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VIDEO: BMW M4 vs Mustang Mach 1 — Which Sports Coupe is Best?

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Who doesn’t love a matchup between two icons? The BMW M4 is really just a rebranded BMW M3, which makes it an icon. The Ford Mustang is an even greater icon, having been around since the BMW Neue Klasse era. While they’ve never really competed with each other much before, they’re now actually more similar than ever. So what happens when two automotive legends go head-to-head?

In this new video from Everyday Driver, we actually get to check that out. To make both cars match up most evenly, they had to be spec’d like so — a standard BMW M4 with its manual gearbox and a Mustang Mach 1. Both cars have very similar power figures and both cars share similar layouts. But which one is best?

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First, let’s take a look at the specs. The BMW M4, in its standard guise, uses a 3.0 liter twin-turbocharged I6 that makes 473 horsepower and 406 lb-ft of torque. Being the standard car, it only gets a six-speed manual and rear-wheel drive. While the Mustang Mach 1 uses a 5.0 liter naturally-aspirated V8 to make 480 horsepower and 420 lb-ft of torque. It also gets a six-speed manual (a Tremec unit borrowed from the now-dead Shelby GT350) and rear-wheel drive. However, the one used in this video was equipped with a ten-speed automatic, which is disappointing for everyone. Just pretend it had a manual. That is the way.

We’ve already driven the new BMW M4, quite a bit, and it’s a seriously impressive car. While we haven’t drive the Mach 1, it sure looks impressive on paper. It gets the same front and rear subframes as the GT350, while also using an updated version its magnetic dampers. So as fancy as the sophisticated European BMW M4 is, the Mustang Mach 1 has a few tricks up its own sleeves. In this new video, though, we get to find out if it’s enough.

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VIDEO: Joe Achilles Drives the BMW 1M — Better Than an M2 Comp?

One of BMW’s modern legends is the BMW 1 Series M. The 1M was a bit of a Frankenstein car, built as a parts-bin special, with several of its bits pulled from cars like the E92 M3. However, the final product was something so special and so engaging that BMW enthusiasts the world over fell in love with it. In this new video from Joe Achilles, we get to take a look at the BMW 1M and if it’s better than the M2 Competition.

While the video isn’t a direct comparison between both cars, Achilles is an M2 Competition owner and has owned his car for quite a long time. So he can easily describe the differences between the two cars. And there are many differences.

In a way, the BMW M2 Competition the spiritual successor to the BMW 1M, despite the two cars being incredibly different under the skin. They’re both small, rear-wheel drive, two-door coupes with six-cylinder engines but that’s really where the similarities end.

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The 1M’s engine is a 3.0 liter twin-turbocharged I6, like the M2’s, but the 1M’s isn’t actually an M Division engine. Instead, it’s the engine from a BMW 335i but with some modification from the M Division. Whereas the M2 Comp engine is a proper M engine, borrowed from the F82 M3 Competition. The BMW 1M was only available with a manual transmission, while the M2 Comp is available with a DCT. The 1M also used hydraulic steering, while the M2 Competition uses an electric power steering rack.

So after a brief drive in the BMW 1M, does Achilles — a longtime M2 Competition owner — feel like the older car is the better car? In a lot of ways, yes. The M2 Comp, without question, is more capable, faster, and more modern. It’s the better car to live with on a day-to-day basis. But on a twisty road, it’s almost a guarantee that the 1M will be more fun. More importantly, it’s more fun at lower speeds, which means you don’t have to risk suicide to really play with it. So which one’s better? Tough call but if I had to make the choice, I’m going for the little orange bruiser.

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VIDEO: BMW M5 CS Takes on Tuned Rivals from Audi and AMG

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As we’ve seen in previous videos (and as I’ve recently felt), the BMW M5 CS is an absolute rocket ship, capable of taking down even the most powerful of its rivals. However, is it strong enough to take down its two main rivals, the Mercedes-AMG E63 S and the Audi RS6 Avant, if they’ve both been heavily tuned. You can find out in this new video from Throttle House.

