Limited BMW M3 Lime Rock Park Edition Coupe Announced (Updated with Video)

[Karazy]

Well, at least there not calling it M3M with a limited addition M package.
I have a decent grasp on marketing, but if your going to make me part with my jing there needs to be something limited & or special performance/weight wise.

This just seems silly.

[Dave07997S]

There is no way BMW is going to pay for certification here in the US for the 4.4L S65 powerplant for only 200 editions. All in all its not a bad deal if you can get a deal on the car. A normal $70k M3 can be had in the $66k range, but probably not this car.

I bet they sell out quickly..

Dave

[aajami]

Originally Posted by mapezzul

There are no more EDs for M3s at all not just this model.

It's really tough in the US to offer anything special bc of the need to crash test for different seats, the need for EPA for different engine etc. BMW is at the mercy of those things and if they offered 200 of these at $125,000 with different seats how many people would buy it?

There are no plug and play brakes for the E92 for fitment that I am aware of from the factory (GTS brakes aren't). Can't do the CRT hood (crash testing) so what can be done? Limited editions like this.

Out of all of them this is by far the most enthusiast oriented- it is in not a single package with no options this can be built as you'd like and it comes with all the M Performance parts from the factory- the exhaust is almost $5k installed, add the install and parts of the rest of the stuff and this is actually a value and it is Factory.

Hey mapezzul,

I'm aware of the restrictions that car manufacturers face when certifying cars for release in the US, especially foreign manufacturers. That doesn't diminish the disappoint that I feel when we don't get the likes of the CSL, CRT, or GTS in the States. There are literally tens of thousands of hardcore enthusiasts on this forum -- I don't believe that there aren't 67 of us who wouldn't have paid $120,000 for a CRT (as one Texas gentleman did) had BMW brought that car out here, for example. If Mercedes can sell enough Black Edition cars in the US to make it worth their while, then BMW can certainly do the same. And why not release the components off of these cars as retrofit parts? People would gladly pay a premium for the GTS/CRT brakes, CRT hood, CRT seats, GTS wing, CRT lip, CRT spoiler, GTS lip, and so on, just as some E46M folks did for the CSL front bumper and trunk. Porsche doesn't VIN-lock their parts. If you want to pay $8,000 for a carbon fiber GT2 RS hood for your Boxster, more power to you.

That all said, I'm not as down on the Lime Rock edition as you probably think I am. I posted a little earlier in the thread, and as a value proposition, I think it's a good offering:

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showpos...8&postcount=27

[richb811]

Easier access to Fire orange is alright with me. Not to mention an Iconel exhaust. That's pretty awesome.

[Sean@PSI]

Looks familiar!

[M3 Montreal]

Originally Posted by Snig

Black ZCP wheels are an option! Nice!

Lol...they were always an option.

I ordered mine in black and should be receiving my car in August.

Can't wait to see my space grey/fox red with black comp pack wheels.

[bimmerjph]

Since this is called the Lime Rock Edition they had better win there tomorrow.

[Mahzari]

Originally Posted by aajami

There are no alcantara seats. Those are just the manual cloth seats.

Wow... I read anthracite as alcantara... I'm even more disappointed now

Thanks for the correction

[bmwaddict]

it's going to be sold out really fast. watch.

Originally Posted by Wiles

I am not a fan, No ED only one change, no Performance delivery.

why not just pay extra for special paint and do ED or PCD.

I guess they will have a hard time selling 200 of these.

[mapezzul]

Originally Posted by aajami

Hey mapezzul,

I'm aware of the restrictions that car manufacturers face when certifying cars for release in the US, especially foreign manufacturers. That doesn't diminish the disappoint that I feel when we don't get the likes of the CSL, CRT, or GTS in the States. There are literally tens of thousands of hardcore enthusiasts on this forum -- I don't believe that there aren't 67 of us who wouldn't have paid $120,000 for a CRT (as one Texas gentleman did) had BMW brought that car out here, for example. If Mercedes can sell enough Black Edition cars in the US to make it worth their while, then BMW can certainly do the same. And why not release the components off of these cars as retrofit parts? People would gladly pay a premium for the GTS/CRT brakes, CRT hood, CRT seats, GTS wing, CRT lip, CRT spoiler, GTS lip, and so on, just as some E46M folks did for the CSL front bumper and trunk. Porsche doesn't VIN-lock their parts. If you want to pay $8,000 for a carbon fiber GT2 RS hood for your Boxster, more power to you.

