M3 official photos leaked

[MX793]

There's a difference between being subtly more aggressive looking than the standard car and being "super aggressive" looking.  Yes, all M3s have had some level of extra visual punch than the standard models.  That doesn't make them "super aggressive" looking.  Certainly not the E30 or E36.  A Mitsu 3KGT VR4 or WS6 Firebird was super aggressive looking.  An E36 M car was not.  E46 is pretty aggressive looking, but I felt the E9x went back to a slightly more restrained look.  Enough that you can tell it's not just another 3, but nothing completely over the top.

[12,000 RPM]

Regular E36 only had grey bumpers from 92-95. After that they painted them.

And the M-sport bumpers look nothing like the full M bumpers.



They don't have that vaginal mouth-in-a-mouth thing going on and they look way better because of that.

Why is this such a serious matter to you? It's just a bumper dude.

[BENZ BOY15]

Let me guess, you think it's too big and too heavy

....what the fuck were you expecting?

I think it looks good. But the rear bumper has....a lot of stuff going on. But in black it wouldn't look as 'busy.'

I approve.

[MexicoCityM3]

Regular E36 only had grey bumpers from 92-95. After that they painted them.

Cooling a 440bhp turbo engine isn't the same as cooling a 240-320hp N/A engine.

[12,000 RPM]

Plenty of cars have 400, 500, 600 HP motors without having predator faces.

[LonghornTX]

Was at the launch in Detroit and was able to crawl all over them during press days. It should be noted I am a general BMW fan, especially of older M cars, so any new M car gets my close attention...and my family is thinking of getting one too.

Anyways, they look badass to me in person, with a very good stance and great proportions. The blue they launched the M3 in makes my heart flutter. The M3, however, is the clear winner of the two in my eyes. It wears everything just a little bit better and is actually more attractive to me (I liked the E92 M3, styling wise, better than the E90 but always preferred the latter on philosophical grounds). The interior is solid, with good space in the back of the M3.

The performance should be pretty epic for this model, but my one concern is the exhaust. It is the one thing keeping me from recommending the M3 over an F-Type Jag (which are truly neat cars...a great poor man's Aston). I heard one startup at the show to be moved and it straight up sounded kind of funky to me. Definitely different...a little diesely...a little whooshy...and a little whistlely. If that makes sense haha. Anyways, it prompted further research and the sound clips I have heard aren't much better. I think it will get a lot of press...

[MX793]

A lot of high-po turbo motors with aggressive sounding exhausts can sound a little farty, or diesel-like, at lower RPMs.  Great when you wind them up, but no so much at "normal" operating RPMs.  There was a guy with a hopped up turbo MR2 at an autocross maybe 2 seasons ago with fart can mufflers and his car sounded like a tractor trailer through much of the course.  SRT-4 Neons and 500 Abarths (which have no mufflers, only resonators) exhibit similar exhaust sound characteristics.

[SVT666]

It is the one thing keeping me from recommending the M3 over an F-Type Jag (which are truly neat cars...a great poor man's Aston).

The F-Type isn't a poor man's anything.  It's a very expensive car.

[LonghornTX]

A lot of high-po turbo motors with aggressive sounding exhausts can sound a little farty, or diesel-like, at lower RPMs.  Great when you wind them up, but no so much at "normal" operating RPMs.  There was a guy with a hopped up turbo MR2 at an autocross maybe 2 seasons ago with fart can mufflers and his car sounded like a tractor trailer through much of the course.  SRT-4 Neons and 500 Abarths (which have no mufflers, only resonators) exhibit similar exhaust sound characteristics.

Yea, except this doesn't sound great when wound up either, if the clips are to be believed. I hope that is not the case as it would ruin for me what appears to be a really strong effort.

[LonghornTX]

The F-Type isn't a poor man's anything.  It's a very expensive car.

It is a relative term. A comparable Aston is at least 40 grand more expensive. Obviously, it has much nicer materials and overall finish, but the F-Type is basically the same concept and does it 95% as well. And this is coming from someone who sold a ton of Vantages, and who loves that car.

[MX793]

Yea, except this doesn't sound great when wound up either, if the clips are to be believed. I hope that is not the case as it would ruin for me what appears to be a really strong effort.

That's unfortunate.  BMW will probably deliver artificial engine sound into the cabin like they do with the M5 to cover the fact that the real exhaust note is less than inspiring.

[Galaxy]

Jaguar is able to offer a splendid sound with forced induction engines. Audi, and Mercedes forced induction high powered engines also sound quite lovely. So with BMW is must be a deliberate attempt. I doubt that they lack the engineering skills.

[MX793]

Supercharging (which Jag does) does not have the same effect on exhaust note as turbocharging.  Turbos actually muffle the exhaust, which is how manufacturers can get away with not using mufflers on some turbocharged cars like the SRT4 Neon and 500 Abarth.

[Galaxy]

Supercharging (which Jag does) does not have the same effect on exhaust note as turbocharging.  Turbos actually muffle the exhaust, which is how manufacturers can get away with not using mufflers on some turbocharged cars like the SRT4 Neon and 500 Abarth.

Good point about the Jaguar, I had forgotten that the engine was supercharged. But my point still stands with vehicles like the modern turbocharged AMGs, or the Alfa Romeo 4C. Could those be louder without the turbo? Yes,  but they still produce plenty of sounds. So BMW most likely made a conscious decision to quiet the new M3.

[MX793]

It may be that the quality of sound is lacking more than the quantity.  I haven't heard the new M3, so I can't comment.  I can say that Fiat's 1.4T sounds a little diesel-like under load at lower RPMs.

[Lebowski]

I thought the m3 looked pretty good at the auto show, too.

I prefer the m3 vs the m4. Just looks better proportioned as a 4-door IMO, plus might as well have the added practicality. I felt the same way about the e90 vs e92.

[Galaxy]

I thought the m3 looked pretty good at the auto show, too.

I prefer the m3 vs the m4. Just looks better proportioned as a 4-door IMO, plus might as well have the added practicality. I felt the same way about the e90 vs e92.

Maybe you can have your cake and eat should BMW make an 4 door M4 Gran Coupé.