We’ve previously featured an Atacama Yellow M3 sedan and now here’s the first E93 M3 convertible in Atacama Yellow.
Atacama yellow is currently only available on the Z4 and must be ordered as a BMW Individual color for any other models, including the M3. The yellow looks great against the contrasting carbon fiber and black aero piece and wheels. Check out the full set of photos inside.
The countdown is on: BMW Motorsport completes its final test before the DTM season-opener in Hockenheim. Watch the first extensive footage of the BMW M3 DTM race cars inside, together with interviews with the BMW DTM drivers prior to the first DTM race in 3 weeks.
Munich, 5th April 2012. With three weeks to go until the first race of the 2012 DTM season, BMW Motorsport has officially completed its test programme. From Monday to Thursday the three teams and their six drivers were hard at work at the Hockenheimring (DE), traditionally the venue of the opening round, which this year will get underway on 29th April 2012. This will be BMW’s first DTM race since 11th October 1992.
Over the last few days, all the BMW … CONTINUED
Following a four-week intermission after BMW Team RLL’s GT class victory at the 12 Hours of Sebring American Le Mans Series curtain-raiser the second act of the team’s ALMS GT class title defense will be set in the streets of Long Beach, California on April 14th.
Last year Joey Hand and Dirk Müller had starring roles as Long Beach race winners and, ultimately GT class driver’s champions. This year’s story has begun much as the last with Hand and Müller sharing a second consecutive Sebring 12 Hour victory – this time supported by Jonathan Summerton, of Kissimmee, Fla., as third driver.
Only two hours long the Long Beach race is not only the shortest of the season, but the tight confines of the 1.968-mile, 11-turn temporary street circuit … CONTINUED
Here’s a great road trip journal featuring an M3, 4000 miles of travel, Tail of the Dragon, and a high performance driving event at Homestead track.
M3POST member LM3 traveled from Michigan to Florida and back in his E90 M3. He documents the more interesting parts of the trip for us through words, photos, and videos. Check it out inside.
We had the chance to speak to BMW NA M Brand Manager Matt Russell and BMW M Marketing Director Thomas Schemera at the 2012 NYIAS about many things M. We covered some hot topics/models, including the M5, M6, M3 (current and future generation) and M Performance Automobiles.
M5 / M6
Can you tell us about the changes to the 2013 M5 from the 2012 M5? Why the wait for the 2013 model year for the US market?
It’s nothing major. It’s small things; it’s electronics underneath, little computer things. It’s definitely not customer-facing changes and not a great deal of functionality change.
How does the manual transmission affect the M5’s performance?
About 0.10 second 0-60mph difference (slower than DCT). We don’t have official EPA MPG estimates yet, but it’s not much. … CONTINUED
On display at the 2012 NYIAS is a gorgeous frozen blue metallic M3 coupe. Frozen blue metallic paint is available as a BMW Individual color, which (if you remember) can be ordered through any US BMW dealer.
One thing we’ve reconfirmed at the show is that the E92 M3 coupe will see production into mid-2013 and the E93 M3 convertible will end a few months after that. So, there WILL be a 2013 model year M3 coupe and convertible, despite recent faulty information from some dealers.
As for its successor, there will be no F8X M3/M4 (whatever it’ll be called) until after E92 and E93 M3 production ends, so the successor model will come as 2014 model. Our full interview with BMW M is forthcoming.
Lovely Spring days bring warmer weather but it also returns BMW prototypes to Nürburgring testing, and we’ve just spied on video the king of all current BMW prototypes - the much-anticipated [B]F80 M3 Sedan[/B]. Powered by an inline 6 or V6 displacing more than 3 litres good for roughly 450hp and featuring up to 3 turbos (with possible electric turbo), the new M3 is set to be better than its predecessor in any and every regard, as usual. BMW will again offer both a 6-speed manual and an (optional) 7-speed double clutch transmission for the M3.
As we’ve oft repeated, the new 2014 F80 M3 may be the only M3 model BMW will offer for the next generation as rumors suggest that the F82 … CONTINUED
We take you on a tour of the Classic Coupes exhibit at the BMW Museum.
The BMW Museum has changed up a few of their exhibits. Down at the base of the classic “ball” are three super cars: 1M, 1M Homage and the 1M Concept. All three in red! It is quite a sight to behold.
And upstairs where the “Art Cars” were shown up in the classic “ball” is now a special showing of “classic coupes”. There is a little bit of BMW’s grand past and present on display here. Take a look for yourself as I guide you thru the Museum….
Here is a brief but telling clip of the F10 M5’s sounds versus that of the E92 M3. Both are powered by a V8, but the M5 features a 4.4L bi-turbo V8 pumping out 560hp while the M3 is powered by a 4.0L naturally aspirated 414hp V8. Video by, courtesy of, and thanks to ednet01.
While we’ve seen many of our worldwide members taking deliveries of their 2012 F10 M5, none have yet been delivered to North America. Canada should see the first deliveries in just weeks and while the US won’t see the new M5 until the 2013 model year production begins in July (for Sept delivery), US pricing will be announced next week!
Follow all our M5 coverage @ http://www.bimmerpost.com/m5/
