Spotted: F80 M3 Sedan Accelerates on the PCH (Video)

[Needsdecaf]

Waiting for someone to say it sounds like a V6........

[Jblack4083]

I remember hearing one of those videos from the Nurburgring and thinking how much like an E46 it sounded when in the upper-RPM range. At low speeds it definitely has that N54-like sound.

[Kuwen]

Originally Posted by zuggerat89

That's what I am looking forward to!

Agreed, rasp is the best part.

[KKM3]

Originally Posted by signes

Good stuff, better sounding than the 'ring clips.

KKM3, curious what you thought about the styling if you could tell much at night. Thanks for the great commentary BTW.

Unfortunately it was quite dark with very little lighting to really notice any if its styling cues. I did notice that it was riding pretty firm and def looked and sounded on the sporty side. Downshifts sounded nice and the exhaust was very loud. Louder than a stock e92 m3 for sure.

[RMB]

I am going with the M4 and have money down on it, but I have to say that the V8 in the M3 definitely sounds better, not only the exhaust, but just the induction noise alone coming from the engine. I realize this area is a subjective matter, but in person and on video recordings the V8 just sounds better IMHO.

[burrito007]

Originally Posted by IancoleTX

Actually not bad. Afraid of rasp in the upper RPMs though

why? that was the best part about the e46 m3 sound... never understood why anyone did those "rasp-x" mods.

[M3 Adjuster]

Originally Posted by KKM3

I spotted this car last night around 9pm driving north on Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu, California. I knew right away it was the new M3 and I was determined to get a good clip or two before we parted ways.

I can tell you that the car sounds much better when you're driving right next to it, the recording don't do it justice. The engine sounds similar to an e46 M3 and this caught me by surprise because I was expecting it to sound more like a 335 but it didn't. The car sounds loud and alive. It's no v8 but it does sound good for a forced induction 6 cylinder motor.

I got a quick glimpse of the gauges and they look reminiscent of the gauges in the e46 M3 - same amber lighting. All in all I am now very excited about the upcoming M3/M4. Seeing and hearing the car up close I can tell you that it's going to be good, very good. Only time will tell wether or not it will be as exciting to drive as the e9x but I have a good feeling about it.

thanks for the AUTHENTIC spy shot.

[M3 Adjuster]

Originally Posted by Needsdecaf

Waiting for someone to say it sounds like a V6........

jsut because it's an inline 6 doesnt mean it can't *sound* like a V6.... a Nissan V6 actually..

[positiveions]

Good stuff.

[FogCityM3]

While nothing will sound as good as a high-revving N/A V8, the i-6 TT sounds decent and even somewhat menacing for what it is.

[bimmerjph]

Originally Posted by KKM3

I spotted this car last night around 9pm driving north on Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu, California. I knew right away it was the new M3 and I was determined to get a good clip or two before we parted ways.

I can tell you that the car sounds much better when you're driving right next to it, the recording don't do it justice. The engine sounds similar to an e46 M3 and this caught me by surprise because I was expecting it to sound more like a 335 but it didn't. The car sounds loud and alive. It's no v8 but it does sound good for a forced induction 6 cylinder motor.

I got a quick glimpse of the gauges and they look reminiscent of the gauges in the e46 M3 - same amber lighting. All in all I am now very excited about the upcoming M3/M4. Seeing and hearing the car up close I can tell you that it's going to be good, very good. Only time will tell wether or not it will be as exciting to drive as the e9x but I have a good feeling about it.

Thanks for posting. I can kind of hear that rasp that the S54 had.

[Diver]

It's going to be nice to have more low end torque.

[SoCali E36]

Originally Posted by Blindside_137

Sounds ok. Just hope it doesn't fart like the M5 and M6

Really? The farts sound awesome.

[RMB]

Originally Posted by Diver

It's going to be nice to have more low end torque.

+1

[doublevanosrc]

Originally Posted by Kriston

As much as I would love to have a new M3. The V8 in the E90 is just a beast, it sounds exotic with the right exhaust system.

In comparison - the F80 M3 sounds very tame compared to the big V8.

I agree it cannot compete with the E90/92 M3 V8, that thing sounds like its from an F1 car!!

[Technic]

Originally Posted by burrito007

why? that was the best part about the e46 m3 sound... never understood why anyone did those "rasp-x" mods.

Because the "rasp" was nasty, that's why...

[theriz]

Saw this car today. Personally, it sounded like a N54 335i just a little louder. It looks mean AF... Also it has the same feature when stopped like the
F30. I can make the pic bigger if anyone wants.

[mPlasticDesign]

Originally Posted by ufgtrs2007

I don't get it. What did we do before we had the S65?! I think it sounds good and I can't wait to see the final performance numbers. I'm waiting to see, hear, and drive it before passing judgement.

Well before the S65, we had I6's without turbos so the sound is obviously different. I've always dreamed of an updated S54 (still NA) with a displacement increase to 3.4-3.8l with HP to match 350-400 in a light smaller package but BMW didn't ask me for my opinion.

[Needsdecaf]

Originally Posted by M3 Adjuster

jsut because it's an inline 6 doesnt mean it can't *sound* like a V6.... a Nissan V6 actually..

Doesn't sound anything like a Nissan V6.

[Nang Vann]

Beast!

[Dave2011M3]

Love the way it looks, love the E46 type gauges..I hate the way it sounds. The S65 IMHO is light years ahead of this in terms of visceral aural quality. I didn't like the way my E46 M3 sounded either, and a AM exhaust did help but still not the S65 powerplant.

Also, with the turbos you won't get the awesome intake howl anymore. At least the E46 had that as well as the E9X.

My E46 M3..

Dave

[3XTR3M3]

Originally Posted by ufgtrs2007

I don't get it. What did we do before we had the S65?! I think it sounds good and I can't wait to see the final performance numbers. I'm waiting to see, hear, and drive it before passing judgement.

We had a 3.2L Inline-6 engine that screamed like a family of chainsaws caught in a fire all the way to 8000RPM.

If everyone "reserved judgement" until they saw, felt, drove, heard, listened, licked, the car in person, we would have nothing to talk about here.

I loved my high-revving I6s with the power curve it brought with it. I love my high-revving V8 with an even higher redline even though it's more exotic and less of a screamer. These are the things I love about all the M3's I've owned.

The new M3 will be different, thats for sure. I, along with many, might like it, love, it or hate it, or might feel that while it's still a good car, the values of the natural M car are no longer there. I really hope not but it's possible.

Either way, the M division is phenomenal. I'm sure the car will be nothing short of amazing, even if it caters to a new crowd and not the high revving, all the power up top junkies like myself.

Here's to hoping the redline hits at least 8k and the power is put down very linear and predictable like past M3s and NOT like 335s.