Saturday 18th June 2022

BMW M3 Touring sets new 'Ring lap record

The first-ever M3 Touring is also the quickest wagon at the Nordschleife - now with new onboard video

---

This wasn’t really ever in any doubt. Having opted to finally build an M3 Touring, BMW was never going to let it fall at the crucial ‘Ring record hurdle. Not when the estate benchmark wasn’t especially taxing either: the official Nurburgring site doesn’t even make space for a wagon, but, courtesy of Wikipedia, we know Sport Auto sent an Mercedes-AMG E63 S 4Matic+ round in 7:45.19 back in 2017. Now the new M3 Touring has done it in 7:35.060. Which is quite a lot quicker. 

Of course, when you consider that just last month the latest M4 CSL monstered the course in 7:15.677 - the fastest lap time ever for a series production BMW - there wasn’t really any question that the same basic engine and chassis would be sabotaged by a bit of additional bodywork. Naturally its time suggests the Touring is very quick indeed; not only does it dip under the lap set by Sport Auto in the F90 M5 Competition back in 2019, it also narrowly beats the official ‘compact cars’ record currently held by the Audi RS3. 

BMW might not have been aiming for that, but it's a pleasing boast for anyone trying to justify the sizeable step up from super hatch to fast estate. Not that anyone needs reminding just how special the first-ever M3 Touring is, simply by dint of it combining ‘M3’ and ‘Touring’ in a single description. BMW’s long-running preview of the car has inevitably laboured the point, but there is every indication that the firm has risen to the challenge of meeting the buying public’s expectations.

Clearly, this is the icing on the cake for the team. For the rest of us, we’ll be provided with the full lowdown next week - including how much BMW is going to charge for the ultimate fast estate - when the new model receives its global debut at the 2022 Festival of Speed. We didn’t need a lap record to help us look forward to the much-anticipated unveiling - but it doesn’t hurt none either. 

---

• Audi RS3 sets new Nurburgring lap record
• BMW confirms M3 Touring reveal for FoS

[Water Fairy]

I just want to see it in full and undisguised

[anonymous-user]

I just want one !

[okenemem]

yes please

[dunnoreally]

Also 4 seconds faster than the Cayenne Turbo's SUV record

[GreatScott2016]

Yep, that should be a car for all occasions but I'm patiently waiting for the incoming M2, and hoping the manual option is coming to the UK too As for this Touring, should be epic

[Beaver Dam]

I'm sure it'll be an awesome car but the "Ring Lap Record" benchmark is becoming very tiresome now. Does anyone care how fast it goes around the 'Ring?!

Certainly not a consideration when I'm toying with what car to buy next.

Edited by Beaver Dam on Thursday 16th June 20:16

[fantheman80]

It’s weird the ‘compact car’ category contains an estate....

Give me this over any supercar...(please)

[HighwayStar]

fantheman80 said:

It’s weird the ‘compact car’ category contains an estate....

Give me this over any supercar...(please)

No, the compact car category is the RS3, the saloon, which has that record.
The M3 Touring is in the medium size category which now holds the record for but also bests the RS3 in the compact category. Simples

[L.Len]

Looking forward to seeing it in full as well.
Will it have any more bhp than the current m3/m4 ?

[MDL111]

Comparing Sport Auto times with factory driver times is rather pointless. Sport Auto times are usually quite a bit slower, but have the big advantage that you can at least compare same driver in different cars (obviously not same conditions unfortunately) for those that are interested

[fantheman80]

HighwayStar said:

fantheman80 said:

It’s weird the ‘compact car’ category contains an estate....

Give me this over any supercar...(please)

No, the compact car category is the RS3, the saloon, which has that record.
The M3 Touring is in the medium size category which now holds the record for but also bests the RS3 in the compact category. Simples

Ahhh thanks.... I really need to read things properly!!!

[Twinair]

Heavy, ugly, too expensive, not a real M car etc etc - those thinking that, move aside…!

Meanwhile - everyone else can’t wait, me included… :-))

Depending on, might ditch my M4Cx for a touring, screw it, if 54 new cars wasn’t enough, number 55 won’t be too many!! Lol…

[Draxindustries1]

Beaver Dam said:

I'm sure it'll be an awesome car but the "Ring Lap Record" benchmark is becoming very tiresome now. Does anyone care how fast it goes around the 'Ring?!

Certainly not a consideration when I'm toying with what car to buy next.

Edited by Beaver Dam on Thursday 16th June 20:16

This x100
Who really buys a car because of a ring lap.
Mention the stats to others and it all becomes a bit nerdy, goofy and leather elbow patchy....

[Davie]

Ring times are strange as 10 secs faster over 14 miles doesn't strike me as "a lot quicker" plus there must be so many variables testing over a track of the length that really, unless the cars were run simultaneously then there must be quite a big margin of error.

Still, who doesn't love a fast estate!

[GT9]

I can guarantee that all the beards who lost their st over the grille on the coupe and saloon now really like the grille, 'because touring'.

[WCZ]

Draxindustries1 said:

This x100
Who really buys a car because of a ring lap.
Mention the stats to others and it all becomes a bit nerdy, goofy and leather elbow patchy....

Plenty have, especially with the fwd category

[Escort Si-130]

Ugly piece of st, It can go around the ring in 1 second. But with a grill and front looking like that, I would have NO interest in buying it.

[HighwayStar]

Escort Si-130 said:

Ugly piece of st, It can go around the ring in 1 second. But with a grill and front looking like that, I would have NO interest in buying it.

Looking at it another way, it’s just another of many cars you would have NO interest in buying, for any number reasons, but others buy them. Same for the M3 Touring.

[Demonix]

It's a hugely capable high performance wagon, I am impressed by what it can do and the fun it would be away from family holidays /school / tip runs but I just don't like the current BMW design language and wouldn't buy it as a result.

[liner33]

I did think about chopping my M4 for one but can’t help thinking it’s going to be knocking on the door of £100k with a few options and not thrilled with that new dash

But I do love a fast wagon and think it’s going to be a huge success