to be tested both stock and with their optional suspension packages.

 

[Bruce]

Guys, I wouldn't take Car Magazine's first impression's too seriously. After all, it's the only test on the planet, is it not? I'll wait for a few more reviews before I make

Although, it would not surprise me one bit if this new M3 was indeed softer than it's predesecor. It's certainly not the first time that it's happened in the automotive world.

 

[klier]

It'll still be more hardcore than C63.I'm sure of that.

Besides, this hardly was a test. More like a quick first drive.

 

[LaArtist]

i belive maybe M is refocusing and makin the coming M1 the drivers car
but is that really so smart..the M3 is a industry on its own..
they cant loose this battle.. just cause there is a M1 around the corner
they dont need this to be soft..
it sold like hell when it was hard

 

[Centurion]

Guys, I wouldn't take Car Magazine's first impression's too seriously. After all, it's the only test on the planet, is it not? I'll wait for a few more reviews before I make

Although, it would not surprise me one bit if this new M3 was indeed softer than it's predesecor. It's certainly not the first time that it's happened in the automotive world.

Don't worry Bruce. I'm still waiting for an EVO, Autocar, Edmunds and Car&Drivers until I have found out what exactly the new M3 is.

 

[klier]

i belive maybe M is refocusing and makin the coming M1 the drivers car
but is that really so smart..the M3 is a industry on its own..
they cant loose this battle.. just cause there is a M1 around the corner
they dont need this to be soft..
it sold like hell when it was hard

Sweet mother of God, the car won't be soft. If you call this soft, what in the world are you going to call the C63

The C63 is hardcore compared to other AMGs and the old C55....not the M3

 

[LaArtist]

but im just judging by the first report..why not listen to him instead of fantasize..he says they have gone soft..
and thus far.. the C63 reviews says its gone wild..
listen to them..instead of yourself.. who have only seen pics..

but im not done yet.. this is just ONE review.. there will be alot more.. and there will be headon battles..

but this review..was not what any of us expected.. you guys have to admit

 

[Sunny]

soft...hard, it is all relative.

I still remember the initial reports on the E46 M3 and it was about how the new car understeers and the one on 996 bemoaning how it has become soft has lost the keen turn in of 993.

 

[LaArtist]

^thats true..but he benchmarked it to the previous M3..
so its softer than that..according to this report..

lets wait and see what the others say

 

[Mr Robert]

But in trying to hit so many targets, the E92 leaves purists wanting. So a CSL – a lightweight, more dynamically focused special edition – is now an absolute must and should form an integral part of the range going forward, filling the niche that the original E30 once satisfied in 1986. The good news is BMW’s top brass dropped some very large hints in the press conference, so the CSL sounds like a dead cert.

Guess i was right then... M3 has gone down the same road as 911 Turbo and Civic Type-R and become a... well... not a M3 E30 anyways. The king is dead, long live the king!

 

[Zafiro]

Great, MB fans have been bitching how uncomfortable the M3 is , now we wont hear that as an excuse anymore. For BMW's sake I hope the new M3 is more hardcore than C63 or they have lost me a fan.

PS the guy from EVO seem to be more impressed with the M3 than CAR.

http://www.germancarforum.com/3-series/15970-sneak-preview-m3-v8-drive.html

 

[warot]

Hold your horses people. This is one review and that's the first I've heard the M3's gone a bit softer. How much softer? And let's not forget this:

From my perspective and understanding what most of us discuss on forums such as this, I would summarise and say that most of you that are hoping the E92 M3 is good will not be dissapointed. It is good.

So anyone sitting on the fence trying to decide should they change from an E46 M3, I would say undoubtedly yes.

Handling is as you would expect. BMW haven't gone soft, but they have given the M3 a much wider repetoire than previously. It will satisfy those who like to cruise AND those who like to race.

Funnily at certain moments in the rev range it sounds exactly the same as the M5, but with a harder more menacing growl. It is louder, MUCH louder than the M5 and deeper in tone.

Fasten your seatbelts, the party is just about to begin

 

[EnI]

As said before: M1 will be the new "M3" ... short, raw, pure, amazing ...

3er (incl M3) has gone too much up-market. And there are some different needs to please than just a need for a lega racing machine.

M1 will restore the world order again.

 

[Zafiro]

As said before: M1 will be the new "M3" ... short, raw, pure, amazing ...

3er (incl M3) has gone too much up-market. And there are some different needs to please than just a need for a lega racing machine.

M1 will restore the world order again.

The car has been americanized. What's wrong with staying with tradition?
According the CAR article the M5 has better steering than M3, bad bad.

and who wants to wait 3 years for a M1 to restore order. M3 seem to lost its touch and C63 seem to taking over the role as a drivers car according to the previews.

Yes, I'm hugely disappointed with the M3 so far...I never thought I would feel so about a BMW.

 

[warot]

The car has been americanized. What's wrong with staying with tradition?
According the CAR article the M5 has better steering than M3, bad bad.

and who wants to wait 3 years for a M1 to restore order. M3 seem to lost its touch and C63 seem to taking over the role as a drivers car according to the previews.

Yes, I'm hugely disappointed with the M3 so far...

Andreas, you need to it easy buddy. I woulnd't count the M3 dead just yet

 

[RikfromBelgium]

wow is this review good?
does not sound like that
sounds like BMW has gone MB ..and MB gone BMW..
new world order..
and that crap about waiting for the CSL..it will take a long while..and be dead expensive..
so where does this leave the purists.. cause the M3 just gone soft..according to Carmag

totall SHOCk

MB has not gone BMW. They're still just as MB as before with a 6.3l against a 4.0l engine and with 457 Bhp just to have more BHP. Thats how MB has done it since ages.

 

[EnI]

M3 seem to lost its touch and C63 seem to taking over the role as a drivers car according to the previews.

No.

Both become more all-rounded. Yet M3 "degraded" from too raw to less raw, while C AMG become more raw.

But be sure M3 still tops C63 in involving driving. But due the "downgrade" in raw-factor the journalists are not so pleased. Therefore the initial disappointment.

It's all about perception.

But be sure the car is still typical M, and built to please most of the customers.

But I also do not like the trend either ... BMW becoming more & more MB like (the price from #1 luxury car maker status???), while MB & Audi are imitating BMW formula from the 90s.

Like someone said before ... we are approaching to BAM times (BMW-Audi-MB all almost same in character, yet with different badge & styling).