Jalopnik
The 2008 BMW M3 puts the world around it in fast forward. No, this isn't some function hidden deep within the still befuddling iDrive or a secret performance setting achieved by hitting B, A, B, A, Select, Start; just an inherent ability to twist the world over its power dome and past its windscreen at a nearly impossible speed. Neither is this the kind of garden-variety performance achieved by the average big engine, small car formula. Remember how cheesy '80s action shows would speed up the tape during chase scenes? The resultant mix of unbelievably flat cornering and inexplicably rapid oncoming traffic just ended up being unbelievable and inexplicable. But not in this new M3.
This thought first occurs as I'm shifting from third to fourth on the same wet, windy and narrow road in the Catskills that had the Jaguar XKR tying itself in knots. Burying the throttle well into three figures that thought comes just after I ask myself if this is a bad idea. The answer is no.
The fast cars following disappear into the spray as the M3 crests yet another apex and accelerate out onto the flat corners beyond. The BMW making that impossibly fast, flat cornering believable, redefining the way in which I think a car should perform. I almost feel sorry for whatever it is I have to drive next.
That the M3 eschews conventional fast car wisdom makes it all the more special. Not present is any kind of manumatic or all wheel drive. The traction control is easy to completely defeat even if the power and electronic damping controls are baffling. The push-random-buttons-then-get-on-with-driving-it setting seems to work for me.
Those buttons, located down by your right leg, are the visible front to an achingly long list of in-car technology. A brief look reveals the usual dynamic stability control, as well as switchable throttle maps, electronically adjustable active dampers and regenerative braking. That you notice none of this once you put the owner's manual away speaks volumes for the fundamental right-ness of the design, none of it interfering as I use the throttle to play with the BMW's backend entering and leaving the mountain bends.
Earlier that morning, swamped in Manhattan's gray sea of traffic on my way out of town, there was little to hint at the M3's performance to come. The light clutch and adjusted-for-speed steering make easy work of the stop and go, while the suspension — firm in any setting — never makes the bumps go away, the jolts fail to affect the stiff body. The engine, while fast and flexible, doesn't hint at the performance its capable of. In fact, the whole thing feels decidedly normal. Looks it too, the bulges and droops making the already unappealing current 3-series even uglier. I like to think of the sedan's body as a form of camouflage; helping drivers avoid the attention a car this capable would normally garner. Even with the badges, those sitting one car over in traffic think of you as an upwardly mobile young executive from New Jersey, not someone hell bent on breaking every traffic law ever written.
But it's not city driving for which people will purchase the M3. It's the sheer involvement with which it rewards drivers. To look at it on paper, the BMW would seem a parallel for fast sedan rivals like the RS4, IS-F and C63 AMG. Gone is the lightweight simplicity of its forebears and present in the kind of complexity that'll make used car buyers shudder in three year's time. But, once you put your foot down, that piece of paper will disappear nearly as quickly as just about any other car on the road. It's just that good.
Thanks to: Brian, Tony and Matt at 0-60
Comments
I had a chance to drive one at the GM Milford Proving Grounds a few months ago, and it was the best "Drivers Car" I have ever been in. It literally felt like the car knew what you were thinking and where you wanted it to go before you ever turned the steering wheel. I know everyone jokes about BMW drivers, but while we laugh at the "Pricks on the inside" lines, they are laughing at us because their driving experince is so much more enjoyable than ours. Bastards.
It's the new "big car, gigantor engine formula."
I can not, in any language, in any sort of communication my mind can fathom (short of outright violence, but I'm not psychotic), express to you how jealous I am, or how much I loathe you for getting a tester M3.
The big question for me is not whether the M3 is spectacular, because I know it is. It's whether the M3 is enough better than the very impressive 335i to justify the 15-25 thousand dollar price bump.
I am afraid that the answer is yes.
Regenerative braking? For what?
@Preferredcustomer: Yeah, I'm afraid it is. Don't think of it as a rival to the 335i though, think of it as a half price supercar.
Very nice. Now get it out there on the track with a G8 and do a kickass head to head.
