Topic: Celebrating 50 Years of BMW M Cars

[AutoTrader.ca]

BMW’s performance division has deep roots in motorsports and builds some of the most capable cars in the world.
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[Layne]

Incredible cars.

[KD]

The M1 is not only my favorite M but also one of my all time favorite exotics.  Almost perfection imo. 

Nice work Jeff.  I enjoyed the read! 

[Fobroader]

There is something about the older M cars that the new ones cannot get close to, great article BTW. My dream M cars are still the E39 M5



And the E90 M3 with the V8



or the E60 M5 with a fantastic, yet highly fragile, V10



None of the new ones really appeal to me, I mean turbos and flappy paddles be damned, gimme a howling V8, or V10 for that matter

[valuator]

Fobroader, I am with you on the E90 M3.  I seriously considered buying one recently, but decided I have enough stress in my life already 

[tortoise]

I'd go E46 M3 before I went E90.   It's all about the high revving I6.

[KD]

I'd go E46 M3 before I went E90.   It's all about the high revving I6.

Yes, I6 for me.  Coworker of mine has a E46 M3 Coupe 6-sp manual.  Not sure of year but he's owned for quite a few tears now and says he'll never sell.  Lovely car and is just the right size imo. 

[Gurgie]

I'd go E46 M3 before I went E90.   It's all about the high revving I6.

Yes, I6 for me.  Coworker of mine has a E46 M3 Coupe 6-sp manual.  Not sure of year but he's owned for quite a few tears now and says he'll never sell.  Lovely car and is just the right size imo.

A well sorted E46 M3 is an absolute perfect ride. Seems like doing the rod bearings every 160k kms is common & valve adjustments around 100k kms. A rear sub-frame reinforcing kit is also a must. But find one with all that done & you're set.

Sent from my SM-G970W using Tapatalk

[Fobroader]

I'd go E46 M3 before I went E90.   It's all about the high revving I6.

Don't get me wrong. the I6 sounds great, but its no V8.

[Great_Big_Abyss]

I'd go E46 M3 before I went E90.   It's all about the high revving I6.

I dunno, man.  That V8 revs to over 8000rpm, and is very peaky.  Seems like driver's dream to me!

[quadzilla]

Yes, I6 for me.  Coworker of mine has a E46 M3 Coupe 6-sp manual.  Not sure of year but he's owned for quite a few tears now and says he'll never sell.  Lovely car and is just the right size imo.

Freudian slip? 

[quadzilla]

When I use to commute in TO there was a M5 V10 that I would see and hear quite often. Always made me feel warm and fuzzy in the right places.

I still love the Z4M Coupe

[JohnnyMac]

So many to choose from and not really any that I would kick out of my driveway.  The only M car I would take over the last 10ish years would be the smallest ones, 1 series M and the M2.

I think peak M happened in early 00’s, M5, M3 and the clown shoe.  All amazing.

[KD]

Yes, I6 for me.  Coworker of mine has a E46 M3 Coupe 6-sp manual.  Not sure of year but he's owned for quite a few tears now and says he'll never sell.  Lovely car and is just the right size imo.

Freudian slip? 

Haha, good catch!

I really like the Z4M as well.    

[quadzilla]

The collection of improvements to the rear-drive CSL over the M4 Competition have resulted in a Nürburgring Nordschleife lap time of 7:20.2, making it the fastest series-production BMW of all time.

According to this page the time is 7:15.677. Which one is right?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_N%C3%BCrburgring_Nordschleife_lap_times

[Fobroader]

When I use to commute in TO there was a M5 V10 that I would see and hear quite often. Always made me feel warm and fuzzy in the right places.

I still love the Z4M Coupe

Yeah....I don't know why but there is just something about the clownshoe, me likey!!

[tortoise]

Don't get me wrong. the I6 sounds great, but its no V8.

I must admit I didn't tell the whole truth.

It's also about it being smaller, lighter and a little more raw.

For a non M version DD I'd take the E90 all day long. It has  that right... well.... everything. Size, handling, steering feel, refinement.  It's my favorite 3 series.

But for a fun toy? E46 M3.  I get the appeal of the V8, but for me it's not a trump card.

[Fobroader]

Don't get me wrong. the I6 sounds great, but its no V8.

I must admit I didn't tell the whole truth.

It's also about it being smaller, lighter and a little more raw.

For a non M version DD I'd take the E90 all day long. It has  that right... well.... everything. Size, handling, steering feel, refinement.  It's my favorite 3 series.

But for a fun toy? E46 M3.  I get the appeal of the V8, but for me it's not a trump card.

Or go full sacrilege, E46 with an LS7 swap. V8, small, light chassis and good ol' "Murican V8 

[OliverD]

Don't get me wrong. the I6 sounds great, but its no V8.

I must admit I didn't tell the whole truth.

It's also about it being smaller, lighter and a little more raw.

For a non M version DD I'd take the E90 all day long. It has  that right... well.... everything. Size, handling, steering feel, refinement.  It's my favorite 3 series.

Totally with you. I've never driven a RWD E90 though.

[DriverJeff]

The collection of improvements to the rear-drive CSL over the M4 Competition have resulted in a Nürburgring Nordschleife lap time of 7:20.2, making it the fastest series-production BMW of all time.

According to this page the time is 7:15.677. Which one is right?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_N%C3%BCrburgring_Nordschleife_lap_times

I went with BMW's published time, provided for the story.  Could be like BMW"s published power figures though and somewhat conservative?