Is the New BMW M3 a Born Loser?

Justin Berkowitz
by Justin Berkowitz

I'm not particularly enamored by BMW's new M3, and not just because a replacement wheel would clear out my life-savings. On paper, it's just not that impressive. It costs $60 large (when all's said and done), tips the scales at 3600 lbs. and summons those braggadocios 420 horses by stretching to a Honda-like 8300 rpm. Where's the torque? The new M3 stumps-up the same grunt as BMW's new 2.0-liter four-cylinder turbodiesel (295 ft.-lbs.). While the RS4 and C63 AMG present viable alternatives for twist-lovers, the twin-turbo straight six-powered 335i lurking in the background looks like the real deal killer. The 335i's got less horsepower than the new M3, but it's far more usable at the same exact fighting weight. The 335i will also save you some $15k– and that's before the inevitable M3 dealer markups. A test drive should tell the tale. But before you weigh-in here (and criticize me for my empirical ignorance), check out the M-fur flying over at pistonheads.com.

Justin Berkowitz
Justin Berkowitz

Immensely bored law student. I've also got 3 dogs.

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  • Maxxm Maxxm on Jul 13, 2007
    "The AMG 63’s aren’t as easy to mod." Not yet, anyway....
  • Guyincognito Guyincognito on Jul 14, 2007

    When its stats are compared to the RS4 and the 335i it does sound a little disappointing. However, as a driver of a 240hp 227 ft-lb torque E36 M3, I can assure you it is going to be an awesome car. It also will have an entirely different feel than an awd audi or a twin turbo inline 6. Still I will probably get the 335i and mod it. As has been pointed out the aftermarket is already pumping out goodies that seriously increase its power and performance. You could throw on some coilovers, an lsd, free-er flowing exhaust, a new bov, and even a lower compression head gasket and a couple of bigger turbos with a custom tune for around the price of a marked up M3.

  • Dr. No Dr. No on Sep 14, 2007

    $60k "when all is said and done..." Uh, make that closer to $68k, with options. It will price under the RS4, but the BMW will be more for the enthusiast. I think the new M3 will rock! However, the I35 is certainly a car to watch if you're chasing high performance and value.

  • Studbike Studbike on Dec 25, 2007

    I dont get why people are saying the m3 has gone soft and complaining about the low torque in the same sentance. The m3 has always been a powerhouse. Its supposed to be high-strung. Its supposed to be a good value, not a great value. the real news here isnt that its a v8, its that its much more powerful AND LIGHTER then the I6 it replaces.

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