25 Year Special M3 Frozen Edition (matte black) from BMW SA (w/ power bump)

[sour d's]

The interior is fire !

[WVU335I]

that looks sexy

[knifegun]

Stitching: Win
Exhaust: Lose
Paint: Lose (Clear coat is nice)
Calipers: Win with non-black wheels
Wheels: Win
Power Bump: Win

[knifegun]

Isn't the GTS a complete package versus just bumping displacement/power?

If power is what matters, we should all be driving Mustangs or Corvettes.

Latest Mustangs are equal in numbers on some comparisons for both acceleration and handling. Of course, the Mustang is not very graceful.

Originally Posted by Technic

I don't think that we are talking about the same thing. I do think that your example is dumb, though. This is one tuned 4.0L engine having as much power and almost the same torque as the ultimate 4.4L version of the same engine 4.0L, both versions made by the exact same manufacturer, BMW. Since the announcement of the GTS engine specs I have not been impressed with the power output of that 4.4L for the kind of ultimate M3 edition BMW was trying to portray and the money that they were asking for it, but that is me. And this South African version further undermines those 4.4L specs a little more in my eyes.

Now if you tell me that perhaps the GTS engine is tuned at that power level for better power and torque curves of that particular 4.4L displacement for this specific GTS application then we could have a much better discussion than just a "dumb" one.

[Marioalex24]

Well I'm not sure about the flat black. I've seen them in almost every car. The pictures looks great. But one thing is pictures and the other seeing it in person. I think that the flat grey looks much better.

[aajami]

Originally Posted by Robert

vinyl wrap, painted caliper...

That's Frozen Black factory paint, not a vinyl wrap.

[Definitive]

Not sure if anyone noticed, but its either cause they messed with the photo, or is appears they are using the monochrome side M badges...

D

[falcon133]

I don't know why car manufacturers don't offer matte/flat paint option in US. I would pay to get that. A lot.

[bubz0429]

Originally Posted by M3KW

It looks beautiful! I just saw the price though, R1 180 000 which is really steep, it's actually in supercar territory at this point. Personally, I know people will be able to afford these, especially some collectors. A current M3 E92 costs somewhere in the range of R 910 000 with options (M-Dynamic and DCT plus other options) so this is a major premium. However, I think this special edition is just like the ones that came out in the USA a few moths back. It is beautiful though, I would love to see one in person.
South Africa just did a major overhaul of their entire road network so cars just like these are especially welcome.

I don't think the R 1 180 000 price tag is really that high, considering that the stock M3 sells for about R850 000 in South Africa. Of course if you convert it to US$ it's a lot, but that's just how much cars cost there. Almost double in price than they are in America.

[Mu Mu]

Originally Posted by V1.47fan

+1

BMW sold around 240,000 cars in the US in 2009 vs 18,000 in SA. It's even a wider divide with the M3.

Even if they command a premium there,the SA M3 market is so miniscule to even affect BMW's bottom line,yet they get rewarded with the coolest M cars.

Well, the sale stats are relative. Look at the size of the U.S in relation to South Africa. The U.S is just as big as Africa as a whole in comparison so its an unfair way of looking at it. Perhaps one should compare S.A vs each state IMO.

[Bob MG]

The GP at the end of the Reg plate stands for gangsters paradise LOL

Or Gauteng

[khy530]

Originally Posted by V1.47fan

+1

BMW sold around 240,000 cars in the US in 2009 vs 18,000 in SA. It's even a wider divide with the M3.

Even if they command a premium there,the SA M3 market is so miniscule to even affect BMW's bottom line,yet they get rewarded with the coolest M cars.

i'm not sure whether they are/will be selling these in the USA but I saw one at brian jessel bmw (vancouver, canada) yesterday in the showroom. it's pretty nice.

[kooper]

Originally Posted by HuangYiChao

Lol wow... I didnt know something I wrote and never looked back would semi-explode like this. To be clear I only wrote that because last time I wrote something someone called me racist which I wasn't trying to be. Other than that I guess you can call me ignorant for not knowing that BMW had plants in SA. I had been hearing/reading of people complaining about how BMW would not bring special edition M3s to the states nor was I aware that those modifications were done by the plants in SA not Germany. So my initial thoughts were, BMW would retool to sell in SA but not North America where majority of the market supposedly is as stated by a forum member. Sorry I don't know BMW as a global company as some of you and yes, I am aware of SA's economy, I am studying that in college.

Back on topic, new pictures do look great.

As a South African, I can honestly say that I did not find your original post racist in any way whatsoever.

Agreed with everyone else about the paint. Would've been nice if you could at least choose normal clear coat paint.

[Paramedic]

You noticed the retail price which once converted is more than 176k usd ?

[Mu Mu]

Originally Posted by Bob MG

The GP at the end of the Reg plate stands for gangsters paradise LOL

Or Gauteng

First Option

[Gamoto]

Originally Posted by Paramedic

You noticed the retail price which once converted is more than 176k usd ?

Yeah.......It must cost a lot to put the steering wheel on the wrong side of the car.

[aajami]

Originally Posted by falcon133

I don't know why car manufacturers don't offer matte/flat paint option in US. I would pay to get that. A lot.

They do. BMW offered Frozen Gray as a limited option on M3s last year, and they all sold out in a matter of minutes. I believe a couple of other car manufacturers do on certain models as well.

[Nikki]

Not intended to rip on the photographer (not even sure if he is the one who edited these photos) but the post-processing seems a bit overdone on some of these photos. I don't feel like the true color really was represented in most of the shots. Here's a quick photoshop comparison to show how it may have looked prior to post-processing...and my thoughts are it was even darker than this and that is why the editor tried to lighten it up so much.

[Davin]

Originally Posted by mdosu

I guess it is racist if your logic is South Africa = lots of black africans, lots of black africans = poor people, black africans = how can they afford special edition M3s?
If so, yes your thinking is racist in a way, but reflective of how the social structure of SA is and people's ignorance of the world other than their little neighborhood (IE People think the Republic of Georgia, is Georgia, like Atlanta Georgia). There's a large white population there that were decendents of the landowners and industrialists and believe me, they got money, they run the economy.


That said, you should probably brief yourself on the history of South Africa before making a comment like this. You'll find out that there's plenty of money in South Africa. Out of all the countries in Africa it's the biggest economy, there must be a reason why the World Cup was held there, don't you think?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_africa
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...y_GDP_(nominal
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...PP)_per_capita

+1

[NYCM3ryder]

MAN i LOVE THAT RED STITCHING!!!!!!

[49ER ROLL]

Originally Posted by falcon133

I don't know why car manufacturers don't offer matte/flat paint option in US. I would pay to get that. A lot.

hahaha i don't feel like seeing a matte cruze or volt.

[xxxoverridexxx]

http://www.autophotive.com/2011/01/0...-south-africa/

pretty beautiful if you ask me...