http://www.thecarconnection.com/images/scrapbook/original/2227.jpg
http://www.thecarconnection.com/images/scrapbook/original/2226.jpg

What's a Euro car enthusiast to do when he sees a pre-production BMW M3 Coupe fly past his living room window? Well, Brooks Uhrig grabbed his trusty Canon digital camera and followed the prototype into the California sunset. And Uhrig's efforts produced this group of M3 spy pics.

The next-generation M3 is the first V-8-engined 3-Series, and offers 400-plus horsepower - so expect it to race from 0-60 in about five seconds, and go on to a limited top speed of 155 mph.

Power will be fed to the rear wheels via a six-speed manual gearbox or the latest SMG sequential manual, possibly with seven ratios. The new M3 should maintain the M3's reputation for outstanding handling. The V-8 will be more compact than the current in-line six-cylinder, while a longer wheelbase will help with weight distribution. Externally, the car takes many cues from the M5, with twin-exit exhausts, front wing vents, and discreet M badges, while the look of the all-new 3-Series means an aggressive nose and deeply sculpted flanks.

We hope to see this in dealer showrooms during the 2007 calendar year. -Brenda Priddy

http://www.thecarconnection.com/Enthusiasts/Spy_Shots/Spy_Shots_BMW_M3_Coupe.S178.A10499.html


Sure it's gonna have more power, but I am kind of disappointed that they went with a V8 for the M3. The inline-6 has been the 3-series trademark engine layout for quite some time.

I saw that car crusing down 101 to the 14N towards Willow Springs a few weeks ago. Although it had a bunch of black tape all over the tail lights, headlights and a rivited shroud. Looked bigger than the pre-Bangle gen M3, but still nice.

I'm not disappointed they're going away from the inline-6 as I know the V-8 will be one hell of a unit. The I-6 will still be used in the M Coupe and Roadster.

Not bad looking, but I'd rather have the sedan version. :)

I saw that car crusing down 101 to the 14N towards Willow Springs a few weeks ago. Although it had a bunch of black tape all over the tail lights, headlights and a rivited shroud. Looked bigger than the pre-Bangle gen M3, but still nice.

Just think - if you had snapped a couple of pics when it drive by, you could have been a few thousand dollars richer!

Photos from the original photographer - about 2 dozen.

http://www.sbeuroclub.com/board/viewtopic.php?t=1204

I know BMW has a test facility at Oxnard but I think they may have another larger center somewhere nearby. Anyone know? I think most people would be surprised how carefully tested and tailored BMWs are for the US market.

I know BMW has a test facility at Oxnard but I think they may have another larger center somewhere nearby. Anyone know? I think most people would be surprised how carefully tested and tailored BMWs are for the US market.
Sweet, I'm from Oxnard originally. I'll keep an eye out for them next time I go home.

<3 BMW M3 and M5s

Pretty pimpin', but it's gotta be quicker than that...

The M3 is my dream car but with that v8 the pricing will be most likely out of my range. Im guesing it will be close to the price of a z06 before its all said and done.

Rob

Sure it's gonna have more power, but I am kind of disappointed that they went with a V8 for the M3. The inline-6 has been the 3-series trademark engine layout for quite some time.

Well they are keeping the inline-6 in 3.2 litre form for the Z4 M, particularly the coupe, which according the latest Evo they want to be the "pure" M car.

Although that car is expected to do 0-60 in around 5 seconds and that seems slow to me.

Sure it's gonna have more power, but I am kind of disappointed that they went with a V8 for the M3. The inline-6 has been the 3-series trademark engine layout for quite some time.E21 = 4 cylinder only in the US.
E30 = 4 & 6 cylinders; M3 equipped with revy I4
E36 = 4 & 6 cylinders; M3 equipped with big I6
E46 = 6 cylinders only in US; M3 equipped with big I6

Not that I'm dissagreeing with you about the tradition of the 3 series (the I6 is certainly a trademark). I'm just pointing out that the M3, as it has grown in girth, has grown in engine displacement as well.

i really hope this thing doesn't weigh in at 4200 lbs. the M3 just gets more bloated with every "evolution"

yep, the E30, and E36 where just the right balance, and the E46 became the BLVD Cruiser.

hhhmmm i'm not feelin the new design as of yet.

