Edmunds Full Test: 2008 BMW M3 Coupe

[overst33r]

http://www.edmunds.com/insidel....il.home.photopanel..1.*

And a killer motor it is. This new 4.0-liter V8 pours forth a wave of torque as it spins toward a frenzied power peak at 8,300 rpm, where 414 beer-drinking Bavarian Oberlander horses lay waste to tire rubber with gusto. As we have proven with our own testing, the M3 will lunge to 60 mph in 4.3 seconds, and traverse 1,320 feet in 12.7 seconds at 112 mph, which easily makes this the quickest M3 ever. Performance from the V8 at its elevated operating speed is both muscular and exciting, so the overall flexibility of the engine comes as something of a surprise.

 

[Arkaign]

Originally posted by: mariok2006
http://www.edmunds.com/insidel....il.home.photopanel..1.*

And a killer motor it is. This new 4.0-liter V8 pours forth a wave of torque as it spins toward a frenzied power peak at 8,300 rpm, where 414 beer-drinking Bavarian Oberlander horses lay waste to tire rubber with gusto. As we have proven with our own testing, the M3 will lunge to 60 mph in 4.3 seconds, and traverse 1,320 feet in 12.7 seconds at 112 mph, which easily makes this the quickest M3 ever. Performance from the V8 at its elevated operating speed is both muscular and exciting, so the overall flexibility of the engine comes as something of a surprise.

Winnar!

 

[overst33r]

Originally posted by: Arkaign

Originally posted by: mariok2006
http://www.edmunds.com/insidel....il.home.photopanel..1.*

And a killer motor it is. This new 4.0-liter V8 pours forth a wave of torque as it spins toward a frenzied power peak at 8,300 rpm, where 414 beer-drinking Bavarian Oberlander horses lay waste to tire rubber with gusto. As we have proven with our own testing, the M3 will lunge to 60 mph in 4.3 seconds, and traverse 1,320 feet in 12.7 seconds at 112 mph, which easily makes this the quickest M3 ever. Performance from the V8 at its elevated operating speed is both muscular and exciting, so the overall flexibility of the engine comes as something of a surprise.

Winnar!

That's impressive, but R&T managed 0-60 in 4.1s and 1/4 in 12.5@114.8mph. For comparison, a 2008 C6 with the LS3 does 0-60 in 4.1s and runs a 12.5@115mph.

http://www.roadandtrack.com/as...T_BMW_M3_datapanel.pdf

 

[Arkaign]

Originally posted by: mariok2006

Originally posted by: Arkaign

Originally posted by: mariok2006
http://www.edmunds.com/insidel....il.home.photopanel..1.*

And a killer motor it is. This new 4.0-liter V8 pours forth a wave of torque as it spins toward a frenzied power peak at 8,300 rpm, where 414 beer-drinking Bavarian Oberlander horses lay waste to tire rubber with gusto. As we have proven with our own testing, the M3 will lunge to 60 mph in 4.3 seconds, and traverse 1,320 feet in 12.7 seconds at 112 mph, which easily makes this the quickest M3 ever. Performance from the V8 at its elevated operating speed is both muscular and exciting, so the overall flexibility of the engine comes as something of a surprise.

Winnar!

That's impressive, but R&T managed 0-60 in 4.1s and 1/4 in 12.5@114.8mph. For comparison, a 2008 C6 with the LS3 does 0-60 in 4.1s and runs a 12.5@115mph.

http://www.roadandtrack.com/as...T_BMW_M3_datapanel.pdf

Yeah, I just find it spectacular how good these cars are these days. Those are literally supercar performance levels of just a decade or so ago.

The Vette in particular is heroic to me. For the first 8 years of the C4, it was somewhat .. anemic. The 300ZX, RX-7, 911, 3000GT, Supra, etc, etc, all were easily better-performing cars for the most part. Then the later years of the C4 they went to 300hp and beyond, and things started to get better. Then the C5 came, the Z06 model arrived, C6 followed, and it's a real pleasure to see the legend of the Vette get some spectacular performance to back it up once again.

Props to BMW for fielding a 4.0 NA vehicle that performs on such a world-class level as well.

 

[potato28]

It's still ugly as hell! But I would have one if I had the chance

 

[Aharami]

The M3's high-intensity xenon headlights carry specifications just like a camera lens.

http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332....bmw.m3.hlight.500.jpg

haha. That is cool as hell

 

[overst33r]

Originally posted by: Arkaign

Originally posted by: mariok2006

Originally posted by: Arkaign

Originally posted by: mariok2006
http://www.edmunds.com/insidel....il.home.photopanel..1.*

And a killer motor it is. This new 4.0-liter V8 pours forth a wave of torque as it spins toward a frenzied power peak at 8,300 rpm, where 414 beer-drinking Bavarian Oberlander horses lay waste to tire rubber with gusto. As we have proven with our own testing, the M3 will lunge to 60 mph in 4.3 seconds, and traverse 1,320 feet in 12.7 seconds at 112 mph, which easily makes this the quickest M3 ever. Performance from the V8 at its elevated operating speed is both muscular and exciting, so the overall flexibility of the engine comes as something of a surprise.

