BMW M3 (E93) | Spotted
Purists aren't meant to like drop-top M3s, but this supercharged one does have almost 600hp...
Funny car, the BMW M3 Convertible. Or M4, of course, as it is now. Because while enthusiasts tend to get excited about M3 Tourings and four-door versions, the cabrio is the only bodystyle - alongside the standard two-door - that’s been available through every single generation across 40 years. Which still seems staggering, given the M3’s remit and origins. But enough people flocked to the 786 drop-top E30s in the late '80s that it continued to the E36 generation. That was when the floodgates opened, and the soft top (or hard top) has been a permanent fixture of the M3 (or M4) lineup since.
And these days, it’s easier than ever to see the appeal of a convertible M car. The current M4 is great, if further from the homologated road racer roots than ever. It’s luxurious, heavy, automatic and four-wheel drive, which - dare we say it - makes for a really nice open experience as well. Certainly it seems less egregious now to offer a cabrio version than it may once have.
The E9x V8 era, for example, made for a properly mismatched M3 drop-top. The S65 V8 screamed its way to 8,500rpm, making just 295lb ft in the process, but the 3 Series Convertible had made the switch to a folding hard top. So the M3 version was the heaviest version of the heaviest M3 that yet there’d been, motored along by a glorious V8 that wasn’t quite up to the task. Even with a very good optional DCT to help.
But this one isn’t your common-or-garden E93 M3. Because it’s supercharged. The ideal forced induction solution for the epic 4.0-litre, because you keep the revs and the response, but gain the muscle to really motor these porky old things along. The claim here is of 587hp (up from 420hp as standard) alongside 381lb ft; the latter isn’t huge, when a new M4 is twisting the tarmac with 479lb ft, though it is a whole lot more than it left the factory with. Enough to do the sound justice, surely.
The supercharger comes from ESS, and was fitted by specialist A Reeve Performance alongside AEM Methanol injection (!) for a much more serious M3. It’s been with the owner for eight years, which is a good sign, and it has only covered 53,000 miles since 2010. The V8 was actually rebuilt a few thousand miles ago, to the tune of £15,000 (including forged pistons); it’s not clear if that’s when the supercharger joined the party, but either way it’s a very fresh V8 under that bonnet bulge.
Elsewhere, it’s a nice M3 spec, with recently refurbed Competition wheels, uprated brakes, Michelins all round and some nice accessories like the wind deflector. As expected, someone enthusiastic enough to supercharge a V8 M3 (and have the engine rebuilt) has kept the rest of it in fine fettle.
Alright, so the best part of 600hp isn’t going to make this old BMW into an Elise. It’ll probably still feel a bit heavy and a bit wobbly at points. But no longer will you curse the combination of that kerbweight and what’s basically a VTEC V8. If nothing else the supercharged M3 is interesting, usable enough with its hard top and modern-ish interior, rare with the modifications and exciting in a way no standard one could be.
The asking price is £30k, which predictably makes it one of the more expensive E93s around - though there are low mileage and limited edition cars at similar money. And this is a long way from the most being asked for a V8 M3, demand for late coupes showing no signs of slowing down. And probably they are more in keeping with the ethos of a BMW M Division 3 Series. But for high-revving fun in the sun, a supercharged V8 cabrio looks kinda hard to ignore.
SPECIFICATION | BMW M3 (E93)
Engine: 3,999cc, V8, supercharged
Transmission: 7-speed dual-clutch auto, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 420@8,400rpm (standard)
Torque (lb ft): 295@3,900rpm (standard)
MPG: 24.6 (standard)
CO2: 269g/km (standard)
First registered: 2010
Recorded mileage: 52,931
Price new: £54,655 (2008)
Yours for: £29,990
They also don't like M badges on non 'M' cars, automatic gearboxes, FWD, the new 1 series, modern BMW design. I could go on.
There's apparently very litte purists approve of, which is why fundamentalist are rarely fun.
Its a fast convertible someone enjoyed. It will find a new home.
They also don't like M badges on non 'M' cars, automatic gearboxes, FWD, the new 1 series, modern BMW design. I could go on.
There's apparently very litte purists approve of, which is why fundamentalist are rarely fun.
Its a fast convertible someone enjoyed. It will find a new home.
Lee's biggest beef with his E92 M3 was the S65's lack of torque. Bolting a supercharger kit onto a 4.0 V8 would definitely increase the peak torque and I suspect fill in some of the missing low and mid-range torque Lee wanted (and found in his turbocharged M4)
They were loving life and life was Deffo loving them back...
Wouldn't of had the same effect in a "normal" one...I love convertibles..
Whereas in my E92 M3 Coupe, you couldn't hear the exhaust at all, and that was all induction noise in comparison.
I'd like a go in this one for sure.
Lee's biggest beef with his E92 M3 was the S65's lack of torque. Bolting a supercharger kit onto a 4.0 V8 would definitely increase the peak torque and I suspect fill in some of the missing low and mid-range torque Lee wanted (and found in his turbocharged M4)
The inner and outer ends of the spokes are different, and the car in this article has the 163M style spokes, but unlikely to be genuine as mentioned.
I thought something didn't look quite right when I first looked at them and then I realised they are not 359M wheels, genuine or otherwise.
They were loving life and life was Deffo loving them back...
Wouldn't of had the same effect in a "normal" one...I love convertibles..
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