So I raise the question...how many people here HONESTLY think the new E92 M3 will weight UNDER 3600lbs!? How many think it will weight OVER 3600lbs?

...this is and will be a very important benchmark for that car to be acclaimed as a serious world class "sportscar," versus another overweight and plush "GT" car.

E46 m3 and beyond has always been a GT car. Id say the E36 is also a little bit of a porker.

415hp and a bit over 3600lbs is still a better ratio than the RS4's 420hp and 4000lbs, i say its a possibility.

Nice...another thread about 'what do we think'. Is there a prize for whomever guess it first ?
Either way, I agree with FreewheelBurner, the new M3 will be better in everyway than the RS4, as the Car and Driver magazine did a comparison test between the existing M3 and the RS4. The conclusion ?? Well...they're about the same 0 to 60 and 1/4 mile. And that's comparing 333HP to 420HP. I'm guessing that the new M3 will smoke the RS4, and it's really hard to believe that it will weigh more than the 4-wheel-drive RS4.
Again, this is what I think...

The current M3 weighs 3400lbs, The E46 330ci weighs 3285, both acording to msn cars. The current 07 328i coupe weighs 3351lbs. Add 60 to 80 to all above for AT except SMG. The 335i weighs 3571lbs over 200 more then the 328i coupe. There is no reasion to conclude the E92 M3 will weigh more then the 335i, it may weigh less based on historical weight gane.

Nice...another thread about 'what do we think'. Is there a prize for whomever guess it first ?
Either way, I agree with FreewheelBurner, the new M3 will be better in everyway than the RS4, as the Car and Driver magazine did a comparison test between the existing M3 and the RS4. The conclusion ?? Well...they're about the same 0 to 60 and 1/4 mile. And that's comparing 333HP to 420HP. I'm guessing that the new M3 will smoke the RS4, and it's really hard to believe that it will weigh more than the 4-wheel-drive RS4.
Again, this is what I think...

Hmm, I believe Top Gear also a comparison on the track, as well. But wasn't that M3 a CSL? Maybe I'm remembering incorrectly, but I seem to remember it being one.

The only comparison I've seen on TG was the current M3 and a B6 S4. S4 had a faster lap time.

The only comparison I've seen on TG was the current M3 and a B6 S4. S4 had a faster lap time.

Oh yeah, maybe that was it.

M3 vs RS4 on 5th Gear

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3BCUNARokY

RS4 wins on straights, but M3 has the fun factor.

M3 vs RS4 on 5th Gear

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v3BCUNARokY

RS4 wins on straights, but M3 has the fun factor.

:rofl And that's the E46! Imagine how hard the E92 M3 is gonna pull on the RS4.

I love it!

Attached are a few pics from the actual Car and Driver magazine I have in the bathroom. The comparison is between a stock M3 and and RS4. I imagine the new M3 will be faster given it has more HP than the e46 M3.
And about the weight...I could bet one of my kidneys the e92 M3 will be under 4000lb, and maybe more than 3600lb.
http://www.caranddriver.com/roadtests/11333/2007-audi-rs-4-quattro.html

"Perhaps it has something to do with the Quattro all-wheel drive, or the car’s 58.3/41.7-percent front-to-rear weight distribution"
from above article. Wow why would they do that with weight distro.

I can't believe people think the M3 will weigh less than the 335. It'll have a bigger motor, wider track, bigger suspension, diff, gearbox, etc.

I can't believe people think the M3 will weigh less than the 335. It'll have a bigger motor, wider track, bigger suspension, diff, gearbox, etc.I agree, I think in true yuppy tradition its going to get even fatter with excess and tips the scales at just under 3700lbs when alls said and done. A boat by sportscar standards. :rolleyes (I sincerely hope I'm proven wrong and it in fact will be "under 3600lbs," I'd have MUCH respect for that car if this were the case)

Even under 3600 lbs, I think it will be too heavy. The E46 M3 and beyond are GT cars. The E46 M3 is not track ready in stock form, and I doubt any further iterations will be, save for CSL's and the like.

I think the M3 will be very comparable to the 335 in weight.

A 50/50 weight distribution is a must at BMW for the M3, so you know the v8 will be light. The M3 is expensive. A loaded M3 will likely go for $65k, so BMW will likely incorporate the use of more alu, some CF, magnesium and other exotic weight-saving materials/techniques. By contrast, the 335 does not have the trick magnesium engine parts, and has a couple of turbo's and associated plumbing along for the ride.

Should be interesting.

