Detroit 2008: BMW announces M3 pricing
by Dan Roth on Jan 14th 2008 at 9:42AM 
Click the image above for plenty of high-res pics.
If you've got a hankering for a V8-powered, carbon fiber-roofed über 3-series, BMW has finally named its price for the M3 coupe and sedan. $57,275 will buy you entry into the M3 Coupe, and bargain hunters willing to settle for an extra pair of doors can get the M3 Sedan in their driveway for $54,575. The M3's come a long way since it's E30 homologation-special roots. The cylinder count has now doubled from that original car, the long serving six cylinders having been jettisoned in favor of a 414 horsepower V8. The interior of the new M3s is a level of luxury unknown to the E30, too. The optional wheel-mounted M-Drive control will allow the driver to customize engine and chassis responses, and iDrive shuffles media and navigation chores. These prices will likely be less than what typical M3s roll off the lot for, as most buyers will want to add some options, and in the world of BMW, options cost.
Press release after the jump.
BMW ANNOUNCES PRICING FOR THE ALL-NEW BMW M3 COUPE AND SEDAN AT THE 2008 NORTH AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL AUTO SHOW IN DETROIT
01/13/2008
Woodcliff Lake, NJ - January 13, 2008... During its press conference today at the 2008 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, BMW announced the pricing for the highly anticipated 2008 M3 Coupe and M3 Sedan. When the vehicles go on sale in March, the Coupe will be priced at $57,275 and the Sedan at $54,575. Sharing the high-revving 414-horsepower V8 and balanced chassis designed to be "faster than its engine," this March, BMW M GmbH will offer the most powerful, best performing series production M3s to the North American market.
The all-new 2008 M3 Coupe and M3 Sedan-the fourth generation of compact sport vehicles which set the standard in minimizing any compromises between race-inspired performance and luxury and convenience-feature the first V8 in a series-production BMW M3. They also feature driver-adjustable settings for crucial dynamic controls encompassing engine response, steering, damping and stability (with an available steering-wheel-mounted "MDrive" button to store the preferences) and a sumptuous interior which can be optimized to the driver's desires including the comprehensive entertainment/navigation system operated through BMW's latest iDrive controller.
Additionally, the 2008 M3 Coupe is the first production vehicle in its segment with a carbon fiber reinforced roof. The material shares the same safety properties as steel, but is four times lighter. Weighing around 11 lbs. less than a standard steel roof and approximately 44 lbs. less than a steel roof incorporating a moonroof, the carbon fiber reinforced roof provides significant weight saving at the highest point of the car-lowering the car's center of gravity-to increase agility and responsiveness while limiting dive and roll in turns.
Racing provided the reason for the original M3's 1986 creation as the company had to produce road-going homologation versions of its 3 Series Coupe to enter the motorsports version in the German Touring Car Championship. The original M3's popularity provided the impetus to continue developing the M3, making it both a better performer and more inviting road car. The M3 has continued to evolve along with the underlying 3 Series, the company's most popular, upon which it is based.
In 1987 North Americans received their first taste of the high-rpm, naturally aspirated 2.3-liter four-cylinder M3 Coupe's 192-hp and thus was born a legend on this side of the Atlantic. The next generation arrived in 1995 with a 3.0-liter (and later, 3.2-liter) 240-hp inline-six powerplant. In 1997 the first M3 Sedan joined the family and the first M3 Convertible followed shortly thereafter. The most-recent version, available from 2001-2006 as either a coupe or convertible, again was offered with six-cylinder power, this time providing 333 hp from its 3.2 liters. This vehicle was BMW's first use of SMG (Sequential Manual Gearbox) for the U.S. market.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Seoultrain 9:53AM (1/14/2008)
i'm impressed. They could easily charge $65k+ for this car, but BMW actually priced this well. Hopefully this will drive down the price of the Audi S4/RS4/S5/RS5. I don't think they have a choice.
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stealth 9:54AM (1/14/2008)
I'd drink to that.
