2007 BMW M3 Review – A Future Classic – GT Sport | Reviews By Gil

In 2007, BMW Completely revamped the meaning of the M3. The wale of the inline six-cylinder engine of yesteryear was replaced with a vengeful 4.0-liter V8. To this day, the E92 M3 was the only M3 to stray away from its inline roots. How does the previous benchmark stack up today?

2007 BMW M3

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Exterior

The E92 M3 is handsome brute of a car. It manages to be muscular and restrained, like The Rock in a Tuxedo. The hood bulge and the flared wheel arches add to its devilish charm. It’s not flamboyant. It’s not brash. It’s exquisitely, German.

Interior

I never really thought BMWs were that luxurious. They Focused so much on being the driving machine that luxury seemed like it came second. If you wanted luxury, you would buy the Mercedes or Audi. If you wanted driving pleasure, you bought the BMW. That was the ethos that was so familiar to me growing up. The interior of the 2007 BMW M3 reflects this view point. It’s quite clinical in here. Straight lines and black trim. It’s fine, and I feel that a premium product such as this should be more than just fine. The infotainment screen is smack dab in the middle where it belongs, although very outdated as time progresses unfortunately. It’s not all bad though. There’s a piece of carbon fiber trim that runs along the length of the dashboard which is a nice touch. The gauges, in traditional M sense, adjust the redline as it warms up. Also, there’s a little M badge on the shifter to remind that you’re in one of BMWs most exclusive vehicles.

How does it Drive?

Quite well. It’s no mystery that BMW knows how to make a car go around a corner. The 2007 BMW M3 is no exception to the rule. Even with that big V8 upfront, the M3 can dance around the ballroom with ease. It’s a razor-sharp track weapon aimed at setting the fastest lap time possible.

414-hp and 295 Ib.-ft or torque is what erupts from the bowels of the 4.0-liter V8 engine. Today that might not sound like a lot, but that was a considerable jump from the E46 M3’s 333-hp rating. Is the E92 M3 fast? Yes, but it doesn’t really feel fast. All the torque feels like it’s at the top of the rev range. Unless you keep the revs high, the V8 can feel quite sluggish at slow speeds. Flooring it mid corner to step the back out isn’t going to work here unfortunately. If you upset the chassis a bit and give it an old Scandinavian flick, the back will come around in a predictable manner. When that happens, you better keep your foot on the throttle and the revs high to maintain the drift. In some instances, 295 Ib.-ft of torque just isn’t enough to keep those wheels spinning.

2007 BMW M3

Should you buy one?

It’s tempting isn’t it. Early examples of the E92 M3 can be found as low as $25,000 on Autotrader. This little piece of Bavaria could be yours for the price of a slight optioned Honda Accord. However, let’s remind ourselves that buying used European luxury products out of warranty is a gamble even World Series Poker players wouldn’t take. Depending on the day, $25,000 for an E92 M3 could easily be the best or worst decision you’ve made in a while. I’m sure we’ve all heard about the infamous rod bearing issues that could become of the 4.0-liter V8, which is something to consider. KBB has consumer reviews at 4.5 out of 5 stars, with a 5-star reliability rating across most of these reviews. Edmunds has a similar story to tell with a 4.8 rating out of 5-stars over 21 reviews. It’s not all rainbows and unicorns though. There were a few complaints about the infotainment system, which probably feels ancient here in 2018. Seems like a small price to pay for a piece of BMW M history. In the end, the GPS on your phone is almost always better.

Value

What’s the biggest problem with the 2007 E92 M3? It’s year. What was once a performance benchmark has now been surpassed by, surprisingly, American competitors. Does it really make sense to purchase an early E92 M3 over a slightly used, late model American sports car? The days of Mustangs and Camaros not handling well have long passed. $25,000 can easily put you into a 2016 or 2017 Ford Mustang with thumping V8 under the hood as well. The same can be said for Chevrolet. $25,000 will put you into a 2014 or 2015 Chevrolet Camaro SS. LS or Coyote power for 25k? I would jump at those decisions far quicker than the 2007 BMW E92 M3. Come to think of it, there’s a more promising threat right there in Bavaria’s backyard on the used market. That threat is the 2011 BMW 335is. You’ve probably heard of this comparison before. The performance of the E92 M3 can almost be matched by the 335is. These can be found on Autotrader for as low as $15,000 in the States. With 320 horsepower and 330 lb.-ft of torque, the 335is is no slouch. I’m sure a few bolt on mods can bring it up to the 414-hp and 295lb.-ft of torque present in the E92 M3.

2007 BMW M3

Conclusion

Is the E92 M3 brilliant? Yes. Is it a future classic? Most likely. Benchmarks like the 2007 BMW M3 pushed American automakers to change the way muscle cars were designed. In many ways, you can thank the BMW M3 for American muscle cars that are no longer scared of corners. It was exceptional in its time, and it’s exceptional now. For that reason, the E92 M3 will always be respected.

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