2003 BMW M3 Coupe 3.2 Inline 6 from North America

Summary:

Great sports car / coupe that does everything quite well

Faults:

Nothing.

General Comments:

The M3 is a near perfect blend of everyday practicality and uncompromising performance. For those individuals who desire that combination the M3 is hard to beat. You can pay a lot more, but you will be hard pressed to get a better overall value.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 14th December, 2006

2003 BMW M3 CSL 3.2 petrol from UK and Ireland

Summary:

Best car I have ever owned

Faults:

Nothing although too soon to say.

General Comments:

Makes the normal e46 m3 seem like a lorry such is its lightness and nimble race car like handling.

I've got rears on the front as well as the rear and it pretty much destroys anything on track.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 11th June, 2006

2003 BMW M3 Coupe 3.2L from North America

Summary:

Worth the cash, but $150 oil changes still suck

Faults:

No problems as of yet. With less than 10k miles, there had better be no problems.

General Comments:

You probably hear this from every other M3 owner, but this car is simply incredible. The fact that BMW could squeeze 333hp from 3.2 liters of naturally aspirated motor is amazing.

The acceleration is great, and that sound is oh so sweet. I opted for the standard 6 speed, rather than the SMG. I would just rather have a gearbox that is trouble free.

I am NOT a fan of BMW's navigation system, so I didn't get it on this one. My buddy's 2002 540i has it, and it just seems to have lots of quirks.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 24th June, 2004

30th Jul 2004, 22:06

$150 oil changes? Scheduled maintenance is free from BMW. Something tells me you don't really have this car...

19th Nov 2004, 08:04

Its 343bhp to be precise.

29th Nov 2004, 09:07

No, scheduled maintenance is NOT free when your factory warranty has been cancelled. If he did what I did, he simply had his oil changed at a roadside service center instead of a BMW one and Bimmer found out, the warranty is done. All they have to do is look and see a non-BMWE oil filter. Then it's over.

16th Mar 2005, 10:41

No, actually.. to be PRECISE, it is 333hp@7900rpm and 262 lb-ft@4900rpm. I'm a cert. BMW Tech. I would probably know. The writer of this review was correct on his power quote. Know your facts before you correct.

27th Mar 2007, 05:53

Acutually the guy who quoted 343 bhp, good on ya!

All euro spec m3's have this power, american models usually have to have emissions nonsense installed to be legal.

So I reckon that 333bhp maybe due to that fact.

I know for sure it's 343bhp here in the UK.

Jeb.

28th Aug 2008, 14:00

The slight lack in power in the US is primarily the lower rated octane fuel in the US. The ECU would be tuned slightly differently to cope with the lower octane fuel, and as a result has slightly less power (although it would be hardly noticeable).

23rd Oct 2008, 19:09

Also (re: euro spec vs. north american version) there's different emissions laws and therefore stock settings, which slightly effect horsepower.

See the wikipedia page on the M3 for details.

-Chris.

26th Jan 2009, 02:22

If I have that BMW cert. repair dude work on my Euro E46 M3, will it come back with slightly less horsepower? (16th Mar 2005)

28th Jul 2009, 19:41

American M3 has different horsepower than other countries.