2008 BMW M3

Welcome to ‘our’ V8 M3, part of the Munich Legends collection since 2012, now offered for sale.

It’s no secret that here at Munich Legends we love the V8 M3. Arguable BMW’s best modern all-round M car – something most owners will wholeheartedly agree with – the E90/92 are also the last of the naturally aspirated M3s, something that true ///M aficionados will lament forever. The multiple award-winning engine is a close relative of the Formula 1 derived V10 from the M5/M6 of the same era – basically the same architecture with a couple of cylinders sliced off – and doesn’t it show! The same relentless pull, the addictive build of power as you head towards the top of the rev range, the same instant response to every little input from the driver, but mated with a lighter, more agile, more pushable chassis, and, it has to be said, a fabulous steering rack that allows the most intricate, reassuring, precise manoeuvres at high speeds or on tight, twisty roads. The overall feel is a car who’s individual elements – engine, chassis, gearbox, brakes – all work in perfect harmony, complementing and matching each other to produce a masterpiece of modern automotive design. The overriding impression is of a car with perfect poise, and above all, bags of character, something that the later generations of M3 struggle to match.

Ignore BMW’s official figures – the V8 M3 in DCT guise has been clocked by many independent testers at a sub- 4 second 0-60, and with EDC giving you flexibility to switch from comfort to race feel at the push of a button, your M3 can be all of the cars you need in one. The manual DCT (dual clutch) gearbox is a masterpiece, allowing millisecond gear changes and a fabulous auto mode for smooth road use, whilst retaining full engine braking and proper driver interaction, just like a manual stick shift does.

The saloon is a real gem. It sits more straight, with gentler lines and a more subtle rear-end giving the E90 a slightly classier, refined feel. Four doors, generous boot space, and a Jekyll and Hyde personality means the E90 V8 is equally at home on the school run, family holiday or trip with grandma as it is on the racetrack or quiet back roads on your favourite night run. In fact, its hard to think of another BMW (or anything else for that matter) that offers so much versatility, whilst being so damned rewarding. The only down side is that most V8 saloon owners struggled to move out of their daily drive into anything else. There still just isn’t anything else quite like it.

This particular car has had a very interesting life so far, being part of the Munich Legends collection since 2012. The car was purchased by us from John Clark in Tayside with just 18,000 miles on the odometer, and it’s been with us ever since. During that time it has been driven by princes and rock stars, Stigs and supermodels, appearing in many TV shows, such as Top Gear and Grand Tour (racing a BAC Mono, and taking part in Car Park Races among other things) and has been much loved and much enjoyed. Most importantly, it has been kept in good order. Always carrying a BMW warranty until recently – there’s obviously never been a worry about expense – the priority has always been to keep this brilliant machine in great condition. The underside was stripped and refreshed not long ago, and of course the bearing shells and throttle body gremlins have been taken care of by the ML team. This M3 is now ready for the next chapter in its life.

Our workshop team have made sure the car is in tip-top order and ready for sale – PLEASE NOTE the wheels are due for refurbishment but have been left for the new owner to decide the finish. We hope to find an enthusiast that will enjoy ‘our’ M3 for many years to come. For more information or to book a viewing (by appointment only please) contact our showroom team.