The BMW M3. Letter M stand for motor sport.

  1. The 2008 BMW M3 is a super handling, street legal race car.

First lets see the engine, for a 10 years old model, from year 2008. The current model&'s power plant is an inline 6 cylinder. BMW replaced it with the 2008 model with a V8.

The 2008 M3 coupe is powered for the first time by a 4 liter 414 horsepower V-8. The redline is at 8400 rpm. and the engine is lighter than the previous model's 6 cylinder engine. This engine is developed from the 5.0-liter V-10 found in the M5 super sedan and in the M6 coupe.

This V-8 is loaded with top technologies such as double variable valve timing and individual throttles for each cylinder. It shares the V-10's bore and stroke, 12.0:1 compression ratio, and aluminium construction, that is why it is lighter than the previous strait 6 engine.

The crankcase is made from an aluminium-and-silicon alloy, and exposed silicon in each cylinder mitigates friction well enough that separate sleeves aren't required, saving weight. The entire engine is actually 15 kg lighter than the previous M3's inline six.

BMW M3

BMW & Formula 1

This engine block comes from the same manufacturer that used to supply BMW with its Formula 1 engines. It is more than peppy, it is extremely powerful. It is capable of making from starting to 100 km in well under 4.5 seconds. From 80 km to reach 120 km needs only 3.7 seconds up to the electronically limited 250 km top speed. It is so powerful, there is no words to describe the feeling when you hit the gas pedal and the 8 individual throttles make the engine sound like the fire truck's siren.

All of the above sounds very promising, but you should know few more things about this BMW M3.

The power goes into a six speed manual transmission. The first 4 speed keeps the car at a relatively slow speed. When you hit the highway and push the gas a little harder, the M3 starts to fly. It makes 100 km an hour on 2500 rpm. To pass you don't need to downshift. This engine means business, push the gas and it will go.

The handling lives up to this powerful engine. This car sticks to the road like no any street legal car did before. The chassis is like a race car's, incredibly stiff, which is let the aluminium intense suspension do it's job, with out doing anything with the platform. If you drive it to the limit, nothing will change. It is still remarkably free with any over or under steering.

The other reason for this excellent handling is comes from the body's details. For example the center of gravity is extremely low, because the roof panel is made from carbon fibber reinforced plastic. It not only is light, but it is a very cool looking black color.

Also the aerodynamics, the lip spoiler on the deck lid and the lower rear diffuser manages to push the car on the road at high speed, so the car doesn't feel light.

The car comes with breaks that could handle the task, what breaks are supposed to handle.

What about inside? The body shaped sport seat, handy steering wheel and well designed layout let the driver concentrate on the driving. The 2008 M3 Coupe comes with full BMW's electronic drive technology. It is equipped with dynamic stability control, and corner brake control. The electronic damper control system is a option. It permits the driver to select manually from three stages of ride stiffness, with a push of a button.

This car is not only the fastest M3 yet, but also the best looking too.

 

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