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Which to Buy: BMW i4 M50 or BMW M3 Competition?

These are strange times for BMW customers. Now, for the first time ever, the Bavarian brand offers two incredible powerful sport sedans for around the same price but with different powertrains: the BMW M3 Competition and BMW i4 M50. When customers head into BMW showrooms, they’re going to be able to cross-shop those two cars and will genuinely have a difficult decision to make. So let’s take a look at which to buy.

Let me preface this by saying that typical M3 customers won’t cross-shop the i4 M50 and typical EV buyers won’t cross-shop the M3 Competition. However, they both should. True car enthusiasts go into any purchase with an open mind and any open-minded enthusiasts will look at the fact that both cars are priced incredibly similarly, have very similar power figures, similar performance metrics, the same amount of doors and seats, closer overall ranges than you might thing, and handling dynamics that aren’t too far off each other’s. So while customers likely won’t cross-shop the two, they absolutely should.

Power and Performance

First up is the last of the old guard, the M3 Comp. Without hyperbole, the BMW M3 Competition is one of the very best M cars ever made. Forget its heinous looks, it drives with a precision that few other M cars in history have ever had. In fact, there may never have been an M car before it with such incredible precision. Even the glorious M2 CS (which is admittedly more fun) can’t attack corners like the new M3 Comp. It’s a brilliant thing.

Under the hood lies a fantastic 3.0 liter twin-turbo I6 with 503 horsepower and 479 lb-ft of torque. It’s paired with an eight-speed auto and sends power to just the rear wheels. According to BMW, 0-60 mph happens in 3.8 seconds, but its probably a few tenths quicker than that. It’s monstrously quick, in any gear, at any rpm. Its eight-speed auto also shifts rapidly and smoothly, making it a joy to use. The exhaust noise isn’t brilliant, though, it’s only just okay.

Where as the BMW i4 M50 is an all-electric, all-wheel drive monster. It uses two electric motors, powered by an 81.5 kWh battery pack, to make 536 horsepower and 586 lb-ft of torque. It’s quite a bit heavier than the M3 Competition, so BMW claims a 0-60 mph time of 3.9 seconds, which is a tenth slower than the M3, despite being more powerful and all-wheel drive. However, when Horatiu drove the i4 M50, he reckoned it was faster than the M3.

Also, due to its all-wheel drive grip, it’s even more tenacious through corners and usable in bad weather. So while the M3 might be a bit quicker in tighter corners, due to less weight and rear-wheel drive (for now), the BMW i4 M50 is going to be just as fast in most real-world situations.

Winner: M3 Comp — They’re both just as fast but the M3 will be the more engaging sports car. 

Range and Charging/Refueling

The main argument against the BMW i4 M50 will be its range. With only around 245 miles of range, the i4 M50 can’t drive as far as many internal combustion engine cars on a single charge. However, the BMW M3 Competition isn’t exactly a long-distance cruiser, either. It guzzles gas like an ’80s Bronco and will struggle to get 300 miles out of a tank. Plus, fuel is expensive and I spent more money than I’d have liked to on fuel during my week with it.

While the BMW i4 M50 doesn’t exactly have the best range, it’s still far more than enough. Few people drive 245 miles in a single day on a regular basis. Plus, it can charge at 200 kW, so it will recharge rather quickly. That said, it will never charge as quickly as the M3 Competition can refuel. Just a few minutes and the M3’s empty tank is full again and ready to roll. At best, you’re looking at forty minutes for the i4 M50.

Winner: Tie — the i4 M50 is cheaper to charge and can be charged at home but the M3 can be refueled much quicker, anywhere.

Looks, Interior, and Practicality

Both the BMW M3 Competition and BMW i4 M50 share a similar grille design, though it’s been made more aggressive for the M3. Plus, the M3’s is actually a functional grille, whereas the i4 M50’s is just a plastic panel that houses certain sensors.

The i4’s overall shape and design are a bit more attractive, as the M3 really doesn’t look like a proper M car from any angle. Its flared wheel arches are cool but it lacks any sort of real M3 design cue; overly sized kidney grilles, horizontal grille slats, no Hofmeister kink, and taillights that could be from a Lexus. The i4 M50 isn’t exactly a classic BMW, either, but its “Gran Coupe” design actually does feel more like a BMW than the M3’s design. After all, BMW is the brand that invented that very design language.

