2009 BMW M3 Sedan First Steer
December 9, 2008 by David Twomey
2009 BMW M3 Sedan First Steer
The bellowing V8 engine is nudging 8400rpm as I click the paddle shift to engage sixth gear and the relentless acceleration continued as the speedo needle nudges 250km/h.
- David Twomey
Then it’s a hard stab on the brakes, drop back two gears to fourth and turn into the flowing Turn One at Phillip Island Race Track – no I haven’t taken up V8 Supercar racing but the beast under my seat sounds and almost feels like it could give some of the local racers a good run for their money.
Fact is I’m making the most of BMW’s invitation to try the new M3 Sedan, the first such version of one of the ultimate cars from the Bavarian carmaker, to come to our shores.
The day had begun early with a briefing from BMW executives on the M3 and the differences embodied in the new Sedan version of this iconic BMW sports sedan, then a briefing from the legendary Geoff Brabham, son of the even more legendary Sir Jack, on just how Phillip Island race track could bite you in a car that covers the ground as fast as the M3.
So here I am thundering down Gardner Straight with the bellow of a true high-performance V8 engine providing background music and one of four M3 sedans, three with the dual-clutch seven-speed M transmission and one sporting a six-speed manual, under my backside.
I know, it’s dirty work but somebody has to do it – and hey, Christmas is just around the corner so I’m looking at it as an early gift from Santa!
I have to confess to being a devotee of the six-cylinder M3 with the old SMG gearbox, call me perverse, but I just liked the way the whole thing worked and it was always so balanced.
The first, and last time I drove the Coupe version of this new V8-engined M3 I didn’t really warm to it (it was also at Phillip Island race track) but this time I’m really liking the experience.
Maybe it’s the fact that the morning is open go – jump into a car and just lap, like I said – dirty work!
Powered by a unique V8, 4.0-litre, 309kW engine, producing 400Nm of torque and revving to a stratospheric 8400rpm red line, the BMW M3 Sedan certainly adds the most practical of bodyshells, complete with five seats and substantial luggage capacity, so even more passengers can enjoy this magnificent, race-bred engine on full song.
BMW has never offered the M3 sedan in Australia before. There was no Sedan in the previous E46 generation model range, and in the E36 generation, only Coupé and Convertible versions of the M3 came to Australia.
BMW hit the nail right on the head this time. Giving 4 door practicality without compromise on performance.
If I had the money, I’d go for this than anything in this price range (C63 AMG, IS-F, GTR, Exige)
I love this car, but I can see why people think it’s ugly. I think it looks great with it’s M body kit, but I can see why it’s too much for some. I think the problem that Mercedes has always had with the C Class is that it’s always too classy. They don’t seem to be able to design cars that can be transformed from classy and understated to snarling and sporty with the use of a tasteful body kit. I would wait for the next RS4 though before I came out and said this was best in class.
Ivan, please – although they may be in the same price bracket, you simply cannot compare and M3 to an Exige. The Exige has $300,000 super car performance for this money and actually, if you drove them, you may just change your mind. The Exige is in a different league. It’s addictive and one of the best cars on the planet. The M3s great, but too common.
“I think the problem that Mercedes has always had with the C Class is that it’s always too classy. They don’t seem to be able to design cars that can be transformed from classy and understated to snarling and sporty with the use of a tasteful body kit”
Please dont compare Merc to bmw design. Merc C class was car of the year. BMW is butt ugly these days. Theyve ruined the design that didnt need tweaking to begin with. Dont know what you’re talking about with either.. have you seen the c63! Best designed sport sedan period.
Nice article, but some of the sentence structure is poor, and a few spelling and grammar mistakes have slipped past. Also, I feel you have insulted the perfect styling of the E92 coupe saying this E90 M3 sedan “…is the front and rear of the Coupe blended with a four-door bodyshell” as it is not. The rear is typical of all E90 models with revised tail lights, and the insinuation that the coupe looks in anyway similar in the rear is blasphemy. It is much much better :)
Mmm… Drove one of these in the USA (pre-facelift)… awesome car.