Mobius_1 11:56AM (1/14/2008)
Completely agree. I heard some people saying this car going for as much a RS4 when it will be released and this? this is much better!
What's more, this car has great handling which you probably can't buy too easily
3seriesisking 1:59PM (1/14/2008)
I'm really surprised. That seems to be a bargain to me.
sheth 10:06AM (1/14/2008)
its actually cheaper than the lexus which is interesting. still, the ctsv woulndt be overpriced at $60k considering its power.
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risk 10:19AM (1/14/2008)
id pick this over the CTS-v anyday, anytime. American cars could be better, but after working at my brothers shop, i dont think i will every buy one.
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Shawn 10:32AM (1/14/2008)
BMWs consistantly rank far lower than any American or Japanese makes in its segment in terms of reliablity.
Andrew 10:43AM (1/14/2008)
No joke, I'd take the M3 over the CTS-exploding diff-V any day.
Mark 11:22AM (1/14/2008)
some people will learn from experience...
jg 12:01PM (1/14/2008)
'BMWs consistantly rank far lower than any American or Japanese makes in its segment in terms of reliablity.'
That makes it sound like BMWs can't build cars that stay running. Not true. BMWs are in the shop because the little things, electric gadgets and such stopped working. Other cars are in the shop because they have mechanical issues. By just using the word 'reliability' you are being deceptive. A car that can't change radio stations because the nav unit won't let you is not the same as a car that can't be driven because the EGR valve stays open or some brake problems, which is what springs to mind when you say a car is unreliable.
CentralParkWest99 10:20AM (1/14/2008)
I am on the list and can't waint for mine to arrive !!!!!!!!
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Paul P. 10:31AM (1/14/2008)
You might have to wait a little longer. One of the first shipments of the new M3 stateside had a bit of trouble on the ocean and ended up destroying quite a few cars. There fixing up what they can, but a lot were totaled.
CentralParkWest99 1:44PM (1/14/2008)
I'm buying some scuba gear and going salvaging asap !
letstakeawalk 3:24PM (1/14/2008)
Shipments are already here. The Port of Charleston has recieved dozens of them; I'd say that 95% that I saw were red, with a few white ones tossed in. All coupes, as well.
http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=67744465&blogID=347449813&Mytoken=2F236CA8-6FF9-44FE-98A31A4B92E45AEF127622079
Peter 10:33AM (1/14/2008)
Whoa. In Germany it's about 99,000$ at the current exchange rate...
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C.D. Ward 10:51AM (1/14/2008)
Why is the 4 door so much cheaper than the 2 door? Oh wait the sedan doesn't come with the CF roof? Bummer.
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Jruhi4 10:55AM (1/14/2008)
Keep in mind that BMW charges extra for stuff that is standard on the Audi and Lexus, such as metallic paint, leather seats and 19" wheels. A comparably-equipped BMW M3 will probably hit $70,000.
When you factor in the Germans' $1500-2000 Gas Guzzler Tax (which the Lexus avoids), the IS F still appears to be a bargain compared to the Audi and BMW.
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Mark 11:44AM (1/14/2008)
Keep in mind that yes BMW does charge for things like metallic paint, etc. on their NON-M cars, but all their M cars are fully loaded except for options such as larger wheels and NAV, other than that, there are no options.
TexRob 2:14PM (1/14/2008)
Mark 1, Jruhi4 0
Don't you love when people quote things like they are experts?
Jruhi4 2:28PM (1/14/2008)
Mark & TexRob; you guys are certainly correct when it comes to the M5 and M6, but, if this link is correct, stuff like the leather interior, metallic paint and 19" wheels, all standard on the Audi RS4 and Lexus IS F will be optional on the new E90/E92 M3:
http://my.is/forums/f104/official-pricing-e90-e92-m3-350631/#post5210280
By the time you compare apples to apples and equip them comparably, it seems the Lexus IS F will offer the most for your money.