Slater126

As a former owner of a 1997 M3 sedan and a current owner of a C32, I'd like to see a new M3 sedan more than anyone, believe me. I don't like the new 3-series coupe but the sedan looks great. Still, knowing the history of the M3 sedan, and how BMW pulled it mid-year 1998 despite strong U.S. sales, I'm cynical that such a car will ever be built. It wasn't the M5 that was the issue -- there was no M5 in 1998 -- but, rather, the top end non-M 5 series that the M3/4 was allegedly taking sales from. It was priced lower than the 540i but faster and just as practical. So off with its head, BMW said. Not saying it made much sense but that's what happened. Again, I hope I'm wrong and you're right. This would be a great car. And while we're at it, how about an M3 wagon That would be super cool!

c32used

I Am Really Diggin This Sedan Guys..........its Even My Desktop Pic! All Who See It Are In Aww As Am I.

CynCarvin32

The C63 and new M3 really do step up the contest for 2008. If the C63 indeed does come to market, which i hear is planned, it will make me think twice about wanting to defect to the dark side.

For me, however, the lack of real "performance" upgrades for any MB is ultra frustrating. Yes we have wheels, power pupgrades, etc but we have little to NO real suspension upgrade options. By that I mean we dont have anyone with a camber plate for the W203, we have 1 company with bushing upgrades, and we have 1 coil-over kit that is deigned for hard driving. On a bmw you have everyone making springs shocks and bars in different levels of stiffness so you can tune the car as you wish. Plus the bmw allows for easy custom tuning with custom spring rates etc for say 300 bucks a set. The W203 front spring is such a wacky design that there is just no way to go about getting a say 450 pound spring up front and a 550 in the back. I hope the trend changes because I honestly think the new W204 is going to be a wonderful car. The C32 is a good chassis and its got many strong points. I just wish I could call up Eibach and get some springs made to make the car twice as stiff if I felt so inclined!

And speaking of the devil, I just was driving next to the 2008 M3 coupe protptype (down beverly glen and out to the 101 freeway) and I must say it is STIFF and it sounds really nice! As normal the new M3 will be a wonderful car like all past M3's.

I used to go chase the prototypes around the canyons and make them run from the camera but now I just let them do their emissions testing and admire the cars. I think I saw the revised 7 series the other day going up Malibu Canyon at the crack of dawn (well before that really).

FrankW

SEDAN FTW. I wouldn't have been here if they had a E46 sedan M3. lol

sales@eurocharged.com

I had an E46 M3 before my C32. I love my C32 and I love Mercedes, but I will always miss that car.



If you have never driven a M series BMW, then you are missing out.

I love black rims...

Most-Wanted

No way. It is only making 295ft lbs of tq and looks just like every other BMW on the road, but with a ricer body kit. Not for me. The HP rating is 420, but what happened to all the tq. It is also weighing in at 3500 pounds. Real world arrival may change some things, but so far, I'm not even a little impressed.

yeuchau

so what if it only has 295ft lbs of tq
the E46 only had 262, while c32 had 332, but c32 is not any faster than m3

I guess you don't judge bimmers by tq.
besides most of the car in the class, bimmer is usually faster than mercedes

transferred

The real thing will look lot better and not be rice. Look at the E46 M3. It was a head and shoulders the best looking car in the segment with a beefy look that was entirely different from the regular 3-series yet still subtle. It has taken until the RS4 came along for it to be dethroned from both a performance and style prespective.

The E46 M3 is already considered a classic and the only problem is it is a victim of over production with every Tom, Dick and Jackass seeming to own one. Whether the new one with a V8 will manage that will be seen. It will be increadibly capable but may suffer from leaving behind the I6.

As for the obsesion with tq, sure it can be helpful and aids everday driveability but i've neither found 262lbs insuficient or been pulled by too many F250 duramaxes!

m3_eater

By the way, for the doubters: BMW insiders have already revealed that there WILL be an E92 M3/4. They may make us wait a couple of years for the debut though.

I for one have had enough of heavy, expensive supercar sedans, so I won't be shopping for one (or for a C63 for that matter). I want something tossable but still high quality.

FrankW

in the real world the C32's almost quicker than the M3 everytime in street encounter situation.

the reason: you have to keep the revs up in the M where you don't need to in the AMG. on the track this plays out differently.

i miss how my 328ci drove still.

360_iti

Nah, not for me. I'll stick with AMG. Some people might argue about which one is quicker, but I couldn't care less, especially if it only involves fractions of a second during a street race.
Power accessibility, comfort, luxury and general perception are sitting higher on my priority list. It would take a lot more to make me cross to the dark side.