BMW M3 Darth Maul Project

Canadian tuner MWDesign have begun a tuning programme for the BMW M3 Coupe (E92) which they have codenamed Darth Maul, presumably from the Star Wars Episode One baddie. Currently the programme is in stage 1. For now only a few pieces of kit have been installed in Jerez Black, the colour of the exterior. For starters there is an Amuse Ericsson front bumper with custom orange highlights.

Carbon fiber side vents continue with the custom orange colour, as do the carbon fiber side mirrors. A rear diffuser made from carbon fiber rounds off the major exterior changes. The black 20-inch rims with orange-accented centre caps are wrapped in 245/30/20 front tyres and 285/25/20 rubber at the rear. Interior details are rare but we are told that Darth Maul comes with a Fox Red interior trim.

The BMW M3, of any generation, is undoubtedly one of the most tuned sports cars of our time. The current car was launched in 2007 with a 4.0-litre V8 engine replacing the old 3.2-litre straight six. Despite the 800cc gain the new engine is 15kg lighter. Maximum power was increased from 343hp (252kW) to 420hp (309kW). Stay tuned for stage 2 of Darth Maul.

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Vorsteiner Dry Carbon Aero Kit for BMW M3 Sedan

Vorsteiner has released a new dry carbon aero kit for the 2008 BMW M3 E90 Sedan, a model that was in the market only for a few months, as BWW replaced it shortly after its market introduction in early 2008 with the facelifted 2009 BMW MY M3 sedan.

The California-based tuner’s proposal includes various lightweight dry carbon components, such as a trunk lid, a front-lip spoiler and a rear diffuser with integrated fins.

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BMW M3 after crash – Video

The event in the video was shot on the Algarve track on a very unfortunate day for a BMW M3. The more or less inexperienced driver of this BMW M3 looses control of its car in a curve, hits the dirt, and then the side of the track. Luckily, after the crash, the BMW M3 doesn't look bad at all. We guess the driver than thought: "Damn it! I've got to do something about it!". He slammed the gas pedal while still in the dirt and hit the underside of the car as hard as he could against the tarmac. If the BMW M3 wasn't hurt in the crash, after this little trick, judging from the horrible noise, it's definitely scrap material.







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IdingPower BMW M3 E92

The Japanese tuners from IdingPower have released their upgrade package for the new BMW M3 E92. The IdingPower BMW M3 E92 immediately captures all the attention with the oversized rear wing, and although the BMW M3 could use some extra downforce on the rear axle, we think this is a bit too much. Even for a drag strip.

We can't imagine how you'll be able to go unnoticed past police cars with this wing. The rest of the body kit, including the front spoiler and the new rims, looks pretty decent. The IdingPower BMW M3 E92 also comes with suspension and brakes upgrades and a new exhaust system.

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2008 BMW M3 Convertible

When heading to BMW to pick up its latest M3 Convertible, all sorts of questions flowed through my head. Will the engine be too highly strung? Will the car be rigid enough? Will the extra weight incur a performance penalty? Will my hair get messed up? What hair?

It will rev to 8300rpm, which is where peak power is made. In fact, we believe that it will rev higher than that. The way it delivers its power is semi-parabolic, with the redline seeming to be there only to maintain its longevity. But the engine wants to keep going. I wouldn’t be surprised if the test rigs regularly saw 10,000rpm when BMW was developing this masterpiece.

But open the taps and from around 5000rpm onwards, there’s a gradual transition to a trumpety bellow that just gets better and better with each passing notch of the tacho. From 6500rpm it’s sounding nothing like a V8 anymore and more pure-bred race car, until finally at 8300rpm it’s shouting a cacophonic, yet symphonic, melodic, and harmonic tune that nothing comes close to. Flick the paddle on the right-hand side and the whole experience starts again.

Unlike other V8s which make a nice noise but don’t go anywhere, this car is actually quick, with 0-100km/h taking just 5.1 seconds. When you consider the convertible is around 250kgs heavier than its Coupe counterpart, that’s some serious grunt. Not only that, but the final drive ratio is 3.15:1, so it’s got some legs too.

Well, as a convertible, to be sure, there are going to be compromises. Things like the boot space. It’s tiny with the roof down. That’s to be expected, but what is unexpected is the amount of rear legroom you’ll find. Adults can, and will, fit. It’s still best for short stints, however a quick trip into the hills, or along your local cafe strip, will still leave passengers refreshed.

The shove in the back you feel is the gearbox whacking the next ratio in, quicker than you’d ever get it done in a conventional manual. Little wonder why the M-DCT is 0.2 seconds quicker to 100km/h than its manual sibling. It’s a brilliant change that although quite sudden, never feels agricultural. But under very hard braking, the ‘box sometimes doesn’t downshift when you want it to, even if the revs would allow.

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2008 AC Schnitzer ACS3 Sport BMW M3 Convertible

(from AC Schnitzer Press Release) The New Spearhead: The ACS3 Sport Cabriolet based on the BMW M3

The sun shines, the wind's in your hair and the engine note in your ears: almost no other vehicle on the road evokes such untrammelled emotions as the BMW M3 Cabriolet. Especially when the
road leads via AC Schnitzer in Aachen. The 309 kW / 420 HP V8 engine is (as yet) untouched, but in the end, extra sporting performance can be achieved in a different way, as suspension guru Manfred Wollgarten knows: "With our racing suspension set up on the North Loop, we've thoroughly mastered the physics of driving".

The car is an out-and-out eyecatcher from the outside: with its new front skirt and strictly rectangular segments of the chromed grille insert, the vehicle has a strong, muscular look. The sporting presence is further underlined by the carbon spoiler lip with optional aluminum braces. The power dome on the bonnet hints at the powerful 4.0 litre V8. It is flanked by two AC Schnitzer Bonnet Vents, which emit a greedy intake howl during driving. At the sides, the open-air sports car shows its muscles in the form of flexibly moulded side skirts which emphasise the wheel arches.

The latter are perfectly filled by the 20" Type V lightweight forged rims. Their slender spokes give a clear view of the 8-pot high performance braking system by AC Schnitzer which mercilessly reins in the thrust when required. A deceleration performance which the ACS3 rarely needs for cornering, where it behaves totally neutrally.

A carbon rear diffuser helps the vehicle hunker down to the asphalt. The perfect driving experience is rounded off by the acoustic qualities of the powerful vehicle, provided by the AC Schnitzer sports rear silencer with chromed tailpipes in "Racing“ design. The sonorous note of the cabrio is heard at its best in narrow road tunnels. If only the sun would shine a bit more often there!

And naturally AC Schnitzer maintains the motorsport atmosphere in the driver's workplace, with attractive and ergonomically designed aluminum elements for the gear knob and handbrake handle, pedals and i-Drive controller. A carbon interior trim and sports airbag steering wheels are available on request, together with velour mats.

© Source: seriouswheels
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2009 BMW M3 Sedan

According to BMW, the M3 sedan will be priced under the Coupe model, too. The engine is shared with its two brothers, producing 309 kW and 400 Nm of torque, not that we are complaining because when you can redline a V8 at 8,400 rpm you know you have something very special! So special in fact, that it will go from 0-100 km/h in just 4.7 seconds, using an unbelievably low 11.9-litres of fuel per 100 km.

Just like the M3 Convertible, the M3 Sedan will be available with both the conventional six-speed manual gearbox and the all new seven-speed M double-clutch transmission with Drivelogic.

“The refined, engaging performance and handling, the five-seat practicality, and the unique visual appeal of the M3 are sure to make it a winner. Of course the concept of a light-weight V8 engine in the already agile and perfectly balanced 3 Series Sedan guarantees a stimulating drive each time you climb in.” Noble said.

Despite the four doors and five seats, it’s by all means, still an M. Easily recognisable by its aggressive front mask (slightly different to the coupe), bulging bonnet with air intake grilles, mudguard gills, sport side sills, rear air diffuser and of course the trademark quad-pack exhaust pipes. The Sedan rides on 18-inch light alloy M design wheels and hugely powerful brakes.