If its over 3600...it better have a extra tank of h2o2 for extra power. This is seriously getting rediculous how they can make a 750 hp saleen weigh in under 3200 lb's w/ a 7.4L V8 (yes i know its made of alluminum)-turbocharger x2, intercoolers, 2 leather seats, a/c and a killer radio-sure its on the other end of the spectrum...but a car having a much smaller swept area, engine thats close 2 half the size, wait seating for 2(!) more...and heated seats...ok no cf frame or body...but bmw is about intelligent weight reduction-so lets hope they went to chicken from sausages...cuz every car other then the 3er has been a lil' bit lighter-so 3400 lb's and any more this thing can have a nice diet of ebay (good bye seats-stereo-sound insulation-glass swapped for plexi) when i get mine in the next 60 years...its my favourite car when it was called the e36 :)

Attached are a few pics from the actual Car and Driver magazine I have in the bathroom. The comparison is between a stock M3 and and RS4. I imagine the new M3 will be faster given it has more HP than the e46 M3.
And about the weight...I could bet one of my kidneys the e92 M3 will be under 4000lb, and maybe more than 3600lb.
http://www.caranddriver.com/roadtests/11333/2007-audi-rs-4-quattro.html

Thats funny how a 6 year old car with almost 100 less HP can hang with a brand new 420HP car with AWD

http://images.amazon.com/images/P/1592570887.01._AA240_SCLZZZZZZZ_.jpg

Looks like some of you guys have been reading.....

I can't believe people think the M3 will weigh less than the 335. It'll have a bigger motor, wider track, bigger suspension, diff, gearbox, etc.



No reason to expect the M3 to weigh much more than the 335.

Hell, Chevy puts a Ti exhaust on the Z06. No telling what BMW may pull . . .

Remember how the M3CSL dropped 450lbs vs. the regular e46 M3? BMW will not go to that extreme, but will easily be able to beef-up the e92 M3 while "making weight" at the same time.

Remember how the M3CSL dropped 450lbs vs. the regular e46 M3? BMW will not go to that extreme, but will easily be able to beef-up the e92 M3 while "making weight" at the same time.Yeah, I also remember the CSL costing like $75,000+ LOL....i REALLY don't think the new M3 will weight less or even as much as the current 335i. I believe it will weight about ~100lbs more. (i really hope not, but I have seen BMW's trends and its NOT a good one when it comes to this discussion, thats for sure :-/)

I can't believe people think the M3 will weigh less than the 335. It'll have a bigger motor, wider track, bigger suspension, diff, gearbox, etc.

I agree. The SMG transmission from what I read is about twice the weight of manual tranny.

Yeah, I also remember the CSL costing like $75,000+ LOL....i REALLY don't think the new M3 will weight less or even as much as the current 335i. I believe it will weight about ~100lbs more. (i really hope not, but I have seen BMW's trends and its NOT a good one when it comes to this discussion, thats for sure :-/)

As I already said re the CSL, "I don't expect BMW to go to that extreme". However, could they shed 150lb's off of the 335's weight, and then add back 100lbs in the way of beefier suspension, brakes and wheels/tires and still remain on budget? Sure.

Keep in mind that the 335 already has very robust tranny, brakes, wheels, suspension, etc. to deal with its substantial power/trq output and sporting intentions. The M3 stuff need not be much heavier, if at all.

Since the CSL, BMW has been incorporating many of the same weight-saving techniques in its higher-end cars. Carbon roofs and bumper supports, alu body panels, plastic trunk lids, magnesium/aluminum motors, etc. are now BMW's standard for M cars. Expect them to take this another step forward with the next M3 . . . even more aluminum suspension and body parts, perhaps optional ltw seats and/or maybe even a Ti exhaust (those big azz quad exhausts are heavy!).

Good point w/ the later m-cars that they are using more low-weight materials (cf-roof for one)...magnesium crank-case beleivable as its not FI...i think it won't take much to have the m3 engine weigh in as much if not less then the 335 as i stated b4. Turbo's-intercoolers and all neccessary hardware add at least 100 lb's...They will definately put some money into weight saving materials (maybe csl's cheap-ol' fiberglass trunk w/ cardboard floor!) Imagine a csl w/ a cf frame like corvette did w/ the z06-now THAT WOULD BE KILLA!

No reason to expect the M3 to weigh much more than the 335.

Hell, Chevy puts a Ti exhaust on the Z06. No telling what BMW may pull . . .

Remember how the M3CSL dropped 450lbs vs. the regular e46 M3? BMW will not go to that extreme, but will easily be able to beef-up the e92 M3 while "making weight" at the same time.

The CSL weighed 335 lbs less, not 450 lbs less.

It had no air conditioning, radio, race seats, and a CF roof that probably accounted for most of that difference. If you've ever picked up a coupe seat, you'll know the seats are at least 100 lbs of that difference, and that such seats won't be "practical" to the new M3 buyer. Nor will no AC, no radio, no sound deadening, etc. With pretty much bigger and better everything going into the M3 over the 335i, it's really going to be difficult to make the M3 weigh less than 3600 when every M3 ever built has been at least 150 lbs heavier than it's coupe counterpart.

With pretty much bigger and better everything going into the M3 over the 335i, it's really going to be difficult to make the M3 weigh less than 3600 when every M3 ever built has been at least 150 lbs heavier than it's coupe counterpart.

Given the fact that the 335 makes more torque than the M3 will (and easily has the potential for much more), what makes you think the M3 will be built with bigger everything?
Previous M3's made a lot more power/trq than their lesser sibling(s) and had bigger tranny's, brakes, diffs, wheels/tires etc. to deal with it. Not so here.

I just don't see how it's going to be under 3,600.

If all the other parts stayed at the same weight as the 335I, which it will not, just the extra weight of the larger tires will be enough to push it over the 3,600 lb mark.