The i4 M50 is also more practical. Its hatchback trunk provides more luggage space and easier loading of said luggage. That said, both cars have very similar looking interiors, aside from the luggage space. The BMW M3 gets cooler seat options but the i4 M50 has better technology.

Winner: BMW i4 M50 — Its Gran Coupe design is sexier than the M3’s shape, it’s far more practical, and has better tech.

Price

While BMW may be late to the game, in terms of actually developing an EV like the i4 M50, it came ready to fight with an incredibly attractive price tag. The BMW i4 M50 starts at just over $65,000, which makes it around $7,000 cheaper than the M3 Competition. Which means you can get an i4 M50 with a few really nice options for less than the $72,800 starting price of the M3 Comp. Despite being cheaper, the BMW i4 M50 has more power, a lot more torque, all-wheel drive, more practicality, and better interior technology.

Winner: BMW i4 M50 — It’s not only cheaper, it’s more powerful, all-wheel drive, more high-tech, and comes with big tax incentives.

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VIDEO: Watch Joe Achilles Slightly Tweak his G80 BMW M3 Competition

If you’ve watched any of Joe Achilles’ videos in the past, you know he likes to tweak his cars a bit. He never goes overboard or mods his cars too heavily but he always seem to give them an OEM+ look and feel; just slightly tweaking them to make them feel exactly has he wants, as most car enthusiasts do, to be honest. In his latest video, he’s already tinkering with his brand-new G80 BMW M3 Competition and is one of the first YouTubers to be seen doing so.

First up, Achilles removes the standard Pirelli P Zeros from his M3 and fits it with Michelins. Sorry, Joe, our North American M3s come with Michelins from the jump… He says the Michelins improve ride comfort right out of the box, which is impressive because tires typically need a few miles to really break in and feel right.

After the tire replacement, he picked up a pair of 10mm spacers for the BMW M3, something I think it desperately needs, aesthetics-wise. Forget the grille, I think the most frustrating bit of design on the new M3 is the fact that it doesn’t sit on its wheels as nicely as it should. Previous M3s had the perfect squat and stance but this new one just seems a bit off and spacers might really help.

To make sure the spacers go on properly and the suspension works the right way afterward, he also took it to Suspension Specialists, to get the alignment just perfect. Car manufacturers set up their suspensions and alignments well but never perfectly for spirited driving or track driving (unless it’s a 911 GT3 or something equally track-focused) for a reason. Normal people have to drive those cars on the road, everyday, and likely won’t push them as hard as enthusiasts will. So it’s intentional alignment tuning, not incompetence. But certain shops will tweak that slightly, to give enthusiasts the more balanced, progressive feel that they want but that the average customer might not.

If you’ve just bought a G80 BMW M3, which many of you likely have, check this video out for some inspiration on what to do with your car.

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BMW M3 Takes on All of Its Rivals in New Car Magazine Four-Way Test

This new G80 BMW M3 is one of the most fascinating cars the Bavarian brand has produced in a long time. Prior to people actually driving it, BMW couldn’t buy positive press about the way it looks. After driving it, though, almost everyone changed their tune, as it’s one of the very best M3s ever made. However, its competition is also better than ever, so is the new M3 good enough to actually take on cars like the Mercedes-AMG C63, Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio, and Audi RS4 Avant? In this new four-way comparison from Car Magazine, we get to see just that.

The BMW M3 is the newest of the bunch by far and away, so it has an inherent advantage. Every other car in the test was on sale while before this M3 went into development, therefor the M Division has the benefit of benchmarking all of them. The Alfa is the newest of the other three, having just been refreshed a few months ago, but it’s still quite old by comparison. The AMG C63 is going to be replaced next year and the Audi RS4 is on its way out soon as well, both likely to be replaced by a hybrid and fully-electric car, respectively.

Which makes this test the last of its kind, really. There will never again be a purely petrol-powered firefight between these four cars, so savor it while it lasts.

