BMW M3 2007 review

We could rave on about the new V8 or we could wax lyrical songs about the car's impressive levels of power and grip. Then of course there's the throaty roar from the four tailpipes as the car high tails it down the road.

But perhaps the most telling comment about BMW's new 'V8-powered' M3 was the one delivered by a woman last week at Victoria's Phillip Island race track.

We had flown down to the Island to put the fabled M car through its paces under the watchful eye of race driver Geoff Brabham and the BMW Driver Training team.

That was before hopping across Bass Strait for some quality time the next day on some of the Apple Isle's less frequented roads.

The woman, wife of a current and obviously proud M3 owner, had just stepped out of the new car after a hot lap with a restrained Brabham.

“Wow!”

“That's better than sex?” she exclaimed to all and sundry.

“She means, that's better than sex with me,” her husband quipped.

The woman turned to her husband.

“When can we get one?” she asked.

The answer was not as you might guess; right away (although it wasn't a question of money, even at $157,000).

The 50-something businessman was more interested in when he could get his hands on a self-changing box, instead of the standard six-speed manual.

Their car was the SMG version, sort of a automatic manual that accounted for 60 per cent of sales.

The answer to the question is sometime next year, although it won't be an SMG.

It's not going to be an auto either, BMW's Toni Andreevski said, but more likely something such as the acclaimed “DSG” double clutch gearbox pioneered by Volkswagen.

Still, that's not going to worry BMW too much, because it's already sold all 120 of its first shipment of M3s.

The move from a six to a larger, more powerful V8 engine in this the fourth generation M3 has left some owners misty-eyed.

The 3.2-litre straight six is regarded as one of the motor world's true masterpieces and one that no doubt will be sorely missed.

Then again, the company met with a similar reaction when it moved form a four to a six pack back in the early 90s.

Any lingering doubts about the new 4.0-litre V8; however are soon dispelled after a few minutes behind the wheel.

With 309kW of power at 8300rpm (up from 252kW) and 400Nm of torque from 3900rpm (up from 365Nm), the new M3 goes hard and stops faster, despite putting on 85kg in weight.

It also quicker from 0 to 100km/h, at 4.8 seconds compared to 5.2 for the previous model.

The engine itself is 15kg lighter and the block comes from BMW's light-alloy foundry in Landshut that builds the blocks used in Formula One by BMW Sauber.

The new M3 introduces some firsts to the segment including brake energy regeneration and a weight-saving carbon fibre roof, to go with the lightweight aluminium bonnet.

Despite its obvious girth average fuel consumption remains a respectable 12.4 litres/100km, depending how you drive.

On the track the new M3 is just superb.

With perfect 50:50 weight distribution, it exhibits poise and balance, easily controlled at the limit with slight corrections by the driver.

In fact, one of the hallmarks of this car is just how easy it is to drive, with a raft of electronic aids that 'aid' the enthusiast instead of getting in the way as is so often the case.

The V8's extra torque comes into its own pulling out of corners, with the car able to remain in a higher gear and get into its stride more quickly, exiting the corner more rapidly as a result.

On the open road the M3 is ridiculously quick.

Full power is always available but drivers get to choose how that power is delivered, thanks to the Mdrive button located on the steering wheel, with sharper or softer settings available.

The difference between the standard 18 inch and $3800 optional 19 inch wheels is apparent, but more so on the track than on the road.

They allow the car to carry a more speed through corners.

The car is not fitted with run flats nor is a spare tyre supplied, but a reinflation kit with compressor instead.

Only 20 per cent of components are shared with the 3 Series Coupe and only one suspension component.

Highlights include the newly developed chassis with special, weight-optimised components, plus Electronic Damper Control (EDC) and the Variable M diff lock.

Competitors include Audi RS4, Lexus IS-F and Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG.