Test Drive: 2011 BMW M3 Coupe

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By Kevin Harrison

There are few things in the world that exude absolute perfection. Much like beauty, perfection can in the eye of the beholder. For instance, the Mona Lisa painted by Leonardo Di Vinci is undoubtedly the most famous painting in the world. The enigmatic facial expression of the portrait however, very much precludes it from being anything but perfect according to some critics. I, on the other hand, would disagree, but then again, I don’t claim to be an art critic.

Is Beyonce Knowles perfect? In terms of physical appearance I would definitely argue in favour, however again, many people have different priorities when it comes to beauty. There are some people that think Ke$ha is perfection after all.

So what exactly is perfection then? In the car world, is it the Bugatti Veyron? The fastest production car in the world can certainly make a case for itself, however at its top speed the tires only last for 37 miles and it chugs ridiculous amounts of fuel. It’s an impressive technological feat, but is it perfection?

Many consider the BMW M3 to be the absolute benchmark when it comes to style & raw performance for every day driving situations. It’s also quite capable of holding its own if you take it to the track. It’s one of the few cars that is capable of doing both. Its competition has been trying for decades to dethrone it as the ultimate performance machine, but the M3 remains resilient even today.

So has it achieved automotive perfection?

For 2011, the M3 takes on a few changes. First, it takes on the updated tail lights from the 2011 Coupe which is LED everything. Very eye catching. It does not, however, get the revised from facia that the 3 series coupe gets. The old front facia carries over. Also new for 2011 is the availability of the Competition Package and it just so happens that the M3 that I tested came with it. The package includes incredible looking 19 inch wheels (which are also incredibly wide), stickier tires as well as a slightly lower stance. Many people have had mixed feelings about the looks of the new M3, but I love it. I think it looks aggressive yet elegant. Sporty yet classy. The power dome, along with other bulges really help the M3 retain some masculinity. The M3 is quite the attention getter, but for all the right reasons. It isn’t shouty look-at-me like most of its American counterparts.

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Inside is just right as well. The the steering wheel just might be the most perfect size and chunkiness that I’ve ever experienced. Likewise for the seats. They don’t have the same auto side bolster adjusting feature like the M5 has where it will actually hug you automatically depending on how fast you take a turn. But I’m kind of glad it doesn’t do that. The idea of a car seat automatically hugging you is a bit creepy after all. Besides, why not just set the bolster to your preference and be done with it?

Quality of materials are superb. BMW has done an excellent job of keeping the M3’s interior sporty yet luxurious. The carbon fiber look on the dash is cool, but it’s actually leather.

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Okay now down to the good stuff. How does it drive? A friend of mine asked me the same question and my answer was “picture the best orgasm you’ve ever had. That’s what it’s like driving the M3”. It really is that good.

I was actually lucky enough to be able to drive an E46 M3 (2005) and the E92 M3 (2011) back to back. The E46 M3 is iconic and is thought to be the best version ever made. People have criticized the E92 M3 as being softer and more forgiving. I’ll say right off the bat that it’s true. Yet, strangely enough the E92 feels like the better car.

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Firstly, that power dome in the E92 M3 is quite necessary because it hides that massive V8 which produces 414 horsepower and 295 pound feet of torque. Even though it is quite a large engine, BMW has somehow managed to make it 30 pounds lighter over the straight six of the previous generation M3. The results of all that power are intoxicating. 0-100 takes 4.8 seconds, and the exhaust note is intense. For the E46, power comes from the flat six as mentioned and it had 333 horsepower. The E92 is noticeably faster, but that’s not to say the E46 is a slouch either.

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In terms of handling, none of BMW’s competition – and I mean none – can touch the E92 M3’s handling abilities. It’s shockingly good at taking corners. It just takes corners with such grace and ease and it’s quite addictive. All you’ll want to do is take corners as fast as you want all day and the M3 will still leave you begging for more. No doubt the M3’s carbon fiber roof lends a helping hand to keep the M3 planted. And it looks pretty cool too. And the strange thing is, it has a softer ride than my 2008 128i does. Mine has the sport package, but still, the M3 feels just as tight, if not tighter in the corners all while being more comfortable. I’m not sure how BMW has managed to achieve that. That said, I will concede that my car’s steering feels a tad sharper and a hair more precise. But that’s like saying that Beyonce is a tad better looking than Shakira. It really is a close call.

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But anyway, I say rubbish to anyone who criticizes the new M3 for being too soft. You need only drive one to know what I’m on about, and if you can’t (which is entirely possible) then check out Top Gear’s comparison of the M3, the Audi RS4 and the Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG. The BMW was five seconds faster than both. FIVE! That’s a complete beat down on the track!

I was disappointed when I saw that my tester M3 came with the DSG transmission. Partly because I’m such a die hard manual transmission fan and a six speed mated to that V8 would be sick, but also partly because the SMG transmission in the E46 M3 was garbage. It was just terrible. But I’m happy to report that BMW’s new DSG transmission is quite good. Brilliant actually. Shifts are crisp, smooth and ever so quick.

I would mention the M3’s fuel economy numbers but that’s pointless because you won’t be able to drive this car frugally. Guaranteed. Let’s just say that Al Gore wouldn’t be impressed, but hey, it’s not like the M3 sells in large enough numbers to have a massive impact on the environment like big SUV’s do.

Anyway, for the first time ever, I was actually hesitant to drive this car. I knew that if I did, I’d instantly want one. And I do. Nothing that I’ve driven so far compares to the experience of driving an M3. God, I love this car.

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Is this the perfect performance car? Yes. Audi, Mercedes-Benz, Lexus and Infiniti can try their damnedest to copy the M3, and while they may come up with credible contenders, they are still copies nonetheless.

I’ve driven many cars before in my life, and while some can evoke both negative and positive emotion, only the M3 is able to evoke absolute fun and joy every time you drive it. And that’s why for the first time ever on this site, I’m giving a car a perfect score.

Base Price: $71,300

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