BMW unveils the M3 sedan (F30) and M4 coupe (F82) in their production ready versions. 

After the inevitable “concept” in August 2013 at the Pebble Beach Concours, BMW unveils the M3 sedan and the M4 coupe in their final, production-ready definition. This fifth generation of compact sedans and coupes follows illustrious sports car ancestry. After the E30 M3 (17970 cars sold from 1985 to 1991), BMW will sell 71242 E36 M3 (295 then 321hp) and will demonstrate the commercial success of the recipe. The third generation (M3 E46) will be remembered for the mass commercialization of its SMG2 robotized manual gearbox and the adoption of a variable self-locking differential. More than 40’000 units of the fourth generation will sell, with the adoption of a 4 litre V8 putting out 420hp, 450 for the 4.4L of the rare and pricey GTS special version (135 units sold). All told, 222’293 units of the 2nd, 3rd and 4th generation were sold, a remarkable volume for a sports car.

The choice of high displacement V8s as used in the E90 and E92 M3 gave way to downsizing imperatives driven by emission laws. Motorsport returns to the trusted inline six configuration with a 2979 cm3 twin turbo unit. For this high revving engine, a twin turbo mono scroll solution was preferred to the single turbo twin scroll solution seen on other version of BMW’s 3 liter six cylinder engine.

Peak power reaches a handsome 431hp, slightly higher than the outgoing V8 and available between 5390 and 7000 rpm, the limiter kicking in at 7600 rpm. Peak torque has increased by nearly 40% to a very respectable 550 Nm, available from 1800 all the way to 5390 rpm. BMW claims 4.1 seconds for the 0 to 100 km/h acceleration for both M3 and M4. Top speed is governed at 250 km/h, but can be raised to 280 km/h with the optional M Driver pack. Fuel consumption is 8,3 litres per 100 kilometre according to the normalized european cycle, and CO2 emissions rated at 194 g per km. The new unit is Euro 6 compliant. BMW stresses that engine cooling has been designed to cope with track use.

Unlike the rest of the portfolio, BMW has resisted the temptation of a torque converter automatic gear box and opted instead for a 6 gear manual stick shift with a M-DCT 7 gear twin clutch transmission with DriveLogic settings as an option. A Launch Control system optimized for fast acceleration is offered, as well as a Smokey Burnout (sic) if leaving black rubber marks on pavement is more to your liking. The transmission also offers a “Stability Clutch Control” feature which helps stabilize drifts. The active rear differential is electronically controlled and can adjust locking from 0 to 100%. A M Dynamic mode allows to set the Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) to authorize manageable oversteer.

BMW claims a DIN kerb weight of 1497 kg for the M4 (1520kg for the M3 sedan), or 80kg less than its predecessor. The carbon fiver roof is now available on both coupe and sedan, enabling a weight saving of 5 and 6kg respectively. The transmission shaft is in carbon fiber as well, so is the front strut brace (1.5 kg). The steering column is electronically assisted with three settings: Comfort, Sport et Sport+. The standard forged wheels are equiped with 255/40 ZR18 95Y  front and 275/40 ZR18 99Y rear rubber. The disc brakes adopt a new BMW M Compound system as standard fitment to improve performance and reduce unsprung weight; an M Carbon Ceramic option is also available, with gold calipers.

For track use, BMW has developed the BMW M laptimer which uses a USB connection to a smartphone and the iDrive interface to record track session parameters, including speed, longitudinal and lateral acceleration, engine revs, the gear engaged, steering angle, accelerator position and fuel consumption.

Photo Gallery – BMW M3 F30

Photo Gallery – BMW M4 F82

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