Official next generation BMW M3 pricing and options list leaked?

Dear 001,

I found this over at Bimmerfest.com...supposedly, this is the official pricing and option list for the new M3. Also, the rumor is the official announcement is at the Paris auto show.

BMW E92 M3 Coupe Pricing

Major Standard Equipment***

Adaptive Xenon Headlights

Carbon Fiber Roof

SMG III 7-Speed transmission with DRIVELOGIC

18" M Double Spoke Alloy Wheel

18x8F/18x9R with P235/45ZR18 Front, P265/40ZR18 Rear Performance tires.

Invoice $49,117

Base Price USA Port of Entry* $53,975

Vehicle Options List

Metallic paint $475

Nappa leather $1,450

Carbon fiber trim $300

Aluminum trim NC

Comfort Access $500

M Multifunction Seats with Active Width Adjustment $1,900

Front Heated Seats $500 / ZCW

Power Rear Sunshade $350

Head-Up Display $1,000

Navigation System w/I-Drive $2,100

Power Rear Sunshade $350

Rear Park Distance Control $350

19" M Double Spoke alloy wheel $1,750

19x8.5F/19x9.5R with P235/40ZR19 Front, P265/35ZR19 Rear Performance tires.

Logic 7 sound system $1,200

SIRIUS Satellite Radio $595

High Definition Radio $500

Premium Package (ZPP) $3,100

Cold Weather Package (ZCW) $750

6-speed manual transmission NC

Rear Spoiler Deletion NC

4.0L 307kW (418HP) 420Nm

chewy - 8/17/2006 5:19:29 PM

+1 Boost

The hp is 412 and torque is 304 in US numbers.

RedCalipers - 8/17/2006 5:59:12 PM

0 Boost

when is it in dealers?

AlexTx - 8/17/2006 6:28:55 PM

+1 Boost

Loaded like the RS4 it comes to about $66k and I did not put in the Heads up display.

chewy - 8/17/2006 6:45:27 PM

+1 Boost

The RS4 has 309 kw compared to 307 in the M3, the difference is very small, they both have almost the same size engines as well, so they make the same amount per liter. The RS4 has 430 NM of torque compared to the M3's 420, the Audi does have a slightly bigger engine. The price also goes quite a bit as the standard equipment is quite bare, the Logic 7 sound system is standard in the 335i but is optional on the M3. BMW did this to have a lower advertised price. Also, this aren't the confirmed official prices, but the rundown of options seems genuine BMW stuff so I assume the actual specs and the prices are correct and not made up.

mstangpny07 - 8/17/2006 7:00:45 PM

+1 Boost

nice

crackityjones - 8/17/2006 7:47:02 PM

+1 Boost

BMW is putting the heat on everybody with the 335i and now the new M3. They are unleashing the power at amazing prices -- for German cars at least. Might these cars be TOO attainable :) ???

chewy - 8/17/2006 8:21:41 PM

0 Boost

crackityjones

Look at the options, a well equiped/loaded (most cars on dealer lots) will be around the 65k+ range. BMW had to take out some stuff from the 335i and make them options on the M3. However, the carbon fiber roof is nifty (you can't have sunroof though) and if you can get one with few options it does have good value.

crackityjones - 8/17/2006 8:29:02 PM

+1 Boost

With xenon headlights and 18's standard, you could order a stripped down version of this car and do pretty ok. I am totally cheap but would drop 54 for this car.

Sauceboy01 - 8/17/2006 9:18:44 PM

+2 Boost

The RS4 is stupid expensive! just doesn't make sense!

chewy - 8/17/2006 9:32:15 PM

0 Boost

logical

You are still lacking logic. The RS4 is a limited release vehicle, less than 1,000 sold per year here. Also, optioned out equally the price difference is only about 3-4 thousand dollars, something that many people pay for an exclusive vehicle. It is a sedan, so you can actually sit in the rear and get in and out. It has all wheel drive, it is 365 day a year car unlike the M3. The RS4 still wil have similar perfromance, probably a bit slower, sure, but not by that much. Plus we haven't even seen the new M3, for all we know Bangle might be back to adding outrageous flame surfacing. Sure the new M3 will be a bit more performance oriented, but when the RS5 drops with 500 hp the M3 will be obsolute.

jeuprx8 - 8/17/2006 9:35:49 PM

+1 Boost

I am the one who originally broke cover of this 3 days ago on e46fanatics.com
http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=393119

BUT the engine spec is bullshit, it is still under wraps.

