M Cars Get Wider, and Wider, and Wider

[Sir Loin]

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I was at the BMW dealership and saw a new 435i. I thought it was really wide. So I started looking for the new M3 and M4 dimensions and comparing the numbers with the older M3s and old and new M5s.

If the numbers are correct, the new F8x Ms are now wider than both E39 and E60 M5s (measuring from center of the right tire to the center of the left tire). The new F8x Ms are wider and longer than the old E46 M3 yet they weight about the same. The bar chart gives a better visual.

[19x]

e46 M3 > all M3's

j/k

Good find!

[Denk]

Originally Posted by camber

e46 M3 > all M3's

j/k

Good find!

[Sedan_Clan]

My F30 335i is as big as an E46 ///M3. It makes the ///M look kinda small.

[GregD]

Is this new M3 really wider than the M5 F10? only the hips I reckon but this could mean similar offsets could apply?

[paddy335]

that's the most elaborate looking post I have seen in my time on this forum

[Jaguar]

I think the width figures above in the chart are referring to rear track, not body with. If you look at the diagrams, the front and rear track width is what is referenced in the chart.

An example where this is tricky is the new 4 series. It's body is only approx 1.5 inch wider than the e92 equivalent, however the rear track is 3.5 wider than e92.

[solstice]

Excellent post. Seeing them lined up like that is an eye opener. These things are wide.

[Sir Loin]

Originally Posted by Sir Loin

If the numbers are correct, the new F8x Ms are now wider than then both E39 and E60 M5s (measuring from center of the right tire to the center of the left tire). The new F8x Ms are wider and longer than the old E46 M3 yet they weight about the same. The bar chart gives a better visual.

Originally Posted by starkindustries

I think the width figures above in the chart are referring to rear track, not body with. If you look at the diagrams, the front and rear track width is what is referenced in the chart.

See original post, quoted and bolded here for you.

[Sir Loin]

Originally Posted by solstice

Excellent post. Seeing them lined up like that is an eye opener. These things are wide.

This must be how BMW can fit 2 series into the line up :-)

[smashhell]

Originally Posted by GregD

Is this new M3 really wider than the M5 F10? only the hips I reckon but this could mean similar offsets could apply?

OP said it's wider than E60 M5, not F10.

[Falafel Combo]

Originally Posted by Sedan_Clan

My F30 335i is as big as an E46 ///M3. It makes the ///M look kinda small.

Must be a typo (or a sick joke) in here somewhere. Either way, bravo!

[CanAutM3]

Originally Posted by Sir Loin

See original post, quoted and bolded here for you.

Excellent post , makes for some good reflections...

Note, you should change the the legend in your spreadsheet to specify front and rear track instead of width, it would avoid the confusion

[Needsdecaf]

Originally Posted by Sir Loin

See original post, quoted and bolded here for you.

The poster you quoted was pointing out an error in your data. Bolding your original post does not make you right. You even say "if the numbers are correct", which they aren't.

Measuring wheel to wheel is called track. It is not width. Width is a measurement of the body, which is given as well, both with and without mirrors. I would love to see your table corrected with both track and non-mirror width dimensions shown. dimensionsCertainly your point is not lost, but to say that the F80 is wider than an F10 is ludicrous.

What it points out is the huge discrepancy in front and rear track of the F10. Man they must have been hunting for front end grip.

Nice work nonetheless. Kudos.

[GOLFFRR]

interesting!

[JoeFromPA]

Granted, track is not the equivalent of width of bodywork, but is definitely is important to the footprint and perception of the vehicle.

And that is WIDE. An e39 m5 is the vehicle I'm most familiar with. It's bout 4000 pounds and handled it's bulk very well with a narrower track and the same size rear tires as the f80 m3. Which blows me away with a ~600 pound lighter vehicle running the same size tires having a notably wider track on a street/stock car.

That being said, I can imagine the f80 m3 will have a number of advantages with such a wide track. Can't wait to test them out

[Sedan_Clan]

Originally Posted by ///M235i

Must be a typo (or a sick joke) in here somewhere. Either way, bravo!

Huh??? Actually I was serious. I was parked next to a Carbon Black E46 ///M3 yesterday, and my 335i looked like the bigger car (...and it technically is both wider and longer). I don't understand your typo/sick joke reference. <confused>

[Falafel Combo]

Originally Posted by Sedan_Clan

Huh??? Actually I was serious. I was parked next to a Carbon Black E46 ///M3 yesterday, and my 335i looked like the bigger car (...and it technically is both wider and longer). I don't understand your typo/sick joke reference. <confused>

It might be just me, but the way I read your comment "My F30 335i is as big as an E46 ///M3" gave me the impression that you were saying your f30 and the e46 are about the same size.

[Sedan_Clan]

Originally Posted by ///M235i

It might be just me, but the way I read your comment "My F30 335i is as big as an E46 ///M3" gave me the impression that you were saying your f30 and the e46 are about the same size.

Ah okay! I suppose it was lost in translation.

[Sir Loin]

OK, chart updated to specify track width. Thanks guys for pointing that out.

The E60 and F10 M5s have very wide rear tires to make up for their slightly narrower rear track width. F8x have wider rear track and wider rear tires. F8x should look very aggressive in person, as a lot of people have said.

[Needsdecaf]

E46 M3 E92 M3 F80 M3 E39 M5 E60 M5 F10 M5
Width 1780 1804 1877 1800 1846 1892
Wheelbase 2731 2761 2812 2830 2899 2964
Length 4492 4615 4671 4784 4855 4910
Front Track 1508 1536 1579 1515 1580 1627
Rear Track 1525 1539 1603 1527 1566 1582

I know this isn't tabulated right. But here's the rub:

When ranked by width, it goes:

E46 M3
E39 M5
E92 M3
E60 M5
F80 M3
F10 M5

So all along, everyone's been saying that the F30 is the new E39. When in reality, the beloved E92 already was bigger anyway!!

[elitex]

Look at the difference in front width, probably to help with front end traction with increased weight. don't know