On paper, the only car without the grunt to keep up is the Audi RS4 Avant. With just 444 horsepower from its 2.9 liter twin-turbo V6, the RS4 is simply out-gunned. The BMW M3 and Alfa Romeo both make 503 horsepower (510 PS) from their 3.0 liter twin-turbo I6 and 2.9 liter twin-turbo V6, respectively. While the AMG C63 is the outlier, making 503 horsepower from its 4.0 liter twin-turbo V6. Though, the AMG’s massive 516 lb-ft of torque massively overpowers the others.

What’s more important than power, though, is how they drive. In this comparison, we get to learn about how each car handles some of the UK’s most challenging roads and the results are really surprising. Of the four cars’ final places, I was only right about the last place car. So check it out for a good Friday read.

[Source: Car Magazine]

SPIED: BMW 8 Series Convertible LCI Spotted with Minimal Changes

BMW is in a bit of a tricky spot with the 8 Series. It’s not selling well, at all, so the Bavarians really have one of two options — refresh it to make it more intriguing for customers, or leave it alone and let it die out after this generation. It seems as if BMW is going with a mix of both options, however, as it’s giving the 8 Series a refresh but barely. These new spy photos show off the 8 Series Convertible LCI and it’s hardly been updated, versus the current pre-LCI car. (We don’t own the spy photos but they can be seen here)

In the photos, the 8 Series Convertible LCI sports some camo at the front end but it really doesn’t need it, as the changes or so minimal, if they exist at all, that it looks exactly the same. There’s some camo out back, too but, again, it really doesn’t seem as if it needs any because this doesn’t look any different from the current car.

Inside, there’s one noticeable change, though — a new iDrive screen. BMW just showed off its latest iDrive system and it’s likely the new 8 Series gets it, which is why it has a new, larger, more squared-off screen than before. That’s good, as most customers prioritize technology above all else, but it’s not really enough to get customers into 8 Series’. Especially when the rest of the interior looks the same.

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This second-generation BMW 8 Series has to be one of the brand’s biggest disappointments. It’s actually a great GT car but its combination of relatively unexciting exterior styling, ho-hum interior, and high price tag completely removed it from relevance in the segment. After speaking to a few BMW dealers, we were told that customer flat-out don’t want 8 Series models because there are more exciting, more luxurious, and more interesting models from other brands — namely Porsche — for the same money or even less.

It’s hard to see the 8 Series fail as it is, because it’s a car that’s easy to like. It looks good, for the most part, has an interior that might be boring to look at but is lovely to sit in, is one of the best overall GT cars on the road, and is available with frankly absurd levels of performance. It’s just far too expensive for what it is, as it’s not special enough to justify its price tag. Which is what makes its minimal LCI changes even more disappointing.

[Source: Car Scoops]

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BMWBLOG Podcast Ep.49 — F80 BMW M3 CS, New M3/M4

In our latest episode of the BMWBLOG Podcast, Horatiu joins our own longtime contributor, James Bachici to discuss topics such as the new BMW M3, electric vehicles, and, of course, his very own F80-gen BMW M3 CS. First up, though, must be James’ BMW M3 CS. The F80 M3 CS was such a special car and one that must look incredibly desirable now. Back when it was new, Horatiu ironically drove the identical spec M3 CS as James’ in Munich and came away feeling it was what the F80 M3 should have been all along. Its steering was significantly better, its exhaust note was better, and its handling was just that little bit sharper. Even James notes just how much better the M3 CS is, versus his standard F80 M3.

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So if James owns an M3 CS, one of the most special M cars of the modern era, how does he feel about this new generation of car, which is quite possibly the most heavily criticized M car of the modern era? James likes the look of the new M3, which he admits is an unpopular opinion. Though unpopular, it’s not as if his opinion is wrong — as he rightly mentions, people like what they like. Ironically, after seeing the new M3 and M4, James’ own M3 CS is becoming more desirable than ever before for most enthusiasts.

After the new M3, they both discuss electric cars and how they’re going to attract enthusiasts in the future. Without exhaust notes, engine noises, and the shifting of gears, will electric cars still be able to attract car enthusiasts and how will car journalists approach the changes in reviewing cars? It’s going to be an interesting future for sure.

So have a listen, James is a great guest who has a ton of experience with the brand and is the owner of one of the its best modern M cars. Check it out. As always, the podcast can be found anywhere major podcasts can be found; Apple, Google, Spotify, Stitcher, Amazon and Radiopublic.