Despite the obvious similarities between the standard 3-series and the M3, BMW says between 70 and 80 percent of the M3 Sedan is unique, which explains why the M3 is regarded worldwide as a race-bred sportscar in road car drag.

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2009 BMW M3 facelift spy photos

The disguising is almost gone, and now it’s clear: the midlife facelift prepared for the BMW 3 series saloon and estate will be given to the M3 as well – even to the four-door variant snapped here.

The front fascia will be slightly re-designed with a new bumper, modified fog lights and a differently sculpted bonnet. And there will be new tail lamps, too, plus we expect an updated cabin and emission-optimised engines.

The BMW M3 goes head to head with the Mercedes-Benz AMG C63 and will soon have some tough competition from the Lexus IS-F as well as the soon to be announced new Audi RS4. The car will be officially unveiled at the Paris Show in October.

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BMW M3 Test Drive Part 1 - Top Gear

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BMW M3 Test Drive Part 2 - Top Gear

Richard Hammond test drives the new BMW M3, only to have Jeremy and James crash the party in a Mercedes AMG C-Class and Audi RS4...

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BMW M3 Convertible - Pics

To signal the beginning of sales of the M3 convertible in the UK, BMW decided to release two-dozen more photos of its drop-top super coupe, and that's enough of a reason for us to include them in a gallery with its white counterpart.

Everything remains the same, including the choice of either a six-speed manual or six-speed DCT gearbox, all without that pesky roof to keep you from enjoying the 420 hp, 4.0-liter V8 when you're sending it up into its 8.400-rpm redline.

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BMW M3 coupe by HAMANN

HAMANN has just released a tuning package for the V8-powered BMW M3 Coupe E92 that incorporates a series of mechanical and cosmetic upgrades. While the majority of us would be happy with a standard M3, HAMANN wasn't satisfied with a stock version, they offered two upgrades. The first tuning package increases the 4.0-liter V8’s output to 435 Hp and delivers an additional 25 Nm of torque (series: 400 Nm) on the crank shaft. With the removal of the speed limiter, the M3 can go up to a top speed of 300 km/h or 187 mph. The second kit called Sportkit HM/M +35 rises output to 455 Hp and toque to 448 Nm. In this case, the M3’s speedometer doesn’t stop until it reaches 320 km/h or 199 mph.

They upgrade the already perfect suspension and brakes. The car looks amazing until you see the spoiler, for me the spoiler kills it. I was so happy when I saw the car especially since I love black on black,with black rims but that spoiler is too much, but if I took the spoiler out this what be the nicest M3. Personally, I'd also limo tint and black out tail lights maybe, but awesome job HAMANN.

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2008 BMW M3 Review

Since its inception back in the late 1980s, the BMW M3 has been thrilling driving enthusiasts. Throughout the years, the M3's ripping power plants, finely balanced chassis, telepathic steering and daily-driver usability have made this special version of the 3 Series a car to covet.

After the rather limited-production first-generation M3 that sported a pumped-up four-cylinder engine, subsequent iterations employed high-output inline-6s, with the last version making 333 horsepower. But with current countryman rivals sporting V8s, it's not much of a surprise to discover that the new-for-2008 BMW M3 has graduated to V8 power. It's also no news flash that the latest M3 has gotten a bit larger and heavier during its move to the latest 3 Series chassis. But has this "bigger, stronger, faster" design dictum at all hurt the balance and purity of the M3?

The answer's a bit muddled. Of course, the sound and fury of that 414-hp V8 is a big part of the newest M3's engaging personality, and nobody is going to complain about the car's 12.7-second quarter-mile time. And the 2008 M3 still does itself proud when it's time to turn the wheel, as it'll run through a set of twisties like a border collie through the weave poles at a dog agility competition. But drive the new M3 back to back against the previous version and you'll notice something has gone amiss in regard to the level of communication between the driver and the road surface. The car's steering is quick and laser-beam precise, but it lacks the intuitive feel for which older M3s are so well known

Apart from that one minor criticism, the 2008 BMW M3 is hard to fault if you truly enjoy driving -- it goes, stops and steers like a sports car while delivering a respectable measure of functionality, especially if you choose the sedan version. Of course, the same could also be said of the M3's stout competitors, namely Audi's S5 coupe and RS4 sedan and Mercedes-Benz's C63 sedan. Until we perform a comparison test, we're reluctant to pick a winner. Suffice it to say that choosing one is a task as enviable as having to pick something from the dessert menu at the Cheesecake Factory, and we can't imagine anyone's automotive sweet tooth not being satisfied by any of them.

