bmw m3
Driven: 2011 BMW 1-Series M Coupe
While the natural reaction is to compare the 1-Series M Coupe to the 135i, BMW has used the original E30 M3 as the inspiration for this car. It shares proportions with the 1988 M3, being just 4.8 inches wider and 1.3 inches longer, with a wheelbase 3 inches longer. Compared to the 135, it the 1M has the same wheelbase and slightly wider track (2.8 inches in front and 1.8 inches in the rear). It’s 11 pounds lighter than the 135i, at 3362 pounds. It borrows a lot of components from the current M3, including its aluminum rear subframe and suspension, centrifugal M variable differential lock, and nineteen-inch wheels.
US-Only, Special Edition BMW M3 Is… Gray
With the M3’s 25th birthday just around the corner, BMW of North America is celebrating with a special edition of the M3, limited to just 30 units. The small-batch model, which BMW teased earlier this week, is called the 2011 BMW Frozen Gray M3 Coupe.
Art Car: BMW M3 GT2 By Jeff Koons
Over the past 35 years, BMW has loaned out 17 cars to various artists. Using the Ultimate Driving Machine as a canvas, these artists put a new twist on a paint job. The latest artist to join the ranks of Warhol, Stella, and Calder is Jeff Koons.
Driven: 2011 Audi RS5
The Audi RS5 coupe really has everything going for it if we stare it down while it’s sitting still or if we study the spec sheet. How can you go wrong, after all, with a 444-horsepower, latest-generation, 4.2-liter FSI V-8 with all that power maxing out at the 8250-rpm redline? The torque comes out to assist nicely, too, at 317 maximum pound-feet between 4000 and 6000 rpm.
Driven: 2010 BMW 135i Coupe
In 2008 the boys from Munich brought the 1-Series over from Europe, and it looked like the prayers of many enthusiasts had been answered. Once again, there was a small, fast, maneuverable BMW available, and we get a week to test it out.
Driven: 2010 BMW X5M
If a nonsensical vehicle like the Porsche Cayenne Turbo S tickles your fancy, you may want to leave space on your bedroom wall for another drool-worthy pinup. This, ladies and gentlemen, is the BMW X5M. It has 555 horsepower, it runs a tuned version of BMW’s xDrive all-wheel-drive system, and it costs $85,400—that’s a whopping $40,900 less than the starting price of Madam Cayenne. And if you immediately think to yourself, “Well, clearly this is because the Porsche is a superior vehicle,” you’ll want to think again. The X5M is as good to drive as it is unnecessary to own.
First Look: 2011 Infiniti M
When we think of competitors for the BMW 5-Series, things like the Mercedes E-Class, Jaguar XF, and Audi A6 come to mind immediately, and sadly, the Infiniti M is casually overlooked in most cases. This was mostly due, in part, to an anemic V-8 mill, out-of-date interior materials and technology, and old styling. This all changes, though, as Infiniti has just debuted the sexy new M — in both M37 and M56 flavors — at the Los Angeles Auto Show.
Spy Shots: BMW M3 Coupe Gets Updated Rear End
Our spy photographer has sent us shots of the new BMW M3 Coupe, giving us a good look at its updated rear end.
Dinan S1 335i: Better Than an M3?
Taking the fabulous BMW 335i and trying to make it better than an M3 is a tempting but difficult exercise. Not only is the M3 a very good car, so is the 335i. If anyone has a chance to pull this off, it would be Dinan, the long-standing mega tuners of BMWs in the U.S.
Keepers: BMW M3 E46—Community
In essence, simply owning a BMW grants you an all-access pass to an all-encompassing, purebred group that’s arguably the largest, most dedicated, and most fanatical community of motoring enthusiasts in the world. Obviously the M cars are the poster children for this segment, but attend any type of BMW event and you’ll likely see a wide range of new and old Bimmers, everything from high-end M machines to highly modified variations of 3 and 5-Series cars, stock sedans, convertibles, and yes, SUVs. If it says BMW, then it’s welcome, and whether it’s a brand new M3 or a decades-old 2002, the owners all have one thing in common: They love live to drive these cars, and I’m not just talking about leisurely Sunday afternoon jaunts through the local neighborhood. To support this addiction (or perhaps because of it), BMW enthusiasts the world over have no shortage of online resources to draw from, but for the M3 owner, three web destinations stand out from the rest.
Keepers: BMW M3 E46—Shopping
The current state of the auto market makes for some tantalizing possibilities when it comes to performance cars, and with good-condition E46 prices dipping well into the $20,000 range, it’s currently one of the best performance purchases available. Unfortunately, perhaps the biggest stumbling block on the road to M3 ownership has nothing to do with the car itself, but rather the cost to insure it. Running a quick check for a squeaky-clean, 22-year old driver returns a frightening range of $300 to $700 per month for full coverage, thanks to a perfect storm of popularity (as in popular among thieves) and performance. Yes, the early-20s insurance bracket is one of the highest in the nation, and that figure doesn’t include anything like multi-car discounts or occasional-use driving. Regardless, this is one expensive car to cover, so before getting your hopes up, better call your insurance guy to see if it’s even feasible.
Keepers: BMW M3 E46
Let’s be honest, every generation of the M3 is a keeper. Balance, grip, performance, you’ve heard all this before. In 23 years of M3 production, approximately 2863 various adjectives, adverbs, present and past participles, sexually-charged metaphors, and other automotive clichés have been blasted across print and electronic media, describing the greatness of the car. Far be it for us to add to the hype, so we’ll simply say yeah, it’s that good, and the third-generation E46 model is among the finest of the breed, delivering a driving experience that is pure M-ness. M-ness…guess that makes 2864.
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