RE: BMW M3 farewell diary

RE: BMW M3 farewell diary

Tuesday 4th February 2014

BMW M3 farewell diary: Tuesday

M3 goes back to BMW but not before we get to shoot it together with the M4



Goes without saying that we're excited about the new BMW M4 and relieved that the celebrated M3 badge lives on in its four-door brother. Having seen both last week at a sneak preview the saloon is more than worthy of carrying the torch too, perhaps cooler in some ways than the coupe. But in with the new means out with the old and, subsequently, a farewell to the V8-powered E90-series M3. Having built 40,000-plus coupes, near-on 10,000 saloons and 16,000 convertibles it's been a big car for BMW and saying farewell is an emotional moment for M fans.

Not only the last true M3 coupe but also, in all likelihood, the last normally aspirated M car too. That fabulous V8 needs a proper send-off. And over the next week that's what we'll be doing.



Tuesday
So, I've had to give the M3 back. And with a heavy heart too - it's been quite a week. All good stories should end on a cliffhanger though and in the case of this one it's the question of what the M4 has to measure up to.

To complete this send off in suitable style and knowing that BMW UK has both a new M3and M4 in the country (because I'd seen them only the other week) I rang the press office on the off chance we might be able to shoot the E92 beside its F82 successor.

It's always interesting putting cars of succeeding generations together and musing on the differences and similarities. The first thing that hits you is the M4's size; we know cars are getting bigger but the E92 looks like a 1 M Coupe against the M4. This was just a static shoot so unfortunately comparisons will have to remain aesthetic for now but it's clear the M4 carries over the M3's pumped up looks and is significantly more aggressive looking than 'our' M Sport embellished 435i long termer.

The F82 is indeed longer overall than the E92 but only by 26mm - the 50mm wheelbase stretch and 16mm lower roof together with significantly increased width (43mm for the non-M 4 Series over the equivalent 3 Series Coupe) all adding up to a greater difference to the eye. Impressively though for all that extra metal and the added complexity of the twin-turbo engine the M4 is a significant 83kg lighter than the M3, comparing like for like manual coupes. It's a smidge under 1,500kg as a result - the DCT M3 like 'ours' is a porky 1,655kg - and that and the 38 per cent increase in torque should answer those who've complained about the V8 car only really coming alive in the top end of the rev range.

But, boy, when it does... Those fleeting moments when you do get a chance to extend the V8 remain something truly special, perhaps the more so because they are hard won and require a determined effort. The M4's considerable talents are going to be much easier to access but the fact you have to work the M3 is, to me, what makes it special.

Looking back at yesterday's comparison with the C63 it'll be interesting to see whether its turbocharged replacement is closer in character to the M4 or whether the M division has maintained some of that more manic power delivery that's traditionally separated products from M and AMG.

So yes, we're excited about the M4 and M3 saloon. But it's also been a real treat to rediscover the V8 car and savour what makes it so unique. If all this has whetted your appetite we've got a full buying guide coming later in the week but for now I'll sign off with a few more pics from this morning's brief encounter.

Dan


Previous updates:
Tuesday - M3 gets dropped off, Dan gets excited
Wednesday - Sideways fun in the M3 at a skiddy Bedford Autodrome
Thursday - Our M3 versus the bright orange M3 GTS
Friday - M3 owning PHers share the love
Weekend - Comparing the market at M experts Munich Legends
Monday - M3 versus C63 AMG, decisions decisions


   
   
   




Author
Discussion

cerb4.5lee

Original Poster:

30,182 posts

179 months

Tuesday 28th January 2014
quotequote all
I was happy I got to own a E92 M3 & long term I can see it being missed by many...it wasn't without flaws in my opinion though.

RemyMartin

6,759 posts

204 months

Tuesday 28th January 2014
quotequote all
\sad face.

Progress eh...

Although I know its largely emission driven.

Wills2

22,666 posts

174 months

Tuesday 28th January 2014
quotequote all

Although the e92 M3 was never a PH hero, comments like this "And that engine remains so special for a road car, there really is nothing like it." leads me to believe history will look very kindly on the only V8 M3 there will probably ever be.

I like that dark grey colour, what is it?





Wills2

22,666 posts

174 months

Tuesday 28th January 2014
quotequote all
cerb4.5lee said:
I was happy I got to own a E92 M3 & long term I can see it being missed by many...it wasn't without flaws in my opinion though.
Cerb, would you like a new record? biggrin


F1GTRUeno

6,335 posts

217 months

Tuesday 28th January 2014
quotequote all
Shame about the colour of both car and wheels. Awful choice.

Always liked the look and sound of this M3 though it's not a patch on the E46.

cerb4.5lee

Original Poster:

30,182 posts

179 months

Tuesday 28th January 2014
quotequote all
Two of the things you liked about it Dan were the two things I didn't.. you mention like a 1 series but it was its size & weight I disliked most & as for the tickover the sound from the exhausts as standard is pretty much a non event for a V8.

The engine is a masterpiece though & its chassis is the best I have experienced in any car I have owned or driven & took by the scruff of the neck the M3 is to be enjoyed but for the rest of the time I didn't feel it offered much more over lesser models if used as a daily driver.

I think if I had used mine as a second car it would have felt a little more special but it soon became very ordinary to drive for me but I still adore the M3 lineage & I cant wait for the next one but the E92 for me will be remembered as the grown up comfort version of the M3.

soad

32,825 posts

175 months

Tuesday 28th January 2014
quotequote all
Wills2 said:
I like that dark grey colour, what is it?
Sparkling Graphite perhaps?

