4 M3's Seen in Cape Town Today

[Giles]

I just saw 4 M3's sitting outside the Cape Grace at the Waterfront in Cape Town, as part of the South Africa launch. Unfortunately I did not have a camera with me (sorry).

Colours were Silverstone, Laguna Seca Blue, Sparkling Graphite and Black (I don't think it was Jerez Black - it was more like Jet Black). All had 19ins and interiors were Camel, Black x2 and Grey. Can't quite recall which interior was with which but Sparkling Graphite had Camel and Silverstone was Grey, therefore other 2 must have been black. Did not look as closely at these 2.

Like many people on this forum and as a previous E46M3 owner, I have had my concerns about the look of this car based on the pictures I have seen. I have never doubted the performance, notwithstanding some of the negative press, particularly on the steering, but the looks have worried me a bit. I resolved that I would wait to see this car in the flesh before making my mind up.

Now that I have see it, I can say this. I will DEFINITELY be ordering an M3, and based on what I saw it will be the Sparkling Graphite, which looked incredible. Silverstone also looked great, but I prefer a darker car. Blue and Black just don't do it for me but each to one's own.

I have read many comments stating that this car is not that different to the 335i and does not stand out enough. In the flesh - that is nuts - from the front it is much more aggressive than the E46 and could never be mistaken for a 335i. The bulge is a bit big and the wheel arch flares at the front are very aggressive. In my opinion it looks fantastic. The back flares could have been a little wider to keep the car in proportion and from the back I some people might not instantly recognise it as an M3. Although they are instantly recognisable to M3 fans, for some reason I found a lot of people (particularly women) don't notice the the 4 pipes, the badge (which is quite small) and the spoiler. Which do stand out at the back. From the front though you would have to be blind to say this car looks like a 335i.

I think for those of you in the US, who still have a long time to wait, you will not be disappointed. This car is more than aggressive enough to show it is a muscle car, but still sufficiently understated. I have waited a long, long time to see this car and had worried that I would not want it. Now I want it more than ever!!

Wish I had a camera on me - sorry again.

[ToddMcF2002]

LSB? Are you sure? I'm with you on Sparkling Graphite. It looks awesome!

[888]

Thanks, nice report. If you get a chance go back for pictures, we will all appreciate that. I think we will start seeing the dealer cars on the floors within a few days.

[Epacy]

No way on the LSB.

Great to hear it looks superb in person. I dream of the day I can do that.

[13eastie]

Originally Posted by ToddMcF2002

LSB? Are you sure? I'm with you on Sparkling Graphite. It looks awesome!

Must have been Interlagos Blue, surely?

[mofomat]

It will have been Interlagos Blue.

[MI6]

Originally Posted by Giles

I just saw 4 M3's sitting outside the Cape Grace at the Waterfront in Cape Town, as part of the South Africa launch. Unfortunately I did not have a camera with me (sorry).

Colours were Silverstone, Laguna Seca Blue, Sparkling Graphite and Black (I don't think it was Jerez Black - it was more like Jet Black). All had 19ins and interiors were Camel, Black x2 and Grey.

Giles, as you can tell from the replies everyone including me finds it almost impossible to believe that a Laguna Seca Blue E92 M3 was there.

Are you a 110% sure it was Laguna Seca Blue and not Interlagos?

[mkoesel]

Originally Posted by 13eastie

Must have been Interlagos Blue, surely?

+1

[Giles]

Apologies - you are correct it was Interlagos Blue - not sure where I got Laguna Seca from. To be honest I am not as familiar as some of you with all the names of the colours and should have checked before posting. The Sparkling Graphite was definitely correct though as this is the colour I have been looking out for most as very few pictures available.

[E90330iS]

So when is this car going to be released again??

[mkoesel]

Originally Posted by Giles

Apologies - you are correct it was Interlagos Blue - not sure where I got Laguna Seca from.

Laguna Seca Blue was the bright powder blue color that debuted with the E46 M3, and was discontinued after (I believe) the 2004 model year.

