M3/M4 The Car Enthusiast - First Drive / Bedfordshire: BMW M3 Edition

[Merc1]

It's not unusual for car makers to introduce limited production runs in a bid to drum up interest in a model that's been around for a few years, but BMW's approach is a little different in that the M3 Edition will be produced for six months, regardless of how many are sold. Is its exclusivity worth the significant premium though?

In the Metal

Unlike many special editions, this M3 stands out. The most obvious signifiers are the black-gloss finished alloy wheels (actually not standard...), which, together with the black kidney grilles, side vents, bonnet vents, door mirrors and exhaust pipes, lend the M3 Coupé even more menace. The 10mm drop in ride height adds to this too no doubt.

Changes are minimal inside though, with a more tactile centre armrest material and unique leather sports seats complemented by body-coloured stitching elsewhere. Not that we found much wrong with the regular car's cockpit.

What you get for your Money

That £2,500 premium doesn't buy you a lot in truth. The styling additions mark the Edition out as a more exclusive version of the M3, but the only technical change is the minor reduction in ride height already mentioned. Buyers have few options either, as the Edition is available only as a Coupé and can be painted in Alpine White, Dakar Yellow or Monte Carlo Blue. Pity the highly distinctive black alloys are not standard, as they look fantastic. Other than that, buyers can choose between manual and M-DCT dual-clutch transmissions. In summary, you're paying for exclusivity.


Full Story: The Car Enthusiast - | First Drive | Bedfordshire, England | BMW M3 Edition |


M

 

[zegerman]

Exclusivity? Painting those bits black is what every raceboy does to ruin his BMW.
I suppose BMW saw the market to do this themselves at the factory.

 

[VroomVroom]

Looks rather good with the black bits!

 

[ree]

Quite interesting, nevertheless the normal M3 is enough in my opinion. But the interior looks good though:

 

[Cashmere]

oooooh, that interior looks sexy! Wish it was standard.

Any pics of the Dakkar yellow? Also will this special edition be limited to the coupe only or will the sedan version also get it?

 

[NarutoRamen]

Well, if that translates to about $3K in the US (usually cheaper here), then it really wouldn't be that bad considering just to get a good set of rims and lowering the ride height will cost that much anyways.

 

[Tarek]

Why no trim around the shifter? that area looks really plain!

 

[klier]

Why no trim around the shifter? that area looks really plain!

True, I don't understand either. A normal 3er has it, why not the M3?

 

[Will]

They've just ruined the mirrors, they finally decide to colour code the baseplates then they put a bit of black on it, looks so odd.

 

[Betty Swollocks]

True, I don't understand either. A normal 3er has it, why not the M3?

What trim?

 

[klier]

The alu/leather around the shifter (or the carbon leather for M3) which is standard on a 318d, but not available on M3, where it is made of ordinary plastic....

 

[martinbo]

^ It's quite simple. The metallic trim wouldn't match:

This interior uses the faux carbon fibre trim. When you tick that option on a standard M3 you don't get the alu-trim because it would look garish and out of place.

 

[Betty Swollocks]

The alu/leather around the shifter (or the carbon leather for M3) which is standard on a 318d, but not available on M3, where it is made of ordinary plastic....

Oh I see what you mean now.

Whatever trim you choose for the M3, even if it's carbon leather, the trim around the gear lever stays the same, but it's not made of ordinary plastic. It feels like leather, don't know if it is though, but it feels much better than the silver plastic you get as standard.

 

[Betty Swollocks]

^ It's quite simple. The metallic trim wouldn't match:

This interior uses the faux carbon fibre trim. When you tick that option on a standard M3 you don't get the alu-trim because it would look garish and out of place.

I think there is some confusion here, although which one of us it is I'm not so sure. The black trim around the gear lever, ashtray, idrive control stays the same no matter what trim you choose. Even if you chose the aluminium trim option for the M3, the bit around the gear lever would still be black.

 

[terps]

The monaco blue exterior color and the matching stitching on the interior is to die for! Wish there was a little bit of motor performance upgrade to go along with it.

 

[klier]

I think there is some confusion here, although which one of us it is I'm not so sure. The black trim around the gear lever, ashtray, idrive control stays the same no matter what trim you choose. Even if you chose the aluminium trim option for the M3, the bit around the gear lever would still be black.

Exactly, that's what i was talking about. Even though I know that the material used for that area is pretty high quality when you feel/touch it, it still feels empty. Should have been in the same color/materials as the rest of the trim....meaning either carbon leather or alu...(or wood if you choose wood for your M3?)

 

[martinbo]

I think there is some confusion here, although which one of us it is I'm not so sure. The black trim around the gear lever, ashtray, idrive control stays the same no matter what trim you choose. Even if you chose the aluminium trim option for the M3, the bit around the gear lever would still be black.

Thanks Betty and klier, my bad. I didn't know that they kept the trim on the transmission tunnel around the gearlever and iDrive controller black - even in the event of the customer speccing the Alu trim.

I expected this when you choose alu trim in an M3:

And this when you choose the Sycamore Wood trim (not shown in this image) for the M3:

Apologies, I'm not big on the BMW car configurator!

I think I understand why BMW only offer the black trim and this is because of the M3-specific button cutaway in this particular article.

 

[Betty Swollocks]

I think I understand why BMW only offer the black trim and this is because of the M3-specific button cutaway in this particular article.

Yes, that seems reasonable.

 

[mc_blue]

Wood looks nice in that 3er interior.