Give me a e36 anyday, but this new body style is just meh. And isn't the 0-60 in about 5 seconds nothing special the e46 already does that.

Although that car is expected to do 0-60 in around 5 seconds and that seems slow to me.

BMW's acceleration times are almost always very conservative. C&D got the new M Roadster at 4.6....so the coupe should be close to that.

E21 = 4 cylinder only in the US.
E30 = 4 & 6 cylinders; M3 equipped with revy I4
E36 = 4 & 6 cylinders; M3 equipped with big I6
E46 = 6 cylinders only in US; M3 equipped with big I6

Not that I'm dissagreeing with you about the tradition of the 3 series (the I6 is certainly a trademark). I'm just pointing out that the M3, as it has grown in girth, has grown in engine displacement as well.

THere in lies my (slight) disappointment. I jsut can't stand how every car seems to get bigger and bigger with each next generation.
Faster? Yea, cool.
But I don't care what they say, a bigger (and thus probably heavier) car is not good for handling. And I am sure that BMW is going to try their darnedest to keep it a very good handling car, but that is besides the point.

Thank gawd for Lotus.

ps pic i got from a bmw buddy:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v253/jbishop98/Car%20stuff/car%20pics/m3coupe-v2.jpg

i get the feeling that the front end will not be looking like that.... Perhaps the bumper.. but the headlamp treatment is off...

Looks like a nice pic though.... wallpaper material :D

I dunno the heandlights looks jusat about like that on the picture above.

The wheels will be smaller, and more a power buldge on the hood.

crazy mofo! :lol: :lol: :lol:
didn't the M3 driver notice this dude?!!?!?

God the E46 looks so much better...

Brenda Priddy = crazy milf!! :lol:
did you guys read her story in motortrend? She just started by taking pics of the new Mustang and sending it into a mag... :lol:

God the E46 looks so much better...

agreed

Sweet, I'm from Oxnard originally. I'll keep an eye out for them next time I go home.

BMW has an off-loading center in Oxnard, they ship cars on RoRos to Port Hueneme, off-load to Oxnard and do a lot of prep and checks before the cars are sent off to dealers. Lots of monkey jobs caravaning new BMWs 5 miles, or enabling the A/C and checking the paint.

Newbury Park (~20 minutes south of Oxnard on the 101) has the BMW Designworks building. I work across the street - there's never anything spy-photoish parked out front, but the gear-heads there do own some interesting cars.

M3 had to go with a V8 especially since competitors (S4, RS4, C55, etc) are all using V8s. Most people in the market for these cars like 'Big' numbers and in order to keep up, BMW had two choices, turbo the I-6 or V8. i guess they chose the latter. Oh wait, the 335i uses the turbo I-6 engine, right?? so m3 had no choice...

the 335i uses the turbo I-6 engine, right?? so m3 had no choice...

And the 335i has like 330 HP... only 3 shy of the last-gen M3.

Even if I had the money for the new M3, I think I would pick the 335i for better bang-for-the-buck value. All these next-gen top of the line cars are becoming so overkill... cars like the M3, the RS4, all the AMG cars and many many others.

I actually got a shot of the rear end, a real bad camera pix of it on the 14S the other day. It was being followed by a black z4.

http://x70.xanga.com/f51a50f1d7c3559260619/w39719388.jpg

BMW had two choices, turbo the I-6 or V8. i guess they chose the latter. Oh wait, the 335i uses the turbo I-6 engine, right?? so m3 had no choice...

