Hi all (c:

I heard BMW were going to release a V8 3 series. Does anyone know much about it?

Sooty Pooh!

Is it definitely coming to the U.S.?

I've been aware of talks about it for months as well as the outside vendors in Europe who have had contracts from BMW for machine tooling and parts for a V8 dedicated for the E46 M3.

I've always felt a V8 would have been a better choice for the E46 M3 and is needed to compete in BMW's racing program, in my opinion.

Bob ///M3

initially the e46 M3 was supposed to be a V8, but do to the closesness to the M5, they decided to drop the engine since that would cause both cars to be relativly in the same class and same price range. I think that BMW thought that M5 sales would suffer if the e46 was a V8, But thats what I know, doesnt mean its necassarily true:p

Hear is the news ... last time I heard from Steve Dinan.

BMW will produce a E46 M3 with a V8 engine... however in extremely limited quantities. None of which will come to the United States. In fact the cars are already sold to private owners in remote parts of Europe and South Africa.

They are only making/selling the minimum amount of cars to legally race the cars in competition. The majority of the cars produced will be for racing purposes anyway.

The V8 powered M3 would provide too much competition for an upcoming M6 (two door M5) model that is in the works.

This is the news how I heard it.

thanks kevlar,
thanks for the support, I wasnt sure if my comments above were right! :D

That makes sense Kev. I knew a V8 was originally planned for the new M3 and now that BMW is racing them I felt they had to produce some small number to meet the requirements.

It sure would be nice to get your hands on one of those V8 M3s!

Bob ///M3

Originally posted by Bob ///M3

It sure would be nice to get your hands on one of those V8 M3s!


Oh yeah... it would be awesome.

The funny part is... all these other manufacturers are running these highly modified tuned to the edge engines in the 3.5 - 4.0 liter range. So BMW had the bright idea... hmm, let's take our factory M5 engine... detune it and stick it in our race car.

So while the other manufacturers are running highly tuned engines that have to be torn down after every race... the BMW boys are running detuned M5 engines that require typical service... maybe an extra oil change after every race.

I'd stick take one in a heart beat tho...

To quote some people at the car show the other day

Kids: "What kinda engine is that?"

BMW Driver: "It's an M5 engine."

Kids: "Wow... it's got two intakes?!?!?"

BMW Driver: "Yup... it's a 400+HP V8 -- it needs all the air it can get"

Kids: "Wow... awesome! I'm gonna do that to my car"

BMW Driver: "*Smirk*"

Haha, I'd love to have to explain that!

I guess all the V8 M3s made will be right-side steering wheel won't they?

Bob ///M3

Originally posted by Bob ///M3
I guess all the V8 M3s made will be right-side steering wheel won't they?


I dunno, I don't think so... since some of them will be racing in the US... the ones for private sale will all be right hand drive since they are in Europe and S. Africa.

If you could some how get your hands on a left-hand drive V8 M3 that'd be sweet. Of course I'd love to see the look on the service advisers face when you took the car in for it's 1200mile service.

Oh man! Don't you know that every tech in the entire service department would go ape over a V8 M3?
http://bobcrews.homestead.com/files/Monkey_URL.gif

Bob ///M3

ummmmm Europe is Left Hand Drive too you know...
only England, S. Africa, Australia, Japan, Hong
Kong etc are Right Hand Drive and most of the V8s
would be sold here in germany, france, and england
and considering you can register a left hand drive
vehicle in England they will almost 100% be made
lfet hand drive.

I went down to my local dealer (JMK) several days ago, and they also said that there would be a V8 M3. The V8 M3 would be very limited production and would be the next generation of the "LTW" version of the M3. It would lack sound proofing and have lighten body work. So, its more then that they just dropped a V8 in, BMW appears to have done extensive work to make it a race car. BTW, he said it would still be possible to get one, for $100,000 approx. Any taker's?

Thats just your salsman talking, I have not heard any official announcement of BMWs intention to sell that car here in the US. But here's to hoping they do as I intend to have the first or second one that gets delivered at my dealer.

I read somewhere that the V8 M3 has a 4.0 short stroke V8. Sounds sweet but to bad we wont see it.

Also heard that the 2002 or 2003 M5 gets a power boost to 450hp. Sweet!!!:D

I've read in a couple of publications (C&D, Automobile) that the next gen. 3 Series (E90), set to debut in 2006, will offer a V-8 M3 which should produce around 400bhp.

Got any concept pics of the E90?

Sooty Pooh!

Originally posted by Beavis
Thats just your salsman talking, I have not heard any official announcement of BMWs intention to sell that car here in the US. But here's to hoping they do as I intend to have the first or second one that gets delivered at my dealer.

It is in the latest Roundel

Can someone scan those pics in from Roundel? I have forgotten to renew my BMWCCA membership... so I'm totally missing out! :(

One of the top sales people at Brecht BMW who races a similar M3 to mine told me no V8. revised 3 series will be mostly cosmetic coming in a few months. crease on front fender becomes abbreviated, front turn signals round up not down on sides and grill changes. Probably more but that's what he covered with me.

there won't be a V8 M3 that you can get your hands on probably till 2006 or so, but the replacement for the current M3 will probably be an M4 as they are going to make E90 coupes and convertibles 4ers, and wagons and saloons 3ers..... but there will then be an M1, M3 saloon & wagon, M4 coupe and cabrio, M5 sedan and possible wagon, & M6 coupe, plus M roadster and M coupe if that is still around....

all i can say is that i hope i have made some serious dough by then, because that will be ///Mazing, even though it is all ///Marketing

at www.BMWNATION.com

the guy in charge of M division in the US said there is no chance of the V8 M3 coming to the US, but you could order the GTR Version, but that is not street legal.

the new 2002 M3 isn't gonna be much different, they are gonna have the paddle shift like the Ferrari's, but suppose to be better.

And they are thing about coming over w/ 19inch rims....

does anyone know how much it would cost to do a V8 conversion?