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Great write-up.
The post-naturally aspirated M cars -- i.e., the true M cars, not the M230iX-drive1Sis or whatever 
-- are real performance upgrades from their predecessors, no doubt. But the genuine motorsport feel seems to have departed the range. Faster, yes. Better suspension, for sure. Wickedly aggressive looks, no doubt. But everything seems to be drive-by-computer nowadays.
I'm still enjoying my 2011 E90 M3 which presents a wonderful driving experience in a compact but not too small sedan. I don't think I'd pay 3x for a new M3 that would be faster and more capable yet provide an overall degraded driving experience.
Cheers,
John
Last of the (German) dinosaurs - some thoughts on the M3 Competition
As asked by Captain Scarlet, I wrote up some additional thoughts on the current BMW M3 Competition Touring. While I made some initial observations / a comparison to the other estate in our household (to be found here: if you want to have a look), in the ...
Absolutely loved reading your post! You could work for Top Gear!
I’ve been driving wagons for 10 years plus and have to say I love them, definitely more on the roads in Europe than the US. Had an MB E63 for 4 years, now the Audi RS 6 and sort of eyeing the M5 wagon, so it was with much curiosity to read the conclusion....
Not yet tried the new M5…
It will come in wagon form again and still has the V8. But in spite of adding ca. 100hp and significantly more in torque, it doesn’t accelerate faster than the old one (weight being an issue). But the estate is said to have 570 liters of boot space, which...
You probably still had the RWD E63?
The AWD one of the last generation is very difficult to get to unstick 😊👍🏻 The green is Isle of Man Green and is available on the new M5 as well 👌🏻
It’s a lovely, if rather ‘loud’ color 👌🏻👍🏻
In the M5 you can pair it with a Kyalami orange interior, if you want the maximum effect 😁
Great write-up.
The post-naturally aspirated M cars -- i.e., the true M cars, not the M230iX-drive1Sis or whatever -- are real performance upgrades from their predecessors, no doubt. But the genuine motorsport feel seems to have departed the range. Faster, yes. Better su...
I hear what you’re saying…
But try as we might, we’re probably not seeing the likes of the E90 returning 🤷🏻♂️ I also agree that a 3x premium is steep for performance that you might not use most of the time. As said - all a side effect of the GT-R the way the genre has developed an...
No doubt the likes of the E90 aren't returning.
Gone for good. Too much easy power to be made via forced induction.
Indeed - practically everyone does it…
The US manufacturers and Toyota being the last ones still offering naturally aspirated V8s 😊🤷🏻♂️ But none in a car like this (I believe there is a Lexus ISF but that no longer makes it to Europe)
Long gone, though 🤷🏻♂️
Replaced by the forgettable B48 2 liter turbo. Not BMWs best, sadly 🙁
Agree 100%
I am still driving my 2010 e92 with a stick. A dinosaur by today's standards, but a real hoot to drive.
Wonderful Review! But really....
....do you really expect 'practicality? Did they fix the steering feel?
As a matter of fact…
In an estate I do expect it - it’s not a 911 after all 😉 Sure, a weekend trip away is feasible but a week is a bit of a stretch (at least the way it’s packed in our household). Glad you enjoyed the review 😊🙏🏻
As for the steering feel…
It’s certainly not a Lotus 😉 You will know roughly what the wheels are doing but then again the grip is so prodigious that you learn to trust it, even when the steering is not providing detailed information on where you stand 👍🏻
Lovely write-up and photos
A most impressive machine for sure. I thought you were an editor at one of the major car magazines 😎 I mean that in a good way 👍🏻 As you managed to convey your experience perfectly and in an extremely detailed manner, to your audience . Well done ...
Thanks so much - no such luck 🍀🤷🏻♂️
Wouldn’t mind having a more regular experience of driving different cars, though 😉🤞🏻
Assuming the motor is the same as the M4 Competition, I would highly disagree on the sound.
From the outside, not bad. From the inside? The most offensive part of the car, especially if you turn on the "enhanced" exhaust mode. It is absolutely dreadful. Even without the enhanced exhaust activated, BMW pipes in fake sounds through the speakers. I...
Thanks for sharing this 😊👍🏻
And I expect the engine is 100% the same 👍🏻 You are right that there is artificial sounds piped in - nowadays sadly a standard. As far as artificial sounds go it’s not the worst in my opinion. Without would be better but to be honest, opening the window d...
It could be they toned down the piped in sound on newer models.
Mine was a 2022, and everyone hated it. Maybe BMW got the word. Replaced with a manual transmission CT5-V Blackwing. I went from one of the most bland "sports" cars to the widely established most visceral smile machine sedan known to man It is that fun to...
That may be the case…
The Touring was launched later and quite possibly some of the artificial sound was dialed out - if the feedback was as you describe (sadly do not have an older M4 to compare). As for the Blackwing, read gushing reviews of it - also from the British press,...
Superb owner review👍🏻👍🏻
Having gone thru 2 gens of lexus LS, i wanted to give the germans a try and test drove Audi RS6, S8; BMW M5; Alpina B7; and Benz S63. In the end it was between the S8 and B7 considering my family needs and my want for something that has to surpass the lex...
Very interesting 👍🏻
First of all you probably mimic the experience of quite some Lexus owners - the product started disappearing, forcing the customers to look elsewhere. We used to be a Lexus family for a long while but the ones my parents drive now are probably the last on...