It will be fat, but still be the best performing car in it's class.

Majority rules, people want comfort and luxury and all that stuff adds extra weight.

I just don't see how it's going to be under 3,600.

If all the other parts stayed at the same weight as the 335I, which it will not, just the extra weight of the larger tires will be enough to push it over the 3,600 lb mark.

It will be fat, but still be the best performing car in it's class.

Majority rules, people want comfort and luxury and all that stuff adds extra weight.
I agree with you, I can't see how it'll weight less than 3600lbs either....even WITH a carbon fiber roof, lol.

My fearless predictions ~ 3650 lbs ** :shifty

Given the fact that the 335 makes more torque than the M3 will (and easily has the potential for much more), what makes you think the M3 will be built with bigger everything?
Previous M3's made a lot more power/trq than their lesser sibling(s) and had bigger tranny's, brakes, diffs, wheels/tires etc. to deal with it. Not so here.

The M3 will have a bigger motor. It won't have more torque (well, we think, but rightly so), but it will have SMG, which weighs quite a bit more than traditional, and it will be a complicated 7 speed, which will weigh even more. So the tranny WILL be bigger, even if the torque isn't. It will have a bigger LS diff, a wider track, beefier suspension, bigger wheels and tires, etc. If the M3 is built using the same materials as the 335i it WILL weigh more. There is no way it could be otherwise. If they start removing sound deadening and luxury, or use composites, THEN it COULD be lighter, but the removal of enough luxury and sound deadening is unlikely as it'd piss of the buyer, and the use of enough composites is unlikely given the expected price. Carbon and titanium are VERY expensive ways to lose weight.

I can't believe people think the M3 will weigh less than the 335. It'll have a bigger motor, wider track, bigger suspension, diff, gearbox, etc.

Bigger motor isn't necessarily always heavier.

The Ironblock I6 motors are heavy as hell.

Edge motorworks is using an LS1 small block on their E36 racecar. Lighter, and much better weight distribution than the I6.

No reason to expect the M3 to weigh much more than the 335.

Hell, Chevy puts a Ti exhaust on the Z06. No telling what BMW may pull . . .

Remember how the M3CSL dropped 450lbs vs. the regular e46 M3? BMW will not go to that extreme, but will easily be able to beef-up the e92 M3 while "making weight" at the same time.

Thats still pretty heavy by race trim standards. While it can still lose more weight, E36s in race trim can get down to 2200-2300lbs, E46 will inherently be heavier, and so the E90 will be heavier than that.

It woulda been really badass if BMW pursued their Z29 Concept. Even Better, mate a 3.2 Magnesium block or small block M5 V8 engine to that Z29 for a true beast. Close to Exige weight, with massive NA power.

I can't believe people think the M3 will weigh less than the 335. It'll have a bigger motor, wider track, bigger suspension, diff, gearbox, etc.

Yeah, considering the weight of the 335i I don't see how it is going to end up under 3600.

I am secretly hoping it weighs more than 3600 anyway, so I have less of a reason to trade up from the E46 M3 ;)

better not be under 3600lbs...
at least thats what i hope :/

Yeah, considering the weight of the 335i I don't see how it is going to end up under 3600.

I am secretly hoping it weighs more than 3600 anyway, so I have less of a reason to trade up from the E46 M3 ;)

Yeah, I don't care how fast the new car is, I am pretty sure the E46 will still be more fun.

E30 325is = 2845 (Final year 1990)
E30 M3 = 2867 (Final year - 1991)
E36 328is = 3142 (Final year - 1999)
E36 M3 = 3175 (Final year - 1999)
E46 330ci = 3285 (Final year - 2005)
E46 M3 = 3415 (2006 Model year)
E90 335i = 3571 (2006 Model year)

Looks like the the E92 M3 will come in between 3600 and 3800 pounds if you look at what they have done been the E46 body style . . . Or look at the M3 models 308# between E30 and E36 or the 240# between the E36 and E46. If they add a few more things to the E92 335i it still would be at least 3650 - 3750#. I don't think we are going to see a close weight like they did in the E30 and E36 years . . . I personally would LOVE to see a < 3400# E92 M3 and 3100# CSL :buttrock

E30 325is = 2845 (Final year 1990)
E30 M3 = 2867 (Final year - 1991)
E36 328is = 3142 (Final year - 1999)
E36 M3 = 3175 (Final year - 1999)
E46 330ci = 3285 (Final year - 2005)
E46 M3 = 3415 (2006 Model year)
E90 335i = 3571 (2006 Model year)

Looks like the the E92 M3 will come in between 3600 and 3800 pounds if you look at what they have done been the E46 body style . . . Or look at the M3 models 308# between E30 and E36 or the 240# between the E36 and E46. If they add a few more things to the E92 335i it still would be at least 3650 - 3750#. I don't think we are going to see a close weight like they did in the E30 and E36 years . . . I personally would LOVE to see a < 3400# E92 M3 and 3100# CSL :buttrock
I agree, my personal prediction is it will come in at a stout 3650lbs*

The 50/50 weight distribution will be easier then ever thanks to the v8, which is a shorter engine.