The sports sedan is one of the best automotive segments ever created. Unfortunately, the industry’s shift from sedans to crossovers has caused them to become an endangered species. That doesn’t mean there aren’t still great examples on offer – Cadillac’s Blackwing models and the Genesis G70 come to mind. One of the really big ones is this BMW M3And the current G80 generation is the most powerful and powerful M3 that BMW has ever created. Essentially, though, it’s just a BMW 3 Series. Does this connection make the M3 one of the best everyday cars still available? I’m here to tell you that it is.
Full disclosure: After trying to overcome knee pain to test a manual M3 last year, BMW was kind enough to loan me another M3 to test, this time with an automatic transmission. I used the M3 like a Toyota Camry and loved every minute of it.
The G80 M3 already exists since 2021, when it debuted with probably one of the most controversial redesigns in recent history. I have to admit that after a few years the design has grown on me. It’s not as polarizing as it used to be, large kidney grilles included. This particular M3 is the new 50 Years Edition, which adds some nice details that spice things up even more.
At $96,695 – over $14,000 more expensive than the starting price of an M3 Competition – the 50 Years is all about the details, and only 500 examples will be built. Each example is available in a special color carried by a previous M3; Mine was painted in excellent Fire Orange paint, a color previously only available on the Lime Rock Park Edition of the E92 M3. Carbon fiber is used extensively to cover the roof, front splitter, rear spoiler and the surround of the large quad-titanium exhaust outlets. It also wears special BMW Motorsport 50th anniversary round rings and excellent 19-inch matte gray wheels.
Even though the 50 Years is a special edition, you don’t get any powertrain upgrades. Base M3 Use a 3.0-liter twin-turbocharged inline-six producing 473 horsepower, with a 6-speed manual transmission and rear-wheel drive as standard. The ultimate M3, excluding the CS model, is the M3 Competition xDrive, on which the 50 Years is based. It uses the same twin-turbo inline-six, only with 30 additional horsepower for a total of 503 horsepower. An 8-speed automatic transmission and BMW’s xDrive all-wheel-drive system are the only options.
None of this stopped me from just using the M3 for 50 years like it was just a regular old 3 Series, although to anyone looking from the outside, I Was something special. The car’s bright orange paint drew attention. People would stare at me, try to race me, or drive next to me until they got my attention so they could tell me how cool the car was. This led to some awkward encounters in places or situations that would be normal in any other car, such as the time I had to hit Dollar Tree to pick up a few items. “You drive a car like that and go in there?” asked a man getting into his car as I got out of the M3. I nodded awkwardly and smiled as he chuckled and drove off.
Taking my son to school was another ordinary thing that the M3 made extraordinary as both parents and children marveled at the car. “Dad, go past all these people and drop me off at the end. “Everyone is looking,” my son remarked one morning. He usually enjoys the attention he receives when he’s dropped off in different cars, but this kind of attention was on a different level.
Using the M3 to run errands feels normal. During one trip to Costco, I was able to grab two packs of toilet paper, two 32-can cases of Coke, and five more cases in the trunk. Transporting passengers was also possible with the M3 without any problems. On a random evening, two other adults sat comfortably in the back seat, thanks in part to the M3’s 35.4 inches of rear legroom. Although that might not sound like much if you’ve ever sat in a Genesis G70 or Lexus ISYou will be grateful for a space like this.
Even when you drive the M3 normally, it’s pretty docile. You wouldn’t know that there’s more than 500 hp lurking under the hood. The EPA says you can expect V8-like fuel economy of 18 mpg in the city, 22 mpg on the highway and 18 mpg combined; Surprisingly, I did slightly better at 19 mpg combined and even managed to get 24 mpg on a longer highway trip once.
When I did manage to get some power out while driving on my local canyon roads, the 503 horsepower is strong and the engine pulls like it has no limits. It’s incredibly fast, which makes me think BMW is underestimating the power of this engine – a shared feeling among owners and reviewers. With the built-in performance timer, I was able to reach 60 miles per hour in just three seconds. that was 0.4 seconds More quickly as BMW estimate. The 8-speed automatic shifts through the gears at lightning speed and even maintains the revs, especially when using the paddle shifters.
As I throw the M3 into a corner, I quickly remember why this thing is one of the best for it. It feels fantastically planted and populated; Combine that with the secure grip of the AWD system, and the M3 makes me feel like I can do anything. The M3 allows you to customize settings like throttle input and suspension damping, allowing you to tailor performance to your liking.
Not everything is perfect. Take the great looking M Carbon bucket seats for example. They’re a $4,500 option and are designed to hold you like a glove during sporty driving. However, due to their carbon fiber construction, they may be uncomfortable for some on longer rides. This also means they lack the flexibility of regular seating, making getting in and out a hassle. There is also a way too many controls and settings in the infotainment system, which is housed in a new curved display. Press the Home button and you’ll be confronted with rows and rows of icons for apps and settings.
These flaws all pale in comparison to how great the M3 Edition 50 Years is. This is a car that I’ve stood in front of smiling every time. It’s a rare treat to experience something that makes me think of excuses just to take advantage of it. If you’re lucky enough to snag an M3 Edition 50 Years or even a stock G80 M3 Competition, do yourself a favor and drive it every day. You’ll be glad you did.
