The BMW M3 has a madness inside it. Its standard powertrain bottles up 473 horsepower from a twin-turbo straight-six, shoots it through a six-speed manual transmission, and wastes no time delivering it to the rear tires. And that’s only the start. The M3 Competition, which is only offered with an eight-speed automatic, increases horsepower to 503 and is offered with your choice of rear- or all-wheel drive. With all that power, you’d think the M3 would be incapable of doing slow, but even when driven at law-abiding speeds, it’s quite nice. While rivals such as the Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing and Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio feel at times more refined and less edgy, there isn’t a wrong choice among the three brands’ super sedans—in fact, they all have won 2024 Editors’ Choice awards. For an even more righteous experience, there’s the new-for-2024 M3 CS. It sheds an estimated 75 pounds from the base M3 and hammers the pavement with 543 horsepower and all-wheel drive.
The BMW M3 only grows crazier for 2024 with a limited-edition M3 CS model that ups horsepower to 543 from 503. Lightweight materials shave an estimated 75 pounds from the normal M3. It will use the eight-speed automatic with all-wheel drive, ensuring blistering launches. The M3 CS gets its own suspension tuning, as well as red or black brake calipers behind the M light-alloy wheels. And of course, M3 CS’s exclusive M Dynamic Mode offers an aggressive track driving mode. Fitted with Michelin gummy Pilot Sport Cup 2 track-focused tires, a no-cost option, this will likely be the quickest M3 we’ve ever tested.
It’s a pity that the more powerful M3 Competition is only offered with an automatic transmission because the six-speed manual on the base version is hugely satisfying. We understand why some folks will be drawn to the M3 Comp–its extra power and available all-wheel drive ($4100 extra) for starters–but we prefer the one with the manual—which also rides better. Aside from the subjective exterior and interior styling choices, we’d recommend selecting the M Drive Professional package (with its onboard drift analyzer and lap timer) and the M Driver’s package (unlocks a higher top speed and includes a high-performance driving class).
As with the new M4 coupe, the M3 sedan features a twin-turbo 3.0-liter inline-six. The normal version sends 473 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque to the rear wheels. A six-speed manual is the only transmission offered. The M3 Competition’s engine is even more powerful, generating 503 horses and 479 pound-feet, but it’s only offered with the eight-speed automatic. The M3 Comp comes standard with rear-wheel drive, but it’s also available with an all-wheel-drive system that includes a rear-drive mode. The baddest of asses in this hyper-3-series guise is the 543-hp M3 CS. The CS is all-wheel drive and equipped exclusively with the eight-speed auto. Built with many carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic bits, the CS weighs 39 pounds less than the M3 Competition xDrive, but 310 pounds more than the M4 CSL coupe. Every M3 also features adaptive dampers and an adjustable brake-pedal feel. The sedan can be outfitted with even stronger carbon-ceramic brakes, too, which feature cool gold-painted calipers. Our first drive of the regular M3 and the Competition variant showcased their ability to pull off lurid drifts, which were encouraged by the optional M Drift Analyzer (part of the M Drive professional package). We also fell in love with the satisfying shifts of the manual gearbox, and we were just as pleased with the engine’s tenacious acceleration. However, when compared to the raucous Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio, the M3 doesn’t immerse the driver quite as much.
At our test track, our long-term M3 hit 60 mph in 3.9 seconds; it was equipped with a manual transmission and rear-wheel drive. An all-wheel drive M3 Competition with the eight-speed automatic pulled off a heroic 2.8-second 0-60-mph time.
Interior, Comfort, and Cargo
Besides unique “M” badging and distinct trim details, the M3 interior is basically the same as in the regular 3-series. That means the M3 has the same design, passenger space, and outward visibility as its more pedestrian counterpart. While M cars are known for their heartier performance, they also meet or exceed the top-of-the-line 3-series in terms of interior materials and build quality. Not surprisingly, the M3 has more carbon fiber and microsuede accents for a racier aesthetic. The driver faces a large curved digital gauge cluster that will switch to M View in the sportier drive modes; they are activated via prominent red buttons on the M3’s chunky steering wheel. Switching to M View adds a shift indicator and replaces the regular tachometer with one that’s easier to read. A set of heavily bolstered, lightweight front seats are available (standard on the Competition) and provide incredible support without sacrificing much comfort, although that might not ring true on long road trips.
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