2011 BMW M3

Being a high-performance variant of the 3-Series, the 2011 BMW M3 packs some cool features similar to the previous model year. It comes only in one trim, priced at $55,900, and has a 4.0-liter V8 instead of a straight-six engine. It packs features like Cruise control, leather steering wheel and seats, soft-touch interiors, SiriusXM, 10-speaker audio set up, Xenon headlights, 18-inch alloy wheels, and more. There are a few optional packages that might add all the features missing as standard:

• Cold Weather Package - $1,000
• Premium Package 2 - $2,500
• Competition Package - $2,500
• Convenience Package - $2,900

We Recommend

The 2011 BMW M3 has just one trim so you can put it in your priority list of potential luxury sedans and select the package which is suitable for your needs.

Any BMW with the “M” badging is responsible for maniac levels of performance as the division tunes the engine to obtain the most feedback from the throttle the moment it is pressed down. A 4.0-liter naturally aspirated V8 residing under the hood churns out an impressive 414 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of maximum torque. M3 comes in only rear-wheel drive and has a 6-speed manual transmission system as standard. There’s a 7-speed M double-clutch transmission available as an optional extra to make the transmissions more seamless.

Let’s talk about the real-world accelerations to know how the 414 horses hold up. The 3,726-pound sedan puts 60 mph on the speedo in just 4.7 seconds and does a standing quarter-mile in under 13 seconds. The car tops out at 155 miles an hour which is electronically limited but the Competition will unlock some features that will enhance the top speed and deliver more power on the road.

The bigger engine on the Merc produces more power than what the Bimmer does while the Lexus has slightly more raw power and a considerably more amount of torque than the Bimmer. The difference in power figures does not bring a lot of changes in real-world performance. All three cars perform similarly in the accelerations while the Lexus takes a few milliseconds more to complete a quarter of a mile but has a better top speed than the German rivals.

With all the performance the V8 engine is capable of, the injection system sends more fuel to the engine to harness the power and the high-revving nature contributes to higher fuel consumption. These factors make the M3 return as low as 14 mpg in the city, a highway mileage of 20 mpg, and a combined economy of 16 mpg. It also gets a smaller fuel tank of up to 16.9 gallons which makes the range suffer at 266 miles combined.

While the Germans struggle with providing a decent fuel economy, the Lexus has done things quite efficiently with a considerable amount of improved fuel economy and has the class-leading range. It gives 2/3/2 mpg more in the city/highway/combined respectively as compared to the Bimmer. The Merc has a bit lower mileage than the BMW but gets equipped with a slightly bigger gas tank.

Inside the cabin of the M3, you are greeted with a lot of luxury and minimalistic design language with the majority of the portions being blacked out. The dashboard has leather and wood trims but does not have the charm of a luxury sedan. Titanium Shadow and Blue-gray Brushed Aluminum interior trims are present inside the cabin while the Carbon Leather interior trim is optional under the premium package. However, it feels supreme to the touch and comes with a beautifully carved leather steering wheel and shift knob. The center console looks vacant with all the controls shifted on the dashboard. 

The seats are leather-covered which can be replaced with optional Novillo Extended Leather upholstery and have enough bolstering to make you stay on your seats while taking sharp corners. Anthracite headliner is given over the head. The 2011 BMW M3’s cabin can fit up to 5 people with a lot of front row room. The rear is decently spacious with decent legroom, unlike the Coupe. However, the rear row might be problematic for taller individuals but overall the cabin has enough head, shoulder, and legroom. The cargo capacity on offer is not impressive and is limited to 12 cubic feet and can carry a few duffels and suitcases for your weekend trips.

The M3 has the most balanced cabin with good headroom and legroom in both rows. The C63 has a more compact-sized cabin, unlike the BMW. The IS F, on the other hand, has a more driver-focused cabin with a very uncomfortable rear row but has a slightly better cargo capacity in the competition. In conclusion, the smallest trunk belongs to the M3 while the biggest one is offered on the Lexus IS F. Some standout interior features are:

• Automatic climate control
• Auto-dimming inside rear-view mirror
• 3-spoke leather-wrapped steering wheel
• Heated front seats (optional)
• Leather sport front power seats with 4-power-lumbar support 
• Keyless entry
• Split fold-down rear seats (optional)

How intuitive is the 2011 BMW M3’s infotainment unit?

The 2011 M3 comes with BMW’s iDrive system and includes navigation services, a center-mounted display for further accessibility and it can be controlled through the knobs and buttons right below. However, controlling it might be distracting on the road but has a lot of features embedded with the system. CD player, Radio data system, and HD radio are some standard features given on the M3. With the Technology Package M3 gets a navigation system, voice command, and h on-board computer and Controller. A few of the infotainment system features are as follows:

• 10-speaker audio set up
• Navigation system
• SiriusXM satellite radio 
• Diversity antenna
• Speed sensitive volume control

Sticking to a similar design language since the last overhaul in 2008, the 2011 BMW M3 still looks sharp and somewhat similar to the standard 3-Series. The front has the laid-back angry-eyed xenon headlights and DRLs with similarly sized “kidney” grilles but the lower vents are bigger to flow more air into the engine. The sides are identical to the standard 3-Series but the rear gets sleeker taillights and a quad-exhaust setup. 

The sloping roofline and the subtle cuts and shapes on the body make the M3 more aerodynamic. The car sits on a set of 18-inch ) Satin Chrome finish M light-alloy wheels and can be upgraded to optional 19 inches polished and forged M light-alloy wheels or Y-spoke bright aluminum finish forged M light-alloy wheels under the competition package. 

The Mercedes-Benz weighs the most among the three and is considerably longer in length too. The Lexus is quite low and wide giving it a sportier stance. The Bimmer is compact in length and that makes it more parking-friendly. A few of the standout exterior features are:

• Dual-spoke 18-inch alloy wheels
• Heated and powered mirrors
• Xenon headlights with the auto-high beam assist
• One-touch 2-way power glass moonroof (optional)
• Rear window defroster 
• Rain-sensing windscreen wipers
• Electric interior trunk release

The build quality of this BMW is excellent with a sturdy chassis. The automaker prioritizes safety and reliability over everything else. However, the car did not go through any crash testing by NHTSA and IIHS. The availability of a lot of active and passive safety features makes the M3 a very safe car on the road. features like dynamic stability control with performance modified mapping are given under the competition package whereas rear park distance control is given as a stand-alone option. Some standout safety features are as follows:

• Adaptive headlights
• Cruise control
• Electronic brakeforce distribution
• 4-wheel ABS with traction control
• Tire pressure monitoring
• Automatic safety-belt assistant
• Crash sensor
• Automatic stop-start system
• Front and rear head protection system

With the BMW M3, you will experience the best of comfort and performance with a touch of opulence and practicality. As a proud child of BMW, this car is a performance beast with a lot of features embedded inside and has a price tag lower than the Mercedes AMG C 63 and Lexus IS F. The Competition package will bring a lot of upgrades to the car but is only meant for a certain crowd who will be interested to take it on the track to get a taste of its full prowess.