Do you happen to own a fourth generation BMW M3 Coupe, Sedan or Convertible model, and if so, do you crave for a throatier sound from its exhaust? If you answered yes to both questions and can justify spending $4,374 plus labor for installation for a performance exhaust system, then you may want to take a look the Bavarian firm's new M Performance offering.
BMW said the new exhaust system is crafted from an extremely heat-resistant and lightweight chrome-nickel alloy called Inconel, which allowed the firm's engineers to reduce the thickness of the tubing from 1.5mm to 0.8mm. This resulted in a weight reduction of approximately 40%, or about 20 pounds when compared to the M3's stock exhaust system. So basically, you're getting a much lighter exhaust system with a more powerful sound
The M Performance Exhaust also comes with perforated inner pipes and polished titanium tips, which are laser engraved with the M logo.
The company said the new exhaust may be installed at any Authorized BMW Center at a price of $4,374 plus installation.
BMW has officially confirmed its return to the German Touring Car Masters (DTM) starting from 2012, almost two decades since its departure from the series in 1994. The Munich-based marque said it took the decision after the positive nature of discussions in recent months with the DTM umbrella organization ITR e.V. and the other manufacturers represented in the touring car series on issues regarding the future technical regulations, and the long-term internationalization of the championship.
The company said it plans to make its racing comeback to the series with the M3 model as the firm's basic DTM vehicle.
Dr Klaus Draeger, member of the Board of Management of BMW AG with responsibility for development, says: "The return of BMW to the DTM is a fundamental part of the restructuring of our motorsport activities. With its increased commitment to production car racing, BMW is returning to its roots. The race track is the perfect place to demonstrate the impressive sporting characteristics of our vehicles against our core competitors in a high-powered environment. The DTM is the ideal stage on which to do this."
BMW has won the touring car series twice in the past with Eric van de Poele (BE) and Roberto Ravaglia (IT) who celebrated two DTM titles with the original E30 M3 back in 1987 and 1989, while before that, Volker Strycek (DE) won the DTM premiere in 1984 in the 635 CSi.
The 450-horsepower limited production BMW M3 GTS was the inspiration for this customized 135i Coupe that was created by Ontario-based dealer, Parkview BMW. The hotted up small coupe is finished in the same Fire Orange paintwork as its bigger brother and features a full set BMW Performance Parts including the aerodynamic kit, carbon fiber diffuser, mirror caps, spoilers and rooftop (we're assuming it's a foil wrap), and black alloy wheels shod in wider tires.
The car's interior has also been enhanced with numerous parts such as an Alcantara sports steering wheel, carbon fiber trim, M gear knob and aluminum pedals. It remains unknown if the dealer made any performance upgrades. Check out the pictures below and tell us what you think.
Audi may have confirmed the new RS5 for the States, but Americans won't be able to sample the scorching hot high-performance coupe until sometime in 2012. But when there's a will, there's a way, so the crew from Motor Trend headed to Germany to compare the two newest entries in the sports coupe segment, the Audi RS5 and Cadillac CST-V Coupe, with BMW's 'old-timer', the M3 Coupe.
We won't spoil the video for you by telling you won, so follow the jump to check it out along with the performance details on all cars and then don't forget to take our poll on which sport coupe would you be more likely to buy.
The upcoming Audi RS5 tips the scales at 1,800kg (3,968 lbs) and packs a naturally aspirated 4.2-liter V8 cranking out -in Euro spec- 450HP at 8,250 rpm and 430Nm (317.15 lb-ft) between 4,000 and 6,000rpm.
It also features a rear-biased quattro all-wheel drive system that splits torque 40:60 under normal conditions and a new seven-speed dual-clutch automated manual transmission. Audi says the coupe completes the standard 0-100km/h (62mph) sprint in 4.6 seconds.
The recently introduced Cadillac CTS-V Coupe weighs in at 1922kg (4,237 lbs - Automatic) and makes use of a 6.2-liter supercharged V8 engine rated -in U.S. spec- at 556HP at 6,100 rpm and 747Nm (551 lb.-ft.) at 3,800 rpm.
Power is sent to the rear wheels via six-speed manual gearbox or a six-speed electronically controlled automatic transmission. According to GM, the CTS-V goes from 0 to 60mph (96km/h) in 3.9 seconds.
Finally, the oldest model in the comparison is the BMW M3 Coupe. It weighs in at 1,675kg (3,692 lbs - DKG transmission) and sports a naturally aspirated 4.0-liter V8 delivering -in Euro spec- 420HP at 8,300rpm and 400Nm (295 lb-ft) at 3,900rpm.
Buyers can opt for either a 6-speed manual (0-100km/h in 4.8 seconds) or a 7-speed dual clutch transmission (0-100km/h in 4.6 seconds). The car tested here by Motor Trend's Editor in Chief Angus MacKenzie, was fitted with BMW's $2,500 optional Competition Package that includes wider offset 19-inch alloy wheels, lowered ride height and recalibrated Electronic Damper Control and Dynamic Stability Control settings.