Winnar!

That's impressive, but R&T managed 0-60 in 4.1s and 1/4 in 12.5@114.8mph. For comparison, a 2008 C6 with the LS3 does 0-60 in 4.1s and runs a 12.5@115mph.

http://www.roadandtrack.com/as...T_BMW_M3_datapanel.pdf

Yeah, I just find it spectacular how good these cars are these days. Those are literally supercar performance levels of just a decade or so ago.

The Vette in particular is heroic to me. For the first 8 years of the C4, it was somewhat .. anemic. The 300ZX, RX-7, 911, 3000GT, Supra, etc, etc, all were easily better-performing cars for the most part. Then the later years of the C4 they went to 300hp and beyond, and things started to get better. Then the C5 came, the Z06 model arrived, C6 followed, and it's a real pleasure to see the legend of the Vette get some spectacular performance to back it up once again.

Props to BMW for fielding a 4.0 NA vehicle that performs on such a world-class level as well.

Indeed.

I also find it stunning that grandpa jones in his brand new 08 automatic corvette can do 0-60 sprints of 4.3s while getting nearly 30mpg on the hwy. There is something to be said about GM engineering.

http://www.motortrend.com/road...008_chevrolet_corvette

 

[Arkaign]

It's hard to believe this is the same GM that was running a 205HP 5.7L L83 when the C4 debuted Or the same GM that was running a 240HP 5.7L against the likes of the ~300-320HP 3.0L 300ZX/Supra/3000GT in the early 90s.

Power has basically doubled, with greatly improved fuel economy to boot. Win/win/win GM! Kudos.

 

[Aharami]

nice article. but wth made it jump from the base price of $52,275 to as tested price of $65,700?! That's one heck of a jump.

also wassup with the difference in curb weights?
Manufacturer Curb Weight (lb): 3,704
Curb Weight As Tested (lb): 3,590

So they arent really testing a production spec car. People are gonna have a hard time getting those performance numbers if the production cars weigh 114lbs more. Or am I just reading it wrong?

 

[Arkaign]

Originally posted by: Aharami
nice article. but wth made it jump from the base price of $52,275 to as tested price of $65,700?! That's one heck of a jump.

also wassup with the difference in curb weights?
Manufacturer Curb Weight (lb): 3,704
Curb Weight As Tested (lb): 3,590

So they arent really testing a production spec car. People are gonna have a hard time getting those performance numbers if the production cars weigh 114lbs more. Or am I just reading it wrong?

(1)- BMW is notorious for nickel and diming you to death on the options.

(2)- That was a production car.

 

[Pocatello]

Very nice car. Must be nice to be rich.

 

[overst33r]

Originally posted by: Aharami
nice article. but wth made it jump from the base price of $52,275 to as tested price of $65,700?! That's one heck of a jump.

also wassup with the difference in curb weights?
Manufacturer Curb Weight (lb): 3,704
Curb Weight As Tested (lb): 3,590

So they arent really testing a production spec car. People are gonna have a hard time getting those performance numbers if the production cars weigh 114lbs more. Or am I just reading it wrong?

The coupe base price is $56k... 65k isn't unreasonable, in fact I'd say most of them are going to be going close to $70k

 

[Aharami]

Originally posted by: mariok2006

Originally posted by: Aharami
nice article. but wth made it jump from the base price of $52,275 to as tested price of $65,700?! That's one heck of a jump.

also wassup with the difference in curb weights?
Manufacturer Curb Weight (lb): 3,704
Curb Weight As Tested (lb): 3,590

So they arent really testing a production spec car. People are gonna have a hard time getting those performance numbers if the production cars weigh 114lbs more. Or am I just reading it wrong?

The coupe base price is $56k... 65k isn't unreasonable, in fact I'd say most of them are going to be going close to $70k

$10K in options isnt unreasonable?! :shocked:

 

[Dunbar]

Originally posted by: Aharami
$10K in options isnt unreasonable?! :shocked:

Not if you're used to BMW pricing.

 

[Fenixgoon]

fwiw, audi also has about $10k worth of options on the RS4

 

[overst33r]

Originally posted by: Aharami

Originally posted by: mariok2006

Originally posted by: Aharami
nice article. but wth made it jump from the base price of $52,275 to as tested price of $65,700?! That's one heck of a jump.

also wassup with the difference in curb weights?
Manufacturer Curb Weight (lb): 3,704
Curb Weight As Tested (lb): 3,590

So they arent really testing a production spec car. People are gonna have a hard time getting those performance numbers if the production cars weigh 114lbs more. Or am I just reading it wrong?

The coupe base price is $56k... 65k isn't unreasonable, in fact I'd say most of them are going to be going close to $70k

$10K in options isnt unreasonable?! :shocked:

Looking at its German counter parts Audi, MB, Porsche, etc. I don't think so.

 

[Q]

Call me crazy, but I like the look of the 'last gen' M3 rather than this one.

 

[overst33r]

Originally posted by: Quintox
Call me crazy, but I like the look of the 'last gen' M3 rather than this one.

Most people do. The E46 was one of BMW's best looking cars IMO.