[DML]

Originally Posted by redline9001

I miss my e46, I wish I never sold it

Low miles e46, sweet.

[IDBGOD]

Too far off to get excited.

That and I'm enjoying my F80 too much as is.

[lax01]

A 4000 lb AWD M3 would be taking a play from the Audi playbook and not worth any enthusiasts time...even if its 500hp.

[CSBM5]

Originally Posted by lax01

A 4000 lb AWD M3 would be taking a play from the Audi playbook and not worth any enthusiasts time...even if its 500hp.

Of course it doesn't really matter -- all that matters is that BMW can lease the product, perhaps two times even. The lease rate overall for BMWs is well over 60% (only Infiniti beats BMW's lease rate and just barely) but for cars in the M3's price range and above the % leased is very high such that BMW's lease rate exceeds 80+% in some regions.

When you're designing for what is essentially a rental market versus an ownership market, the objectives are a lot different. The objectives of the customers in that market a lot different from the old days too. Hence the reason manual uptakes are falling off rapidly in cars other than the M2 (which is about 50/50) -- which of course just happens to be a BMW which many people actually buy also.

BMW is living by BMW Financial Services and leasing in the USA market. It's such a strong driver that leaving behind what traditional enthusiasts desire is too enticing when short term financialization is what gets rewarded...for the moment anyway.

[AhsanU]

Originally Posted by SakhirM4

Real old timers have NA inline 4.

Us real real old.timers still have a horse pulling a cart you darned kids!

[flanast]

Originally Posted by Nikolas

Old timers have a n/a in line 6, young whippersnapper (whistle)!

Old timers have both

[frankzlin79]

Somebody help clarify for me. If the end of production of F80 M3 is October 2018, why would the G80 M3 not be available on showroom floor until maybe 2021 or 2022?

Does end of production mean the F80 M3 will cease being produced all together or does it mean there will be no more future changes?

I mean are we saying the 2019 M3 will have no changes compared to a 2018 M3?

[CSBM5]

Originally Posted by frankzlin79

Somebody help clarify for me. If the end of production of F80 M3 is October 2018, why would the G80 M3 not be available on showroom floor until maybe 2021 or 2022?

Does end of production mean the F80 M3 will cease being produced all together or does it mean there will be no more future changes?

I mean are we saying the 2019 M3 will have no changes compared to a 2018 M3?

There won't be a 2019 model year M3. The 2018 model year is the last model year of the F80. It will be a 2018 and produced through 10/2018 just like the E90 M3 ended with the 2011 model year and was produced through 10/2011.

Similarly the E9x M3 coupe/vert was produced through the 2013 model year with EOP of E92 06/2013 and E93 10/2013. The M4 is essentially the M3 coupe, and it is following that similar 7 year cycle.

The reason why the sedan goes away first is that production of the F30 ends just like the E90 ended in 2011.

The follow-on M3, G80 or whatever, will start production sometime in early 2021 and be called a 2022 model year. Simply take the availability of the F80 (late Spring 2014 and add seven years).

7 year cycle. It's weird. It's BMW.

[Pic18]

Originally Posted by CSBM5

There won't be a 2019 model year M3. The 2018 model year is the last model year of the F80. It will be a 2018 and produced through 10/2018 just like the E90 M3 ended with the 2011 model year and was produced through 10/2011.

Similarly the E9x M3 coupe/vert was produced through the 2013 model year with EOP of E92 06/2013 and E93 10/2013. The M4 is essentially the M3 coupe, and it is following that similar 7 year cycle.

The reason why the sedan goes away first is that production of the F30 ends just like the E90 ended in 2011.

The follow-on M3, G80 or whatever, will start production sometime in early 2021 and be called a 2022 model year. Simply take the availability of the F80 (late Spring 2014 and add seven years).

7 year cycle. It's weird. It's BMW.