Not much of a colour, imho.

cerb4.5lee

Original Poster:

30,182 posts

179 months

Tuesday 28th January 2014
quotequote all
Wills2 said:
cerb4.5lee said:
I was happy I got to own a E92 M3 & long term I can see it being missed by many...it wasn't without flaws in my opinion though.
Cerb, would you like a new record? biggrin
Sorry Wills...its not fair on all you fan boys is it...I will give it a rest now I promise!! biggrin

Wills2

22,666 posts

174 months

Tuesday 28th January 2014
quotequote all
soad said:
Wills2 said:
I like that dark grey colour, what is it?
Sparkling Graphite perhaps?

Not much of a colour, imho.
Not sure, they stopped that a while back and moved to space grey but this looks different to both.

Wills2

22,666 posts

174 months

Tuesday 28th January 2014
quotequote all
cerb4.5lee said:
Wills2 said:
cerb4.5lee said:
I was happy I got to own a E92 M3 & long term I can see it being missed by many...it wasn't without flaws in my opinion though.
Cerb, would you like a new record? biggrin
Sorry Wills...its not fair on all you fan boys is it...I will give it a rest now I promise!! biggrin
Only jesting buddy, I'm in a majority of one anyway! irked

dele

1,270 posts

193 months

Tuesday 28th January 2014
quotequote all
cerb4.5lee said:
The engine is a masterpiece though & its chassis is the best I have experienced in any car I have owned or driven & took by the scruff of the neck the M3 is to be enjoyed but for the rest of the time I didn't feel it offered much more over lesser models if used as a daily driver.
Amen to that, i really think it should be every petrolheads mission to try own an E9x M3 just to experience the engine at some point

Itsallicanafford

2,759 posts

158 months

Tuesday 28th January 2014
quotequote all
never owned one, but have 2 abiding memories of the E92 M3

The Good: A session in the Palmer sport M3's, stripped and caged.

The Bad: Overtaking a convertible version on a dual carriageway who suddenly decided he didn't want to be overtaken by an MX-5, he floored it and just made it out before he would have clattered into the back of athe truck infront of him. You could feel the engine struggling to shift the weight of the thing (and i backed off the gas abit to let him out to avoid an accident)

cerb4.5lee

Original Poster:

30,182 posts

179 months

Tuesday 28th January 2014
quotequote all
Wills2 said:
cerb4.5lee said:
Wills2 said:
cerb4.5lee said:
I was happy I got to own a E92 M3 & long term I can see it being missed by many...it wasn't without flaws in my opinion though.
Cerb, would you like a new record? biggrin
Sorry Wills...its not fair on all you fan boys is it...I will give it a rest now I promise!! biggrin
Only jesting buddy, I'm in a majority of one anyway! irked
I always enjoy your banter mate! thumbup

My bro in law still has his & he loves it to bits & no matter what I say to him makes any difference! I still love seeing them on the road too...I think its me on my own with my views!! getmecoat

toon10

6,140 posts

156 months

Tuesday 28th January 2014
quotequote all
F1GTRUeno said:
Shame about the colour of both car and wheels. Awful choice.

Always liked the look and sound of this M3 though it's not a patch on the E46.
I never really got the whole coloured wheels thing. Standard silver looks so much better in my opinion. As great as the M3 is, I never really lusted after one like I did the E46.

cerb4.5lee

Original Poster:

30,182 posts

179 months

Tuesday 28th January 2014
quotequote all
dele said:
cerb4.5lee said:
The engine is a masterpiece though & its chassis is the best I have experienced in any car I have owned or driven & took by the scruff of the neck the M3 is to be enjoyed but for the rest of the time I didn't feel it offered much more over lesser models if used as a daily driver.
Amen to that, i really think it should be every petrolheads mission to try own an E9x M3 just to experience the engine at some point
I always wanted one after I test drove one in jan 2008 & I am grateful I got to experience one & its a shame in my ways that the S65 didn't get used in anything else because it is something very special.

dapearson

4,252 posts

223 months

Tuesday 28th January 2014
quotequote all
How small does it look next to the 435?!?!

cerb4.5lee

Original Poster:

30,182 posts

179 months

Tuesday 28th January 2014
quotequote all
Itsallicanafford said:
The Bad: Overtaking a convertible version on a dual carriageway who suddenly decided he didn't want to be overtaken by an MX-5, he floored it and just made it out before he would have clattered into the back of athe truck infront of him. You could feel the engine struggling to shift the weight of the thing (and i backed off the gas abit to let him out to avoid an accident)
It seems crazy to suggest that over 400bhp struggles with the weight of the car but that will always be a lasting memory for me & on many occasions I genuinely thought the engine struggled with the weight & that seems mad & maybe I need help!!

daz05

2,904 posts

194 months

Tuesday 28th January 2014
quotequote all
Cerb must you ruin every thread on the M3, give it a rest 6 posts on the first page, you just sound very bitter to me.

cerb4.5lee

Original Poster:

30,182 posts

179 months

Tuesday 28th January 2014
quotequote all
daz05 said:
Cerb must you ruin every thread on the M3, give it a rest 6 posts on the first page, you just sound very bitter to me.
Not bitter daz just sharing a few flaws I thought the E92 M3 had in my experience, I have already stated how awesome the engine & chassis is & said I am grateful to have experienced one plus I have said I am in the minority with my views its just my take on things.

Still cant wait for the next one to launch but I appreciate I must sound like a broken record as Wills has already stated...I apologise for not saying the E92 M3 is the best car in the world.

NORTS

633 posts

219 months

Tuesday 28th January 2014
quotequote all
daz05 said:
Cerb must you ruin every thread on the M3, give it a rest 6 posts on the first page, you just sound very bitter to me.
Agreed.


On the car, what a great all rounder. Had mine nearly a year and not sure what will replace it. The exhaust note from the new M4 isn't very inspiring so far. But may sound better when you hear it in person rather than YouTube.