BMW M3 2006 News

Bernard Tomic's orange BMW coupe continues to follow him around the world - with the Aussie tennis star coming in for more police questioning at his new Monte Carlo base. Tomic's hoon-mobile caused a Gold Coast stand-off back in January, when the 19-year-old was stopped twice on Australia Day by cops over alleged sneaky drives while on a restricted P-plate licence. Despite Tomic's unsuccessful attempts to flog his motor back in Queensland, the roar of the V8 engine has followed him to the tax-free European principality, home to dozens of his fellow ATP players. One Monte Carlo policeman even put the hard word on the teen over his car. "A policeman here, he pulled my dad over while walking. The guy asked him for his licence. Just a random check," Tomic revealed after reaching the second round of the Monte Carlo Masters with a 6-4 6-3 win over Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan. "The guy followed tennis, and he asked: 'How is it going with the car?'" While Tomic may be moving on from his notorious Beemer, temptation stares him in the face, with the motor-mad teen living not far from a Maserati dealership in Monte Carlo. So far he has resisted the urge to buy a car. But like a sleazy, insincere car salesman, it's maybe time for mX to suggest a couple of nice little runners that might better suit the tennis teen.  

The new car market is facing the doldrums, but BMW will inject some red-hot summer sizzle to the family sports saloon mix next weekend (SUBS Nov 22) with the launch of its first - for Australia - M3 with four doors. The sports saloon market has been dominated by the potent 6.2-litre Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG saloon, leaving rival BMW out in the cold with nothing in its weaponry to counter. But that's all about to change. BMW's 4.0-litre V8-packing M3 sedan will join the M3 coupe and cabriolet to give its German rival a serious run for its money. The M3 saloon will hit the streets running with, according to BMW, a price advantage over C63 AMG - but that depends on how you look at it. The Benz sells for $144,365 and comes with a seven-speed auto G-tronic transmission. The base M3 with a six-speed manual box has been priced at $145,000 which is $17,901 under the M3 coupe and $31,142 cheaper than the M3 cabriolet. But the M3 saloon fitted with BMW's new Getrag seven-speed dual clutch robotised sequential manual/auto is priced at $152,309. BMW charges a hefty $7309 just for the sequential box. BMW spokesman Toni Andreevski says the M3 manual still holds a price advantage over the C63 AMG: "The M3 saloon comes standard with a rear locking axle which Benz sells as a $5826 option and our saloon has keyless entry; Benz charges $1800 for that as an option and there's no 19-inch alloy wheel availability on the Mercedes." BMW sells the optional larger wheels for an extra $4000. The five-seater M3 offers serious performance from its 309kW V8 with 400Nm on tap which redlines at 8400rpm. Andreevski expects most buyers will opt for the dearer version of the M3 because it packs more performance for less fuel usage over the manual. The dual clutch model is marginally quicker, if set in launch mode, taking a claimed 4.7 seconds to hit 100km/h; the conventional manual takes 4.9 seconds. BMW says the semi-auto is rated at 11.9l/100km, while the best the manual can do is 12.4l/100km. Standard gear includes a brake regeneration system which recharges the battery on overrun or braking, and 18-inch alloys shod with 245/40 ZR-rated rubber up front and 265/40s in the rear. The optional 19-inch alloys have an even lower profile, with 345/35 up front and 265/35 in the rear. The saloon also boasts a full satellite navigation system with 8.8-inch colour monitor, TV, LOGIC7 hi-fi, bi-Xenon headlamps, Novillo leather upholstery, and M-seats which are power adjustable and heated.    

   

The 3 Series sedan, Touring (wagon) and Coupe all get the treatment to enhance buyers' choice. The M Sports package offered on the 3 Series Coupe is for drivers who want to get some of the reflected glory of the potent M3 model. Yet the M Sports pack is not just dress-up; it promises extra grip through larger wheels and tyres and lowered, sports suspension. The M Sports pack is available on the BMW Coupes in 323i, 325i and the exciting twin-turbo 335i versions at a premium of $6200, $4700 and $2600. The price varies because of the standard equipment on those models. The M Sports pack has asymmetric 18-inch diameter wheels. These are 8J wide for the front with 225/40 tyres, while at the rear the wheels are 8.5J and are fitted with 255/35 tyres. An option is 19-inch alloys; 8J at the front with 225/35 tyres and 9J at the rear with 255/35 tyres. The sports suspension, which is part of the pack, lowers the Coupe by 15mm. The M Sports pack brings a more aggressive design to the front of the Coupe, including larger intakes. It has sideskirts and distinctive rear bumper panels to aid aerodynamics. Inside, the pack adds sports seats to give greater lateral support when cornering and a leather-clad steering wheel with leather touches on the shift lever and handbrake. The M Sports pack can be ordered on BMW 3 Series Coupes from November. An Individual Luminance Edition is available on 3 Series sedans; bringing special exterior paint and higher levels of luxury. Seats and door inserts have Merino (cattle) leather. Sports seats and luxury steering wheel add to the package, which costs $7500. The Individual Luminance can be ordered on all 3 Series sedans; 320i, 320d, 323i, 325i and 335i.