Review | BMW M3 Touring (G81). Who is this car for?
Since 1986, the M3 has taken many forms. It's been a coupé, a convertible, a saloon, and even a factory-built pickup truck! But the one shape a BMW M3 has never been is an estate car - until now.
A fast estate car, or 'touring' as BMW prefers, is not a new concept for the BMW brand. The E34 BMW M5 was available as a touring in the early 1990s, and BMW did it again ten years later with the E61 BMW M5. But since then, BMW has yet to bother with another M Touring.
So, we've waited 37 years for the G81 M3 Touring, but now that it's here, who is this car actually for?
Before I answer that question, I feel it's important to write about the car. And believe me; it's worthy of a good few paragraphs. As is the norm with new M cars, the engines and gearboxes aren't quite as raw and exciting as the equivalents from 10 years ago, but I can't keep moaning about this as it's in fitting with what the consumer is happy to buy. Like in the coupé and saloon versions of the M3/M4, the new touring has the 3-litre twin-scroll turbocharged six-cylinder engine paired with the same ZF8 gearbox you can expect to find in everything from the new CSL M3 down to the entry-level BMW 118i SE. The gearbox has been fettled, allowing for a slightly sharper shift and the ability to bounce the revs on the redline with the necessity to upshift should you wish. The ZF8 is the only option for the UK market, with no option for a manual gearbox on any of the new M3/M4 models.
Another 'like-it-or-lump-it' factor on the new M3 Touring is xDrive. M3s of yesteryear were all famously exclusively rear-wheel-drive, but not anymore. xDrive is the new normal; however, within the multitude of performance settings, there is an option of putting all of the power exclusively to the rear wheels, but this does come at the expense of traction control being switched off.
G81 BMW M3 - Vital Statistics:
The engine is a 2,993cc twin-turbocharged 'straight-six' cylinder paired with a ZF 8-speed automatic gearbox with optional paddle shift override. The drive train produces 510HP and 479 lb-ft of torque at 2,750-5,500rpm. 0-62mph acceleration happens in 3.5 seconds, and the G81 has a top speed of 155mph (restricted) or 173mph (unrestricted). The G81 weighs 1,865kg.
As is the norm with all BMW M cars now, as a driver, you have a seemingly endless list of optional configurations for how the M3 touring accelerates, steers, stops and sounds. Personally, I feel it's on the verge of being overcomplicated, but again, the consumer has spoken, and what the consumer wants (apparently) is a list of choices. As usual, I found that the suspension and steering are best left in comfort. The suspension in Sport and Sport+ modes is unnecessarily firm for everyday driving. The chassis and geometry of the G81 are sublime as standard, as are the grip levels. The compliance of the suspension and the very clever xDrive system results in a car that turns into corners wonderfully and powers out of them with supercar-like performance. The G81 M3 predecessors felt spikey and sometimes a little too wild. The new car feels safer and more controllable for spirited road driving. Another setting to leave in comfort is the sports steering. 'Sport' adds an artificially weighted and almost clumsy feel to the steering.
Fortunately, despite the endless list of options, saving two preferred driving presets is as easy as saving your favourite radio stations, thanks to the M1 and M2 buttons on the steering wheel. Simply dial in the settings you like, hold down one of the buttons to tell the car you're happy, and that's it; the settings are saved, ready for when you want to switch between being a track day hooligan and a sensible daily driver.
And therein lies my conclusion on the car. Thanks to the variance of driver modes, the M3 touring is a car that can do it all. I find the M3 Touring comparable to the F90 M5, which, although it is a very different car in terms of power and performance, it's a car that can do it all and, crucially, disappears into traffic when you want it to. The M3 touring, like the M5, falls into the category of stealth wealth. It is a car that is rightfully recognised by people who know what it is and blissfully ignored by people who couldn't care less.
The G81 has a pretty hefty price tag for a fast BMW 3 series estate. The starting price is £80k, and with a handful of options you'll want to add on, your friendly BMW salesperson will likely be sliding an invoice towards you for £100k+.
I like the G81 M3. I like almost everything about it. I like that it's more stealthy than the coupé M4 or saloon M3 equivalents; perhaps 'less obvious' is a better term. I like how it looks, too, grille and all. I like the lower stance and factory wheel fitment, too. Most of all, I like that it's a genuine performance car without the need to shout about it. It's the perfect everything car.
Do I wish BMW had done it ten years previously with the E46 and E92 M3s? Yes, of course, but they didn't, so there's no point getting all carried away with what could or should have been. The first-ever M3 Touring is still worthy of celebration, even if it has taken nearly 40 years to materialise.
Want to see more? Check out our video review here:
Words: John Marcar
Pictures: John Marcar & Thomas Howarth
Special thanks to: Partridge BMW, Hampshire
