BMW M3 coupe 2008 review

Grave concerns were held for the safety of this car once the keys were laid in my outstretched palm - would it be returned at all? The new BMW M3 - dressed in Melbourne red paint with the carbon-fibre roof intact - sat coiled in the driveway, with subtle bulges in the bonnet and haunches.

The new 3 Series coupe has been run through the carsguide garage and in twin-turbo six-cylinder form it has the same torque as the M3, but there's something about the tri-colour M badge that just makes a difference.

Or it could be the 309kW of power that joins forces with the 400Nm of torque to get things under way.

With keyless start function, the keys go into my pocket, the start button is quickly pressed and the remote arm offers the seat belt - otherwise it is a stretch to reach the belt.

Close-set pedals greet my feet, the clutch is easily depressed and the sweet, purposeful, beautifully-weighted and quick six-speed manual gearbox is used to engage first.

Why you'd want to spend nearly $7000 on a double-clutch, seven-speed “auto” paddleshift transmission - which lowers the 0-100km/h sprint time slightly - boggles the mind.

When you're getting to the state limit in about five seconds, happily shifting the cogs yourself, you're better off spending the extra cash elsewhere.

Burbling with a gruff, slightly wheezy menace, the four-litre V8 is flexible and unfazed by banal duties of metro traffic.

The drivetrain feels tightly wound but takes on a whole new persona once the M button on the steering wheel is hit - razor-sharp throttle and steering response is best left for the imminent back road blast and not for commuting.

Quad tailpipes and a heady induction noise harmonise to provide a powerplant soundtrack that may well erase any lingering nostalgia over the outgoing six-cylinder version.

The straight-six still has a place in my heart but the lighter, more powerful four-litre V8 spins easily all the way to the variable redline just over 8000rpm, once the engine is sufficiently warmed.

The six sang; this V8 bellows - brutally, quickly and all the way to the redline.

With the M Button engaged, stability control can be maintained in M Dynamic mode, which is reassuring when flinging the M3 at a corner. Light, accurate and meaty steering, tenacious grip and ample outputs mean the M3 is nowhere near running out of ability when my desire to retain my licence kicks in.

Braking power is more than ample and the amount of electronic aids working under the bonnet to make the driver look good is considerable.

Naturally it has anti-lock brakes and stability control, but there's also Dynamic Brake Control, Cornering Brake Control (CBC), Electronic Damper Control and the variable M differential lock, all of which allow the driver to point the hydraulic power-assisted steering and carry on with confidence. This car has stacks of ability reserved only for the racetrack and those that make their living there, but for a mere mortal the experience is considerable.

But not all is perfect in the world of M3. Partway through my run in the super-coupe, the climate control system decided I'd been too well looked after and made unchilled air the order of the day. A visit to the BMW workshop did little to alleviate the fever, the cause of which was blamed on a wiring fault and minor leak.

What the lack of climate control did show is how warm the M3 is when up and running, something that you don't feel until you're outside after parking it.

But temperatures aside, the M3's cabin is comfortable and well equipped, if a little bit low-key for such a super-coupe.

The sports seats have ample adjustment - most of it electrically controlled - the steering wheel is thick of rim and there's even half-decent room for three other occupants.

The boot is a good size, it has six airbags, bi-xenon adaptive headlights (with high-beam assist), automatic wipers, a topnotch sound system and it's a remarkably practical day-to-day, especially given its performance potential.

Despite the 40-profile tyres, the ride quality is within reason for the type of machinery we're talking about.

Thanks to the electronic damping, it has an unexpectedly subtle ride. It's still not a big fan of some bumpy back roads but the bumps don't distract it from the chosen line, even before everything is tightened up with the push of a button.

Its two main competitors - Audi and Mercedes-Benz - are spoiling for a fight more than ever before and it's a close call, but (until we try the C63 AMG on local roads) the M3 has its snout just in front.