Without even stepping foot into the car, you can how this is what a true M is: the Hofmeister kink, the power dome, the M side vents, regular sized kidney grills, no prestige gap, just to name a few. They did not veer from the history and worked well within means of it. It stood out amongst other cars at the time, yet stood in with the BMW lineup. The Chris Bangle era brought forth a lot of controversy. That has now matured into requests to bring that era back. We’ve learned our lesson.
Well, you might say, beauty is only skin deep. True. Being the only M3 with a V8 should confidently put any superficial conversations to rest. This engine, the S65, is one of the automaker’s most infamous engines. Deriving from the S85, BMW’s F1 V10 engine, it has motorsport DNA engrained all throughout. The architecture and design principles of the motor remain, albeit with two less cylinders. The motor could put out a 8,400 rpm redline with a sweet sweet powerband that will have you asking for more. And you really do get more. That redline is no joke and it is so rewarding. A quick pull around 4-5k for sure stims the mind, but holding the pedal down to 8k has you clammy-handed. Hearing the engine scream and the floor banging on your feet gives the impression that it’s about to implode. Yet, this is all purely for motorsport. High power-to-weight ratio, smooth gearing, you won’t be needing to shift nearly as much. Especially not in any turns either. Sadly, this car comes with an interesting byproduct. The nature of the engine, along with individual throttle bodies, lay the groundwork for one of the greatest sounding engines in modern automotive history. A rich, deep growl fills the cabin and spreads across the road way it inhabits. From literal idle to the upper limits, it maintains its ferocity. This is something that makes it worth the extra $5 in gasoline per pull.
This car really is really worth every dollar put into it. I can spend my good money to be able to hear this beauty, or I can spend it in one, large lump sum to mod it. This is another way BMW is so stellar: the community. Only here can you place different axleback exhausts and x-pipes combinations to achieve a different sound everytime. A supercharger can run you a nice $3,500, yet a full carbon fiber intake that produces virtually no extra power will go for $2,000. Mods are an extension of your personality and will place you in specific subcategories of the community, as a result. Purists, track-speccers, swingers, car-show savants, collectors, and more. This is the best part of M.
(My excuse to write a little piece)
Spec:
LCI
Melbourne Red
Executive package
Double-hump
CF roof
working cup holders
LF: Space Grey Metallic E92 M3 (no 2008)
if anyone has a space grey e92 m3 and wants to miraculously trade, please let me know. Perfect color