2009 BMW M3 Review & Road Test
April 17, 2009 by Karl Peskett
2009 BMW M3 Review & Road Test
Adding two doors has only served to make it better.
Model Tested:
- 2009 BMW M3 Sedan manual – $145,000
Options:
- Electric Sunroof – $2920
Engine, chassis balance, ride, gearshift, space, quality
Nothing. Yes, you read that right.
CarAdvice Rating: 
- Words by Karl Peskett Photography by www.ozcarsightings.com
Antioxidants are supposed to be good for you. That’s all I know. That’s all I want to know, too, because apparently dark chocolate is full of the stuff, and that’s all the permission I need to go on a gorging spree. Some people don’t like dark chocolate, and if they’ve only ever tried the 70 per cent or 85 per cent versions, I don’t blame them. Too bitter, I reckon.
When you get the 50 per cent or 60 per cent derivatives, you’re on a winner. The smoothness, the flavour – it’s just so beautiful. There’s a depth and richness to it, and it’s completely addictive.
Now, almonds are okay, too. Not my favourite nuts mind you, but they’re pretty nice. Now, add the almonds to the dark chocolate, and what a combination it becomes. You’d think that adding something to something else that by itself is already pretty good would detract from the experience. Not so.
Just have a look at the M3 Coupe, for example. Here is a brilliant piece of machinery that you’d think would be impossible to make better, but it has.
BMW has added two doors to its flagship 3 Series, and in this testers eyes, at least, it’s now a better car.
Sure, it may be compromised in a few areas for the hardcore fans, but as a family man, having a sedan means I can have my cake and eat it too. Or should that be dark chocolate? I digress …
The ease of entry and exit for passengers gives me all the reason to convince the missus that it’s the ideal car.
“Yes, honey, we can put the baby seat in the back. Yes, it will take a pram. Yes, your mother can come with us for a drive.” Well, maybe not that last one, but you get the idea. A coupe is simply impractical. A four door? That’s a whole other story.
You may remember we took the M3 convertible for a spin a little while back, and then the Melbourne boys headed up the Sedan against Lexus’s newcomer, the IS F. Both those cars were DCT-equipped, so imagine my joy as I opened the driver’s door to this week’s test car. There it was, in all its moveable glory – a manual transmission.
I breathed a sigh of relief. Finally, I was able to control that harmonious, glorious engine with my left hand and right foot. As nice a feeling as that was, it was only going to all come together when I had confirmed the gearbox was at least half decent. We’ll get to that in a moment.
But first, sliding behind the wheel, there was something missing. Yes, the ‘M’ button was gone. That means that the trick dampers were gone, too, because not only did it control transmission, stability and traction control settings, but also the ride. Surely this is a disaster? The sedan has been de-specced.
Worse than that, you’re stuck with one ride setting only. What if it’s too harsh? What if it’s too soft? What if it crashes every time you hit a bump? All the “what if” questions were running through my head.
Rather than let them worry me for the time being, I decided to flick over the engine and let the intoxicating sound of one of the world’s best V8s work its magic on my synapses. Ah, that’s better. All’s right with the world.
A few years ago, BMW was criticised for fitting its cars with ill-riding run-flat tyres. There was a jitteriness as a result of the inflexible sidewalls. Mostly, the run-flats have improved, and the ride is now acceptable. We’re generations down the track and run-flats are still the norm on the 3 Series range – with one notable exception – the M3.
As a result, the best riding car in the 3 Series range is – you guessed it – the M3. That’s despite having very stiff springs and dampers because the absorbency of the shocks marries up perfectly with the sidewall flex of the Michelin Pilot Sports meaning the M3 Sedan has what I would call the best ride of any sports sedan on sale today.
Considering the capability the M3 has, there’s nothing that compares in the ride department, and why does that matter so much? Well, it’s a sedan. Having four doors means there’s more than a hint of utilitarianism to this car, and that means you’re going to be taking passengers.
In my case, it was the wife and child. Expecting some sort of roasting for bringing home another high powered, hard riding sports sedan, the wife fell in love with it within the first hundred metres. You see, you could take someone in a neck brace and you wouldn’t get any complaints. It really is perfect.
Now I’m thinking the reason the better half was so enamoured was a bit more than just the ride.
The baby seat was dead easy to fit, the boot was a decent size (although not quite as practical as Lexus’s IS F, which has a larger opening), and there’s enough storage around the place to take care of books, papers and nail-files.
To prove the point, we decided to make a day trip to meet with friends who were staying in Bunbury, a coastal city around 200km south of Perth. It was a long weekend, so we were expecting stop start conditions and heavy traffic the entire way there.