I thought the word from BMW was they were trying to get away from such a large gap (3 model yrs) between M products? I will have to go back through some threads but I thought a 2020 MY was a possibility so a release in late 2019. That being said if history holds true the care will not be out until 2021, hence why I traded my 2015 F80 for a 2018.

[CSBM5]

Originally Posted by Pic18

I thought the word from BMW was they were trying to get away from such a large gap (3 model yrs) between M products? I will have to go back through some threads but I thought a 2020 MY was a possibility so a release in late 2019. That being said if history holds true the care will not be out until 2021, hence why I traded my 2015 F80 for a 2018.

The stated EOP for the current M4 is not until 10/2020, so it would be hard to imagine that BMW would produce the G80 M3 with the S58, etc, prior to EOP for the current M4.

[Powerslide]

Originally Posted by CSBM5

The stated EOP for the current M4 is not until 10/2020, so it would be hard to imagine that BMW would produce the G80 M3 with the S58, etc, prior to EOP for the current M4.

That would seem to be true based upon prior production cycles. However - the S58 is being introduced with the new X3M, so that engine will already be in production before the M4 is available (therefore the M3 G80 should not be held up solely because of the S58).

However, the M3 sedan and coupe (now M4) for the past two generations have shared the same front end styling - which would be the only remaining potential "excuse" to hold up production of the G80 until the G82/G83 are ready for production.

Seems like a 50/50 proposition to me - if BMW introduces the G80 M3 in Frankfurt in Sept 2019 as rumored, then we just might see the sedan version come out in the Spring/Summer of 2020 (just as the F82/F83 are ending production).

Guess we shall see. :

[mkoesel]

As Powerslide said, the only unknown right now is whether the M3 will carry on the tradition of sharing enough with the M4 coupe (and M3 coupe, before that) such that it must wait for that car to come to market before it can make its appearance.

Warning: Some rabid speculation follows.

One thing that sprung to mind recently is that, with the 6 Series coupe/convertible/GC being moved up market and forming the new 8 Series range, there is ample opportunity here for BMW to similarly move the 4 Series up market. I don't think they will actually call it a 6 Series, and I'm not suggesting that they will raise the price up above the 5 Series either, necessarily. But there is definitely a big hole in the lineup that could be filled in at least a little by moving the upcoming G22/G23/G26 upward a touch.

Its only fair to point out here that, for the past two generations (E9x and F3x), there were predictions made about putting meaningful separation between the two-door models and the four-door models, but that hasn't really happened. So, we should not hold our breath. But at any rate, if that were to happen, and the M3 were therefore able to break off from the M4, it could mean we see the G80 M3 much earlier than we would otherwise. In fact, it would allow for the same timelines the 5 Series and M5 are on today. In that case, the 5 Series came late 2016 while the M5 was in production by the end of last year, ready for delivery here very soon (by March 2018). Add two years each of those, and that could be our 3 Series vs. M3 timeline - 3 Series comes in late 2018 (known fact), M3 debut in 2019, available early 2020.

Again, though, this is compete conjecture with really no evidence to support it.

[uniqueMR]

Originally Posted by mkoesel

As Powerslide said, the only unknown right now is whether the M3 will carry on the tradition of sharing enough with the M4 coupe (and M3 coupe, before that) such that it must wait for that car to come to market before it can make its appearance.

Warning: Some rabid speculation follows.

One thing that sprung to mind recently is that, with the 6 Series coupe/convertible/GC being moved up market and forming the new 8 Series range, there is ample opportunity here for BMW to similarly move the 4 Series up market. I don't think they will actually call it a 6 Series, and I'm not suggesting that they will raise the price up above the 5 Series either, necessarily. But there is definitely a big hole in the lineup that could be filled in at least a little by moving the upcoming G22/G23/G26 upward a touch.