That it most certainly is 😁👍🏻
With probably one not hundreds having been built of any generation 🙌🏻
Thanks - and glad you enjoyed it 😊👍🏻
If you have a moment I would be very interested in your opinion of the F10 M5 - that one somehow passed me by (came out when I was not living in a car friendly place) 🤞🏻
What would you like to know?
I have had mine for 5 years. Flawless reliability and a great family car as well. I have the competition pack so a bit lower, more hp (575) and a sports exhaust. It’s a twin turbo and you do notice the turbos. The gearbox is sublime.
Thanks so much - was just looking for your impressions 👍🏻🙏🏻
When you say you do notice the turbos, do you mean lag, or a turbo kick, or the noise? First BMW with the hot V turbo setup, right? A generation I have not been looking at so far but maybe going some years back is the solution 😊👍🏻
Thanks so much for these additional details - much appreciated!
As said - from an era when cars were not keenly followed by me 😊👍🏻🤷🏻♂️
Thanks for the great write-up! Something
like a German dinosaur myself and driving an M440i Coupe, now I know what I'm in for should I choose to upgrade. (Actually I'm fine with what I have.) Cheers Marc ...
As written in another response…
There’s still the Alpina B3 or B4 that will look a lot more like yours yet have the performance of the M. Glad if you felt the review was helpful 😊👍🏻🙏🏻
What a fantastic review not to mention all these artistic photos
This is definitely not out of place in a Top Gear publication. I have a soft spot for BMW 3 series station wagons. My first BMW was a 2000 323i in burgundy. I loved that car. I still think it is one of the best looking 3 series ever. It had around 185 hp,...
It’s a very valid point 😊👍🏻
The car certainly has more performance than can safely be exploited on most roads and definitely more than all but a handful of owners will be able to command. There used to be an adage that if you feel you need a faster car, a driving course will probabl...
Great review 👍…
Thanks for this genuine owner review ! I find most car reviews are written by people that don’t own them and live with them over a long enough period. BMW’s have always had an interesting reputation in the wet but I was hoping that the four wheel drive M3...
Not quite sure…
I would assume the Michelin Pilot Sport 4S* it originally came with should be a solid choice and the Merc does significantly better with the Pirelli, which have a somewhat wonkier reputation 🤷🏻♂️ Putting it on the Conti SC7 would probably clarify that - ...
Interesting…
The Michelin Pilot Sport 4S is a good tire. I spent a day hammering an M3 round a circuit in mixed conditions and playing with the traction controls. I came to the conclusion that the car relied heavily on “the systems” to keep the car heading in the righ...
So it’s not only me then? 😁
As for the RS6 I am surprised. But then the whole theft thing is a non-issue here and the insurance companies also don’t hike the premium to the impossible for specific vehicles as a result 🤷🏻♂️
Talking of handling in the wet …
I kept a Golf R, amongst others, as it was superb in the wet. It always felt in any conditions rock solid, pivoting beautifully around your hips. I remember a particularly wet late night drive home, I was in a hurry and it was an epic demonstration of jus...
Considering what to get as a second car at the moment 🧐
It needs four seats and should be fun. Beyond that pretty open 😂
This could be a good challenge …
I’m looking for another daily that will be a fun drive 🤔
The Civic Type R and Yaris GR both appeal…
Probably being the last of their kind, as does the Giulia QV. But some left field choices have also started exerting a draw 🧐 Could end up being a CLA45S, haven’t tried that one yet, either… On the electric front I would like to check out the Alpine A290 ...
Interesting 🤨….
I’ve had similar thoughts … Having been lucky enough to be a serial Group B style owner, the Yaris GR is really appealing, especially with a few carefully selected subtle modifications. I feel it’s a true successor to cars like the Delta Integrale. The A2...
The second gen of the GR seems to be even better (according to the car mags at least) 😊👍🏻
So several Group Bs - impressive 🙌🏻 As for the Macan GTS - for some reason I still try and stay away from SUVs as well as I can 😊🤷🏻♂️ I am sure it will be accomplished but t had it been an estate it would have been better 🤷🏻♂️ ...
Sounds great…
The only downside being that the current generation dropped the wagon 🤷🏻♂️🤦🏻♂️ A great one irrespective 👍🏻
Overkill !!!!!!!
A good friend of me works at a BMW dealership and every time he takes an M3 out he's blown away but at the same time he doesn't like it. The big 'flaw' in his opinion is that it is simply to potent ... I can understand him, coming from a time where we wer...
You make many valid points 👍🏻
And thanks for taking the time for that really considered response. I’m considering different options after the M3 (technically there is no need for a second car but it would be nice). Today I was at a oldtimer restorer by accident and he had some cars to...
Gazoo Racing
I had a short go in the Yaris and this is again a fun car but pretty fast. The Type-R is considered the best hot hatch ever, together with the Megane 3 RS. Both Yaris and Civic are manual and turbocharged, great cars. You could also consider the Megane 3 ...
The Megan’s is definitely on the list 👌🏻👍🏻
So what were your impressions of the Yaris? 😊
Yaris is also very potent ...
.. but would defy prefer the Megan 3 RS ! There's something about the Yaris that makes it feel a bit ... vulnerable ... maybe just my feeling.
Yes ...
.. I think I read about a few engine issues .. blowing up :-(. Also I'm not really a fan of the 3 cilinder sound.