Urban Mixer Blog

by Michael Schratter

A race car camouflaged as a street car.

Background:
BMW established their Motorsport (M) division in 1972, with the M offshoot being designed to facilitate BMW’s racing program. Simply put, it was about taking a 3 series and modify into a street legal race car. At the time, these special “M” cars were given to contracted BMW racecar drivers, to be used as their personal vehicles when driving in public. But that didn’t last long, word got out, and soon the über-mechanics from Munich were graciously sharing their “schnell” passion with anyone who was interested in driving fast.

Now, some people will argue that BMW invented the “super-sports sedan”, while others espouse to another German brand or two, but really it’s all irrelevant, for every one agrees that the “M” badge on the BMW 3 series has played an integral part in defining the category.

My Drive:
“Mein Gott im Himmel” what have the Germans done? Can some one please grab a German-English dictionary for me; I need to know whether the German word “schnell” translates into “Motorsport” in English?

Wow, is this car a grin of a drive! Accelerating and decelerating is so precise, sharp turns come effortlessly, and before you no it the M3’s reflexes confuse you into believing that you are a way better driver than you actually are. It’s easy to forget the M3’s engineering when your ego is being acknowledged every time you hop behind the wheel.

One more thing, actually no, two more buttons:

Button #1, the Sports Mode button- this little button lies next to your gear shift. It is there for you to decide whether you want to drive an unleashed beast or a tamed animal. Activating the “Sport Mode” unleashes the M3’s full range of power. With it off, one can actually pretend to be civilized.

And button number #2, the Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) button- this little button is also positioned near the gear shift. It is there for you to decide whether you want to slide and drift with the unleashed beast or whether you prefer to drive with the aid of a safety net. When activated, DSC allows the car’s computer to assist in which wheels and brakes need to be manipulated in order to maximize grip and control.

Fish tails anyone?

Only once did I drive with the sports mode activated and the DSC disengaged. Let’s just say, I don’t recommend it unless there is no traffic around, or you are alone in a Wal-Mart parking lot.

Appearance:
How does exterior of the M differ from the rest of the 3 series? The M3 is a tougher, edgier-looking BMW. Its four pipes poke aggressively out the back, the car’s fenders are flared to accommodate the fat tread on the 19″ alloy wheels, a functioning rear spoiler reduces lift and drag, while the larger intake in the front breathes more air into the engine. These understated changes to the car’s exterior are as much about cranking up performance as they are about subtly announcing that this isn’t just a garden-variety 3 Series.

The interior of the M3 that I drove was black, with accents of brushed aluminum. The combo makes for an absolutely beautiful, yet distinctly masculine cabin. The car’s black leather seats hug you with lateral support; as soon as you sit in them you are immersed in the cockpit of the car. And like the feeling you get when you slide behind the wheel, everything about the car is about power. Power mirrors, power door locks, power sunroof, power heated seats, the powerful Harman Kardon audio system with audio steering wheel controls, it’s all there. Yes, of course the perks of a high-end European sports sedan are a given on the M3.

None the less, with that said, you don’t buy an M3 for its power sunroof. This car is about its engine and man oh man, what an engine it is.

Stats:
At 338hp the M3 bangs through its 6-gear manual transmission in a 5 second 0-100kmh, and a 13 second ¼ mile. Mercifully the M3’s top speed is electronically limited to 248kmh. And when you couple this phenomenal engine with a tight racing suspension, a suspension that allows you to fling yourself beautifully through the curves…it quickly becomes apparent that you are driving one of the finest and most exhilirating high-performance cars on the planet.

Feel it:
Okay, so the stats are impressive, so what? How does all that translate into real, every day driving?

The M3 makes you feel like Indy racer when taking off from a stoplight or cutting through corners, it’s the kind of car that will have you running up to Squamish in order to pick up a litre of milk. Who is the M3 for? The M3 is for you if you want to feel like a race car driver on your daily commute, if you want a high-powered machine that can outperform most cars on the road, but without the flash of many sports cars. This BMW is for car enthusiasts, little Hanz in his fancy lederhosen need not apply.

Oh, and I almost forgot. Walking is for wimps.