Its only fair to point out here that, for the past two generations (E9x and F3x), there were predictions made about putting meaningful separation between the two-door models and the four-door models, but that hasn't really happened. So, we should not hold our breath. But at any rate, if that were to happen, and the M3 were therefore able to break off from the M4, it could mean we see the G80 M3 much earlier than we would otherwise. In fact, it would allow for the same timelines the 5 Series and M5 are on today. In that case, the 5 Series came late 2016 while the M5 was in production by the end of last year, ready for delivery here very soon (by March 2018). Add two years each of those, and that could be our 3 Series vs. M3 timeline - 3 Series comes in late 2018 (known fact), M3 debut in 2019, available early 2020.

Again, though, this is compete conjecture with really no evidence to support it.

Nice...

[dmk08]

After owning the numb F8x hard to get excited for this.

Funny some people think it'll still be DCT. Highly doubtful IMO.

[CSBM5]

Originally Posted by dmk08

After owning the numb F8x hard to get excited for this.

Funny some people think it'll still be DCT. Highly doubtful IMO.

BMW made it pretty clear last year that DCT was done for as the move to traditional automatics will spread to all M-cars, so it would go against everything they've said for DCT to make another iteration (not that they've not gone back on their word before of course).

[goj]

Originally Posted by Sassicaia

Its still a ways away. With the high probability it wont come with a manual transmission ill probably skip the generation altogether and hold onto my 6MT F80.

It's been reported the m3 will maintain a manual. Has that changed or is that just an assumption?

[M3 Number 86]

I skipped the F8X generation since it wasn't to my liking. Looks odd, turdbos, etc.

Hoping this generation gets some more tech advances where it will really outshine my current E9X. No DCT worries me though. My next car for sure will have an autobox and DCT is so great. I still doubt that there could be a ZF that is better than a true dual clutch. Imagine no more pdk and going to autos in a porsche lol.

[kyrix1st]

It would be greatly appreciated if M division made high compression NA engine combined with an electric motor. No AWD nonsense please

[M3 Number 86]

Originally Posted by kyrix1st

It would be greatly appreciated if M division made high compression NA engine combined with an electric motor. No AWD nonsense please

Yeah I was hoping it would have electric assist. This is what I was hoping for when I mentioned tech advances. That would be fucking awesome. But with electric assist it'll be ok to turbo. Just not that confident in bmw being able to perfect the tuning and the interaction to make it seamless.

[jasnh]

Originally Posted by Powerslide

That would seem to be true based upon prior production cycles. However - the S58 is being introduced with the new X3M, so that engine will already be in production before the M4 is available (therefore the M3 G80 should not be held up solely because of the S58).

However, the M3 sedan and coupe (now M4) for the past two generations have shared the same front end styling - which would be the only remaining potential "excuse" to hold up production of the G80 until the G82/G83 are ready for production.

Seems like a 50/50 proposition to me - if BMW introduces the G80 M3 in Frankfurt in Sept 2019 as rumored, then we just might see the sedan version come out in the Spring/Summer of 2020 (just as the F82/F83 are ending production).

Guess we shall see. :

Hope this is the case, as I am about to take delivery of my 2018 F80....it would be nice if the G80 is ready in time for my lease ending in 2021

[KevinM]

Well, I have to say that after reading a number of F90 M5 reviews, I actually AM getting a bit excited about this car...the only things I don't like about the F90 from what I'm reading are its size and the absence of a MT option.

Smaller size, 500ish HP/TQ, M xDrive, MT. Sweet. I know the MT is not a sure thing, but I'm hopeful.

[M3GymNut]

Originally Posted by KevinM

Well, I have to say that after reading a number of F90 M5 reviews, I actually AM getting a bit excited about this car...the only things I don't like about the F90 from what I'm reading are its size and the absence of a MT option.

Smaller size, 500ish HP/TQ, M xDrive, MT. Sweet. I know the MT is not a sure thing, but I'm hopeful.

It's looking like this is going to be the last gen M3 that will have a 6MT option. I hope so as well cause I wouldn't buy a car that I drive without a manual. I'm not there yet.