Thankfully, it wasn’t too heavy, but in the typical merge areas there was the usual delays. The M3 proved that its light clutch and slippery gearbox are a great combo, with an ease of use that would put a Toyota Corolla to shame. But although the clutch is light, there’s plenty of take-up in its travel, and hardly any free-play.
The gearbox works best once warmed slightly, but there’s a satisfying rubbery click when placing each shift in the gate. Initially you think that it will resist quick changes, but the six-speed proves you wrong, with slams being taken as well as glides.
And work the ‘box we did, especially in the overtaking lanes on the trip down. Snick it back to third, plant your foot, and the best V8 ever made sings its lungs out, yowling to the heavens like a race-tuned special. Bystanders can’t help but take note as the motor wails at over 8000rpm, sounding nothing like a V8 could, but everything like a V8 should.
The on-centre steering feel is about the only weak point in an otherwise perfect package. There’s electric assistance that removes some of the feel around centre, however the sharp turn in, and weighting make up for it. The lock to lock wheeling is consistent and the resistance when loaded up mid corner is beautiful. It also responds very quickly when the rear steps out and you have to turn quickly to counter the oversteer.
Using the M-differential, you can hold the slide by purely using the throttle. It’s an amazing feeling that you can flow from bend to bend as quickly as you dare, with the chassis supplying brilliant balance, and the tyres awesome grip. Yet, you can drift through those same corners like a pro, not ever worrying about it turning around a biting you. It’s about as controllable a rear-wheel-drive car as there ever was.
Yet after our day of catching up with friends, it sauntered home, burbling a beautiful eight-cylinder symphony, enveloping its passengers in a wave of comfort and quality. It’s one of the few cars that you can take to a racetrack, blast all day, and then feel relaxed on your drive home while you pick the kids up from school.
Not to mention having all the fruit, including TV, DVD, I-Drive with voice commands, heated seats, dual-zone climate control, SatNav, etc, the M3 Sedan may have been despecced, but it’s hardly lacking.
That combination of perfect ride, excellent steering, brilliant balance, practicality and possibly the best engine ever made makes the M3 Sedan the complete package of the year.
CarAdvice Overall Rating:
How does it Drive:
How does it Look: 
How does it Go:
Specifications:
- Engine: 4.0-litre V8, longitudinally mounted
- Power: 309kW @ 8300rpm
- Torque: 400Nm @ 3900rpm
- Induction: Naturally aspirated, multipoint injected
- Transmission: Six-speed manual
- Differential/Driven Wheels: Limited-slip/rear
- Brakes: Twin piston, vented, cross drilled discs front, single piston rear
- Top Speed: 250km/h
- 0-100km/h: 4.9 seconds
- 0-400m: Not tested
- CO2 Emissions: 295g/km
- Fuel Consumption: 12.4-litres/100km
- Fuel Tank Capacity: 63 litres
- Fuel Type: 98RON petrol
- ANCAP Rating: Five stars
- Airbags: Six
- Safety: ABS, EBD, BA, TC, DSC
- Spare Wheel: None
- Tow Capacity: Not supplied
- Turning Circle: 11.7m
- Warranty: 3 years/unlimited
- Weight: 1605kgs
- Wheels: 18-inch alloy
Print it: 
MB – That’s a relieving thought. Likewise, I don’t think anyone would purchase a car in this league (M3 included) for it’s fuel economy, although it is a nice aspect to take into consideration, especially for those long trips that lead to some of the nicest roads – That is, without having to stop for fuel every hour.
One thing I do believe when it comes to the battle between the four, if any one of us were restricted to buying only one of these cars, an RS4, IS F, M3 or C63 – For whatever reason – You cannot tell me that you WOULDN’T be happy with any one of them. Take the F for example, the IS F which I gather most of you dislike, you’ve just saved yourself 15 grand and despite this saving, you’ve just gained yourself an excellent piece of engineering, it is NOT a bad car, it just isn’t quite as GOOD as the rest. But will it put a smile on your face? Damn right it will.
Xr………..totally agree with you. The in gear acceleration of the F6 is phenomonal for a car of this price. Cant see past this fabulous car really for what you get compared to other overpriced and over hyped performance cars. Best car ever made in Australia and deserves to be compared to the great cars ever built……….well done Ford and FPV.
If i had the money I would buy one of these in a heartbeat and buy the F6 ute for work!!!!
70% Lindt dark chocolate is the best by far, 85% is too much IMO, but 70% is just right!
The BMW M3 is a great car, I also like the 4 door version more than the coupe. But then I like the RS4 much more than the M3. There is something about the Audi that the M3 lacks..I have a connection with the RS4, but not with this.
And then there is the GT-R for the same $$$…
Mb quote
“Xr As much as I respect your comments and the F6, XR6 etc…at the end of the day the Falcon is still based on a $30K car and it shows.”
Agree there ,people have to understand its not about equaling power, the M3 is more than just speed .
