Anyone have a towel I can borrow?

Lets hope they just sell them in the USA not build them here . It would be a shame to see them stuck on the side of the road , the made in the usa trademark !

A great convertible sports coupe. I like the new styling and the engine is sweet. Interior is well laid out and high quality. Handling is world-class. About the only things I can pick on is the price and post-warranty maintenance. It is not nearly the fastest in it's elevated price range. I would go for the hardtop coupe, but that's a matter of personal preference (and cashflow).

Born in the USA:

Like German cars are so reliable. BMW most reliable model the Z3 was made in Charleston, SC.

I owned a 2001 M3 and it spent a fair amount of time in the shop. I only had it two years, bought new and thank god it came with warranty. I may have high expectations and dog the crap out of my cars but nothing should fail in the first 35k. When running properly is was blast on the twisties. I'm glad they finally dumped that toothless slant six though. It was like driving a V-Tech Honda get the revs below 3500 and it was pretty weak. The styling is starting to grow me but I still like the last body better.

The PDF on their website says 420 peak HP, but their page for the car says 414HP. No big deal, to me at least. Here's the problem. They repeatedly brag about a max of 8400RPM. Guess where their peak HP is? 8300RPM. Peak torque is ok at 295ft/lb @ 3900RPM, but the power of the engine is less impressive once you see that its like the old ones - "high revving". Meaning you have to really get up there to get all them ponies.

Pros: Lots of peak HP, OK torque. Maintains good torque levels from 3500 to 6500 RPM before it starts to taper off.

Cons: Extremely steep HP curve. More like a turbo engine, minus the efficiency gains.

http://resource.bmwusa.com/pdf_8b1431c2-6312-4950-95d3-8ca2656649d7.arox

So RX-7 Guy, you would still have to rev it high to get the punch. Maybe "Double-VANOS camshaft control" is German for V-Tec. :P

http://www.thetorquereport.com/2008_bmw_m3_convertible_images_12.jpg

look how huge the gaps between the panels are?? Looks like its about to fall apart!!

Rather have the coupe version!!

@Ctk: The panels and creases look like that because of the paint color: white. It would be less obvious with any darker color.

Its hard top, so I'll prefer this to the coupe. Not that I can afford either.

@ Alex VRB...

How can you hate this engine? Some people like reving the car up when they're going fast. I'm sure it'll still have plenty of balls in the low rev range for putzing around town. You talk about it like it's an s2000, but this is still a V8 with twice the displacement.

I had a 95 M3 and it was awesome. I could start off smoothly at under 1,000 rpm and the engine was smooth in the whole rev range. It had a totally flat torque curve. I never had any problems with it. The old striaght 6's were awesome. The s54 inline (2001 and up) was frought with problems. I hope this new engine is more like the old engines.

This convertible is ridiculous, it weighs 2 tons. It's for fashionistas, not enthusiasts.

@ Alex VRB...

How can you hate this engine? Some people like reving the car up when they're going fast. I'm sure it'll still have plenty of balls in the low rev range for putzing around town. You talk about it like it's an s2000, but this is still a V8 with twice the displacement.

I had a 95 M3 and it was awesome. I could start off smoothly at under 1,000 rpm and the engine was smooth in the whole rev range. It had a totally flat torque curve. I never had any problems with it. The old striaght 6's were awesome. The s54 inline (2001 and up) was frought with problems. I hope this new engine is more like the old engines.

This convertible is ridiculous, it weighs 2 tons. It's for fashionistas, not enthusiasts.

While I've always liked BMWs M series of cars I'm simply not impressed with this one. I still prefer the styling of the last generation to this and just don't feel that the car looks as powerful as it probably is.

With hindsight being 20/20, BMW should have went with the actual V10 engine for this car. The Competition is too fierce to be using only a 4.0 V8 albeit high revving. But in comparison, the New Baby Lexus ISF displaces 4999 cc and was built with the future in mind as they can and eventually will easily increase the bore and stroke for more ponies as competition threatens. Not only does it match the Bimmer in peak hp at a lower rpm, the torque delivery is huge, and coupled to a 8 speed tranny it will kick any Bavarian Motor Werks A__ Hole up and down the street including the M6 or M5. Dont belive me, check the performance numbers...low 12's in the 1/4 mile " THERE IS NO REPLACEMENT FOR DISPLACEMENT."

@worldbfree4me

i like the Lexus aswell but it just dosent have one thing the M3 has and that is pedegree.