In this video, a bone stock BMW M5 CS drag raced a tuned Audi RS6 Avant and a tuned Mercedes-AMG E63 S. The M5 CS uses a 4.4 liter twin-turbo V8 to make 626 horsepower and 553 lb-ft of torque. While the Audi RS6 Avant in this video gets its 4.0 liter twin-turbo V8 tuned to 740 horsepower and 783 lb-ft of torque. The AMG is even stronger, with its own 4.0 liter twin-turbo V8 making 840 horsepower and 806 lb-ft. So both cars are a lot more powerful than the M5 CS. However, in a previous TH video, we saw the M5 CS flat-out demolish a 797 horsepower Hellcat Charger. So the M5 should’ve actually still had a chance.

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The results were shocking, to be honest. I think it’s fair to say that the BMW M5 CS lost the drag race without it being a spoiler. It beat the Hellcat but that car was rear-wheel drive only and, honestly, not as fast as it should be. The AMG and Audi are bonkers quick even when stock and are both all-wheel drive. In this video, the Audi had over 100 more horsepower and the AMG over 200 more horsepower. There was just no scenario in which the M5 CS would win. However, it was closer than I thought it would be.

I recently timed the M5 CS through the quarter mile (review and results coming soon!) and it honestly took my breath away. I couldn’t believe how fast a stock sedan could be. However, the other two cars in this video are so fast, I’m not sure my little brain can comprehend it.

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VIDEO: AutoTopNL Tunes Their G80 BMW M3 with Race Chip

The biggest difference between the G80 BMW M3 and the M3 Competition is power. The standard car makes 473 horsepower, while the Competition makes 503 horsepower. However, that power disparity can be fixed, with a bit of a tune, as evidenced by this new video from AutoTopNL.

AutoTopNL’s G80 BMW M3 is a standard model, with a six-speed manual gearbox and a fantastic Zanzibar Metallic paint color, In this video, they took the M3 to Race Chip to get a tune. What’s interesting is that Race Chip doesn’t have a tune for the standard G80 M3 just yet, which is why they decided to use AutoTopNL’s M3 as a test bed for a tune.

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The tune comes with seven different maps to choose from, which is done with the push of a button. That button can also completely turn the tune off, bringing it back to stock. The most powerful map it comes with is the seventh map, which brings the engine up to a whopping 650 horsepower. That’s more than the BMW M5 CS, in a much smaller car, with only rear-wheel drive, and a manual transmission. Bumping power to 650 horsepower was able to shorten its 100-200 km/h (62-124 mph) time by about two seconds, which isn’t an insignificant number.

As impressive as that is, though, there are concerns about its durability. The clutch in the G80 BMW M3 was not designed to handle that much power. In fact, the standard M3’s torque was tuned down by BMW, versus the Competition, because the manual transmission and clutch couldn’t handle it. Jumping from 473 horses to 650 horses is a massive jump and one that might not make the clutch very happy. Though, I’m not so sure it matters, considering that it looks like it’s a lot more fun and it seems to make its owner very happy.

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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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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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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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VIDEO: Magnus Walker Drives the E39 BMW M5 on The Next Big Thing

Hagerty has just exploded its YouTube car content, with several new shows hosted by very familiar faces in the car world. There’s a show with Chip Foose, a show with our friend Jason Cammisa and one with famed Porsche-file Magnus Walker. In Walker’s, he drives classics that are still affordable for many people to see if they’re the next big collector’s item, called The Next Big Thing. In the first episode, Walker drives the E39 BMW M5.

The specific E39 BMW M5 in this video is owned by California-based gearhead Paul Zuckerman, whose Alpine White M5 has been tuned by Dinan and has made its rounds on shows like The Smoking Tire. Zuckerman is also a frequent guest on another famous gearhead Spike Feresten’s podcast. Zuckerman is a big fan of BMW, having wanted to sort of push back against the Porsche crowd when he was younger. In his eyes, BMW has lost its way since the E39 M5 and no longer makes the sort of Ultimate Driving Machines that he’s accustomed to. It’s an opinion shared by a vast population of the BMW fanbase.

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His E39 BMW M5 isn’t stock but it’s not heavily modified, either. It has just a few simple mods that he finds essential for E39 M5 ownership. For instance, it has a cold-air intake, Dinan Stage 3 tune, Dinan free-flow exhaust, a short throw shifter and a limited-slip rear diff. With all of that, Zuckerman says his 4.9 liter naturally-aspirated V8 makes around 440 horsepower, versus the 396 horsepower from the factory.