That all said, I'm not as down on the Lime Rock edition as you probably think I am. I posted a little earlier in the thread, and as a value proposition, I think it's a good offering:

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showpos...8&postcount=27

The gentleman in Texas paid double that and found a loophole in import laws- I have been briefed on it and it will be more difficult in the future.

The GTS/CRT parts are not readily produced and if you really want to spend $10K on a hood I think they will make you one, as they are only made to order replacements for the most part. The GTS/CRT were not production cars- they were Individual products- each car is basically a one of of a series, handmade.

I am one of the few to have ever driven the CRT- and I will say it is a fantastic machine but not worth over $200k which it would need to cost.

As for MB bringing the "Black"- that's their racing budget for the US and sell each one at a loss, maybe that is the route BMW goes in the future who knows.

At the end of the day I think what needs to be done is design these higher performance/limited cars from the start of production, homologate them from the start to sell enough numbers to make it less of a shock to the wallet.

Trust me as an enthusiast and lover of tracks I want nothing but for the US to see some of these more hardcore offerings but I get why they can't and it is not that they do not want to, they just can't lose money on a model.

[ferrari6891]

sooo...I've lost track of all the special/performance editions they have released so far.

[Peahi]

Yeah...boring. Not truly special, except the paint.

We should have something called a M3 SS. Like a vintage muscle car. Special engine/exhaust touches, SS badges on the car, steering wheel, interior, and upholstery. Maybe dropped a bit, distinctive paint scheme. Really embrace the limited edition muscle car theme. Carbon everything: spoiler, mirror caps, "performance" carbon interior trim, new angel eyes (sorry I love my lux and all). Supercharged. Yeah...M3 Super Sport.

Sorry, dreaming.

[S65frk]

I like the Fire Orange M3s but like you guys not much special about it dont seem like a bad price.

[Jason]

Updated gallery and press release:

PRESS RELEASE + Expand

BMW of North America today announced the 2013 M3 Coupe Lime Rock Park Edition, of which 200 copies will be built this summer. Priced from $70,995 including $895 Destination and Handling, the M3 Coupe Lime Rock Park Edition will be “…a classic car for a classic track,” as described by Skip Barber, owner of the historic Lime Rock Park racing circuit located in northwestern Connecticut. BMW and Lime Rock Park have collaborated on the M3 Coupe Lime Rock Park Edition to celebrate the longstanding relationship between BMW automobiles, the famed Lime Rock Park racing circuit, and the thousands of passionate drivers and fans who join them together. Deliveries are planned to begin this September.

The BMW M3 Coupe Lime Rock Park Edition will be constructed on the foundation of the iconic BMW M3 Coupe, now in its fourth generation, with enhancements selected through collaboration with Skip Barber and Lime Rock Park. Each car will be painted in rare Fire Orange and features Anthracite and Black cloth seating with Nappa leather trim. The popular Competition Package is fitted, and the M3’s signature carbon fiber composite roof panel will be retained on all copies produced. Also in the standard equipment profile will be a lightweight inconel-titanium exhaust muffler, carbon fiber front and rear aerodynamic aids, and an Anthracite Alcantara-covered, flat-bottom steering wheel. Finally, each M3 Coupe Lime Rock Park Edition will be quickly identified by a numbered plaque located on the center console, a unique decal on the left-rear quarter window, and a certificate of authenticity.

California-based racing driver Bill Auberlen, whose career has been synonymous with the BMW brand in America for 17 years and includes over 300 professional races in BMW cars, joined Skip Barber and Lime Rock Park management on July 3rd, 2012 to evaluate the prototype of the M3 Coupe Lime Rock Park Edition on the famed 1.5-mile circuit. Just a few days before starting his 100th American Le Mans Series race at Lime Rock Park, Auberlen remarked, “A race car is never allowed to be perfect. It’s the job of the driver to constantly suggest improvements and find more speed. But the M3 Lime Rock Park Edition may be as close to perfect as you can get, right off the production line. From its great color to the flawless manners it showed on the track, for the first time I can say I might not change a thing.”

