Fifth Gear: Tiff Needell tests the 2008 BMW M3

brilliant.

Tiff Needell is an amazing driver and the M3 is an amazing car

awesome .. standard is set again ...

I'm a German car fan in general and I love BMW's design, however, I'm a little disappointed with the M3's performance. I wanted to wait to see a number of different test results before I commented. I think its very underwelming. In fact, I would rather buy a standard 335i, add the Vishnu package, and run circles around the M3 at least in a straightline and save thousands.

"run circles around the M3 at least in a straightline"

lol, sorry, i just had to laugh at that :)

Yeh even with the visnu pack it isent ecxactly running circles around it......

OK, I was just exaggerating in order to make a point. For you guys who need everything spelled out, here it is. The Vishnu package has been tested at 4.4 0-62, which in this case is better than 4.8, and the quarter mile time is 12.8 at 110mph. Point is, its faster with much less $$$ out of pocket. In fact the standard 335i is 4.9 0-62, I just think they're to close in performance. Maybe they underestimated how good the twin turbo 6 was going to be.

Actually i was refering to the ability run circles around someone while going in a straight line... never mind..

Golfer does have a point, especially if you live at high altitude where the forced introduction gives such a huge advantage. If what you need is speed, the 335i + vishnu can deliver. Perhaps it wont have the same tactile handling but for those who use their car 90% or more on the road, that wont be as much of a problem. Different strokes for different folks.

golfer the 4.8 seconds is what BMW manufacturer says. The only magazine that actually posted times of the car was motortrend and they were at 0 to 60 in 4.4seconds and said if they had more time with the car at their track they could have gone faster ...

Although I believe your reported 4.4 sec time I have seen the M3 tested at 4.8 0-62 or 0-100km not 0-60 and even 5.5 at altitude. The vishnu has more torque than the M3, thats why its a little quicker, but I'm sure you know this already. Furthermore, did you drive a vishnu with the limited slip and the exhaust, not just the reprogramming? Look, I'm not saying that the M3 is not quicker around the track with a harder edge, I'm just saying that I expected a little more, no offense.

also , the M3 is a street legal race car. I sell both and they are entirely different. The M3 is absolutely incredible. The 335 is awesome too, just depends on what you are wanting out of your car. I have driven the vishnu 335 coupe, and although it is pretty incredible, it is NO M3.

that looks like so much fun....i can hardly stand it.
can't WAIT to drive this car!

i can't wait to afford this car

Ah Yes, Tiff finally says the M3 is a better car than the 997 GT3 RS and Audi RS4. Given it's V8 power advantage over the GT3's 6 cylinder engine, it'll easily run circles around a 997 GT3-RS.

You guys think the next M3 CLS with lighter weight and more power have a good chance to run with the 997 GT2 and F430 Scuderia now that it has officially beaten the GT3-RS?

The F430 Scuderia might stand a chance, but not the 997 GT2 since it's 2 cylinders short. There's just no replacement for displacement. 4.3L > 4.0L > 3.6L

What??

Are you some kind of a moron? The GT2 has 530 horsepower. An M6 can't run with it, much less an M3. And comparing an M3 (sporty coupe with a backseat) to an F430 (lightweight mid-engine, street legal racecar) is just beyond stupid.

The new GT2 has 530bhp and goes from 0-60 in 3.6 seconds, as much as i love BMW the M3 is no match for it.

It will be interesting what the performance of the 1 series is,specifically the 135I with 300HP and significantly lighter weight then both the M3 and 335.

It's not secret that Tiff's favorite cars in the world start with "M" Any reviews that come from him about these cars have to be taken with that in mind. No doubt, the M3 is a supremely fantastic vehicle, but you're taking about a guy who was trying to convince someone to buy an M5 over a Pagani for a track car. Hence, I take his review about as seriously as Jeremy Clarkson's review of a Ferrari.

Why on earth I can't watch any of the videos posted on http://www.egmcartech.com!!!!!
I have the latest version of Flash player installed on my browser and when I load a page on egmcartech.com the spot on which the video is supposed to be shown is simply blank! I'm dying to see the new M3 driven by Tiff!
I'm on a biz trip in Dubai and here the youtube is blocked! so not gonna get a chance to find it on youtube for the next 20 days or so!!!!!!!!
Where else I might be able to find it guys?
Thanks ..........

Got my answer through some playing around!!!
Tried to access the page through a proxy server to bypass the filter ....found out the videos on the site are actualy embedded youtube clips....That's why the Dubai-based ISP filter kicks in! ......
Using the proxy makes the connection pretty slow though!
Cheers,