BMW M3 (E92) Competition manual: Spotted
Why wait for an M3 Pure when this immaculate E92 Competition comes in holy grail spec?
Rumours that BMW's next M3 will come exclusively with all-wheel drive and an automatic gearbox come as little surprise - the model would simply be following the path of the M5 in the face of ever-growing demands for more performance. But few might have expected to hear that a rear-wheel drive, manual M3 Pure version could also be in the pipeline, because such a car would completely buck the trend of the M division's latest movements.
Like the Porsche 911 R and Audi R8 RWS, an M3 Pure would be produced for those who prioritise driving engagement above outright performance. But while there are plenty of us around, it's inevitable that the sales of this manual rear-driven model would be minuscule compared to the regular, more mainstream car. As such, it'll almost certainly come with an inflated price so as to counter the reduced profit margins of a three-pedal M3. Which is a shame.
But what if you didn't require your 'pure' M3 to be brand new? Then might we point you in the direction of the E92 M3 Competition with a manual gearbox on PH's classifieds that, if the description and pictures are anything to go by, is in immaculate condition throughout. Since this is an E92, it comes with BMW's wonderful atmospheric 4.0-litre V8, which offers instantaneous throttle response and has only ever been interested in driving an M3's rear wheels.
In standard trim the E92 was an intoxicating mix of brutish German power and sublime handling, but the Competition variant was sharper still with 10mm lower suspension and revised damping. Even back when the E92 was new, automatic gearbox sales ruled the performance car roost, so today's Spotted is one of just 24 that came fitted with a six-speed manual and Competition chassis. As a 13-plate, it's one of the last to leave the production line, too. We won't need to explain how special that makes this car.
In its six years and 46,000 miles not one sheet of this E92's BMW service history has gone missing, nor have either of its original keys. It's clearly been loved. To seal the deal, the body's been treated to a ceramic coating, plus the car's been parked in a garage, so the red paint - a rare choice for the E92 - looks spotless. Really, it's a wonder why anyone would choose to sell such a rare and healthy example of a 'pure' BMW M car. There's no question, though, why you'd want to buy it.
SPECIFICATIONS - BMW M3 (E92) COMPETITION
Engine: 3,999cc V8
Transmission: 6-speed manual
Power (hp): 420@8,300rpm
Torque (lb ft): 295@3,900rpm
MPG: 22.8
Top speed: 155mph (limited)
Price new: £56,590
Yours for: £29,500
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Glad i owned one definitely a box to tick for me anyway, but a flawed car due to its weight. Don't think Id have another but I always look at them with rose tinted glasses which is why I think the pricing is all over the place.
My ideal spec is DCT, 18 inch 216M. With some nice coilovers - ohlins and a centre gravity setup. Top that off with some minor weight reduction, primary cats out, exhaust system, GTS gearbox software, remap. See where Im going here?
Glad i owned one definitely a box to tick for me anyway, but a flawed car due to its weight. Don't think Id have another but I always look at them with rose tinted glasses which is why I think the pricing is all over the place.
My ideal spec is DCT, 18 inch 216M. With some nice coilovers - ohlins and a centre gravity setup. Top that off with some minor weight reduction, primary cats out, exhaust system, GTS gearbox software, remap. See where Im going here?
Must admit to liking the colour and the fact that it’s a manual but vaulted at the price
However.
I’m sure that the long term prognosis on pricing will be an upward slope
And let’s not forget, all it takes is one person to decide that it’s the right car, at the right price, and boom, it’s sold. And it sets a benchmark that all of a sudden other vendors will pitch their own cars at or near....
Suspension - 10mm lower than a standard E92 M3, revised stability control, and a Sport setting within the standard Electronic Damper Control incl. new damper rates.
Wheels - Those 19 inch Style 359 'CSL' type wheels, shod with either Michelin Pilot Sports or Conti CSC3s - you couldn't specify which it came with from the factory.
It came with a manual box as standard (as did every other M3 of this genre); the DCT option added about £2500.
And that was it. It wasn't a special model per se, literally just a factory order pack you could specify with the M3 coupe only.
Glad i owned one definitely a box to tick for me anyway, but a flawed car due to its weight. Don't think Id have another but I always look at them with rose tinted glasses which is why I think the pricing is all over the place.
My ideal spec is DCT, 18 inch 216M. With some nice coilovers - ohlins and a centre gravity setup. Top that off with some minor weight reduction, primary cats out, exhaust system, GTS gearbox software, remap. See where Im going here?
However that seems a very high price, if it wasn't a comp pack I'd expect a max of 25k from a dealer.
But you pays your money & takes your choice.....
Having bought 2 in quick succession over the last 4 months, I reckon supply well exceeds demand at the moment - which somewhat undermines their 'investment' reputation.
All manual, all less than half price. I'd rather pocket the difference and put a set of coilovers and AP's on.
There's a bum (mug) for every seat. The market would be a different place if it weren't for good customers like yourself.
For all its many flaws, leaving the manual in 3rd and using the breadth of the rev range is fantastic. In some ways, it is a more satisfying experience than the chasing up and down the closer ratios of the DCT.
A DCT competition pack is very much the high point of the E92 in that it feels very 'motorsport', but a vanilla spec manual with passive has a lovely old school muscle car feel to it too.
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