This month, a few members of the J3P team were invited to experience the all-new 2021 BMW M3 Competition Sedan. Here’s what the guys had to say:
James Hall | Founder / Creative Principle
JH: Working as an automotive photographer, I’ve been fortunate enough to experience a lot of cool cars. High-horsepower, extensive modifications or exceedingly rare units are par for the course when it comes to this business. I’m naturally a bit desensitized when a new car launches. Still, the BMW M3 is such an icon and we were stoked on the invitation to drive it firsthand.
Visually, the new M3 Competition is a statement. Love it or hate it, it has presence and BMW is standing by its design choices. But, there is a slight disconnect between the new M3’s visuals, and the feeling behind the wheel. Where the exterior is aggressive and highly stylized, the drive is predictable, refined and muted - it just doesn’t have the “scare you” factor that most people associate with an “M” Car. But, that just speaks volumes to BMW’s engineering department. The new M3 really handles well when pushed through turns, and would make a great daily driver for anyone looking to move into the world of M Performance.
If purchasing this car for myself, I’d absolutely go for a Black M4 Competition Coupe with a full carbon package (including seats). I’d also be looking into aftermarket updates to allow the car to have a bit more push and character, possibly a tune and an exhaust.
Ilja Lukac | Producer / Manager
IL: The BMW M3 is always a conversation starter. To my mind, every car-person has an M3 generation which they consider to be the pinnacle of performance. I know James loves the E92’s V8 (and he’s right, it’s awesome), but I’m a hardened fan of the E46 generation - It’s pure, lightweight and has that indescribable feeling that only a straight-six BMW engine can provide. It should stand to reason that I’d hate the new G80 M3 platform… but I don’t. In fact, I think in some odd way, BMW has gone back to their roots with this car.
Handling is crisp, and the car feels light on its feet. There's very little body roll in corners, and zero plow under hard braking. 500+ horsepower is a lot in a car like this, yet the delivery is smooth and linear albeit slightly restrained.
Now, this could be because we received our test unit with a whopping 57 delivery kilometers, but I doubt a proper run-in period will make it feel more exhilarating. Sadly, this is a car you have to push extremely hard to feel rewarded.
If purchasing this car for myself, I’d select an M3 Sedan in Isle-of-Man Green. The Carbon sport seats are a must, but I’d wait for the manual gearbox, as I think you’d be able to get a little more out it under everyday conditions.
Stay tuned for our next blog, as the guys take two high-performance, practical Porsches and put them through their paces. We are working on a lot of cool things and projects for the summer and are very excited to share them all with you!