The BMW M3 underwent a serious persona shift because it entered its V8-powered E90 era in 2008. Though the E36 that got here earlier than it additionally provided a four-door configuration, the E90 redefined the trendy M3 method. It grew bigger, heavier, and extra remoted from the encompassing world whereas concurrently making main efficiency leaps. The F80 that adopted refined the concept with even higher athleticism, even when it concurrently misplaced the E90’s iconic engine.
Launched in 2020, the G80 era, nonetheless on sale right this moment, pushes this idea to extremes. Just like the M2 I examined a number of weeks in the past, it trades driver involvement in favor of outright velocity, a feat that shouldn’t be stunning contemplating their in depth elements sharing. Nevertheless, whereas the two-seater struggles to tell apart between sports activities automobile and grand tourer, the bigger M3 is aware of exactly the place it matches. It’s an opulent sedan first, and a sports activities automobile hunter second, a persona that, as I discovered on a snowy mountain highway, fits it nicely.
This represents the primary time I’ve revisited the BMW M3 since 2023’s Version 50 Jahre, and though it receives a mid-cycle refresh, its updates are minor. Essentially the most important is a set of recent headlights, adorned with an up to date daytime mild signature. To search out the remainder, you’ll should squint. Peek at its trunk lid badge and also you’ll discover a refined silver border, a shade that enhances a brand new silver end for this automobile’s 825M-style wheels. On condition that this tester sports activities carbon ceramic brakes, it wears a staggered 19 and 20-inch set within the 826M type.
Visually, it’s a case of identical, identical, however completely different. The M3’s bumpers, rear diffuser, trunk-lid spoiler, and mirror caps stay unchanged. As such, when you weren’t a fan of this automobile’s nostril when it debuted in 2020, you possible received’t be now. That mentioned, from the entrance bumper onwards, the G80 seems sensational, particularly its rear three-quarter view, due to its low stance and vast rear arches. As a part of its $14,300 Carbon Bundle, my tester swaps its plastic exterior trim items in favor of the light-weight materials to create a sportier aesthetic, contrasting properly towards this sedan’s $4,500 Frozen Tampa Bay Inexperienced end.
Inside, the refreshed BMW M3 incorporates extra important adjustments. The primary is its new flat-bottom steering wheel, with my tester swapping its normal leather-based wrap in favor of Alcantara. It’s a refined replace that provides one thing particular to this automobile’s cabin, significantly when you stand up shut and see its hole decrease spokes. In distinction, BMW went in the wrong way with the M3’s new air vents, which look cheaper than their predecessors whereas additionally being tougher to make use of.
Look past its shiny new wheel and also you’ll spot a 12.3-inch instrument cluster and a 14.9-inch infotainment display housed inside a single bezel. These shows now run the most recent iDrive 8.5 software program. Though its updates are refined, tweaked A/C controls and a brand new everlasting row of app icons barely enhance its usability. Nevertheless, as with earlier iterations of this screen-reliant inside, the necessity to always work together with its major shows ensures it’ll by no means be freed from fingerprints and smudges.
Out on the transfer, the BMW M3 Competitors xDrive settles conflicts with its styling or cabin with stunning straight-line efficiency. As I level its nostril in direction of the snowy peaks forward, I’m rapidly reminded of simply how fast this sedan is. For 2025, xDrive-equipped fashions obtain a 20-horsepower bump, pushing this automobile’s twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter inline-six to 523 hp whereas its 479 pound-feet of torque determine carries over unchanged.
Given this automobile’s energy, a 20-hp enhance is not possible to detect, particularly when the xDrive’s quoted 3.4-second time to 60 mph is untouched. Regardless, the BMW M3 appears like an absolute monster in a straight line, thanks partly to its ZF eight-speed computerized and intently spaced ratios. Concurrently, its rear-biased all-wheel drive system and vast 275/35 and 285/30 Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S tires guarantee its mechanical grip stays excessive. The result’s a 3,990-pound sedan that’s in its aspect chasing sports activities vehicles on a mountain highway.
