[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/the-only-v8-m3-will-surely-make-a-future-classic\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/the-only-v8-m3-will-surely-make-a-future-classic\/","headline":"The Only V8 M3 Will Surely Make A Future Classic","name":"The Only V8 M3 Will Surely Make A Future Classic","description":"Is this the greatest modern BMW M3? We think so. The BMW M3 is one of the greatest sports car series ever created and is worshipped by overhyped Bimmer fans around the globe. Take a decent saloon, add some horsepower, some German prestige and some marketing talk of \u2018motorsport heritage\u2019 and you\u2019ve got yourself a future classic. This recipe has already worked to great success with two of the three M3s that are old enough to have become classics, with […]","datePublished":"2020-01-13","dateModified":"2020-01-13","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/author\/matthew-collett\/#Person","name":"Matthew Collett","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/author\/matthew-collett\/","identifier":5,"description":"Max Wheeler is a leading motoring journalist and classic car specialist at Smart Motoring, renowned for his sharp insight and infectious passion for all things automotive. With years of experience covering motoring news, supercars, and the enduring legacy of classic cars, Max brings stories to life with style and authority. Whether it\u2019s the roar of a Lamborghini, the elegance of an Aston Martin DB5, or the cultural impact of vintage motoring icons, he delivers expert commentary that inspires enthusiasts and collectors alike. Dedicated to celebrating the heritage and future of driving, Max Wheeler is your trusted voice for classic car news and beyond.","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/64eca1152247aa111ace79ff1c03782b175df9dc21d2092364ff21e1cf5e38fa?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/64eca1152247aa111ace79ff1c03782b175df9dc21d2092364ff21e1cf5e38fa?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Smart Motoring","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/smart-motoring_news_logo_g-e1765846726493.webp","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/smart-motoring_news_logo_g-e1765846726493.webp","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/MW-V8-M3-feature.jpg","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/MW-V8-M3-feature.jpg","height":520,"width":1200},"url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/the-only-v8-m3-will-surely-make-a-future-classic\/","about":["BMW","Cars","LATEST CAR NEWS"],"wordCount":719,"keywords":["bmw","BMW M3","BMW V8 M3"],"articleBody":"Is this the greatest modern BMW M3? We think so.The BMW M3 is one of the greatest sports car series ever created and is worshipped by overhyped Bimmer fans around the globe. Take a decent saloon, add some horsepower, some German prestige and some marketing talk of \u2018motorsport heritage\u2019 and you\u2019ve got yourself a future classic. This recipe has already worked to great success with two of the three M3s that are old enough to have become classics, with the E30 and E46 M3 now both being worth more than what they were worth when they were new back in the 80s and 00s respectively.Now, it\u2019s the E90\u2019s turn to flower into anoverhyped modern classic with a ludicrous price tag that\u2019s been inflated by theartificial demand generated people that have watched the Fast & Furiousfilms too many times. All joking aside, the E90 M3 is one of the greatest M3s made by the Bavarian manufacturer for several reasons. Firstly, it\u2019s the only M3 ever to have a V8 engine as standard. The E30 M3 had a 4-cylinder engine and basically all other M3s after that have had inline-6 engines. Not the E90 though!The 4.0-litre V8 produces 414 horsepower, 295 lb-ft of torque and was available in a 6-speed manual or 7-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission. The V8 was so large that for once, in a modern performance car, the bonnet bulge was actually necessary. The huge, beefy V8 couldn\u2019t physically fit under a standard 3 Series bonnet! So, why would a V8 engine make it any morevaluable? Well, we\u2019ve got to a point in combustion engine technology whereengines are now getting smaller and offering the same kinds of performancepower in smaller, more compact engines. Where we once had an abundance of V8,V10 and even V12 performance cars, we are now seeing less and less of them.This is likely why the M3s after the E90 will never be V8 again, making thiscar potentially the only V8 M3 to have ever existed!With the engine being completely different from a straight-6, it produces different sounds and has a different kind of performance. For instance, V8 engines are naturally balanced unlike V6 engines, making the power delivery that little bit smoother and V engines are also more compact and can help with a car\u2019s weight distribution, allowing for better handling around a track.The BMW E90 M3 was available in three stunning shapes. One being the E93 hardtop (also the only hardtop convertible 3 Series ever!) convertible and the other two being the E90 saloon and the E92 coupe shape.\u00a0 Each was stunning in its own right but the E92 coupe M3 seems to be everybody\u2019s favourite and it\u2019s easy to see why. The sloping roofline and the sleek curves of the car have aged gracefully in the 13 years of its existence.Right now is probably the perfect time for enthusiasts and car investors to grab themselves a low-mileage E92 M3. The earliest models have already been around for 13 years and the youngest examples will be 7 years old, meaning that wait another couple of years and these beauties will stop depreciating and begin to go up in price!That being said, there are many things toconsider. Firstly, thousands of them were made and you\u2019ll have to research ifthey\u2019re too common to become a classic. Secondly, if you\u2019re doing this forfinancial gain the car may not be worth it. You\u2019ll be spending money oninsurance, tax, maintenance and fuel by owning and driving it. So in the end,when it has appreciated by \u00a310,000, you will probably find that you\u2019ve spentthe same amount on just keeping it anyway.So, will it make a classic? Based on itsappearance, engine, performance and reputation I\u2019d say almost definitely. Werecommend buying one, convincing yourself it is not a silly, impulsive purchase and a total waste of money (becauseit may rise in value) and just enjoying it. Buy one now before they become \u00a350kcars just like the E46 has!If you enjoyed this, you may also enjoy reading about the 2006-2010 Audi S8 used bargain that shared the V10 engine with the Lamborghini Gallardo!"},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Latest News","item":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"The Only V8 M3 Will Surely Make A Future Classic","item":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/latest-news\/the-only-v8-m3-will-surely-make-a-future-classic\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]