Bmw M3

BMW M3

The BMW M3 has been with us now for thirty five years and, like a fine wine, it has improved with age. The current version, with a carbon fibre roof for lightness, called the M3 Competition is as astonishing in performance as it is dramatic in looks.

The Exterior

As a sign that this vehicle means business, this striking car comes as standard with a new M light-alloy design using 19-inch wheels at the front and 20-inch wheels at the back. Special M brake callipers are available in blue, red or black.

The front end of the latest model features a deep, frameless and all-black BMW kidney grille either side of which are additional cooling intakes with honeycomb mesh covers. Shadowline LED headlights, with darkened inlays adorning their upper edges are also standard. Adaptive LED Headlights with BMW ‘Laserlight’ non-dazzling high beam are available via the optional Visibility Package.

The most striking design feature alongside the prominently flared wheel arches are the extended side sills. Together with the front and rear aprons, they form a high-gloss black band around the whole of the car. The traditional M gills are integrated neatly into the front side panels and the exterior mirrors have aerodynamically optimised contouring.

Optimising airflow, two narrow fins on the roof work in conjunction with the rear spoiler. Below, the rear diffuser, finished in black and with eye-catching fins, frames the exhaust system’s pairs of tailpipes. Darkened, full-LED rear light clusters with L-shaped tail lights complete the rear end. Front and rear parking sensors and a reversing camera are standard fitments.

The Interior

The latest BMW M3 takes interior design to its sporting extreme. Special M details include red accents for the M buttons on the vehicle-specific leather steering wheel and the start/stop button on the centre console. The selector lever with a Drivelogic switch is leather surfaced with an embedded M logo and stitching in M colours. The usual drive modes, comfort and so on are available but there’s also the M Mode. There’s a world of adjustment at the driver’s fingertips.

A word about the M Mode: The control panel on the centre console houses the M Mode button. This can be used to adjust the responses and characteristics of the driver assistance systems and the displays in the instrument cluster and Head-Up Display. The driver can choose from ‘road’, ‘sport’ and ‘track’ settings, the latter being best retained for the track. Sport setting can be configured
to warnings of speed limits and overtaking restrictions.

Fine-grain Merino black leather trim is standard as are M sport seats, which are electrically adjustable and heated. These seats have pronounced side bolsters, integrated head restraints and an illuminated model badge. Hardcore carbon bucket seats can be optionally specified.

An array of new additions over the previous model to the standard and optional equipment lists ensure that comfort and functionality are also taken to new highs. The BMW ‘Live Cockpit Professional’ with a fully digital display grouping, the cloud-based navigation system BMW Maps and the BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant are all standard. The 10.3” infotainment screen accesses all the connectivity and entertainment aspects.

Driving The BMW M3

All-wheel-drive is standard which still gives a rear-wheel BMW-style feel. If anyone thinks the looks belie the performance, this car is powered by a 510bhp 3.0 litre straight-six cylinder engine with bespoke M TwinPower Turbo technology and a wide spread of torque. The benchmark 62mph (100kph) arrives in under four seconds.

Thanks to the standard-fit adaptive suspension, in ‘Comfort’ mode, the M3 is a surprisingly refined daily driver. The engine remains subdued and the standard eight-speed automatic gearbox shuffles smoothly through the gears. ‘Sport’ mode tightens things up and gives the steering a little extra heft; ideal for when it is time to get going. On the road there is tons of grip and it is possible for the driver to explore the cornering limits before the traction control cuts in to tame the over-exuberant. Ceramic brakes are available as an option as part of the ‘M Pro’ package; it’s an expensive pack but what price safety? Overall, this car is superbly balanced and very fast.

Should You Buy One?

For potential purchasers of the BMW M3 wishing to import from the UK to Kenya, New Zealand or elsewhere and who enjoy twisty roads and good highways, there’s little to touch the M3, especially as it is not all drama. The M3 comes with plenty of safety kit as standard, including automatic emergency braking, lane-keeping assist, an attentiveness alert and a rear crossing traffic warning. BMW reliability is built in.