Perhaps one of these with DCT to replace my 335i… but I agree with Devil666 in that my Coupe tail lights are still nicer than the revised E90 tail.
Car Advice, thank for your little Moderators Note but if you had actually read my comment, you would see that I wrote that that the Exige had the performance of a $300,000 super car for the same sort of money as this car (the BMW M3). I know very well that Lotus make cars that are incredibly cheap for what they are.
Mikez, what do you mean please don’t compare this to Mercedes design? They are in exactly the same league and therefore, you have to compare their designs. And although still a great looking car, the Mercedes C63 is certainly not the best designed sports sedan period (but I’m not saying this is).
The fact is that it still does look a bit old man and that is the only age group I see driving it. The M3 however tends to have a much younger client base, same with Audi and Alfa Romeo and that brings me to say that the Alfa Romeo 159 is still better looking than really anything else in this class and that is a pretty widely acknowledged fact. And the Mercedes C Class won Wheels car of the year. Oh, how prestigious! (insert sarcasm). However, the BMW 3 Series won World Car of the Year in 2006. A little bit hard to compare the two. Maybe it’s an age thing. Although it’s terribly rude to ask I’m sure, how old are you Mikez?
Alex – I don’t think that the moderators have the right to proofread or edit our comments; as we are talking to fellow car enthusiasts with similar interests.. we aren’t talking with or to Car Advice
If we make a mistake in any of our comments I’m sure one or more of the other bloggers will correct us – However; there are some on this site who find it hard to admit when they are wrong.
I read your comments and I knew that what you were saying is that the Exige has the performance of a $300K supercar for half the price..NOT that the Exige is a $300k Supercar
On Topic: I’d pay the extra $20k premium and go for the M3 coupe as its just like Smith’s Crisps “The Original and Still the Best!
However; you can’t really compare the M3 Sedan [or the new Lexus AS-IF] to the M3 Coupe as the different body styles will have an impact on the cars dynamics performance and handling etc.
Bout time you guys did this .
My money has always been on the M3 although a four door is not my pic in the range. Sales wise I would think the M3 would outsell the Merc and most certainly the IS-iF! So how much longer do we have to wait Mr Maric for your results on the IS-iF ?
Sorry Alex, Misread your post. Was simply making sure people were aware the Exige was not a $300,000 car.
So when do BMW have their next track day thats not for all you jernos…………I real road test would be good too!
M has much more reputation and history and amg, for one. Sales, demographic, dont really mind about. I was talking about the current models only. Bmw looks have gone downhill, merc very inspiring look, car of the year. Plus amg version looks 10 x better.
No worries about asking my age Alex, im 24
regards
mike
Sorry that should read “than amg” not “and”
Mikez, I think it’s hard to comment and compare the looks of different cars as everyone has their own opinion and preference when it comes to looks. Personally i don’t like the look of the new C-class, the butch squre front doesn’t seem to gel well with the rounder lights at the back, and the satnav cover looks cheap.
Not saying that a 3-series is pretty either though, the mundane version looks very odd and dull, but this M3 version is much much better. But as pointed out above, the M3 coupe is better looking than the sedan with better looking tail.
In this class, Alfa 159 is for me the best looking, but i still wouldn’t drive an Italian car for day in day out for reliability concern.
Twas he that downgraded C class looks compared to 3 sedan, and we’re comparing c63 with M not base models. I simply had to stand up to defend against the claim that was made for no apparent reason. Bold claim on my part i agree , but needed some ammunition for his blatand attack out of no where, especially when the new C is revitalised and winning awards.
Anyway, 159 is gorgeous, but i thought we were comparing sport sedan in this performance/price category. And now moving to coupes? ..
regards
mike
I see your point Alex about the Exige. But that would mean the same for the GTR as well. But some journos still compare the GTR to the M3 because of the similar price range.
I’ll have to admit that the M3 coupe is much better looking than the sedan. However, if I have to buy an M3 sedan, I know that the 2nd hand resale value and demand would be much worse than the coupe, therefore I would use the M3 sedan as a daily driver and keep it until it dies.
