BMW M3 saloon (E90): You Know You Want To
An M3 saloon with a price now starting '16'; the temptation grows...
BMW has never made an M3 Touring, which seems a shame. However, working down the bodystyle cool ranks, if estates are cooler than saloons then saloons are definitely cooler than coupes. The AMG C63 is the perfect example of this. Furthermore, everyone knows the M3 purist opts for the smallest wheels available, eschewing the widespread desire for big rims. A manual gearbox earns further kudos, particularly with the commonly held belief that recent M Division products best suit a dual-clutch or automatic gearbox (we'll ignore neither was available at the time this car built, just for now...).
So you can see why this M3 appeals. The E90 shape was never as popular with buyers as the E92 coupe; in fact it would be interesting to know if the E93 cabriolet outsold the saloon. It has the rarity factor then, plus a very good (to these eyes at least) M aesthetic. It's not as overt as the car that replaced it but there are enough identifiers for those that are looking: the bonnet bulge, the exhausts, the tiny rear spoiler.
Even just a generation on, to have a V8 that spun beyond 8,000rpm in a 3 Series sounds ludicrous. We really were spoilt in the first decade of this century with certain naturally aspirated engines. This V8, the M156 AMG V8, the Mezger Porsche flat-six, various Honda VTECs, the Alfa V6... it will surely be remembered as a great era.
Sure, this V8 is not the most usable everyday engine. Its torque peak of 295lb ft at 3,900rpm looks pretty measly a few years later, but who needs torque when you have revs? The way it keeps spinning is mesmerising, an angry V8 howl accompanying you on a rush to 8,500rpm. Just keep plenty in the budget for fuel...
However, you may need less of a budget for actually buying it. Because this M3, in a sensible spec with 67,000 miles and a full BMW history, is for sale at £16,990. Sixteen grand for an M3 saloon! It will be interesting to see just how far the E9x series of M3 falls given both the E36 and E46 have started to climb recently. As the last and most powerful naturally aspirated M3 it certainly has a USP. Question now is though: would you have it over a C63 or RS4?
BMW M3 SALOON (E90)
Price: £16,990
Why you should: One of the finest engines of this millennium, cheap fuel, nice spec
Why you shouldn't: Selling it again? You could just keep it...
See the original advert here.
They would i think sell in reasonable numbers (afterall you see a lot hot Audi estates, and they seem to hold their value well) and i think they'd look good for the same reasons the Saloon is a more aggressive looking car than the coupe (more visual mass at the rear, gives it a nose down "sniffing out trouble" kinda look, entirely missing from the coupe imo)
This one looks fantastic! http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/b...
The article is right about two things though,the V8 is a thirsty beast and the torque figure is poor for an engine of its size, both of which can become a bit tiresome on the daily grind, but the noise and grunt in the upper reaches of the rev range do make up for it on the days you get to cut it loose, it's silly fast above 6k,and if the throttle setting is in sport or sport plus it borders on violent when you stamp your foot down!
Jerez black is a nightmare to keep clean too but it looks amazing when it is. I've changed the front grilles on mine to black and the side gills to carbon which has made it look a lot more menacing, the standard chrome coloured plastic looked cheap and made the front look "toothy"
The article is right about two things though,the V8 is a thirsty beast and the torque figure is poor for an engine of its size, both of which can become a bit tiresome on the daily grind, but the noise and grunt in the upper reaches of the rev range do make up for it on the days you get to cut it loose, it's silly fast above 6k,and if the throttle setting is in sport or sport plus it borders on violent when you stamp your foot down!
Jerez black is a nightmare to keep clean too but it looks amazing when it is. I've changed the front grilles on mine to black and the side gills to carbon which has made it look a lot more menacing, the standard chrome coloured plastic looked cheap and made the front look "toothy"
To say there's no torque low down is all relative but on my commute to work, I am barely above 1000rpm at any point once above 2nd gear. It'll lug quite happily down to around 800rpm too.
I love my M3.
My wish list if I keep mine include Alcon BBK, proper ITB's running a cable, proper dipstick (not that daft electronic one) and Ohlins dampers. I have the EDC dampers but there isn't a middle ground setting, I leave them in soft.There is a long list of tweaks but it's quick enough and sounds bloody amazing. It's basically a 4 door practical saloon which is ordinary enough to blend in but has 911 type performance. Oh, try and find one with the rear folding seats, it's an option on the saloon but standard on the coupe.
Great cars, light on torque (comparatively) but this makes them really easy going on slippery days, oh and they are nicely balanced and hide their weight pretty well. This does mean you need to feed them tyres and stay on top of the alignment, standard stuff on anything putting out 400+HP
Last of the iconic M engines and for me the last of the genuine M cars. I like the M4 but prefer the throttle and the way the power is delivered with this V8. I also like how it looks and the fact it's a manual.
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