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Review: 2008 BMW M3 Coupe

Third-party performance tuners like Alpina, AMG, Brabus, Ruf and others have thrived in the land of the autobahn, typically modifying cars from one particular brand. In the late '70s, BMW became the first of the German automakers to establish its own in-house tuning division, incorporating its motorsports arm into what's now know as the M division. The firm's racing knowledge disseminated down to its production cars with the introduction of the M1 and later the M535i. In subsequent years, M followed up with the M5 and M3. Eventually Mercedes followed suit by buying out AMG, while Audi ... Read More

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    BMW M3
    Podcast: Autoblog Podcast #300
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    2014 BMW M3 engine, Paris Motor Show, Lincoln marketing, Jeep Cherokee and Grand Wagoneer, 2013 Range Rover pricing Episode #300 of the Autoblog Podcast is here, and this week, Dan Roth, Zach Bowman and Chris Paukert celebrate this podcast milestone by asking Chris Shunk to return and guest host for us. We talk about the 2014 BMW M3 engine spy shots, ...

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    BMW M3
    Report: BMW bringing M3 'concept' to Geneva
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    Six months, 26 days. That's the countdown until we get our first live, in-person look at the next iteration of the BMW M3, according to AutoWeek. The F80 M3 will be appear on the BMW stand at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show in "lightly veiled concept" form, according to the report, with the production car bowing at the Frankfurt show next fall. The ...

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    BMW M3
    BMW announces start-stop system and Competition package for M3, M Sport for X5
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    BMW is hell-bent on incorporating its EfficientDynamics systems into every model in its line-up, and the latest recipient is the M3, which will come equipped with Auto Start Stop this spring. According to BMW, the system, which cuts the engine when the M3 comes to a stop, reduces emissions and fuel consumption by up to eight percent. BMW will also begin ...

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    BMW M3
    Rumormill: 2011 BMW M3 coming with Competition Package
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    As far as we can tell, there's little if anything wrong the E92 M3. However, according to a post on Bimmerfile, that small point will not be stopping BMW from offering a Competition Package on 2011 models. What goes into a Competition Pack? We're not certain, and Bimmerfile can only speculate (bigger wheels, brakes, maybe). Knowing that much, we'll join ...

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    BMW M3
    Brabham races back into the scene with trio of custom BMWs
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    Click above to view the Brabham BT 92 in high resolution It's hard to make a BMW M3 any more bad-ass than it already is. Fortunately Brabham Racing is up to the task, as you can see from the image above. If the name sounds familiar, it could be because it's one of the best known names in racing. Or at least it was. Founded in 1960 by legendary Australian ...

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    BMW M3
    BMW working on M3 CSL with 470 hp
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    Click above for a high-res gallery of the 2008 BMW M3.The rumormongers at AutoZeitung are reporting that BMW plans to unveil a stripped-out, track-ready M3 at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show. The E90-based M3 CSL will use many of the same tricks BMW employed on the E46 model in an effort to shave the coupe's curb weight. Luxuries like air conditioning, stereo ...

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    BMW M3
    Geneva 2008: M3 Cab takes the spotlight
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    Click the above photo for more shots of the M3 ConvertibleBMW was highlighting its green credentials today, so it gave no more than a mention to the M3 Cabriolet -- but that doesn't mean the M3 went unloved. The impossibly blue convertible sat just around the corner from the Vision Hybrid in the spotlight, brooding, but with plenty of press-type friends ...

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    BMW M3
    Chicago 2008: BMW back in ALMS with Rahal Letterman Racing M3 [w/VIDEO]
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    click above to view more high-res live shots of BMW M3 ALMS race carThe American Le Mans Series is going to get a dose of Bavarian brilliance in 2009, as Bobby Rahal and David Letterman are teaming up to bring the fourth-generation M3 to the racing series. To properly battle the best competition in ALMS, BMW bumps the power quotient of its high-revving 4.0L ...

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    BMW M3
    Leakage: BMW M3 Cabrio with "M-DKG"
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    One enthusiast from the Netherlands described the E93 thusly: "Super vette bak!" We're pretty sure that translates to "super fat barge," though the overly-literal "super oily bake" has its own charm. If you're into cabrios, maybe mutating the phrase to "super phat barge" is more palatable. Our friend from NL was referring to the 200-plus extra pounds the M3 ...