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VIDEO: This BMW M1 Rally Car is Absolutely Glorious

If you know me even a little, you’d know that the BMW M1 is one of my absolute favorite cars. It’s a car I’m not shy about loving. At parties, I’ll tell people that the BMW M1 is not only one of my favorite cars but actually invented the everyday supercar segment but, mysteriously, they all seem to walk away from me after that… But I digress.

I know I’m not alone in loving the BMW M1; it’s one of the most revered and beloved Bavarian products of all time. Its gorgeous Giugiaro styling, its Paul Rosche-designed and motorsport-bred 3.5 liter inline-six, and its everyday supercar usability all make it one of the most iconic cars of its era. But did you know that there was actually a rally car version?

Few enthusiasts know that there actually ever was a BMW M1 rally car but, in fact, there were a few. Admittedly, only a handful of teams in the early ’80s rally raced M1s, with the most famous one being raced by the French Oreca rally racing team (which is the Motul-sponsored car in the video below). Most of the rally M1s were French, to be honest.

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Most BMW M1 rally cars were converted M1 Procars, which were widened to accommodate a wider wheel track and were given accompanying fender flares. They also featured larger rear wings, to provide more downforce to the rear-wheel drive only rally car. Though, most of the French rally races were held on tarmac. The already incredible 3.5 liter I6 engine was also bumped from the standard 277 horsepower to a whopping 430 bhp.

Sadly, the BMW M1 never really worked as a rally car. It never won a single race, with any driver from any team, and it only managed one or two second-place podium finishes. Most of the time, the M1 was forced to retire races due to technical failures. The BMW M1 was too big, too heavy, and not reliable enough to be a successful rally car, which is kind of sad because the car seen in this video below was absolutely glorious. It looked fantastic and sounded even better. Have a watch and dream of what maybe could have been.

[Source: Jalopnik]

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A Few BMW X3 and BMW X4 Models Recalled for Fuel Tank Welds

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BMW has just issued a recall on some X3 and X4 models for potentially faulty fuel tank welds. According to this report, certain BMW X3 and BMW X4 variants on March 3, 2021, could have fuel tank welds that aren’t up to production spec. Over time, this could allow road vibrations to damage the welds and cause the fuel tank to leak. Obviously, the poses a fire hazard.

Thankfully, BMW caught this problem early on and realized that it only affected 17 cars, including the BMW X3 xDrive 30i, BMW X3 sDrive30i, BMW X3 M40i, BMW X3 M, and one BMW X4 xDrive30i. It’s great news that BMW was not only able to catch the problem early and that it only affected a few cars but that it also seems to know exactly which cars were affected. So this should get resolved quite quickly, and owners should be back on the road with their cars, without having to worry of any potential fuel leaks.

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Apparently, it’s a supplier issue, as the supplier for BMW’s fuel tanks may not have welded the tank’s inlet check valve up to specifications. It’s said that a fuel odor can be smelled from underneath the car if yours is one of the affected models.

If you have such a BMW and yours was built around that time, you’ll be notified by BMW if you need to take your car in for recall repair. You can also check with your local dealer to see if your VIN matches up to the cars in the recall, just in case. Thankfully, there have been no reports of issue or injury from these fuel tank welds but that doesn’t mean anyone should be complacent. If you have such a car, find out if it matches up with the recall as soon as possible.

[Source: Car Scoops]

BMW is the automotive partner of AC Milan Football Club

BMW and AC Milan announce a new long-term partnership that sees the Italian branch of the German premium carmaker become the new Automotive Partner and Premium Partner of the Rossoneri. Just like FC Bayern Munich, AC Milan is one of those clubs that has enjoyed sponsorship from BMW’s rival Audi in recent years. It is worth mentioning that the partnership explicitly refers to AC Milan and BMW Italy, so the Munich headquarters are not directly involved. Nevertheless, we should see the first photos of world stars like Zlatan Ibrahimović next to or in current BMW models in the foreseeable future.

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According to BMW Italy, this is an important partnership which will see the two brands work closely together to create a series of exclusive events and initiatives, with the aim of connecting and enthusing sports, motorsport enthusiasts, innovation and glamor all over the world.

