BMW M3 Competition 2016 Review

BMW M3 Competition
Local Launch Review
Norwell, Queensland

Fast, loud and boasting mega traction, the BMW M3 Competition takes a potent apex predator and further sharpens its claws. Offering more power – now 331kW – sportier suspension, bigger 20-inch alloy wheels, stickier tyres and alterations to its stability control and rear differential, the Competition model adds around $5000 to the asking price of the M3 and M4 models. Worth the extra cash? Let's find out.

Foot to the floor, six-cylinders partaking in their precisely engineered slam dance, the BMW M3 Competition blasts forwards, howling at the looming eucalypt forest.

It's fast. Outrageously fast.

BMW's 3.0-litre twin-turbo engine bangs out 550Nm at less than 2000rpm, making a mockery of Newtonian physics as it punches through the air at ever increasing velocities.

The rev counter passes 4000rpm, the Beemer rockets towards the next corner at full noise, the engine acoustics louder and more piercing than before thanks to new valves in the exhaust system.

Yes, this car is thrilling – and we haven't even got to the race track yet!

The M3 Competition brings several other goodies to the table too, least of which is a 14kW boost in power, with 331kW peaking at 6000rpm (up from 317kW at 5500rpm).

Larger 20-inch Star Spoke alloys are shod with ultra-grippy Michelin Pilot Super Sport tyres, 265/30 at the front, 285/30 at the rear. They look great and generate huge levels of grip for the Bavarian battler, which even on damp Queensland corners instil trust.

Lump in a recalibrated Active M Differential designed to provide more punch out of corners, new springs, dampers and anti-roll bars to hone handling response and you're looking at one of the sharpest modern M3s yet, no question.

BMW Australia reckons around 90 per cent of customers will choose the Competition model, which naturally adds other (very welcome) creature comforts like a rocking harman/kardon surround sound stereo.

There's a head-up display, adaptive LED headlights with high-beam assist, keyless access and engine start, plus an upgraded infotainment system with 'professional' satellite navigation via high-definition widescreen display.

Cosmetic enhancements on the hard-charging Beemer like high-gloss black exterior elements and a carbon-fibre roof add visual swagger, while the cabin benefits from eye-catching (and heated) electrically adjustable M Sport seats with large cut outs and M-striped seatbelts. These interior treats are classy, reminding you every time you hunker down and buckle in that this is no ordinary BMW 3 Series.

Parts of the interior such as the audio and heating controls look dated, but a big leather-wrapped steering wheel means you can actually see all the of car's instruments, such as the cool LED lights that surround the tachometer dial.

There's ample room for four adults in this German road warrior and a 480-litre luggage capacity is handy too. I like the Connected Drive functionality, so you can run the internet (live weather etc.) and there are even real-time traffic overlays on the navigation maps, not to mention a concierge service.

The seats are awesome and the standard Merino Leather upholstery has a luxurious, supple finish.

A rapid-fire seven-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT) is fitted as standard and a six-speed manual is a no-cost option… although BMW says less than three per cent of customers opt for the manual these days.

So, you get a veritable grab bag of extra features when you choose the M3 Competition and the car certainly feels, looks and sounds more intense as a result.

BMW matches these upgrades with decent after-sales care, in the form of a three-year / unlimited kilometre warranty. The German company also reckons that "owning a performance car shouldn't be expensive" and offers a five-year servicing plan for one upfront fee of $2878.

The $144,615 (plus on-road costs) asking price is pretty steep, but you get a lot of car, a lot of performance and one of the most famous sports car badges on the market.

But it isn’t perfect…

BMW has crafted a rear-drive road rocket with incredible levels of the grip, but the M3 Competition feels like a missed opportunity as the steering is just as inert as the donor model. To put it another way, I never really connected with the car via the steering wheel or even through the seat of my pants.

It's not a deal-breaker because the car is easy to hustle along at speed and can be rewarding. It's just not as engaging as it should be.

There's excellent throttle response and that foot-to-car connection is far more defined but the steering element is difficult to forgive.

The ballistic Beemer also has a very firm ride, even when left in Comfort mode. But the Sport and Sport Plus modes worked well on the race track, as did the recalibrated M Dynamic Mode setting for the stability control.

The car feels livelier on the racetrack, clocking up 180km/h alarmingly quickly, and being able to probe its grip threshold through varying radii corners, reveals just how much traction the car generates at all speeds. It's astonishing.

Getting on the throttle early when pommeling out of corners rewards the driver with progressive powerslides, but you have to be super aggressive because there's just so much grip from the sticky 285-profile Michelin hoops at the rear.

Deceleration is just as arresting as acceleration, the M3's big four-piston front stoppers scrubbing speed with steadfast resolve. You can option carbon-ceramic disc brakes but unless you track the car regularly, the $15,000 premium probably wouldn’t be worth it.

For mine, the manual M3 was more engaging to drive than the DCT, despite being somewhat slower. But with little to no customer appetite for manuals it'll go the way of the diplodocus soon.

Adjustable gear-shift intensity in the DCT M3 is matched with push-button adaptable steering, engine and suspension settings, three for each. But lots of fiddly bits can be a blessing and a curse. I ended up leaving the steering in Comfort mode and the rest in Sport and it seemed to work well enough.

BMW has crafted a super-fast, super sharp, super capable road and track car in the M3 Competition. Worth the extra $5000? Without a doubt. Yet for all its heritage and hero status this is not the most memorable of M3s we've driven over the years.

Very good? Yes. But not truly great.

Perhaps the M4 GTS will deliver?

With just 25 cars coming to Australia, stay tuned for a review on that $295,000 weapon soon.

2016 BMW M3 Competition pricing and specifications:
Price: $144,615 (plus on-road costs)
Engine: 3.0-litre six-cylinder twin-turbo-petrol
Output: 331kW/550Nm
Transmission: Seven-speed dual-clutch
Fuel: 8.8L/100km (ADR Combined)
CO2: 194g/km (ADR Combined)
Safety Rating: Five-star ANCAP

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