Now THIS is the kind of car I want to see reviewed on Jalopnik. How long until the folks at GM let you review a Z06 instead of some damn Silverado?
or maybe wait for the GXP to do that.
@Preferredcustomer: A while back I got my money back for the #1 allocation spot at my dealer for an M3. It was going to be a second car for me (i.e. weekends). But after driving a 335i and realizing that its performance is awesome by itself, I decided to just order one of those and trade in my e46. Depends on how much you're going to be driving it as to whether it's worth $20K over an e92...
@LTDScott, Porcubimmer pilot: Helps account for all the degenerate things you'll do behind the wheel.
@FreeMan: account = compensate, dumbass
Thanks for making the poster I had to gank out of a BMW dealership of the M3 look like crap compared to the pictures you guys took. Now I have to photoshop "Hold onto your umlauts" onto one of them and print it out all big like at Kinko's. Dicks.
Now all BMW needs to do is make a wagon version.
As for the styling, to my eyes the lower end 3-series sedans look like what Clarkson once described as a couch on wheels. Fugly to say the least. But in M3 or 335i form, I think it looks pretty good without being over the top like a C63.
"Even with the badges, those sitting one car over in traffic think of you as an upwardly mobile young executive from New Jersey, not someone hell bent on breaking every traffic law ever written."
That sounds like the appeal that the E39 M5 has always held for me. Looking forward to part 2.
Also, can we get Murilee a test drive again?
@dolo54: I was under the impression that the E90 M3's engine was smaller than the E46 M3's I6.
I will have dragonian sex with the C63... I will merely masturbate furiously to the M3
(did I just lose my star for that?)
@SwatLax: Yeah Ray, I vote you fly him out to test the Tata Nano.
@elwood: You mean like this:
[jalopnik.com]
I love the 4-door M3. Not only will nobody other than eagle-eyed enthusiasts will suspect a thing, but it does a good job of attempting to shake off the 35-year old cocky rich bastard types that slurped up the old M3 in droves. And for that, I applaud it.
From a site that cherishes wagons and other stealthy, unsuspecting cars, I hope there will be a warm reception to this one.
@Rock517: I've got a 335 now, and the performance is...more than sufficient. I can barely crack it open without getting into "your ass is going to prison, son" territory. It's a fantastic car in every way, with the speed of my old E46 M3 and the drivability/livability of my old 330i. A nearly perfect combination.
But then BMW had to go and build this. Which is like the 335, turned up to eleven. And while I almost never turn the 335 up to ten, how can I pass on one that goes to eleven?
Plus, with a real LSD, it will let me leave real, honest-to-god smoky burnouts, something that the peg-leg 335 can't really do. That's worth, what, 10 grand right there.
@Duphman2: Nope, this has a 4.0 V8, that was a 3.2 I6.
wes
so who wants to buy an '04 E46 M3?
@Duphman2: the new engine is actually lighter than the old one.
It's a good world when you can choose a 335I or this.
The only reason to not want the M3 (other than price) over the 335I might be the jarring suspension if used as a daily driver.
@Preferredcustomer: It's more like a supercar that looks kind of like a 335i. Much more than an 11 on the knob.
@Preferredcustomer: You're telling me the 335 doesn't have LSD? I'm honestly surprised, my 22-year-old 535i has LSD, what is BMW thinking?
@Rust-MyEnemy: I like your thinking.
While Wes is taking car of the new stuff, maybe Murille can test drive some of the DOTS cars, you know, the ones with real 'character'? Maybe you can throw $50, $100, or a tank of gas at the owner to convince him to let you take a spin around the block? Heck, if my 1990 Legend was worth, I'd let you do it for free, just to see it featured on these tubes.
@Wes Siler: This request is meant as no diss to your reviews. Though it would be great if Ray would let you put up your 'introduction' post. We know you spent time across the pond, like bikes (both kinds), and live in NYC. But, who is your mother's uncle!?!
@ConnorW: No LSD on the 335; in fact, the only BMW Group vehicles that have mechanical limited slip differentials are M cars and MINIs (where it is a $500 option).