Walker also really appreciates the analog, yet modern looking, interior. It’s simple and intuitive, while also feeling modern enough to not feel dated. The E39 BMW M5 is regarded by many as the best driving M5 of all time and it’s not hard to see why; it seems to be the perfect blend of power, speed, agility and comfort. While pristine examples have become absurdly expensive, you can still find high-mileage, but well taken care of, examples for affordable money and those are the cars you want. You want something to look new but have enough miles on it that not only is it easily affordable but you’re also not afraid to drive it, for fear of depreciating it. If you can find a car like that, it’s a home run classic.

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VIDEO: Watch The Stig Drift James Bond’s E46 M3-powered Aston Martin DB5

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When the first trailer for the upcoming Bond film No Time to Die debuted, fans were jazzed about seeing Bond do gunfire-filled donuts in a 1965 Aston Martin DB5, the classic Bond car. However, for the actual filming of the movie, the production team did not use a real 1965 Aston Martin. Instead, they built a kit car, with a perfect replica body and custom-built chassis for stunt car-duty. However, for the engine, it’s believed that the stunt team actually went with something more Bavarian.

Of course, the stunt team won’t disclose what sort of engine this specific DB5 stunt car uses but they did say that it uses a naturally-aspirated straight-six engine that’s relatively modern and makes just over 300 horsepower. There aren’t many engines that fit that bill, so it’s commonly believed, and we’re all almost certain, that it uses an E46 BMW M3 engine. That theory is all but confirmed but the noise of it as well, as it has the same signature BMW I6 wail at full chat.

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In this video, we get to see The Stig lap the E46 M3-powered Aston Martin DB5 stunt car around a closed road loop and it’s glorious. Not only does it look awesome but it seems like so much fun. The stunt car’s chassis, being specifically built for stunt driving, looks incredibly well balanced and controllable. The Stig slides it around beautifully and it just holds onto big drifts. All the while, you hear that unfiltered six-cylinder engine screaming along, making genuine motorsport noises and it’s highly addictive.

What’s funny is when you see the POV on-board camera, you see The Stig working a massive diameter wooden steering wheel from a ’60s Aston Martin. From that view, the noise and rate of pace seem completely at odds with the car and it’s awesome. Check it out and have some fun.

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VIDEO: Joe Achilles Gives the Verdict on the Audi RS6 Avant vs BMW M5

The new Audi RS6 Avant is an interesting rival to the BMW M5 Competition because it uses a very similar formula but with a twist. Both cars uses 4.0-ish liter twin-turbo V8s with 600-ish horsepower, eight-speed ZF automatics and all-wheel drive. However, the BMW M5 is a sedan and the Audi RS6 is a wagon. They both have their strengths and weaknesses but which one is actually better? In this video from Joe Achilles, we find out.

Achilles recently spent a week in a BMW M5 Competition and then spent a week in the Audi RS6 Avant, without too much time in between. So he was able to draw an accurate comparison between the two cars and judge them properly. In his review, he’s only driving the RS6 but drawing comparisons between it and the M5 throughout, trying to determine which car is better.

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In terms of outright speed, both cars are astonishingly quick but the M5 is quicker. His RaceBox-recorded time for the Audi RS6 Avant was 3.31 seconds, which is three seconds faster than Audi’s claimed time. While his recorded time for the BMW M5 Competition was 2.99 seconds. So the Bimmer is considerably faster. However, he does note that it feels that Audi has trouble accelerating hard within the first five meters or so. After that initial delay, though, he claimed that it seems to pull every bit as hard as the M5.

The BMW M5 is also the sharper car but only by a bit. Through some twisties, the Audi RS6 Avant is a great handling, genuinely exciting car to drive and one that defies physics. However, the M5 is just a bit more precise on the road and certainly more so on track.

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Where the Audi RS6 Avant does get an on-road advantage, it’s in its ride comfort. The RS6 is one of the best riding sports cars in the world and quite a bit better than the BMW. Not only is it more comfortable than the M5 but it’s also no slouch in the corners. So it’s nicer to drive on a regular basis but it’s also nicer to drive quickly, as the more supple suspension keeps it planted through choppier pavement.

In the end, though, Achilles chose the BMW M5 Competition as the car he’d rather have. It’s a close contest and there’s a lot to like about the Audi RS6 but it’s the M5 Comp that he feels is best for him.

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