Considered by many as one of the best driving machines of the past few decades, the BMW E92 M3 has earned a massive fan base. Launched back in 2007, this Bimmer was in production for a total of 6 years and managed to thrill the gearhead with its superb S65 V8 engine and the crisp-shifting 6-speed manual transmission. Being an M3, the car also came with a host of upgrades to the suspension, chassis, brakes, and cooling system, making it a perfect choice for daily driving and around a racetrack.
One other thing that makes the BMW E92 M3 still an impressive choice for the sports coupe segment is due to its attainable price tag. The used car pricing of the E92 M3 hasn't seen a massive spike unlike some of the other generations, and you could get a clean example for around the $30,000 mark. The E92 M3 also has a massive fan following and mod potential, making it even better. Competing with the likes of Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG and Lexus IS-F, here are 10 things you need to know before buying the BMW E92 M3.
10 BMW E92 M3 Comes With A Thunderous V8 Engine
The BMW E92 M3 comes with a fire-breathing 4.0-liter naturally aspirated V8 engine under the hood. This is the only M3 with a naturally aspirated V8 ever, and it puts out a healthy 414 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. The double overhead cam engine gets variable valve timing and the power goes down through the rear wheels only.
The 0-60 MPH comes in 4.5 seconds and the quarter-mile takes 13.4 seconds. The limited slip differential helps to put the power down effectively. The dual-clutch 7-speed automatic transmission was standard. However, you could have also opted for a 6-speed manual transmission with the E92 M3.
9 BMW E92 M3 Is A Capable Driving Machine
Being a BMW and above all a car coming from the M division, the E92 M3 is not going to disappoint the gearheads out there. One of the biggest reasons why it is still considered one of the greatest cars of all time is due to the razor-sharp handling and precision it showcases around tight corners.
The BMW E92 M3 comes with a four-wheel independent suspension with McPherson struts at the front and a multilink setup at the rear. The front and rear stabilizer bars, an impressive wheelbase of 108.7", and a low curb weight of 3,704 lbs also helped it to win the driver's championship in Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters and the 2010 24 hours of Nurburgring.
8 BMW E92 M3 GTS Is Highly Desirable
The BMW E92 M3 GTS came out in 2010 and came with a lot more performance upgrades in the form of a more powerful engine, lighter curb weight, better suspension, superior aerodynamics, and better brakes. The 4.4-liter naturally aspirated V8 came mated to the 7-speed DCT and the 0-60 mph time came down to 4.4 seconds.
As a result, the BMW E92 M3 GTS could set superior lap times as well when compared to the regular BMW E92 M3. But, the downside of the M3 GTS is that only 135 cars were officially sold and that makes it very hard to attain. The used examples are ridiculously expensive as well.
7 BMW E92 M3 Came With Many Options And Packages
The BMW E92 M3 was on sale for close to 6 years and that has resulted in many options, packages, and limited editions. This M3 was available in coupe, sedan, or convertible form factor, and that means that there is an M3 for everyone out there.
You could also rack up all the M performance parts from the factory which included a black kidney grille, M rims, M performance exhaust, and a long list of carbon fiber accents. Special editions like Competition Package, GTS, CRT, and Lime Rock Edition are very valuable in the used market as well.
6 BMW E92 M3 Has A Spacious And Comfortable Cabin
Being a sports coupe with a ridiculous amount of horsepower and torque, many would expect the BMW E92 M3 to bog down in terms of comfort. However, step into the luxurious cabin of the M3 and the amount of space on offer inside would surprise you.
The leather and cloth upholstery of the regular M3 adds to the comfort factor. If you get the M3 GTS, the Recaro sport seat cocoons you well when taking a corner aggressively. The headroom of 38.4" and legroom of 41.8" was better than most of the segment rivals of the time. The rear seat space was adequate too.
5 BMW E92 M3 Is More Feature-Packed Than The E36 M3
In comparison to the BMW E92 M3, the E36 M3 feels quite old, especially when it comes to the features list. Inside the BMW E92 M3, you get many relevant techs and features like a 10-speaker audio system, heated and powered side mirrors, steering-mounted controls, leather upholstery, and an interior air filtration system.
The exterior features like 18" alloy wheels, carbon fiber inserts, performance tires, daytime running lights, Xenon headlights, a front splitter, a shark fin antenna, and a quad exhaust system were available too. Many of these features are not available with the previous generation of the M3. There were a lot of optional packages on offer as well with the BMW E92 M3.
4 BMW E92 M3 Has Been Appreciating In Value
The BMW E92 M3 came to the United States market for a starting MSRP of $56,500 and that made it a pretty enticing deal for those who value performance more than anything else. However, the E92 M3 hasn't seen a drastic depreciation, especially when compared to its rivals Mercedes-Benz and Audi.
You could lay your hands on a clean and low mileage example for around the $35,000 mark. If you are alright with the higher mileage examples, you could get hold of one for around $15,000. With mediocre reliability and many reported issues by the present owners, we would recommend you get a low mileage example.
3 BMW M3 Can Be Had In A Convertible Form Factor As Well
If you fancy the wind in the hair experience without compromising one bit on luxury, performance, and comfort, the BMW M3 also had a convertible option. This was around $8,000 more expensive than the coupe version and came with no major changes to the mechanicals and performance numbers.
Powered by the same 4.0-liter naturally aspirated V8 mated to a 6-speed manual or a 7-speed DCT, the E93 M3 Convertible was a fairly successful model from the M stable. The average selling price of the E93 M3 is around $29,855 in the used car market and that makes it much more enticing than the E92 M3.
2 BMW E92 M3 Isn't Very Reliable
The E92 M3 is an expensive sports car from BMW and reliability is not one of its fortes. The common reliability issues include minor electrical issues, sensors going bad for higher mileage examples, and window regular failures.
However, one of the biggest issues of the BMW E92 M3 is the rod bearing failure, similar to that of the M5 V10 of the same vintage. That is going to be a very expensive fix too. Hence, we would highly recommend you get a car with a warranty.
1 BMW E92 M3 Offered Solid Braking Performance
The braking is one of the biggest factors of any high-performance sports car. Thankfully, the BMW E92 M3 doesn't disappoint one bit. Coming with 14.2" front rotors and 13.8" rear rotors, the E92 M3 could stop on a dime with ease.
Other braking features in the BMW E92 M3 include ABS with EBD, ventilated rotors, brake assist, BMW M Vacuum Assist, and dynamic brake control. The 60-0 mph braking takes just 100 feet as well.