The lack of an LSD is the 335's Achilles heel, especially in something like autocrossing. You just cannot put the (prodigious) power down. There are aftermarket solutions, but they are $$$$.
The conspiracy theorist in me believes that BMW does not offer LSDs either from the factory or as part of their "BMW Performance" line of Fast and Furious gear in order to drive up sales of the M cars.
@ConnorW: For quite some time only M cars have a 'real' LSD from the factory, everything else gets some sort of electronic diff or just an open one.
M models are expensive, even the 2 generations old M3s I could actually afford. Based on every single review though they are well worth the money, and more so with each passing redesign.
@Duphman2: It isn't.
Did anyone see how the M3 sedan did against the AMG and the IS-F in Motor Trend. The Mercedes and IS-F both had red bottoms. Yes... they were spanked.
These are some unusually crappy pics from the 'ol Jalop.
you guys stil got your tester G8 GT????
could find out the factuality of the current advertising!
(shit that was the 5 series but I'm going to leave my comment cause no one will even see my mistake)
@LTDScott, Porcubimmer pilot: New BMWs (M3, 1 series, others?) have the ability to decouple the accessory drive and only engage them during coasting and breaking. I guess the concept is to not drain HP/MPGs when you stand on the go pedal.
@Mfatik:
I do.
Trade ya a rustbucket '92 Civic (VX, no less!) for it. If you're nice to me, I might (just might, mind you) trade straight up for your e46. Sarcasm, however, will cost you.
Get back to me and we'll talk turkey.
This really doesn't do it for me. It's too fast, too good looking, and too smart.
@I'm so Malaise I can't taste it!!!!!!!!!11:
I saw it.
But all's cool. Yer secret's done safe with me.
It seems as awesome as everyone's made it sound, but I'm still going to long for the smaller, lighter M3s of yore. Where art Thou, Ye Olde M3?
@Novaload: No Hooters girls belonging to MENSA for you.
I can say from personal experience that anyone comparing the 335i to the M3 V8 has not driven both cars. The m3 I somehow got to test drive was much better than the 335. Like the reviewer says you can't detect any body roll. Cornering is so flat it is almost unbelievable. The car basically feels like some extension of your body when driving. I've heard other cars described as telepathic. They're not. This car is telepathic. The 335 is nice, and it's quick etc etc. But nothing can replace the feel, sound, and speed of this new M3. Anyone who denies it's superiority over the 335 just doesn't have enough money or balls to own one. With that said, I now can't drive any other car without wanting this one. I'm starting my savings plan so I can get it ASAP.
As to the question if the M3 is worth the extra cash over a 335i...YES. I have an '08 M3, and my sister purchased a 335i in '07. Having driven both, the M3 is an entirely different animal. The M has a better ride around town for normal driving (which was not the case with my E46 M3. That was liking riding an angry mule on a bumpy road), and has nearly endless grip for a RWD vehicle. If you can afford it, it's worth it. Only "downside" I've spotted so far is that when you really get on it and hoon it up you'll be getting 5mpg, but what do u expect from a 8200pgm V8?
@Mfatik: It is, however, heavier then the 335's engine.
@Hot_Carl: Funny how these same pictures were just the subject of high praise earlier in the same comment stream.
Just when I thought that the sedan couldn't get any uglier, they gave it the bubonic plague. Bring on the boils, bulges and blisters I say!
Nice to know the 'M'ness' is still under the hood though.
@Duphman2: It's got more displacement, but if I recall correctly, the engine actually weighs less. So I guess that depends on what you mean by "bigger". But if you ask me, reducing engine weight while increasing displacement and adding two cylinders is all sorts of awesome.
@Wes Siler: The problem obviously is that I can't remember anything more than a couple weeks in the past.
So glad the Jalop's reviewing this car.
I'm really interested in the disparity between the M's (comparatively) low torque and high horse power curves. I imagine the "low" torque helps the around town drivability, but do you notice it when driving spiritedly? Did you tend to keep the revs up to stay up in the higher HP curve?