AutoWeek article on M3

Interesting that this Autoweek article appears to show press shots of the production M3, but there are no new photos posted to the BMW press site (as of 10:30am EST on 4/3 anyway):

http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dl...2007/1528/FREE

Interesting that the Autoweek article stated that an M3 Wagon is in the works --- probably not for us barbarians in North America, though.

Good article. Nice to see a new picture....of a production model...and NOT in black or silver!

Looks MUCH better in Imola.

It looks the same as the concept car.I was expecting them to clean the design up in the production car.I don't like it.

I really wish they had flared those rear fenders a little more. . . .

Doesn't do anything for me

So, does it have a spare tire or even run flats? As a 5 year owner of an E46 M3 Convertible, I'm done with the "flat tire = tow the car" equation (my fifth time happened last Friday night - see separate post on the frustration with Pacific BMW).

The M "fix-a-flat" system is a joke. Ever tried to get a flat bed out in a reasonable time? Ever tried to have it towed by a normal tow truck? They have to jack the car up get the tire grabber bar under the car. Then, it's always fun to watch the unwary tow driver try to put the magnetic warning lights on the M's aluminum hood.

I had an E36 M3 and it had a full size spare with an alloy wheel. Quit stranding your customers for flat tires.

Engine Love the I-6 but nothing beats V-8 smooth.
Interior

F'n power dome They have to fix this on the Sedan. The in your face factor of blowing of an AMG with a plain jane E90.

The coupe exterior screams E46Fanatics ... the target market. The sedan, sleeper look, thanks BMW, for the sane rest of us.

4.8 seconds to 60 is quite weak I was hoping for something better. A small tune on the 335i will beat those numbers easily. I like the new M3 but did not care so much for the performance numbers. 420 Horsepower should be able to get the numbers down a bit more. I was hoping for something around 4.3 or so A four door IS350 is around 5.2 seconds stock. the new M3 is quicker but not that much quicker..

BMW 0-60 quotes when the car is preproduction are always pessimistic. The E46 M3 0-60 was 4.8 (it might hvae been better than that- I forget) after the car rags tested it.

The 4.8 figure from the article was 0-62...not 60

They said it's about .4 seconds quicker than the E46 m3...so based on 4.8 seconds 0-60 for the old model, 4.4 seconds would be pretty solid. I bet it'll be a little quicker than that though.

Originally Posted by villajoe

The 4.8 figure from the article was 0-62...not 60

They said it's about .4 seconds quicker than the E46 m3...so based on 4.8 seconds 0-60 for the old model, 4.4 seconds would be pretty solid. I bet it'll be a little quicker than that though.

From what I understood in that article was that this M3 is 4.8 seconds which is spposed to be .4 seconds quicker then the older model The article did not state 4.4 seconds which is supposed to be .4 seconds quicker then the older model

Originally Posted by Bruce

Looks MUCH better in Imola.

Actually Melbourne Red, yes?

Originally Posted by LMC

Actually Melbourne Red, yes?

*shrug* did they change it? A bit darker? If it said the color in the article I didn't read it- I just looked at the pretty pictures. :-)

Originally Posted by Bruce

*shrug* did they change it? A bit darker?

Each red seems to get a bit darker.

E36 M3 (early cars) -- Mugello Red
E36 M3 (1995-on) -- Bright Red (slightly darker than Mugello)
E46 M3 -- Imola Red (slightly darker than Bright Red)
and now
E90 M3 -- Melbourne Red (not sure but I suspect slightly darker than Imola)

Not sure about the E30 M3s...

There were 3 reds on the E30....Henna (mostly orange), Zinno (lighter than Imola), and Brilliant (lighter than Zinno).

They show all the colors on this website:


http://www.bmw.com/com/en/index_highend.html

some other pictures on the dutch autoweek site as well http://www.autoweek.nl/newsdisp.php?ID=6313 they claim an identical 0-100 time as for the rs4 of audi, a little disappointing i guess

I think the new M3 looks understated in some respects with the front end and panels still quite similar to a 335i coupe. My problem is that where the design deviates to emphasize "M" such as the bulbous hood buldge is just unappealing. Just my opinion.

The new M3 looks great .

It looks the most aggressive of all the M3's to this date. At a quick glance one can tell it is no ordinary 3 series coupe. I like the hood bulge with functional vents for keeping the engine bay cool. I like the more aggressive and bigger front intake and functional brake cooling vents as well. I agree with the person who said that the the rear fenders should have been a bit more flared to give a wide body stance at the back.

Out of the 3 M cars I think I like this one the best with regards to looks. The cf roof looks cool and it is awesome that even with V8 this M3 is not a lot more heavier then the I-6 M3.

Originally Posted by bearenz

some other pictures on the dutch autoweek site as well http://www.autoweek.nl/newsdisp.php?ID=6313 they claim an identical 0-100 time as for the rs4 of audi, a little disappointing i guess

I highly doubt that. I'm sure the E92 M3 accelerates faster to 0-100mph, in part because of the power/torque curve and because it weights less. But we'll have to wait for a direct comparison in the future to see.

Originally Posted by Kayani_1

I agree with the person who said that the the rear fenders should have been a bit more flared to give a wide body stance at the back.

HUH??? Why would you want fenders to extend significantly beyond the tyres? That only serves to make the car harder to park without scraping a fender.

Originally Posted by Kayani_1

It looks the most aggressive of all the M3's to this date.

You obviously have never seen an E30 M3.

Originally Posted by Bob Clevenger

HUH??? Why would you want fenders to extend significantly beyond the tyres? That only serves to make the car harder to park without scraping a fender.

I am sure this car will out perform a 335i coupe. The suspension on a 335 coupe and sedan are softer than before even with sport option. My 335 sedan is nice but feels a little heavy in the turns.

It allows you to put bigger meats on the rear wheels and keep them tucked in.

I park my cars as far from civilization as possible.

Are the tire/wheel sizes close to the M5 or M6?