Once the aftermarket gets the 335i dialed in, I wouldn't be surprised if it becomes a M3 killer. Even a well-sorted 335i with stock turbos might give a M3 a run for its money. The recipe is similar to the MkIV Supra which put out a conservative 320 hp stock but with basic upgrades was making around 400 whp on the stock turbos!

Potential Prices and specs released via autoblog

You're well acquainted with the speculation and rumors surrounding the upcoming release of the M3. Up until this point though, all we've had are blurry spy shots and chance encounters captured by fellow gearheads. However, two Beemer-centric sites have dropped some very specific, albeit dubious, information about the price, options and most important, power figures, that will find adorn BMW's newest driver's car.

Engine output, although rated in kW and Nm on the sites, equates to 412 hp and 310 lb./tq., right within the range the boys in Munich estimated when pressed for details. Additionally, the engine will be a 4-liter V8, equipped with bi-VANOS and will send power through either a 3rd generation 7-speed SMG or a 6-speed manual. No word on what which transmission will come standard.

Pricing, with the applicable import costs will be $53,975, a mere $5k over the current 2006 model.

All the sorted details, pulled straight from the two posts can be found after the jump.
Major Standard Equipment
Adaptive Xenon Headlights
Carbon Fiber Roof
SMG III 7-Speed transmission with DRIVELOGIC
18" M Double Spoke Alloy Wheel
18x8F/18x9R with P235/45ZR18 Front, P265/40ZR18 Rear Performance tires.

Invoice $49,117
Base Price USA Port of Entry* $53,975

Vehicle Options List
Metallic paint $475
Nappa leather $1,450
Carbon fiber trim $300
Aluminum trim NC
Comfort Access $500
M Multifunction Seats with Active Width Adjustment $1,900
Front Heated Seats $500 / ZCW
Power Rear Sunshade $350
Head-Up Display $1,000
Navigation System w/I-Drive $2,100
Power Rear Sunshade $350
Rear Park Distance Control $350
19" M Double Spoke alloy wheel $1,750
19x8.5F/19x9.5R with P235/40ZR19 Front, P265/35ZR19 Rear Performance tires.
Logic 7 sound system $1,200
SIRIUS Satellite Radio $595
High Definition Radio $500
Premium Package (ZPP) $3,100
Cold Weather Package (ZCW) $750
6-speed manual transmission NC
Rear Spoiler Deletion NC

yay for i drive!!


http://videos.streetfire.net/category/BMW/0/a591de0b-2814-48eb-83c8-981b0161202f.htm

And the 335i has like 330 HP... only 3 shy of the last-gen M3.




I have driven the 335i (w/ the twin turbos) coupe on both the road and on a race track. It is really fantastic. Great torque all the way around. It is 2 tenths of a second slower to 60 than the current M3.
The performance is more than enough for the road, too much even, it was work not to be going 100mph all the time, it was so smooth


Even if I had the money for the new M3, I think I would pick the 335i for better bang-for-the-buck value. All these next-gen top of the line cars are becoming so overkill... cars like the M3, the RS4, all the AMG cars and many many others.

I agree, the cars are sweet because of the looks and you can say you have all the performance bits on them, but reality is you will never really be able to extract the extra performance out of such cars.

I drove the M5, it was retarded!! Would have lost my license before the end of second gear. ( Paddle transmission sucked BTW) Not to mention it took me 20 minutes to figure out how to start it and get it into reverse. I really did not like that car at all

first gen M3 for the win!

Just think - if you had snapped a couple of pics when it drive by, you could have been a few thousand dollars richer!


Perhaps a few hundred. The car is too close to release to be really valuable photos

Once the aftermarket gets the 335i dialed in, I wouldn't be surprised if it becomes a M3 killer. Even a well-sorted 335i with stock turbos might give a M3 a run for its money. The recipe is similar to the MkIV Supra which put out a conservative 320 hp stock but with basic upgrades was making around 400 whp on the stock turbos!