The balanced, linear driving dynamics of the BMW M3 Coupe are often described as a perfect match for the challenging Lime Rock Park circuit. As described by track owner Skip Barber:

“A newcomer looks at the track map and thinks, ‘Oh, this is easy.’ It’s not. Lime Rock is an extremely difficult track to drive quickly. It has three of what many drivers think are some of the most challenging corners in North America: The Uphill, West Bend and The Downhill,” Barber said. “There are tricky cambers, extreme elevation changes, very high speeds... all Lime Rock signatures since it opened 55 years ago. And the BMW M3 Coupe Lime Rock Park Edition, when equipped with the six-speed manual, is geared perfectly – and I mean perfectly – for the track. I agree with Bill: I wouldn’t change a thing.”

Lime Rock Park is one of America’s most recognized road racing venues and has been continuously operated since its opening in 1957. Listed on the National Registry of Historic Places by the National Park Service, the track is 1.5 miles in length, encompassing seven corners and more than seven stories of elevation change. The track is considered one of the most beautiful –and challenging to drive – in the world, constructed in a natural valley in the Berkshire Mountains of extreme northwest Connecticut. More information can be found at limerock.com.

BMW 2013 E92 M3 Lime Rock Edition

[Mr. 5]

Beautiful!

[mdosu]

so in other words, this is a non-customizable, standard equipped, fire orange M3, with a plaque a new steering wheel.

[Trevor .:R]

Originally Posted by ATS

+1

It's so disappointing to see what's going on at BMW right now. Unfortunately sales keep going up, but I wouldn't be surprised if the typical BMW enthusiast looks elsewhere when buying a new car. I know I will.

BMW seems to have forgotten what made them great and are only thinking about selling more and more to the masses. Their new slogan should be: BMW the new Toyota!

^^^ This guy with his 128i... No sir BMW is fine, your just upset you drive a car thats not the ultimate driving experience, go test drive some Ms dont worry BMW is doing great.

[Tony135]

Originally Posted by Trevor .:R

^^^ This guy with his 128i... No sir BMW is fine, your just upset you drive a car thats not the ultimate driving experience, go test drive some Ms dont worry BMW is doing great.

Kind of a fail comment Trevor...While I agree M's are awesome, you basically just said F off because he doesn't have an M. I'm pretty content with my non-M car and I think you can attest that my driving experience might be a little more on edge than yours

[bavarian19]

All that seems special is the paint, and even that isnt all that special. The rest are just add on parts.

BMW, you are starting to loose credibility if this is how you treat your special editions.

Why don't you just call it what it is: Special Edition Paint.

[WULFFZA]

Originally Posted by Davin

Wish they came out with more e90 M3 limited edition models when the e90 was still in production. There are so many e92 M3 LE Models

+1

[WULFFZA]

I don't get the association with Lime Rock? At least make it lime green then!

As mentioned you can just build one yourself and then get yourself a plaque made - 201 of 200!:

If you take a base E92 M3 price of $60,100 (excl sales tax, destination and gas guzzler tax), Individual paint $5,000, Competition pack $2,500, Carbon leather trim $500, carbon front lips $750, carbon rear spoiler $550, M Performance exhaust $4,000, so far we're at $73K. So as a package its a little cheaper, but you could likely negotiate a better deal on an individually specced car than 1 of 200.

Expect to see another special edition before the year is over though.

[Technic]

Originally Posted by WULFFZA

I don't get the association with Lime Rock? At least make it lime green then!

As mentioned you can just build one yourself and then get yourself a plaque made - 201 of 200!:

If you take a base E92 M3 price of $60,100 (excl sales tax, destination and gas guzzler tax), Individual paint $5,800, Competition pack $2,500, Carbon leather trim $500, carbon front lips $750, carbon rear spoiler $550, M Performance exhaust $4,000, so far we're at $73K. So as a package its a little cheaper, but you could likely negotiate a better deal on an individually specced car than 1 of 200.

Expect to see another special edition before the year is over though.

Fire Orange is about $5800.