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BMW M3 downsizing?

Future incarnations of the BMW M3 may no longer use the newly introduced V8 powerplant, with tougher emissions standards and environmental expectations encouraging BMW’s M division to seek more power from smaller engines.

The BMW M3 has always featured powerful naturally aspirated engines, beginning with an inline-4 in the original which progressed to the iconic inline-6 and then finally the current high-revving V8.

However in order to continue producing faster and more powerful sports cars, BMW’s M division may create another first for the M3 - with BMW boss Norbert Reithofer expressing interest in the 223kW twin-turbo 3.0-litre inline-six as a possible alternative to displacement and cylinders.

The trend toward smaller engines doesn’t stop with the M3 range however, with BMW’s V8 diesel also likely to be replaced with a twin turbocharged I6.

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2009 BMW M3 ALMS Race Car

(from BMW Press Release) BMW of North America to partner with Rahal Letterman Racing for 2009 season

BMW presented the racing version of the new BMW M3 at the Chicago Auto Show. Powered by a 485 bhp eight cylinder engine, this impressive race car has been designed to compete in the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) beginning in 2009. The car is based on the fourth generation of the BMW M3, the high-performance sports car produced by BMW M GmbH.

BMW's 2009 entry into the American Le Mans Series will be driven by a partnership between BMW of North America, LLC and Rahal Letterman Racing, co-owned by US motorsport legend Bobby Rahal.

The BMW M3 Race Version: Sportiness personified.
In the course of developing the race version of the BMW M3, BMW's engineers were faced with an ambitious task: to improve upon the sportiness of an already sporting car. A better base would, though, be difficult to find. In standard form the vehicle delivers powerful dynamics and sporting aesthetics. Thanks to an eight cylinder engine producing 414 bhp, BMW's customers are provided with a unique driving experience.

Those engine blocks, cast in BMW's light alloy foundry in Landshut - the very source of BMW's Formula One castings - selected for race duty need to withstand even more power: the BMW P65 race engine delivers 485 bhp.

In order to enable the BMW M3 to make full use of this performance on the race circuit, the experts in Munich have not concentrated solely on the engine, but have race-tuned the chassis as well. The race version of the BMW M3 is wider and significantly lighter than its production equivalent, enabling it to perfectly transmit the power of its V8 to the track. Widespread use of carbon-reinforced plastic (CRP) provides proof of substantial weight reduction. As with the production version, the race car's roof is manufactured from this high-tech material.

The race version of the BMW M3 is clearly aimed at the top echelon of motorsport. As such, it is no surprise to discover that in the course of its development, begun in mid-2007, numerous Formula One techniques were applied. These include computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and wind tunnel analyses, both of which have ensured the best possible aerodynamic package for the BMW M3.

BMW Group in America
BMW of North America, LLC has been present in the United States since 1975. Rolls-Royce Motor Cars NA, LLC began distributing vehicles in 2003. The BMW Group in the United States has grown to include marketing, sales, and financial service organizations for the BMW brand, the MINI brand, and the Rolls-Royce brand of Motor Cars; DesignworksUSA, an industrial design firm in California; a technology office in Silicon Valley and various other operations throughout the country. BMW Manufacturing Co., LLC in South Carolina is part of BMW Group's global manufacturing network and is the exclusive manufacturing plant for all Z4 models and X5 Sports Activity Vehicles and the upcoming X6 Sport Activity Coupe. The BMW Group sales organization is represented in the U.S. through networks of 338 BMW passenger car centers, 335 BMW Sports Activity Vehicle centers, 142 BMW motorcycle retailers, 82 MINI passenger car dealers, and 30 Rolls-Royce Motor Car dealers. BMW (US) Holding Corp., the BMW Group's sales headquarters for North, Central and South America, is located in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey.

