New article on the M3 from autoweek

[quackman]

http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dl...024/LATESTNEWS
Has new pics of production M3 as well as some more new details.

[devo]

Originally Posted by quackman

http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dl...024/LATESTNEWS
Has new pics of production M3 as well as some more new details.

Decent article; really not much new. The editor should have caught the typo; 77 HP more than the E46. Try 87 more s******d! A mid 2008 model, W.T.F.

[E90Fleet]

Originally Posted by devo

Decent article; really not much new. The editor should have caught the typo; 77 HP more than the E46. Try 87 more s******d! A mid 2008 model, W.T.F.

Could be

US M5 and M6 deliveries started quite a bit after europe

So if europe gets it around september then US may only get it later in 2008

[ILC32]

Every bit of new info helps. It appears that the following is confirmed for production:

cf roof
vented hood
EDC

When will we know the weight??

[Ted]

Originally Posted by devo

Decent article; really not much new. The editor should have caught the typo; 77 HP more than the E46. Try 87 more s******d! A mid 2008 model, W.T.F.

Nope the E46 M3 did generate 343BHP so article is correct, the engine was detuned to 333BHP for the US market, the US market also missed the cross drilled brake discs on the E46 that everyone else had.

[2m3]

Final drive ratio is 3.82:1, which is 5.5% shorter than E46M3.

[M3ToolFiend]

Well, just as expected the production version looks exactly the same as the concept version, but knowing what happened with the M5, we all kind of knew that already.

I'm happy to see the CF roof and side vents making it though, and the car looks really good in red actually, although in the article pics, it seems like the M is wearing 18" shoes, doesn't quite fill out the wells as nicely as 19's, still attractive however.

The interior in the article looks bland as hell though, I'd recommend black leather for a red car, but to each his own.

As for the transmissions, I expected that all manufacturers would work their way towards dual or multi clutch transmissions, and BMW is following suit, although I remember reading around that they were prepping the highly updated newer version of SMG for the M3. Technically, a dual clutch transmission is still an SMG (sequential manual gearbox), so I could still be right.

Either way, nice article, interesting stuff.

[Epacy]

This puts to rest the whole "Extra Cost Manual Hoax"

A double-clutch gearbox might be closer to introduction than first thought, since there will be no sequential-manual gearbox option.

[Epacy]

Originally Posted by 2m3

Final drive ratio is 3.82:1, which is 5.5% shorter than E46M3.

You no like?

[GregW / Oregon]

Originally Posted by Ted

Nope the E46 M3 did generate 343BHP so article is correct, the engine was detuned to 333BHP for the US market, ...

Not entirely correct--half the difference is attributed to the DIN to BHP conversion, half to the different exhaust system in the US.

[Milehigh E90]

Who knows how much of this is "dealer hipe" but I talked to my dealer today while I was there getting some service work done on my 330XI and he said the "The inside line on US production is its set for March/April 2008 and that the delay is for a Dual Clutch, DSG trans. at US launch!"

Again WHO KNOWS at this point!!

[2m3]

Originally Posted by Epacy

You no like?

You no understand?

[Epacy]

Originally Posted by 2m3

You no understand?

You didn't understand.

[2m3]

Originally Posted by Epacy

You didn't understand.

OK Mr. maxima, then correct it, show it to me and other readers

[Epacy]

Mr Maxima? Thanks for the compliment.