[kishg]

Originally Posted by mkoesel

Laguna Seca Blue was the bright powder blue color that debuted with the E46 M3, and was discontinued after (I believe) the 2004 model year.

also known as smurf blue

[Stahlgrau]

I still haven't seen any pics of this badboy in Sparkling Graphite. BOO!

[The CSL]

Originally Posted by kishg

also known as smurf blue

aka Best BMW colour ever.

[kishg]

Originally Posted by The CSL

aka Best BMW colour ever.

i dunno.. kinda like le mans blue myself..

[MI6]

Originally Posted by Stahlgrau

I still haven't seen any pics of this badboy in Sparkling Graphite. BOO!

+1.

Here we are almost a week away from launch and still no Spark G pics!! :mad:

How about I wire you some money Giles and you go back with your camera and get a pic of the Sparkiling Graph..........

[GregW / Oregon]

Originally Posted by kishg

i dunno.. kinda like le mans blue myself..

In blues, I prefer Estoril.

[Los Angeles]

The closest I came to seeing(3 weeks ago) this new M3 in person was on the 405 freeway near Sherman Oaks headed south.

I tried my best to keep up w/ the car but the damn thing was weaving in and out of traffic as if it were on a racetrack. At first, I didn't realize it was an M3until I saw four tailpipes.

Overall, the stance was the typical lower and wider look which was amazing. Unfortunately, I caught it in the evening so I didn't get a chance to see it as well as I hoped.

I guess I won't be seeing one in person again until sometime next year? ...:mad:

[adamr]

damn!!! ... wonder when they will be to view at the BMW pavilion there in CT ... i flew to see the 335i vert there before it was launched anywhere

pics wud have been cool, even if it was cellphone pics ... but next time ...

[v1p3r]

Hi guys. I saw the Sparkling Graphite one today just outside Stellenbosch in the "Helshoogte" (Heights of Hell, lol) Pass

Again this will come as a disappointment, but I got no pics, it went by too fast. Sorry.

It looks darker than I thought, could almost mistake it for a dullish black in passing.

Couldn't hear the sound but I can tell you, there is a distinct difference between the ///M3 and a 335i. No mistaking one for the other. I knew immediately what is was.

My friend mentioned he had seen 4 ///M's in the pass a few days earlier, but I thought he'd been talking bollocks until I saw the post about 4 ///M3's being in the Waterfront.

I will definitely keep my digital cam with me at all times from now on and follow the cars if I see them again around the Pass.

Cheers

[888]

Originally Posted by v1p3r

Hi guys. I saw the Sparkling Graphite one today just outside Stellenbosch in the "Helshoogte" (Heights of Hell, lol) Pass

Again this will come as a disappointment, but I got no pics, it went by too fast. Sorry.

It looks darker than I thought, could almost mistake it for a dullish black in passing.

Couldn't hear the sound but I can tell you, there is a distinct difference between the ///M3 and a 335i. No mistaking one for the other. I knew immediately what is was.

My friend mentioned he had seen 4 ///M's in the pass a few days earlier, but I thought he'd been talking bollocks until I saw the post about 4 ///M3's being in the Waterfront.

I will definitely keep my digital cam with me at all times from now on and follow the cars if I see them again around the Pass.

Cheers

Nice, pics next time.

[GODFATHER]

:rocks:MY WIFE AND I HAVE SEEN ALL SIX ,BLACK,SPACE GREY,SPARKLING GRAPHITE,SILVERSTONE ,WHITE ,AND BLUE.THESE SIX CARS ALL HAD GP PLATES AND WERE BEING TESTED AT KILLARNEY RACETRACK .WE HAPPEND TO DROP BY AT THE BMW IMAX AT THE WATERFRONT AND TOOK THE LIFT DOWN TO THE CARPARK .THE CARS WERE BEING WASHED ,AFTER EACH CAR WAS DRIVEN ,THE SOUND OF IT WAS MIND BLOWING,WE BOTH SAT IN THE CARS AND EVEN TOOK PICS WITH MY PHONE .ALL I CAN SAY AS FAR AS COLOUR IS CONCERNED ,WHITE IS THE WAY TO GO !