Driving a BMW M3 usually leaves you all tingly. Just ask any petrolhead who has driven one.
It is well established that the model is the best example of an
"ultimate driving machine", with all the key attributes of a BMW
dialled up by a couple of notches. And then some.
But the latest M3 Sedan may be an exception. You would think a
3-litre twin-turbo with more than 400bhp at its disposal would go like
the wind, but the car sometimes drives like it is dragging a little
parachute behind it.
Make no mistake, it is still a powerful machine when you push the
right buttons and put pedal to metal. It is just a tad less
scintillating and effortless than an M3 ought to be. Especially when
you are not quite in the mood for aggressive driving.
It starts up in a pretty tame fashion for a performance car - no
swinging needles or booming exhaust. That is fine, because not
everybody likes a car that comes to life with such drama, certainly not
the neighbours.
Its twin-turbocharged straight-six is otherwise stirring, with a
deep idling note that might have come from a V8, and has the sonic
punchiness to match when revs pile up.
The car relishes speed and hard acceleration, and usually delivers
the goods in typical M fashion - with flourish and a sense of occasion.
But when all you want is to get to the office without being a hooligan about it, the car feels less inspired. Even a tad stodgy.
There is the heavy throttle to contend with, and the oh-so firm
suspension. The latter is usually a non-issue, but when a 431bhp car
feels stodgy, everything takes on a slightly negative hue.
It is still, on the whole, a fairly enjoyable car to drive. But if
you are expecting something extraordinary, something to take your
breath away, something to make you sit quietly and reflect after half
an hour at the wheel, then you might be a wee bit let down. You see, an
M3 ought to be able to do all that.
Selecting a sportier level of performance - literally at the touch
of a button - solves much of the problem. But that would mean an edgier
driving style. Yes, there are moments when you feel like driving like
that, but not all the time. Just like you do not want an espresso when
all you feel like is a latte.
It is almost inexplicable. The M4 Coupe, which is essentially a
two-door version of the M3, feels marvellous. It is effortless when you
are cruising or tooling about in town, and blisteringly fast when you
are in an angrier mood.
The M3's handling remains quite brilliant, though. Its steering is
still among the best in the business, with a level of responsiveness
that is almost too quick for its chassis to match.
Brakes are fantastic, as you would expect those on an M car to be.
And as a four-door five-seater, the M3 Sedan offers more space and
comfort than the M4.
The M3 experience may also have been marred by a glitch in the
test-car. When driving up a carpark ramp one afternoon, it lost power
suddenly. Then a warning flashed on the head-up display, something
about the car's transmission oil temperature being too high.
That is puzzling, since the car had not been driven hard at all.
In any case, the engine shut down and had to be restarted.
Thankfully, it fired up without incident. Otherwise, there would have
been a long queue of M3 haters behind.
The test-car wears an unusual blue paintwork. At first glance, it
resembles the colour worn by Comfort taxis but is actually lighter and
almost identical to what Yamaha used for its TT bikes in the 1980s.
It certainly makes the M3 stand out in a sea of silver, black and
white. I just wish the car stood out for a host of other reasons as
well.
Specs
BMW M3 SEDAN
Prices: From $232,800 without COE
Engine: 2,979cc 24-valve inline-six twin-turbocharged
Transmission: Seven-speed dual-clutch with paddle shift
Power: 431bhp at 5,500-7,300rpm
Torque: 550Nm at 1,850-5,500rpm
0-100kmh: 4.1 seconds
Top speed: 250kmh
Fuel consumption: 8.3 litres/100km