That was a point I brought up on a BMW board a few months back. It just seems as though the 335i holds so much more potential. And with the sedan getting the turbo'd engine in the spring of `07, there are even more possibilities.

Edit: Just found this at www.automobilemag.com

The non-turbocharged 330i, rated by BMW at 255 hp and 220 lb-ft of torque, puts about 200 hp and 180 lb-ft to the rear wheels. That’s roughly a twenty-percent loss. Since they have similar drivelines, you’d expect the 335i to put down 235 hp and 250 lb-ft.

But it didn’t. It put down a whole lot more: 275 hp and 300 lb-ft. A few quick taps on our trusty calculator shows that this engine is likely putting out closer to 350 hp and 360 lb-ft of torque.

- Chris

335i FTW!

Doesn't it follow suit that the M3 may be better than advertised?

I have driven the 335i (w/ the twin turbos) coupe on both the road and on a race track. It is really fantastic. Great torque all the way around. It is 2 tenths of a second slower to 60 than the current M3.
The performance is more than enough for the road, too much even, it was work not to be going 100mph all the time, it was so smooth

You're a lucky dog to have driven the new 335i. I've driven a couple of 330i's and liked them very much. Anyhow did you find the lack of an LSD to be an issue? Sounds like you didn't but with all that torque going down to a single wheel...

You're a lucky dog to have driven the new 335i. I've driven a couple of 330i's and liked them very much. Anyhow did you find the lack of an LSD to be an issue? Sounds like you didn't but with all that torque going down to a single wheel...


Not an issue at all.

Car has traction control

I have the new Z4 3.0si today. Pretty nice but very nervous handling, especially if the road is a bit bumpy

Not an issue at all.

Car has traction control

I have the new Z4 3.0si today. Pretty nice but very nervous handling, especially if the road is a bit bumpy

I do have the hots for the Z4m coupe. Would really like to drive one but might find out that I like it too much. However it sounds a little like you are still more impressed by the 335i.

Frankly though I'm gonna wait out the next gen A4 (or STI) and make a move. This morning on the way to work the air had a nice mild chill and my APR reflashed A4 was in a particularily good mood. ;)

2wd sucks, you have to brake sooner, accelerate later out of a turn and in high performance machines the acceleration is slower due to the tires having to hook up. Why do you think bugatti is using 4wd in the worlds fastest production car.

I do have the hots for the Z4m coupe. Would really like to drive one but might find out that I like it too much. However it sounds a little like you are still more impressed by the 335i.

Frankly though I'm gonna wait out the next gen A4 (or STI) and make a move. This morning on the way to work the air had a nice mild chill and my APR reflashed A4 was in a particularily good mood. ;)

I have not driven the MCoupe yet so I could not compare it to the Z4, but I'd imagine the extra chassis stiffness awarded by the hard top would make a difference

Z4 is plenty fast

Since I moved to CA (and got a bit older too) and have access to all these amazingly tight canyon roads that I did not have before, power is mostly a non issue for me anymore. Handling is way more fun and on these roads a Miata would be more fun than the BMW's

2wd sucks, you have to brake sooner, accelerate later out of a turn and in high performance machines the acceleration is slower due to the tires having to hook up. Why do you think bugatti is using 4wd in the worlds fastest production car.

OK Fanboi :rolleyes:

Birthday:
July 14, 1990 :lol:

2wd sucks, you have to brake sooner, accelerate later out of a turn and in high performance machines the acceleration is slower due to the tires having to hook up. Why do you think bugatti is using 4wd in the worlds fastest production car.

mmm, yeah...

So how many times have you tried this theory out on a track?

OK Fanboi :rolleyes:

Birthday:
July 14, 1990 :lol:


And look at you driving your 02. :lol:

And look at you driving your 02. :lol:

Huh? :huh:

Why do you have to brake sooner?

Bloated euro-crap.

