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BMW M3 [F80] (2014 - 2020)

ANOTHER M3 TO SAVOUR (some text hidden) --NONE--

By Jonathan Crouch

Introductionword count: 62

BMW's fifth generation 'F80'-series M3 came solely in four-door form and featured turbo power for the first time. Under the bonnet, there was a smaller straight-six 3.0-litre engine with greater power for track heroics you'd never think could so effectively be combined with the more mature manners of a sensible sports saloon. For the right kind of buyer, it's quite a car.

Modelsword count: 5

4dr Saloon [3.0-litre 6 cylinder]

Historyword count: 296

BMW's M3. It's a name that evokes a rich history of competition, tyre smoke and unremitting motorsport development over more than three decades and four generations of the Munich maker's practical, power-packed performance car. In 2014, the Munich maker brought us this MK5 'F80'-series model. You'll probably remember older versions of this car as coupes, a body shape BMW's M division was still making by 2014 but by then had decided to designate the 'M4'. The more familiar 'M3' badge continued on though for four-door folk and whatever body style was chosen, the engineering was basically the same - and very different from what went before. Out went the previous fourth generation version's thirsty high-revving 4.0-litre V8 and in its place, we were presented with the first turbo engine ever offered in this model line - a twin turbo unit in fact, potent enough to overcome this powerplant's smaller six cylinder 3.0-litre size and boost power by 11bhp and torque by an astonishing 35%. The 'six into 3' formula was actually a very familiar one for long time fans of this car. Both the second generation 'E36' model of 1992 and the MK3 'E46' design of 2000 both also used straight six engines, though normally aspirated ones. But if you had pictures of one of those on your bedroom wall, you'll perhaps come to this modern version with the wrong kind of expectation. Here, the M3 evolved from hairy-chested racer to cultured street supercar. It was a matured, though still magnificent prospect. A light facelift in 2016 brought ther option of a 'Competition' version, with total output boosted from 425 to 450hp - and that was the only variant offered by the time the production run finished in 2020. A track-style CS model sold between 2017-2019.

What You Getword count: 223

Is this how buyers will want their M-car to look? Probably. This 'F80' M3 sits 47mm higher off the ground than its M4 coupe stablemate but it's a difference you'd never appreciate from a casual glance. Instead, your first impressions are of a rather menacing thing, with real width to the design, especially when you view it from the front and take in the differences over an ordinary M Sport-trimmed 3 Series saloon: the wider flared wheel arches, the characteristic powerdome on the classic long bonnet and the way the deep front spoiler with its trio of air intakes sits purposefully beneath the trademark double-slat kidney grille. The unique aerodynamically-optimised twin-stalk side mirrors with their translucent LED indicators are bespoke too. It's just as good inside too, where you're greeted by an intuitively-designed cockpit, the centrepiece of which is the M leather steering wheel with its MDrive buttons for personalised vehicle set-up. On M Double Clutch Transmission models, you also get gearshift paddles with a cool metal finish. Through the stitched wheel, you glimpse a purposeful set of Motorsport-derived dials, with a segment beneath the rev counter showing the various suspension, throttle and steering set-up options you've chosen. We think the deep-set leather-trimmed heated, electrically-adjustable M seats are our favourite interior touch though, with their contoured sides, integrated headrests and pronounced raised elements.

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Scoring (subset of scores)

Category: Sporting Cars

Performance
90%
Handling
80%
Comfort
70%
Space
80%
Styling, Build, Value, Equipment, Depreciation, Handling, Insurance and Total scores are available with our full data feed.

This is an excerpt from our full review.
To access the full content library please contact us on 0330 0020 227 or click here

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