While surfing on Youtube, we stumbled upon these two videos that were amusing for us to watch, but obviously, quite painful for the respective owners of the cars. In the first clip, a BMW 6-Series driver drift-trashes the GT in a ditch, while in the second video, the guy behind the steering wheel of an M3 E36 Coupe learns a few valuable safety lessons -including the importance of wearing a seat-belt- the hard way. Watch both videos after the break.
Found on Youtube, is this video of a Corvette Z06 losing control and ferociously crashing into a BMW M3 E36 parked on the side of the road during the amateur "Robin Hood Rally" in Tuxedo, NY on June 25/26, 2010.
According to the poster, even though there were plenty of spectators at the scene, and despite the fact that the driver of the BMW was inside the car at the time of the crash, no one was seriously injured. End of story? Not quite, as there is more to this story than what meets the eye.
First of all, the rally is pitched by the organizers as a reality show with amateur racers driving "on closed public roads in the heartland of America", which will air on television in Fall 2010.
A search on "The Robin Hood Rally [website]" returned some very interesting findings, including another serious crash during the first race of the series in May, and more intriguingly, a report from NBC stating that promotional material from "Robin Hood Rally" falsely claimed that the series would air on NBC...
In detail and starting with the first incident, WMUR-TV reported on May 24 that one person was airlifted to the hospital after a serious race crash in Berlin, New Hampshire, during the first race of the "Robin Hood" amateur series. You can read about that incident on the station's website here.
The most interesting discovery is of course the news clip from NBC on January 4, 2010.
According to the report, the organizers of "The Robin Hood Rally" were promoting the race as a series they "may film" and "may produce as a reality-like infomercial" which "may or may not air on NBC", and that it costs $1,000 to apply for the series plus another $4,000 if you're accepted. The reporter stated "Robin Hood is just a fairy tale here on NBC" [see news video below].
In the most recent press release dated June 8, 2010, the organizers of the "Robin Hood Rally" state that the reality TV series "will air on VERSUS twice weekly beginning on Saturday, October 2, 2010 at 1:00 p.m. ET. Encore presentations will air on Mondays at 5 p.m. ET."
Leaving aside the NBC-incident that speaks for itself, the fact that each of the first two races of the amateur rally series was marked by a serious accident that could have cost lives [just watch the video with the 'Vette below to see what we mean], is something that should trouble both the organizers and the authorities.
Looks like BMW had us all hyped up for nothing, or almost nothing. The special 'M' model promised by the Bavarian automaker is the 2011 M3 Frozen Gray Edition, of which only 30 identically-equipped examples will be made exclusively for the United States.
An admittedly cool looking 'Frozen Gray' matte finish and a 'Fox Red & Black' bi-color Novillo leather interior are the only unique features of this special edition M3.
Other than that, the M3 gets a trio of standard packages including the Competition kit which reduces vehicle ride height by 10mm and includes special 19-inch wheels with wider offset for enhanced stability, standard Electronic Damping Control with enhanced programming, and higher-threshold programming for the M Dynamic Mode.
There are no changes under the hood, with power being sent to the rear through BMW's M Double Clutch Transmission (M DCT) which lowers the 0-60mph (96km/h) acceleration time of the M3 to 4.5 seconds, dowm from the manual versions' 4.7 seconds.
BMW said that those interested will be able to reserve a 2011 Frozen Gray M3 Coupe by dialing 1-800-245-4269 "no earlier than 11:30AM Eastern Time (8:30AM Pacific) on Monday, June 21, 2010." Pricing is set at $77,600 or $19,200 more than the standard 414HP M3 Coupe.
Equipment List: 2011 BMW Frozen Gray M3 Coupe
BMW Individual Frozen Gray Metallic exterior paint.
BMW Individual bi-color (Fox Red with Black) Novillo Leather interior.
M DCT Transmission
Competition Package - Electronic Damping Control, 19" light-alloy wheels, lowered suspension, sport mapping for EDC and DSC.
Premium Package - Power folding mirrors, universal garage door opener, digital compass mirror, BMW Assist with Bluetooth, Novillo Leather, Carbon Leather trim.
Technology Package - M Drive system, Comfort Access system, Navigation system, Voice Command system, Real Time Traffic Information system.
BMW said the new exhaust system is crafted from an extremely heat-resistant and lightweight chrome-nickel alloy called Inconel, which allowed the firm's engineers to reduce the thickness of the tubing from 1.5mm to 0.8mm. This resulted in a weight reduction of approximately 40%, or about 20 pounds when compared to the M3's stock exhaust system. So basically, you're getting a much lighter exhaust system with a more powerful sound
