M3/M4 First Drives: BMW M3 Coupe Edition (CarMagazine, EVO…)

ree · Aug 12, 2009

In the past we’ve had M3 Sport Evos, GTs and CSLs from BMW, all building on already brilliant foundations, all adding a little more petrolhead attitude. But with the E92 generation’s lightweight CSL project long since canned, the M3 Edition is as close as we’ve yet come to an even more desirable M3.

What’s the difference between a regualr BMW M3 Coupe and this M3 Edition?

The Edition sits 10mm lower than the car it’s based on, but otherwise it’s a cosmetic makeover. There’s a choice of Alpine White as seen on other M3s, or the Edition-only Dakar Yellow and Monte Carlo Blue, plus all Edition models are distinguished by darkened kidney grilles, bonnet vents and wing mirrors. The 19-inch alloys, meanwhile, come in either the familiar silver or optional black.

Inside there are body-coloured highlights on the Novillo leather and contrasting stitching, plus tastefully chunky trim to bisect the dash (BMW calls it black carbon-structure leather) while the white cars get a suspect, colour-coded centre console. I’d plump for blue – more saleable than yellow, plus it reminds of the stunning Estoril Blue previously used on the E36 M3.

What’s the damage?

At £53,435 you’ll pay £2.5k extra for your special edition Edition compared with the existing M3. A stretch too far for some, perhaps, but if you spec the Novillo leather and 19s on a regular M3 you’ll end up with a £2k bill anyway. Factor in the ride height drop, the numerous little touches and the extra exclusivity of the Edition and it starts to look like decent value.

Does it feel different?

Not really. Two CAR road testers drove the Edition back-to-back with the standard car on track, and our findings were less than conclusive. I noticed only that the new car was slightly less reluctant to tuck – and hold – its nose into tight, slower corners. Yet tester number two thought it was more stable under acceleration out of corners. Had we not had the standard car for reference we wouldn’t have noticed any difference at all.

The rest is business as usual. There’s a brilliantly well-balanced chassis that’s actually quite hard not to oversteer on track; initially over-light steering; a peach of a high-revving, incredible-sounding V8; and luxurious comfort and space that makes this car far easier to live with than a 911.

Equipped with our car’s double-clutch semi-auto transmission, the M3 is even more versatile, acting as both a smooth auto, and a fast-firing manual that puts the clunky sequential manual M5 to shame.

Verdict

The Edition might lack the kudos of previous special edition M3s, but it does represent good value in combining what are surely the most frequently ticked options boxes (19-inch alloys and the extended leather package) in a slightly more special-feeling package for similar money.

More than anything, it’s still an M3 and as such represents one of the very best performance cars you can buy.

http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/Drives...-drives/BMW-M3-Coupe-Edition-2009-CAR-review/

Merc1 · Nov 4, 2009

EVO - BMW M3 Edition

Rating:

Tiny changes make this the best E90 BMW M3 yet

You might wonder why we’re giving the M3 Edition page space. After all, a drop in ride height of 10mm isn’t earth-shattering stuff and whilst the option to have black wheels, black wing mirrors and black tail pipes is very nice, it would have been nicer still to be able to team them with Jet Black paint rather than Alpine White, Dakar Yellow or Monte Carlo Blue.

Open the door and you’ll be greeted by a chequered flag motif on the sill plate while, inside, the ‘carbon structure’ leather trim has stitching and stripes in exterior-matching yellow, blue or white. the Edition costs £2500 more than a standard car and on the face of it seems rather like something that Mazda might have served up for one of its multitudinous limited ed MX-5s. Yet this is the best E90 series M3 I have driven.

The reason for this is twofold. First there is the drop in ride height. Second there is the rubber that our test car was wearing. The M3 normally comes shod with Michelin Pilot Sport Cups, tyres which can also be found on Porsche GT3s and 2s. They have almost slick outer edges and generate a huge amount of grip but, aside from producing scintillating lap times, I’m not convinced they show the M3 off to best advantage. Fitted to our Edition were the other OE tyres for the M3, the Continental Sport Contact 3s, and whilst they have slightly less overall grip they give a much more involving drive.

On the Michelins you had to be way up in the high-rev powerband to unstick the rear which, like drinking a crate of Red Bull, was fizzingly exciting but also a bit extreme. Now, with the help of the Continentals and the drop in ride height, the M3’s poise and adjustability shine through without the need to have the V8 revving sky-high. There’s the potential for a touch of understeer if you push the nose into a corner hard (not something you ever found with the Michelins) but it’s easily neutralised by getting back on the throttle and steering with the now instantly alert rear. It reminds me of the CLK Black Series, which has to be a very good thing.

Our test car also had the M double-clutch gearbox, which feels as good as it should away from the lardy convertible. All in all it is a fantastic car and a nice reminder in these times of silly SUVs of what M division really does best.