If I might be allowed to sound incredibly old for a moment: unless your idea of fun is straight-line speed, cornering speed and more speed, the BMW M3 is not as engaging as it used to be.
For most of its history, the M3 has been BMW's ultimate combination of everyday driving engagement and awesome performance/on-track ability. The only thing that’s ever come close to its broad range of talents is the Porsche 911, and that’s more obviously a bespoke sports car. The beauty of the M3 is that it’s (vaguely) related to the 3-Series and therefore more of a sleeper to the untrained eye.
But later versions have become more and more raucous, heavier, stiffer in the chassis and less suitable as day-to-day transport. Faster and more capable than ever on the circuit, but less appealing as a thing to drive the family around in.
This is especially true of the latest BMW M3 Competition Touring, which is totally in-your-face, a bit too hard and quite tiring to drive around town.
Which is in-turn confusing to my car-heart, because it’s also arguably one of the coolest M3s ever made. It’s a station wagon (that’s the “Touring” bit in the name), the first-ever in over 50 years of this model.
For most of its history, the M3 has been BMW's ultimate combination of everyday driving engagement and awesome performance.
Now… I am not a BMW M fanatic or indeed an expert. If I want to quote model codes for example (like I’m about to), I have to look them up. But my mental road-test database stretches right back to the E36 (1992-99) and I’ve reviewed examples of every generation since; even some really special ones like the E46 CSL (2004). So I figure I’m at least allowed an opinion.
The M3 has been a 4-cylinder (before my time, the classic E30), a 6 and a V8. You can always go up but it’s hard to back down, which is why I’d argue BMW M started overcompensating when the M3 switched from the E92 V8 (my personal favourite) to the twin-turbocharged (again, gasp) 6 of the F80 (2014-18), in an effort to prove that a smaller-engined M3 could still be a very serious sports car. And it’s kept getting more OTT ever since.
Did we mention this is the first-ever M3 station wagon? The cool-factor is off the scale.
It doesn’t help that the M3 Touring is in very focused Competition specification, but then that’s the only way BMW makes it globally. You can’t get the dialled-back-to-10 standard M3 in Touring form and indeed, BMW New Zealand only offers its M3s and M4s in Competition trim anyway. The argument is moot.
So the M3 Touring was disappointing? Don’t be silly. Loved it. In terms of bang-for-your-buck it’s phenomenal, and did I mention it’s the first-ever M3 station wagon? The cool-factor is off the scale.
I quickly identified a combination of aggressive engine and comfort suspension as closest-to-ideal, because even in its softest setting the suspension is… pretty busy.
This generation of M3/4 is also an incredible machine on the track. We didn’t take the Touring test car to the circuit, but we’ve had experience with this M-gen (albeit not in Touring form) on a circuit. And yes, respect. It’s a more awesome track car than ever. BMW M has even gone further with the Touring and created a CS version (not destined for NZ though).
It’s just a bit boomy and bouncy on the road; or at least on Kiwi roads. You could argue that’s to be expected for what’s essentially a supercar in a station wagon body (390kW/650Nm, 0-100km/h 3.6sec), but daily driveability is also to be expected from an M3.
There’s plenty of configuration available. You can call up a settings menu that allows you to adjust every aspect of the powertrain and chassis individually, and save two favourite combinations on the steering wheel-mounted M1 and M2 buttons. I quickly identified a combination of aggressive engine and comfort suspension as closest-to-ideal, because even in its softest setting the suspension is… pretty busy. Just look how low this thing is.
When you’re in the mood and on the right road, this is an incredible machine. The Touring is 85kg heavier than the M3 sedan, but BMW M went to town retuning the chassis to compensate, to ensure the Touring gives nothing away to the four-door in terms of cornering response and control.
In truth, despite my whining about what it’s like to drive to the supermarket, the M3 Touring simply gets smoother and more satisfying the faster you go. The steering and suspension come into their own and its ultimate abilities are far beyond what you can reach on a public road. Which is kind of my point, but again: respect. You won't find a more focused and responsive performance wagon at any price.
And it’s a pretty good wagon actually, with 500l bootspace and rear seats that fold pretty flat for bikes or the family dog or whatever. All the more unfortunate it can’t be configured to be a little more compliant when you’re not hot-lapping.
Yes, still complaining. Am I irked that the M3 Touring is so hard-core? Yes. Would I have one? Absolutely, yes. Hand it over.
What are the key statistics for the BMW M3 Competition Touring?
An upgrade late last year took the M3's 3.0-litre twin-turbo 6-cylinder engine to 390kW (up from 375kW)/650Nm. It's matched to an 8-speed automatic transmission with all-wheel drive (unlike the sedan, the M3 Touring is not built in RWD).
Is the BMW M3 Competition Touring efficient?
You must be joking. It's not bad if you drive it gently (officially 10.4l/100km), but you'll always be in double figures. And who drives an M3 gently?
Is the BMW M3 Competition Touring good to drive?
It's a virtuoso machine in extremis (preferably on a track given the performance potential), but the M3 has become less versatile as a daily drive car in recent times: it's pretty low and stiff.
Is the BMW M3 Competition Touring practical?
At heart it's a 3-Series station wagon, so yes. Not the biggest in the back seat (but them it's a "compact executive"), but the boot is 500l and the 40/20/40-split rear seats make it quite versatile.
What do we like about the BMW M3 Competition Touring?
The cool-factor of an M3 wagon is off the scale, it looks incredible with those fat wheel arches, it's a phenomenal machine at high-speed or on a track, and it's actually quite a practical wagon.
What don’t we like about the BMW M3 Competition Touring?
It feels heavy and overly stiff in day-to-day driving (the opposite of when it's driving fast), an despite the practical load space, it's very low to get in and out of.
What kind of person would the BMW M3 Competition Touring suit?
Somebody who appreciates the Touring's unique place in BMW M3 history. Or somebody who enjoys the slightly perverse nature of a car this focused that's also a family station wagon.