FPV stuff is good bang for your buck yes but not in the class as the Euro stuff ,sorry! Ive owned and driven both and know others that also have stepped up from FPV to Euro Performance,they are amazed at the difference .
As much as you would like to compare the local performance stuff to this you cant !
Hardly compare the GT-R either,I mean maybe same price bracket but try bolting a baby seat in the back and doing the groceries in that !
Coupe looks a hell of alot better IMO. 4 door looks plain.
When u owned a car in Australia, what sticker do u have to put on the front window?
Devil666 Says:
April 17th, 2009 at 9:55 am
“The problem with a high revving engine is that all 309kw come at over 7000 rpm. Who wants to have to rev it that hard to get maximum power? Just how often are you driving a private track? Who is ever going to rev to 8300 to overtake someone?”
That may be true with Honda VTEC engines Devil666, however this is a BMW engine. BMW engines still have good low rev torque as well. This engine has so much technology and computing power it gives you the best of both worlds. You don’t need to rev the @$%@ out of it to overtake someone because you have a minimum of 340Nm of torque available from just 2000rpm up to well over 6500rpm. That is the same as the maximum torque of the “High Output” V6 in the Commodore. When in a smaller, lighter car with good gearing, it doesn’t take rocket science to work it out. Sure it is not “C63 style” lazy grunt, but you wouldn’t call it a slug either. It is more tractable than you think… :-)
Have driven all 3 in this class the m3, lexus isf & the AMG c63 and from a drivers point of view the m3 by a whisker, for looks the isf hands down and for straight out power the isf & c63 both are awesome, so depending on what you are going to do with your ride all have great +’s and -’s in my eyes the bmw m3 just over the lexus isf & then the c63 but if its dollars and sheer bang for buck and value for money the lexus isf! but as “camski” said all are bloody great cars and would sit proud in anyone’s driveway
With that much money I would no doubt will buy a nissan GTR instead. Not sure about the passenger but performance and looks wise GTR wil definitely take the cake. You get respects on the road too where the GTR will turn heads. M3 don’t have the same presence on the road. With 100k plus I definitely want presence on the road…
The GTR sure has the performance and road presence. If that is what you want, there is NOTHING better for the money. It is an awesome pice of kit. The M3 on the other hand, other than the 1st generation, has been more of a “Q” car. It’s looks don’t shout out performance other than a couple of subtle bulges and vents etc. Some people like that and don’t want to attract too much attention. BMW market the M3 as more of an “everyday”, practicle high performance car. With the M3 you only need the one car to take the family on holidays etc or go for a hard fang at your local track. If you have bucket loads of money for a “weekend” car, the GTR is the way to go as you would buy another car for everyday use. But if you could only have one car, for me it would be the M3. That is what the M3 has over the GTR.
M3 is a nice car, but “everyday”, dunno bout that, everyday i reckon needs 4 doors, so it would have to be a 4 door M3 or a C63.
I hope my lotto ticket wins 2moro.
One of the great things about this car is I bet that the manual gearbox would be mostly boring in big-engined low-revving cars as you could just use any gear and speed up. Reading a review of the Zonda they mentioned you could easily accelerate from 60 in 6th or you could downshift but deliberately mostly. This BMW small V8 is perfect for a manual gearbox whilst I am sure it still provides sufficent torque low down you would no doubt need to work the gearbox a little and according to the review that would be more enjoyable than anything else. If your going to have lots of torque across the rev band, may as well have a 4 speed auto, let it do the shifting and it wouldn’t need many gears anyways.
I was typical person taking part in performance Holden Vs Ford discussions in the past, displaying the usual negative justification of owning the BMW/Merc performance vehicles. Having had opportunity to get frequent exposure to European vehicles through European contacts in Germany, namely BMW and Mercedes products, I have certainly changed my mind and consequently became an owner of a BMW performance vehicle. One has to appreciate vehicle technicalities and handling precision. I think the best demonstration of vehicle drive precision is to push a vehicle on an Australian road on a dark rainy night. The preciseness of the handling in the Euro vehicle will confidently allow a lot higher relaxed cruise speed. i.e. if the speedo was blanked off, a driver would be driving at consistently higher speeds due to the better feel of the vehicle. This same idea of a blanked off speedo does apply during day time also, where typical drivers will drive at higher speeds simply because the vehicle feels better. Of course the high price of the Euro vehicles cannot be justified by those who do not have the financial means, and most GM/Ford owners are not presented with the opportunity for a lengthy drive of a performance Euro vehicle. Also a recommendation for anyone who visits Germany to go to the BMW Nurburg Ring facility and go for a drive with a test driver in M3/M5, it will be an experience one will appreciate and remember for a long time.
to u guys that has a c63…how much discount did u get?? thax in advance