From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wernher_von_Braun: “Born March 23, 1912(1912-03-23) Wirsitz, German Empire“. Sure, that “Wirsitz” is a link to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wyrzysk… But that’s just because that evil bastard Woodrow Wilson ripped it apart from its country in that abomination, the Treaty of Versailles — turning the majority of its population, presumably including little Wernher, into refugees.

It certainly doesn’t change the fact that Wernher von Braun was born in Germany and was as German as can be.

HTH!

I’m sure the Polish would be honoured – you might want to check where Herr Von Braun was born!

Need I say more???

At the highest trim level, the 1990 Eagle Talon/Mitsubishi Eclipse/Plymouth Laser were putting out 195 bhp at curb weights similar to the E30 M3 for far less $$$. Admittedly, the weight distribution and clutch action on these vehicles lagged the E30 M3 significantly. Steering and seat of the pants feel wasn’t bad for the price range.

I would also argue that the Porsche 944s of the era were even stronger E30 M3 competitors with a far more desirable shape.

I actually did see an E30 M3 in my area a few weeks ago. It was being driven like a Buick Skylark, by a driver who looked like he should be driving a Buick Skylark. Quite sad really.

First of all, I don’t really think the regular M3 is a car for badge snobby douchebags. People who buy an M3 could have bought an AMG but decided not to and make the better choice. Talk about badge snobbery and not delivering product; AMG is probably the definition of that.

With the M3, even with it’s obvious flaws, you still get a quite sensational car which has one real fault, namely that it could have and probably should have been even better for the concept AND the money (and that means lighter and with more steering feel). All the previous M3s have been terrific cars, espcially the E30 and E46…

To answer your question though, I’m pretty sure there will be a CSL version, with about 450HP and less weight, it makes so much sense they can’t not make one. By the way, initially BMW was planning on making a M6 CSL as well, but I guess since it would still be heavy and not really CSL worthy they decided not to.
Maybe they thought only badge snobs would buy it and it would dilute the genuine brand image that the M division enjoys.

I once read an interview with the head of BMW’s M division, when asked about a possible X5 M, because the ‘Mericans wanted one. He said they wouldn’t built one because it wouldn’t fit the ‘M concept’ and basically it would make the M brand look stupid and meaningless, because M is not only about engines, but just as much about driving dynamics and experience (AMG gripe)…Hence also, no M7.

Now if they suddenly decide to make an X5 M anyway I’ll eat my words and say Ms are for badge snobs.

I don’t know if I would be that harsh, but I agree with the gist of what you are saying. What separates this from being a true sports car is too much content and too much weight. The purity of the M formula has been diluted. This is phenomenal car for what it is, but it’s not what it should be. M should not stand for MASS. Maybe this car could slot between garden variety 330s and a “real” M3. The real one would lose iDrive, some luxury stuff, and (most importantly) about 500 pounds of blubber.

There is nothing wrong with BMW milking the M3 brand by catering to the badge-conscious douchebags – it is profitable business, and pimping the name out to well-heeled posers is a good way to monetize their cred.

But will they _also_ build a really serious version with a different name for those who couldn’t care less about the badge as long as it really delivered the goods?

I don’t like BMW but this one I can say it is fast and faster.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YODPHqY7mM4

Also impressive was the fact that we comfortably had four people in the car: my dad, the salesman, me, and my brother. My brother and I fit very easily into the back, and we’re not small kids…

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=2008+BMW+M3+Review&search_type=

The world was BEGGING for a lightweight platform that did things right without all the crap. I always preferred BMW to Mercedes because the cars felt more nimble and fun to drive. If the car is going to feel heavy, why bother? Sure, the power to weight ratio is still good, but that benefit ends when you throw it into a corner.

Note to Munich – speeding is becoming an impossibility. Make cars that can turn, or no one will believe you still make the Ultimate Driving Machine.

My comments may be out of place here, because the M is supposed to be the high power model. I say this here anyway because I pray the BMW folks make an M version of the 135 by adding nothing which does not replace something else heavier.

While I am really dreaming, could they bring us the hatch in the light weight version? Another idea that would not appeal to me, but may sell would be an AWD hot hatch to beat the WRX and Evo.

At 5/10, I found it hard not to focus on the overly light steering. I played with the two settings, and could not detect a difference between them. I prefer the much heavier steering in the 1. I also remember the steering in the regular 3 feeling better.

In general, the car felt large and heavy to me, somewhat like a downsized 550i rather than a hard-edged track car. My suspicion: they’ve been pulled in this direction by AMG and Audi.

I didn’t think the engine sounded as good as Audi’s V8. But then Audi’s V8 sounds fantastic.

I drove the manual, and did find it hard to shift smoothly. I don’t think this would be a problem after a few days.

In terms of power, I recall the 335i feeling stronger in typical around-town driving. Sure, the M3 is more powerful up near the redline, but there’s little occasion to take either the M3 or the 335i there in typical driving.

End result: I’m not sure how the new M3 makes sense for 90+ percent of enthusiasts when compared to the less expensive 335i.

I know this site has dumped on the 1. But those into quick, moderately heavy steering might well prefer the 135i to either 3.

TrueDelta is unlikely to have a large enough sample of M3s to provide a separate reliability result for it–but if we do we’ll report it. The regular 3 has been racking up an average record.

http://www.truedelta.com/reliability.php