BMW M3. Cubic meter

BMW M3. Price: $71,900. On sale: August 2007.

2008 BMW M3
© Photo: BMW

The new M3 from BMW allows you to conquer three-dimensional space, giving the driver unparalleled delight and animal fear to passengers. 420 horses under the hood is no joke!

Horror, primitive animal horror seized me during my first ride in the BMW M3. I quickly regretted sitting in the passenger seat. And it all started as usual. Well, not quite. As soon as I sat down to the right of the driver, a plastic hand obligingly handed me the seat belt. Danke. The same happened on the driver's side. This is done so you don't have to twist your arms in vain attempts to find the black strap. True, a couple of times during the tests the "stump" came out without the belt. Well, then we just exchanged handshakes.

2008 BMW M3
© Photo: BMW

At first, the jerky driving through the streets of Spanish Malaga did not bode well. But soon the road led to a nearby mountain with an endless serpentine. And then it all began. My colleague at the wheel, apparently wanting to get rid of a competitor, was showing off his furious temper. At the disposal of this madman were 420 hp, accelerating the car to 100 km/h in 4.8 seconds. The top speed, naturally limited by electronics, is 250 km/h. It seemed that the driver was trying to use the full potential of the car. The steering wheel only froze in the center position for a second. The rest of the time it spun like a hamster in a wheel. And the alternately pressed brake and gas pedals made my body either hang on the belt or slam my back against the seat with all my might. After an hour of cruel torture, I demanded the wheel. It was my turn to mock my colleague. But before describing the driving sensations, allow me to give some advice. Those who plan to ride in the M3 on the right side are advised to stock up on airplane bags. Just in case — G-forces and all that.

2008 BMW M3
© Photo: BMW

Getting behind the wheel of the BMW M3, you realize that the previous driver was not a beast. This car seems to provoke aggressive driving. Here, an old local microcar looms ahead. As law-abiding citizens, we wait for the permissive sign, gas, jerk, and after two or three seconds the overtaken car disappears from the rearview mirror. Was there a boy? No, probably it seemed so. Not surprising at such speed.

The M3 owes its phenomenal dynamics to the high-revving V8 engine, which works in conjunction with a 6-speed manual gearbox. From 3999 cm³ of displacement, Bavarian engineers managed to extract 309 kW, or 420 hp. The maximum torque is 400 Nm. It is achieved at 3900 rpm. Interestingly, the cylinder block of the new engine is manufactured at the foundry in Landshut, that is, where blocks for BMW Sauber F1 cars are made. The engine crankcase, made of a special aluminum-silicon alloy, features a compact and extremely torsionally rigid flat design. The entire engine, despite the additional two cylinders, turned out to be 15 kilograms lighter compared to the 6-cylinder unit. It was installed on the previous model.

2008 BMW M3
© Photo: BMW

The most interesting part of the test was visiting the proving ground near Malaga. The track was full of treacherous corners and long straights, where we managed to accelerate to almost top speed. The first two laps were driven behind the safety car. This allowed us to map out the correct trajectories and get acquainted with all the nooks and crannies. Then it was time for independent action. Each lap I tried to drive faster than the first, taking more and more risks during maneuvers. The suspension behaved impeccably. The chassis of the new M3 was developed based on the 3 Series coupe. However, due to the increased power, the issue of weight reduction became acute. Therefore, almost all components of the front suspension, which has a double-wishbone design on MacPherson struts, were made of the winged metal. The new rear axle is equipped with an automatic differential lock, which, if necessary, creates a 100% locking moment and, thereby, provides optimal traction in particularly difficult situations. The lightweight chassis is complemented by the Servotronic function, which changes the steering gear ratio depending on the driving speed.

2008 BMW M3

But enough theory — let's return to the proving ground. Largely thanks to the DSC stabilization system, the car held the road perfectly even when the driver made deliberate mistakes. The hour of truth arrives. The button is turned off, and we are left alone with the BMW. If you start braking with the gearbox before a corner at a speed of about 180 km/h, the rear of the car starts to "wander." We ignore it and enter the corner, at the exit of which the M3 makes three rotations around its own axis. What is the mistake? Firstly, such corners should be approached at a lower speed. Secondly, and most importantly, it is best to brake using the traditional pedal, and then take the corner with light throttle, say, in fourth gear. The next lap proves the validity of this combination.

2008 BMW M3
© Photo: BMW

Finally, it should be noted that the new M3 can bring true pleasure to speed lovers. At the same time, it turns into a dangerous weapon in the hands of a dilettante. If an ordinary driver who does not have sports driving skills wants to buy this BMW, we strongly recommend taking special courses. Jokes with monsters do not end well.

The price of the new "M" is 71,900 euros or 2,516,500 rubles — time to get used to your own money.

Challenge Accepted

2008 BMW M3
© Photo: BMW

Last year, the BMW Group celebrated the twentieth anniversary of the M3 model. During this time, three generations of the coupe were born, each of which became part of the history of the Bavarian manufacturer. It all started in 1986 with the release of the first car based on the third series. Thanks to spoilers and widened wheel arches, it stood out noticeably among the sports cars of that time. And although the version for public roads was quite functional, the true home of the M3 became the race track. It was there that numerous victories were won. Until 1991, when production of the model ceased, 18 thousand units rolled off the assembly line, including convertibles. With the release of the next two generations, sales were significantly increased. 72 thousand people chose the second M3, 85 thousand the third. Now the fourth generation is rushing into battle, striving to break previous records. The contender's arsenal includes: defiant looks, crazy power, and something that cannot be defined absolutely precisely — the spirit of BMW.

Driving
Stabilization systems effectively correct driver errors. Disabling stabilization is dangerous for beginners.

Interior
Aristocratically restrained: no excesses, no vulgarity.

Comfort
As in any coupe, rear passengers will have to sacrifice their knees.

Safety
Safe driving in the dark is also ensured by standard bi-xenon dual headlights with special light rings for low beam.

Price
Such a car cannot be cheap.

Advantages and disadvantages
+ Excellent dynamics, luxurious interior, sporty design.
- Rear-wheel drive nuances that require special training from the driver.

Our opinion

Undoubtedly, the BMW M3 is not a mass product. It is a highlight added to the model range of the Bavarian concern. It is quite possible that the owner of this car could be a person from the back seat of a limousine. There he rides on weekdays. And on weekends he changes his strict suit for ripped jeans and a T-shirt from a famous couturier, and the 7 Series for the fiery M3.