BMW M3 2009 Review

For the first time in the illustrious badge's history, the M3 is on our shores as a sedan.

Coupes, then convertibles have been seen and heard but now the ‘family truckster’ M3 is here.

We're sampling the six-speed manual sedan and there's not too many manual drivetrains around that can provide as much entertainment as this one.

Sure, the double-clutch seven-speed has more tricks in its bags of electronics for another $7300, but the M3 with a clutch pedal doesn't even have an M-button on the wheel, such is its simplicity.

The power button sharpens up the throttle and the DSC button turns stability control on or off.

The sedan's options list includes the tricky Electronic Damper Control, for $4000, or M Drive configuration system for $3500 - but none of the high-tech gadgetry of its larger M-siblings is really needed.

Just get in, hit the start button, slot it into first gear and you're gone.

If desired, you could have hit the state limit and returned to a standstill by the end of this sentence.

The sedan claims a 0-100km/h time of 4.9 seconds - 4.7 in the double-clutch automated manual despite a 20kg weight penalty - and the big brakes rip it back to a standstill in about 30 metres and it feels like it could repeat the exercise all day.

The four-litre V8's outputs are unchanged from the coupe and the convertible, but the song remains the same, a quick, fit burble at idle that sings as its spins quickly to the redline just north of 8000rpm.

It's a flexible unit around town as well, requiring few gear changes but demanding more cog-swaps, so delightful is the gearshift.

While the M3 is down on power and torque compared to the C63 sedan (the RS4 had a little more torque but the same power figure) the compact BMW powerhaus is a quicker point-to-point machine thanks to tactile steering and the chassis' ability to put the outputs to ground.

The tricky locking rear diff can take some credit too but the overall package has a cohesive feel to it.

The new M3 sedan has also benefited from the new-look iDrive, with shortcut buttons around the controller knob. It's generally easier to use and the functions take place much more quickly.

Unfortunately, the screen went black twice, normal behaviour if I'd just shut everything down and was getting out but a little disturbing when you're driving.

For four average sized occupants the room is more than adequate, but legroom is restricted behind taller front-seat occupants - something afflicting almost all of the compact prestige segment, not just the Beemer.

But the cabin is comfortable otherwise, the front seats - with adjustable squabs and side bolsters - are supportive without being too restrictive.

It might be a touch slower and use a trickle more fuel than the coupe, or the double-clutch models, but the four-door practicality - for $10,000 less than the coupe and $24,000 less than the convertible - would do me just fine.

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BMW M3 sedan

Price: from $149,000.

Engine: four-litre DOHC variable 32-valve V8.

Transmission: six-speed manual, rear-wheel drive with variable M Differential Lock.

Power: 309kW @ 8300rpm.

Torque: 400Nm @ 3900rpm.

Performance: 0-100km/h 4.9 seconds, top speed 250km/h (governed)

Fuel consumption: 12.4litres/100km, on test 16.4litres/100km, tank 63litres.

Emissions: 295g/km.

Rivals:

Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG sedan, from $144,365.

Lexus IS F, from $129,000.

HSV W427, from $155,500.

Porsche Cayman S, from $155,300.