SixxFive - 8/18/2006 12:11:46 AM

0 Boost

The M3 will be available as a four door.

chewy - 8/18/2006 12:50:53 AM

0 Boost

SixxFive

But we don't know the price or the sporting characteristics of that car or the coupe as a matter of fact.

Matthew1 - 8/18/2006 1:52:57 AM

+1 Boost

Numbers shnumbers!

It's all about the character of the engine note, the urgency in its delivery, the usable torque and spine-tingling feeling you get up your spine when you bury the throttle, that's what makes a sports car engine good.

And it is safe to say the RS4 has these attributes in spades, yet so too does the BMW I-6 in the M3.

Acceleration figures are about gearing, not engineering talent, and bickering over minute differences in horsepower between cars is best left for spotty-faced kids in the school yard.

Do any of you know what makes a good car? Certainly not numbers. They tell only a small part in the story.

thetruth101 - 8/18/2006 7:15:48 AM

0 Boost

Gentlemen,

The truth is the M line for BMW is equivalent to the S Line for Audi and the RS line for Audi is equivalent to the CSL line for BM. In other words Audi has to use their RS line to compete with BM's M line. If we can remember the M3CSL has defeated many Carreras in head to head comparisons. Now that doesn't mean that Audi has an inferior product, it just means that they have to work a little harder to yield BMWs results. I love Audi and BMW as I own them both and will continue to do so. But I tend give BMW credit because they are a small independent company (relative to VW and DCH) that arguably puts out the best product in every class which they have a vehicle and to do this independently is incredible. Audi shares or receives technical/material/engineering assistance from VW, Porsche, Seat, Lamborghini, Bugatti, Seat etc.etc. I own both brands and I am very pleased with both.

Agent63 - 8/18/2006 8:34:26 AM

-1 Boost

******** I need people's opinion:

Is the outgoing gen. M3's look OUTDATED? I am thinking of getting an 02' M3 since that fits the price range I am looking for. Since the new M3 won't be much faster, the main difference will be the styling.

Agent63 - 8/18/2006 8:38:46 AM

0 Boost

AMG, S-line, M, their equivalents from each company. However, the AMG's and the M's i like more. I like the AMG better than M's. I guess it's just the sounds their tuned engines produce. It's breathtaking. The M's have a different type of sound which is nice as well. However, AMG's suited for Benz since they are more luxury oriented, whereas BMW and their M's are more sport-luxury.

Only thing in the way of making a decision would be which dealer offers me a better deal.

IMO, the outgoing M3 looks more aggressive than the new one.

phantom330 - 8/18/2006 9:56:59 AM

0 Boost

Agent63......the last gen M3 still looks amazing in my opinion, will go down as a classic design. Still looks stunning, especially with the 19" wheel option, that really sets it off. I would say go for it!

thecar - 8/18/2006 10:14:49 AM

+1 Boost

i think ppl who buys M3 wants a moonroof ...
I cant see yuppies in Current M3 can live w/o tht

SMG is standard , so I guess it worth the price if u want tht . Current M3 + SMG == new M3 's price
quite a deal

Agent63 - 8/18/2006 10:23:52 AM

0 Boost

Phantom330 : do you think 5 years from now the car will look outdated and "OLD" and rubbish to the people who own new 3-series.?

AlexTx - 8/18/2006 11:15:16 AM

0 Boost

Looking at that picture though, I'm disapointed to see that the fender flares are not wider than they should be.
That is what makes the current M3 gorgeous.
Little disapointed.

PlanoA4 - 8/18/2006 11:53:19 AM

0 Boost

What no X Drive? Seems like they would have seen the light by now.

crackityjones - 8/18/2006 12:09:23 PM

+1 Boost

This forum runs on quattro, woah!

