Sold – $32,000 (Plus Fees)
BMW’s Motorsport division has won many accolades for its engine designs and near-flawless execution of vehicle enhancement without exuberant excess. While concocting the fourth generation M3 coupe (E92), BMW’s M Masterminds seemingly took their work home with them to make sure it came out of the oven perfectly. A new engine with a stratospheric redline, carbon fiber pieces that actually trim weight, and an equipoise chassis are the ingredients that when melded together became a magical performance that is the E92. Although it was now with more sports car killing capability than ever before, the E92 remained faithful to the original M3 by still allowing drivers to have a comfortable cruiser when the driving occasion mandated a mood change. As of today, we are offering a 2011 example of this brilliant piece of M-engineering, and the bidding has just gone live!
While the fiery soul of every M-car is the motor, their discretion during daily use has always been their most charming aspect. While true motorheads will quickly recognize the slight variances to a standard 3-Series, BMW’s exterior performance upgrades to the M3 will slip by unnoticed by a vast majority of the populace. Modest alterations include chrome quad-exhaust tips, aerodynamically revised bumpers with side skirts plus side mirrors, a bulbous hood with functional intakes, and beyond the standard setup, our example sits with a lower center of gravity thanks to the optional carbon fiber roof panel. Coloring the car is Alpine White paintwork which has been reapplied to the front and rear bumpers to remove chips and scratches as well as the quarter panels to remove marks and dings. Regardless, some small spots are still present given the regular use of the car by its two owners.
Purchased new in California, the original exterior equipment includes LED taillights and Xenon headlights that dim and adapt to nearby traffic. Plus the lights automatically level and articulate to brighten corner exits. Covering the 19” polished alloy wheels, which do have some sports of curb rash, are Continental SportContact 3 tires from 2015. Each wheel is fitted with a BMW roundel and a colored M badge.
By 2011, the E92 had been selling for three years and was due for an update. Inside, trim pieces were replaced, the stereo now offered Bluetooth connectivity, engine auto stop/start functionality was introduced, and an M button on the bottom spoke of the steering wheel allowed drivers to access a saved performance profile quickly. A two-tone tan and black interior resides within our M3 and has seen very little wear besides a small spot on the drivers bolster. Bamboo Beige Novillo leather wraps the electrically-adjustable front seats which not only have an embossed M in both headrests but also have three programmable memory functions on the driver’s chair. The Bamboo Beige leather further extends itself throughout the cabin by making an appearance on the door panels and the rear seats.
Contrasting the tan leather is soft black carpeting. Up front, black floor mats that bear colored M logos lay across the carpeting. Black, soft-touch materials and plastics are used on the center console, door panels, and dashboard. Trimming the dash are carbon fiber inserts and in the center-stack below are the automatic climate control interface and factory sound system console. A black leather steering wheel shows tri-colored stitching and provides drivers with telephone and stereo buttons. It also nicely matches the M-branded leather shift knob. Nestled behind the steering wheel are an M-stamped 200-mph speedometer and a 9,000rpm tachometer with 8,000rpm redline.
As with previous M-cars, the new M3 also boasted a new powerplant. Similar in bore and stroke to the 5.0-liter V10 that powered previous M5/M6 cars, this 4.0-L V8 was high-revving and high-power. From the factory, BMW saw outputs of 414-horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque that, with the standard 6-speed manual transmission, could ship this steed to sixty miles an hour in 4.7 seconds. A factory installed limited slip differential has just recently been refreshed with new fluid that resolved a faint noise inside. Prior to the current ownership, the original owner had the power steering fluid, brake fluid, and the differential fluid changed. Additionally, all eight spark plugs were exchanged for new units during the recent maintenance stop.
At this time, 35,000 miles are registered to the V8 and chassis, with three thousand of those miles being added by the current owner. The factory owner’s manuals are still contained within their original leather-bound portfolio emblazoned with an M logo. The Carfax report is current to December of 2017 and has no accident, incident, or damage notifications. All available service records and a clean California title are guaranteed along with the sale.
