2008 BMW M3 Sedan

The BMW M3 has long been a performance sedan icon. From its beginnings in the late 80’s as a 4-cylinder, high-revving race car for the street to its recent incarnation as a heavier, V8-powered luxury coupe, the M3 has always represented BMW’s motor sports heritage. The M3 has seen quite a few different incarnations over the past 20 years. Originally designed as a 2 door, in the early 90’s the M3 also became available as both a convertible and a sedan. Purists initially were outraged that a sports car would be reduced to what they perceived as a grocery getter and a chick-magnet, but over time club racers began to appreciate the increased structural integrity of the sedan. While the sedan became popular on the track, the convertible was vilified by many as too heavy and not nearly strong enough for serious motoring. It sold well, however, and when the next generation M3 was released it was the sedan that was axed, leaving only the convertible and the coupe.


Perhaps sensing a loss of market share to Audi and their 4 door S4, for 2008 BMW has decided to once again produce a sedan version of the M3. The sedan borrows many components from the coupe, including the 414 horsepower V8 engine that revs to over 8000 rpm. The 6-speed manual is also available, and BMW promises to make the paddle-shifted automatic found in the coupe an option in the near future. On the outside, the BMW M3 sedan is virtually identical when viewed head on – it bears the same bulging fenders, the power dome on the hood, and the aggressive aero package on the front bumper. Moving farther back along the vehicle, the most obvious difference is of course the extra 2 doors for rear passengers. The doors have necessitated the removal of the coupe’s carbon-fiber roof, and the sedan uses the same sheet metal as the standard 3 series to cover the passenger compartment.

While the roof might be different, the performance has remained the same. The BMW M3 sedan goes from 0 to 60 miles per hour in an impressive 4.9 seconds, and pulls hard all the way up to a top speed of 155 miles per hour. 295 lb feet of torque are also on tap up as low as 3900 rpm, and the V8 actually has better fuel economy numbers than the 6 cylinder engine in the previous generation M3. This is accomplished via lighter engine weight and improved variable valve timing with what BMW calls the double-VANOS system. Each cylinder has an individual throttle body to ensure the most responsive performance. The suspension has also been put through the ringer to ensure the ultimate in control and safety. The entire front assembly is made of aluminum to save weight, and hollow anti-roll bars and aluminum shock absorbers round out the list of low-mass components. The car is brought down from high speeds by 14 inch brakes in the front and 13 inch brakes in the rear, more than enough to handle the marginally increased mass of the sedan. The BMW M3 sedan sports 18 inch wheels, with 19 inches available as an option.

The BMW M3 has been one of the brightest stars in the German automaker’s sky for many years, and is a perennial pick for car of the year by automotive critics. However, the vehicle has gradually evolved from its early status as a lightweight race car to more of a plush GT car. The M3 certainly still offers stunning performance, but the focus on luxury has come at a cost in terms of connection to the road and a high curb weight. Regardless, the M3 sedan remains one of the best vehicles on the market for those who need space for a child seat, but don’t want to give up on their sports car dreams.





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May 10, 2008, 12:01 pm