BMW M3 test

Intro: Nothing but fun!

Now it is a V8 you that purrs underneath the bonnet of this M3. It’s a brand new 402 bhp 4 litre V8, developing some 400 Nm of torque. The red zone, well, that starts at 8400 rpm. This new BMW M3 is the most powerful ever produced!

Esthetique: Beastly

True to reputation, BMW Motorsport has reworked much of the 3 Series coupe. Only the doors, boot lid, headlamps and brake lights remain unchanged. Every other piece of bodywork has been designed specifically for the M3. In particular, the front bumper and wings. The M3 is clearly identifiable the moment you lay eyes on it thanks to this inflated bonnet. The sills have been redesigned, while this particular model has 18 inch wheels, with 19s available as an option.

At the rear, there is of course the M3 logo, as well as an aerodynamic lip on the boot, plus a rear diffuser and a double exhaust. This new M3 is simply beautiful.

The interior is sporty, but not to the extreme...The signature M colours are found on the steering wheel and the gear lever. The finish is exquisite, while there are a number of different customisable options also available.

What makes the M3 unique is the way that the driver can tailor it to his driving style. The EDC button offers three different suspension settings. Press the DSC button and the stability control gets turned off. And then there is the M-drive system. You can also choose from three engine maps as well as set the firmness of the steering.

Motorization: V8

Now it is a V8 you that purrs underneath the bonnet of this M3. It’s a brand new 402 bhp 4 litre V8, developing some 400 Nm of torque. The red zone, well, that starts at 8400 rpm. This new BMW M3 is the most powerful ever produced! The SMG gearbox has been replaced with a manual six speed, but the SMG unit will be back in 2008.

On the road: Pure driving pleasure!

With a car this good, the only real way to put it to the test is to put it in the hands of a racing driver. We called upon Le Mans Series Porsche driver Xavier Pompidou to put the M3 through its paces on the Dreux circuit, to the west of Paris.

"If I was going to change this car to drive on the track, I’d make the steering a little bit more incisive as you come off the brakes because there is a little bit of understeer there. The front wants to go straight on, which means you have to slow down, even though the chassis could handle much more.
That will make your average driver feel very safe but when you’re on the track, it’s not as efficient as it could be. I’d also make the suspension a bit stiffer. You end up with the back end sliding because the chassis moves a lot at the rear, which makes it light and it doesn’t stick to the track as well as it could. There is so much power that you don’t have to press the pedal too hard for the grip to start going. But it’s fun t drive. You can turn all the driver aids off, which is quite rare. You can have a lot of fun and it’s easy to learn with."

So it doesn’t have many faults...the engine is amazing, linear, yes, but very efficient. However, at 1655 kilos, this is the heaviest M3 ever, and you can feel it. And it has that eternal BM problem...the brakes fade after a few laps on the track. There’s no choice but to let them cool down. The ABS kicks in far too early and you have to press the pedal hard...

But despite that, we really like the new BMW M3, because you can have so much fun driving it!