--Laughable to suggest the M3 is inferior by having "only" RWD. Audi marketing hype. I don't want AWD in a performance car (family driver, yes). I don't like the planted driving style, and lots of BMW buyers I think agree with that. Anyway, BMW is kicking butt with RWD so the market must be misinformed on this point.

--The RS4 has 4 doors? The A4 rear-seat dimensions negate 4-door convenience. The rear seat is laughably small, only to be outdone by the IS350's 4-door 2+2.

--efoxS4 was just telling me how I could buy a stripped-down S4 for $46k. Now he's saying, you won't find an M3 stripped, so it will be wildly expensive. Take off those flip-flops :)
(We all know you can order either car.)

-The M3 will be more of a show car than the RS4, mainly because people on the street know what it is. Dollars to donuts most people see an RS4 as an A4.

-Audi is still a weird cousin in the US market on the performance issue, given BMW's massive head-start, its amazing engines, and Audi's AWD weight penalty. And the fact that Audi charges the same--or more--than BMW.

Let the boost-tanking begin.

thecar - 8/18/2006 1:37:42 PM

0 Boost

no , audi's problem is the heavy nose =p not awd
audi is fitted between a C63 and M3

mstangpny07 - 8/18/2006 9:36:48 PM

+1 Boost

I think the the problem with Audi's S is the image, not the product. I think saying "I have a CL55 AMG" or "I have a M5" sounds stronger than saying "I have a S6" More people connect performance with" AMG" or "///M" than with S. It's like Acura's "Type-S". If I said my uncle has a TL Type-S (which he does), people would say, "A TL? Cool." Same with Jaguar and Volvo's "R". But Saab's "Viggen" had more of an effect.

Agent63 - 8/19/2006 8:24:38 AM

+1 Boost

I agree with mstangpny07 with his comment. More people know of AMG/M than the S line. First off, I am biased towards BMW and Merc. IMO AMG's more of an image thing than the M-series cars. However both of them have more image than the S-line.

RacerRX - 8/19/2006 11:24:17 AM

+1 Boost

I am still trying to understand this argument...If AMG/M are the top of the line in the sports marque for their company---why would you stop and say that the S is the top of the Line for Audi as opposed to the RS. The RS line is not something new for this year, it has been out with the original RS-4(1999 Europe Avant) and RS-6, so it has been the pinnacle for Audi just as soon as the S-line came out. Secondly I think the RS line was made and now being brought to America to show that this is the top of the line for the competition. When you say RS--people will know and remember.

DarkOneForce - 8/21/2006 8:36:59 AM

+1 Boost

OK, let's get a few things straight.
The M3 will come in coupe, cabrio, sedan and touring shapes.
The M3 slower on the straight lines than the M5, but faster on the tracks, like always, duh...
The sedan, touring will take on the RS4, the while the coupe, the 911 Carrera/S and AM V8.
Compared to its competitors the M3s will be the bargains.

Bmwe92M3 - 8/25/2006 4:10:36 PM

+1 Boost

Thats old stuff, check out the video in Arizona of a few new M3s WITH SOUND. Vicious V8! only at BmwE92M3.com

davehayes2204 - 1/28/2007 5:30:49 PM

+1 Boost

rwd vs awd. yes i see the point of claiming the audis are better for having this, but if an rs4 was available in 2wd it would be so much faster! dissagree as you will but i used to own a 2001 a4 1.8t quattro sport (dont know if you get this model in us!) but it was nearly 2 seconds slower than its 2wd counterpart. due to weight (although had a smaller fuel tank do make space for diff). handled very good but in the dry the 2wd version laughed at me. All that said the oil pump ceased to work and the engine siezed. out of warranty by four months and £4000 quotes to fix i got rid and went back to bmw! (no audi fans audi didnt fix it as a good will gesture as most audi owners say they would). I bought an e46 325ci sport and now own an e46 m3 (2003). i could not be happier (although owning a 325 leaves you wanting more) i know now with an m3 i wouldnt get more from an audi (servicing,warranty and customer relation) although i do still get audis quarterly magazine? ps. compare m3 with s4 and not rs4! use csl for that!