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    BMW M3
    Detroit 2008: BMW announces M3 pricing
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    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. ...

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    BMW M3
    Spy Shots: BMW E93 M3 hard-top convertible
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    We knew it was only a matter of time before BMW would take the can opener to its 400 HP uber-coupe, and these newest spy shots prove that development is well underway. While little has changed from the standard 3-series cabrio, the fender flares, cut-up front fascia and quad exhaust are clearly M-specific kit, despite the lack of visible vents in the hood ...

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    BMW M3
    Essen Motor Show preview: AC Schnitzer BMW E92 M3
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    The Essen Motor Show in Germany has become one of the major outlets for Europe's aftermarket tuners to show their wares to a dedicated fan base. Among the many models set to make their modified debut in the land of schnitzel and spatzel is the AC Schnitzer BMW E92 M3.Details are scarce on what's been done to the suspension and under the hood, but if the ...

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    BMW M3
    Tokyo Motor Show: Practical performance with BMW's M3 Sedan
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    Click the above image for more pictures of the BMW M3 Sedan There hasn't been a BMW M3 sedan since the E36 generation, but that doesn't mean BMW has forgotten how to build a fast saloon car. The M3 Sedan takes everything good about the M3 coupe and adds two doors to the mix, allowing you to better justify the purchase with your significant other. BMW has ...

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    BMW M3
    BMW to show 1-series based concept in Tokyo
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    Over the course of the last few weeks, we've been constantly updating our comprehensive list of debuts slated for the Tokyo Motor Show, but one glaring omission continually jumped out at us: BMW. We know they'll be showing off the M3 Sedan, but it was rumored that something else would grace the Bavarian's show stand. Automotive News finally shed some light ...

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    2008 BMW M3 Sedan unveiled!
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    click above image to view 28 pics of the 2008 BMW M3 Sedan var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/design/Officially_Official_2008_BMW_M3_Sedan_unveiled_PICS'; We've been waiting a long time for BMW to snap out of its haze and bring us a four-door version of the venerable M3 coupe. That time has officially come. And it turns out the leaked photo from earlier ...

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    BMW M3
    BMW debuting dual-clutch gearbox in M3 sedan
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    The expansion of BMW's M3 lineup is expected to take place sooner than we anticipated, and a new version of the Bavarian bomber will finally put the oft-maligned sequential gearbox to rest. According to Auto Telegraaf, BMW will be debuting the M3 sedan at a major Stateside auto show, likely L.A. or Detroit, and along with an extra set of doors, it'll be ...

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    BMW M3
    Production BMW M3 revealed
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    Click image for photo galleryThe car won't go on sale until the middle of next year in the States, but we have a seemingly insatiable appetite for any information about BMW's 4th generation M3. Spy photos, technical tidbits, rumors, and whatnot have all been featured on this site, but now we have the real deal. Finally. The folks at AutoWeek just broke ...

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    BMW M3
    Autoblog Podcast #60
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    Podcast #60 finds us reminiscing about the Geneva Motor Show. We spend a while talking about what our team saw at the show - standout vehicles, best and worst, most surprising (good and bad) to see in person versus pictures. John presses Damon for information about how some hotly anticipated cars such as the Mazda2, Audi S5, and the M3 looked at our first ...

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    BMW M3
    Geneva Motor Show: BMW M3 concept car with lightweight roof
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    You don't notice the green side of BMW's muscular silver M3 concept right away. While the aerodynamics are certainly there, this concept looks - and is - more of a showcase for things like the possible home for a V8 engine than green technology. But BMW engineers didn't totally skip the ecological aspects of the M3. For proof, you have to look down on it. ...

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    BMW M3
    Geneva Motor Show: BMW M3 Concept
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    UPDATE: Press release after the jump.Click the image above to access the gallery. var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/world_news/BMW_M3_Concept_Revealed_At_Geneva_Auto_Show_No_More_Spy_Shots'; As expected, BMW unveiled its M3 Concept today in Geneva. In a word: stunning. It's the picture of four-wheeled performance. From its bulging fenders, gaping air inlets ...

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