The last of the M-ohicans
25 grand more for an extra 10bhp? An unremarkable deal, but all 1200 CS M3s are spoken for nonetheless. The magic words? Limited edition.
ONE TENTH. One single, here-and-gone, negligible, marginal tenth. That’s how narrowly the new M3 CS eclipses the M3 Competition from zero to 62mph. Make that two tenths vis-à-vis the base M3, which is a real bargain in this company. Except that, in practical terms, you can’t buy an M3 any more. Production ends with this CS, which carries a £25k premium over the Competition – and there will be no more four-door M GmbH hotshoe until the 460bhp, next-generation car arrives in late 2019 or early 2020.
Why is that? Because none of the current M3 engines meets the stricter emission norms coming into effect this autumn. While the M4 soldiers on with an accordingly modified powerplant, its brother bites the dust due to the lower demand and production volume.
The legendary 3.0-litre twin-turbo straight six fitted to the M3 CS develops 454bhp at 6250rpm and 443lb ft between 4000 and 5380rpm. That’s plenty of poke and lots of grunt but, at 3.9sec to 62mph, the most extreme M3 is only a token 0.1sec quicker off the mark than the Competition. The top speed is an electronically curbed 175mph, a feature available – as a cost option – on the other two M3 models, and there is no difference in claimed fuel consumption. But since economy depends almost entirely on driving style, cutting the nominal range in half on an empty autobahn is a piece of cake. On the Nordschleife, BMW claims a lap time of 7min 38sec, which puts the M3 CS in third place behind the Jaguar XE Project 8 (all-wheel drive) and the Alfa Giulia QV (definitely rear-wheel drive).
We drove the newcomer in the worst possible conditions. The car was shod with Cup tyres, the rain was pelting down, and the rocky road meandered through the Munich hinterland where Bavaria is at its curviest. I can believe the M3 CS may be a wonderful plaything on a suitable track in suitable; indeed CAR’s James Taylor, who’s had the pleasure of driving it on a dry day, notes: ‘Impressive front-end bite and agility, but the quick steering feels a little artificial; car you drive fast with slow hands. Throttle response almost
savage in full-attack mode, but this is the best-sounding M3/M4 yet and the damping and body control are both very good.’ But in the wet the fun ends as abruptly as the aquaplaning begins at 50mph. Forget DSC off – you’re already all over the place in Sport. You would expect this BMW to do crazy stuff in second and third with the whip poised, but snap oversteer in fourth is something else, even if the chips play catch and release with admirable skill.
Like all M cars, this one comes with a complete set of tweakables. There is MDM, the driving experience selector (three set-ups labelled Comfort, Sport and Sport Plus) and the option to mix and match individual algorithms for shift speed, throttle response, steering and damper control. A day is not enough to suss out all the pros and cons, but an hour is all you need to appreciate that MDM is the inspiring common denominator. Due to the absence of four-wheel drive (watch this space…), full praise goes to the active diff, which does a great job fusing grip with stability.
Connoisseurs may treasure the CS, and collectors are bound to love it, but most will likely bypass the M3 CS without blinking an eye. True, there’s an extra helping of street cred (front spoiler, rear air dam from the M4 GTS, a restyled diffuser embedded with four giant tailpipes, a carbon roof and unique wheels) but is that enough to make you take the plunge, crack out your cheque book and put pen to paper? Is it really worth shelling out the extra dough for a car which only meets the current, not the future EU6 emission regulations? And, more relevantly, are you absolutely sure you want an M3 with even stiffer springs, firmer bushings and still firmer shock absorbers? Unless your name is BMW-mad, oversteerfluent Ben Barry or your dream car is a trackday special, the answer must be no. With the new 3-series just around the corner, paying significantly less for the new M2 CS may well be the more practical and no less rewarding option.
BMW M3 CS
> Price £86,425 > Engine 2979cc 24v twin-turbo straight-six, 454bhp @ 6250rpm, 443lb ft @ 4000rpm
> Transmission 7-speed DCT auto, rear-wheel drive > Performance 3.9sec 062mph, 173mph, 33.2mpg, 198g/km CO2 > Weight 1585kg > On sale Now