Massimiliano Di Silvestre , President and CEO of BMW Italia SpA stated: “In our partnership there will not be only communication and visibility synergies, but also interactions with social channels and physical and digital events. Our ambition is to go beyond the technical contents of a traditional partnership, sharing some aspirational values ​​of our brands, to be more authentic. These common elements emerged almost naturally during our preparatory meetings. The keywords will be culture, style, innovation. But also corporate social responsibility and sustainability.”

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AC Milan President Paolo Scaroni said: “We are very proud to welcome an internationally recognized brand and automotive excellence such as BMW to our family of Premium Partners. BMW, just like Milan, is synonymous with excellence, style and innovation. We are therefore excited to undertake this journey together towards new progress, towards a sustainable future, for the benefit of all.”

With a total of 18 titles between 1901 and 2011, AC Milan is only second to Juventus Torino. Rossoneri also have 7 titles in the European Cup and the Champions League, and many other titles on the international stage. So AC Milan is without a doubt also one of the most successful club teams in the world.

[Source: BimmerToday]

BMW M4 and the Red Bull Driftbrothers Get Sideways

Add drifting to the list of motorsports BMW M is involved in, as the Bavarian performance car maker is now supporting the Red Bull Driftbrothers in the Drift Masters European Championship. For the 2021 season, the Driftbrothers will be using the new BMW M4 Competition as the basis for their drift cars.

“BMW M has always stood for motorsports at the highest level and in all of its diversity, whereby we are also open to disciplines such as drift sports. The Red Bull Driftbrothers belong to the absolute top group of the scene in terms of driving skills and technology. The BMW M4 Competition is an ideal new competition vehicle for both of them to achieve success during the 2021 season,” says Markus Flasch, CEO of the BMW M GmbH.

Elias and Johannes Hountondji make up the Driftbrothers and not only compete in the Drift Masters Championship but also set the cars up themselves. Since working with the M4, the Hountondji brothers noticed that the new M car is shockingly well-equipped for extreme motorsport, right from the factory.

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“We were very positively surprised just how much effort BMW M has put into optimizing the vehicle’s stiffness. Therefore, we were able, for example, to use most of the front end without modifications,” said Elias Hountondji.

Even more impressive is its engine. The new 3.0 liter twin-turbocharged S58 engine is capable of withstanding the rigors of motorsport, even drifting. It makes 503 horsepower to start but expect the Driftbrothers to crank things up just a bit.

“I have never seen an engine like the one in the BMW M4 Competition, a more or less thoroughbred racing engine in a road legal vehicle. The oil supply even functions at centrifugal forces of 1.5g and more. We consider this very important,” Johannes Hountondji said.

If ever driven an M car, you’d know that they make for excellent drift machines. Throw in the fact that this new BMW M4 has the most power of any M3/M4 to date and is still rear-wheel drive. So the Hountondji brothers should be very pleased with their new car.

VIDEO: Listen to the E31 BMW M8 Prototype Start and Rev

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If you’re a massive BMW enthusiast, you know the story of the BMW M8 Prototype (if not, click these blue words). It’s a great story but one with a sad ending because the original M8 never made it to production, despite being impossibly cool. Instead, the prototype sat in BMW’s collection for over thirty years and only saw the light of day a few years ago. So the fact that BMW Classic displayed it in this video and actually started it up is incredible.

In this video, we get to learn about the BMW M8 Prototype’s incredible naturally-aspirated V12 engine. Not only is it beautiful to look at, with its carbon fiber intake manifold (!) but it’s also a technically fascinating engine as well. Modifying the 850CSi’s V12 for more power and performance as a challenge but not as much of a challenge as getting the entire package to work properly.

However, once it starts up, you realize it was all worth it. This video lets you actually hear the M8 Prototype start and rev, which is likely the first time you’ve ever heard it. BMW hasn’t really showed it off much, never mind actually start it up.

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I’m fortunate to have had the chance to actually get up close and personal with the E31 BMW M8 Prototype. During a BMW even in Palm Springs, California, BMW had a closed-door room filled with all sorts of special cars at the time and one of them was the E31 M8. I was positively giddy just being in its space, as I had loved it ever since I learned about it. Thankfully, someone at BMW was gracious enough to actually let me sit in it and it was wonderful.

I can still remember sitting in the seat, thinking about how few people had actually done so and trying to capture just how truly rare and special it was. After hearing the V12 bark to life in this video, those feelings came back.

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