Then buy the Exige for a real driving experience ;P
Wouldnt pay $5.50 FOR THIS CAR. UGLY BMW CRAP..
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Oh god the kids are out of school already and making dumb comments based on their opinions only!
What a car!
Engineering at its finest. The Germans are still one step ahead of the competition.
The only thing that stood out a little is the 400NM of torque. Did anyone else expect more?
Why all the love for the Alfa 159? That thing is unattractive to say the least. And the interior is hideous. $60K for a FWD vehicle? And the notorious build quality issues. No thanks.
E39 M5 or E46 330ci for me thanks @ $60K.
But CB, the Alfa Romeo 159 has great build quality and pretty good reliability these days, have you never read a review of one? And all the love for the 159 because it’s beautiful (and that is pretty widely accepted) and it is great to drive despite it being FWD and the AWD ones are even better!
Mikez, you keep talking as if the 3 Series/M3 isn’t winning awards? I believe it’s won more than the C63.
Oh Marcoz, go away. You’re must be either 17 or 70.
i dont like it for the simple idea that the normal 3 series that we get he is made in south africa, yes i do relise all m cars are made in germany!
Alex Says:
December 10th, 2008 at 4:08 pm
“But CB, the Alfa Romeo 159 has great build quality and pretty good reliability these days, have you never read a review of one? And all the love for the 159 because it’s beautiful (and that is pretty widely accepted) and it is great to drive despite it being FWD and the AWD ones are even better!”
I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder. I won’t argue the Brera is one sexy animal though.
As a female, I think that the BMW M3 Sedan is sizzling hot. Once again, BMW has hit the mark with this high performance sports car. Not only does if offer the performance of its fellow Convertible and Coupe line up, it has the practically of 4 doors and 5 seats – unlike the Lexus ISF.
I think we should all be mindful of using commment spaces for the purpose that they are intended for. Petty remarks aren’t what us car enthusiasts are about…
Here’s cheers BMW – another great car with a great price – starting at a pretty reasonable $145,000.
Who are you boom box and where have you been? this is the first time I [and I expect other regulars] have seen you on this site./ it appears as though this is your first visit to CA and tht was your initial comment
The first part of which was reasonable and accurate as you compared the M3 sedan to a more direct rival in he IS-F
However; [if this is your firt visit] I don’t think that you are in the position to make a comment telling others to stay on topic and that the comments section should be used for the purpose of which it is intended.
Given that you don’t really know anyone on here what they are like what cars they do/don’t like or what their knowledge of cars is like.. you don’t know the culture
This is primarily a site for enthusiasts to talk about cars but its also a place to make friends with similar interests I mean I met my Fiance [Bavarian Missile] on here
If you continue to visit this site you will see that the majority of us do try to keep things on topic and that there are some of us who have friendly rivalries with other bloggers…its all in good fun – lighten up!
Remember – you can’t judge a book by its cover.
How lame. You met your Fiance on the internet.. on a car news site… wow.
Sorry that was inappropriate, but you get my point.
QWERTY^^
Yes, indeed it is.
Who cares where you meet girl/s, the main thing is just to sleep with them! :-)
Cheers,
F-0
Was going to have a go at this but why bother!
Hmmm, a 4 door M3 plus $10k change to buy other things or a 427 cubic inch, American powered Commodore with lots of plastic and carbon fibre everywhere. Hard decision to make especially considering I don’t have a boat to tow……
my friend has the 2door m3 which i drove before deciding on the isf, the lexus isf has way more bang for buck for a cheaper retail price, sure the bmw m3 is a great car but the isf wins in looks,power,equipment,finish and straight out horn appeal, the bmw m3 is plain ugly next to it and only a bmw fanatic would buy one instead of a isf! for my money the isf was a easy choice!
Guys just received my C63 amg and i am blown away! Man this machine is a monster! I am not here to compare between the m3 and the c63 amg, both cars a magnificent vehicles without a doubt. I cant get enough driving the car it is so enjoyable….just my two cents worth!