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2009 BMW M3 Convertible Preview

It's a blend of the portly convertible we drove last year, and the edgy, electric V-8-powered GT BMW dropped on us last fall in the Spanish countryside. BMW's confirmed an M3 Convertible will join its lineup in Europe in the near future, and while preparations to bring the car to the U.S. aren't complete, technical details of the new convertible have made their way on the Interwebs.

The M3 Convertible starts with the M-essentials, shared with the coupe and sedan sportscars already available from BMW. The powertrain for the new vehicle will be based around BMW's 4.0-liter, which develops 420 hp in European spec, along with 295 pound-feet of torque. It's a light-alloy block manufactured alongside BMW's Formula One engines and weighs 445 pounds, 33 pounds less than the six-cylinder engine in the previous-generation M3. European-spec engines also feature regenerative braking.

Outfitted with a six-speed manual gearbox, the M3 Convertible should dash to 60 mph in less than 5.3 seconds; the stock M3 coupe delivers the same scoot in less than 4.8 seconds. Both coupe and convertible (and coordinating sedan) are limited to 155 mph.

Like the 3-Series convertibles, the M3 Convertible offers up a retractable hardtop with a steel frame and a three-piece roof system. The lid flips and stores itself in the trunk in 22 seconds, and is paired with a wind deflector and a specially programmed automatic climate control for open-air driving.

With the extra heft of body stiffening measures and the top mechanism, the M3 Convertible's put on a few hundred pounds more than the coupe. So the Convertible version of the M3 gets a retuned suspension, along with body reinforcements and a high-performance braking system.

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2008 AC Schnitzer ACS3 Sport based on BMW M3

AC Schnitzer refines the fastest 3-Series Coupe
When beads of perspiration form on the brow of experienced sports car drivers, it's not necessarily down to a faulty air conditioning system. With the 420 V8-HP of the BMW M3, the ACS3 Sport catapults even its keenest challengers into the rear view mirror. The sporting coupe is ideal for anyone seeking to gain advantage on twisting tracks.

A normal M3 would be a tough competitor here, because in comparison with the "civilised" 3-series Coupй it has a totally different axle construction. With racing suspension developed on the legendary Nerburgring, AC Schnitzer has succeeded in refining the handling potential of the chassis even further. And fitted with the Short Shift from Aachen, the ACS3 Sport becomes the automotive hero of the day: No-one is changing gears faster!

Best of all: The vehicle loses nothing of its qualities as a daily driver. Instead, AC Schnitzer magics even more M-otion into everyday life, for example when the Aachen exhaust system plays its bewitching baritone in a road tunnel. The left/right system with two tailpipes per side, linked into a horizontal figure of eight, is however a visual work of art. In a play on the mathematical symbol for "infinity", at the same time it symbolises the powerful reserves of the vehicle which reaches 100 km/h from a standing start in an effortless 4.8 seconds. No less carefully arranged are the aerodynamic attachments, which for AC Schnitzer are always more than mere visual decoration. Finally the AC Schnitzer racing rims Type VI embody pure culture, on the ACS3 Sport in sizes 9.0J x 20" on the front and 10.5J x 20" on the rear. The combination of Y-spokes and contrasting five fork spokes superimposed in two planes, produces a design that is as exciting as it is elegant.

Further highlights of course include the forged wheel Type V in 20". With its strikingly curved, interrupted spokes, it not only looks superb but thanks to the lightweight construction method, keeps the unsprung weight to a minimum. A no less attractive alternative is the Type IV racing wheel in silver - and with trendy black finish as "Magic Black”. And naturally AC Schnitzer continues the theme of sports performance in the driver's workplace, offering attractive and ergonomically perfect aluminium controls for the gearknob, handbrake handle, pedals and i-Drive controller. A carbon interior trim and sports airbag steering wheel are also available on request.

© Source: seriouswheels

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