Bloated euro-crap.+123456789eleventybillion

2wd sucks, you have to brake sooner, accelerate later out of a turn and in high performance machines the acceleration is slower due to the tires having to hook up. Why do you think bugatti is using 4wd in the worlds fastest production car.and that is the worst statement I have ever heard.

Ever.

And look at you driving your 02. :lol:I think he meant "I'm better than you b/c my WRX is a 2006."

You just got "laughed at" by a 16 year old elitest punk who got mommy and daddy to buy him a car that he probably has no idea how to drive.

You should instantly feel great about yourself.

Check out his post history, it just gets better and better.

"Where can I find teh m@d tyte wide body kitzzzz"
"Will I's break ma differential runnin two different sized tires rear and back?"

I weep for the future.

ewww, it's gross.

I think he meant "I'm better than you b/c my WRX is a 2006."

You just got "laughed at" by a 16 year old elitest punk who got mommy and daddy to buy him a car that he probably has no idea how to drive.



I'm not even sure his 06 is a WRX...it says Impreza which could be a TS, or base model.

I'm not even sure his 06 is a WRX...it says Impreza which could be a TS, or base model.

If you look at his other posts it's an RS.

oh, that's much better than a 02 WRX.

2wd sucks, you have to brake sooner...

and already i know to stop reading...

and that is the worst statement I have ever heard.

Ever.

I think he meant "I'm better than you b/c my WRX is a 2006."

You just got "laughed at" by a 16 year old elitest punk who got mommy and daddy to buy him a car that he probably has no idea how to drive.

You should instantly feel great about yourself.

Check out his post history, it just gets better and better.

"Where can I find teh m@d tyte wide body kitzzzz"
"Will I's break ma differential runnin two different sized tires rear and back?"

I weep for the future.



:lol:

Bloated euro-crap.

Not sure I would go that far, Subaru's are no featherweights (But then again my other car only weighs 1400lbs ) and the 335i is only about 200lbs heavier than an STi and you get a lot more car

If you look at his other posts it's an RS.

Nope, its a 2.5i. There is no RS in MY06.

Here's a Video with sound:

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=13097

Looks like a viral video with sound. Very weird that the 'spies' are getting the finger and prolonged shots of the car in motion.

\still cool
\\just sayin...

Why is that weird?

I'm not sure either. The german mfg reps don't want the goods pasted up all over the place. Too late!

Should be very interesting to see what the new M3 weighs considering they tought the twin-turbo I6 to be significantly less than a V-8, while the current I6 N/A engined M3 Coupe already weighs in at a significant 3,415lbs. I'm guessing the 3,500-3,600lb range is where they will be, but one must think back to even the E36 M3's that weighed in at 3,175lbs. I hate the more weight direction.

Why is that weird?
The cameramen are obviously in an SUV of some sort. There are two shots where the SUV is riding along with the M3 on a desert highway (one behind and one shot from in front). In several other shots, the M3 is following a support vehicle very closely in order to avoid being spotted. Why would the M3 driver just be tooling along with the SUV right on its bumper in the other shots if they were trying to avoid being spotted? Just doesn't make any sense.

The cameramen are obviously in an SUV of some sort. There are two shots where the SUV is riding along with the M3 on a desert highway (one behind and one shot from in front). In several other shots, the M3 is following a support vehicle very closely in order to avoid being spotted. Why would the M3 driver just be tooling along with the SUV right on its bumper in the other shots if they were trying to avoid being spotted? Just doesn't make any sense.

Because they had work/testing to do, and it's already known what the car will look like, so the spies are just an annoyance.
If they really wanted to hide the car there would be more camouflage on it (and they would still be testing on proving grounds and not in public)
If it's in public, it's fair game

Because they had work/testing to do, and it's already known what the car will look like, so the spies are just an annoyance.
If they really wanted to hide the car there would be more camouflage on it (and they would still be testing on proving grounds and not in public)
If it's in public, it's fair game
I'll take your word for it. It just seemed odd to me. The quality of the camera work was suprisingly good, but I suppose the spies may be pros.