Within the bends, its chassis stability is a specific spotlight. Though its adaptive dampers can stiffen significantly within the high Sport+ setting, the center Sport mode yields effortlessly managed physique motions on a winding highway. Crucially, it does so with out introducing pointless harshness into the cabin. My tester’s non-obligatory Carbon Ceramic brakes provided loads of preliminary chunk even of their tamest Consolation setting, making the highest Sport mode pointless outdoors of a monitor state of affairs.
Very like the G87 M2 I examined lately, the BMW M3 employs a variable steering ratio, which quickens its response as you toggle between Consolation, Sport, and Sport+. Nevertheless, because the German carmaker goals to make this automobile’s entrance finish really feel as responsive as potential, it tends to use tuning that borders on being too aggressive. Within the high Sport+ mode, the slightest twitch of the wheel invitations a response, leading to a entrance finish that darts round and feels synthetic.
Dial again to Sport or Consolation, and it’ll sluggish sufficient to really feel extra pure. Nevertheless, don’t count on suggestions as this electrical energy steering system stays notoriously numb, selecting up nearly no weight at the same time as you start to emphasize this automobile’s entrance finish. Its powertrain response is the same story. Step as much as Sport+ and the throttle turns into a light-weight change. Nevertheless, Sport or Consolation is much extra progressive with out downsides, on condition that this automobile develops its peak energy in varied modes.
As soon as dialed in to your liking, the all-wheel drive outfitted BMW M3 stays one of many best vehicles to drive rapidly. Even when you dial again traction management and all of its energy to the rear wheels, its lengthy wheelbase means it’ll execute easy managed slides, whereas its fast steering lets you catch them simply.
Just like the E90 did in 2008, the present M3’s social gathering piece stays its main focus as an opulent grand tourer. Skip this tester’s slender bucket seats and you find yourself with a day by day driver that’s fast however snug. The cabin’s noise isolation is superb, whereas its as soon as rowdy powertrain settles into the background whereas cruising in Consolation mode. Whereas removed from essentially the most municative efficiency automobile, the BMW M3 excels by being an precise multi-purpose machine. A sports activities automobile hunter in a single second, a cruiser within the different.
Nevertheless, this world-beating efficiency comes at a value, and if BWM responds to latest tariffs imposed by the U.S. authorities with last-minute will increase, it’ll solely rise. Whereas the $119,695 M3 CS exited manufacturing final 12 months, BMW will promote you a “base” rear-drive M3 for $77,175, a stronger M3 Competitors for $81,375, or the range-topping M3 Competitors xDrive for $86,475. Please word, the entire costs listed above embrace a $1,175 vacation spot charge.
My tester, completed in a $4,500 BMW Particular person shade of Frozen Tampa Bay Inexperienced, begins as an all-wheel-drive vary topper and solely ascends pricewise. Its priciest addition is a $14,300 Carbon Bundle, together with bucket seats, an Alcantara-wrapped steering wheel, carbon trim all through the cabin, and carbon ceramic brakes. Issue within the $1,600 Government bundle, and you find yourself with a BMW M3 Competitors xDrive whose as-tested value creeps up on $115,000.
Because the E90 days, the BMW M3 has change into faster and extra highly effective with every new era whereas bettering its consolation and refinement. It might not reward you with the last word reference to the driving expertise, however it affords a really perfect mix of sports activities automobile efficiency and day by day usability.
Now in its fifth 12 months, the G80 is dear, with looming tariffs doubtlessly worsening issues. Its front-end styling stays robust to abdomen, whereas a few of its newest inside updates end in an unintuitive consumer expertise. Nevertheless, if a correct one-car answer for day by day use and weekend enjoyable is what you’re after, the most recent M3 nonetheless makes a robust case that it’s the one to have.
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