BMW M3 E92

At the 2007 Geneva Motor Show, the 4th generation of the BMW M3 was announced for 2 weeks in Switzerland with the presentation of the new M3 Concept car. Equally as the E60 M5 and E46 M3 models, it represented the production version. The BMW M3 E92 was first presented to the world in September of the same year in Germany. The model range of the new generation was expanded, and the familiar Coupe and Cabriolet were supplemented by a Sedan, which was forgotten for some time.

With an eight-cylinder engine and robotics, the Coupe and Sedan were able to accelerate to one hundred in 4.6 seconds, while the oversized Cabriolet, with its heavy weight, made the leap in 5.1 seconds. The sedan, labeled M3 CRT, was equipped with the same motor, but now the body was equipped with component parts made of carbon fiber. There were just under 70 of them in production.

Initially, the fourth series, as intended, was named “M4”. Soon the manufacturers changed the name of the project to “M3” in order to preserve the third line.

The BMW M3 E92 sports coupe is a combination of an all-new drivetrain, V8 engine carbon fiber reinforced roof inherited from the CSL E46. as well as reduced weight without loss of structural strength and a significantly lower center of gravity. The car was tested on one of the most challenging tracks in the world – the Nürburgring
race track in Germany.

Exterior

The peculiarity of the powerful M3 E92 Coupe is that the formation and equipment of the smallest details determine the functionality of the vehicle. The front part was designed so that the space under the hood was enough for a high-speed eight-cylinder engine. The rear part is distinguished by massiveness and wider track, which allows to install four exhaust pipes. The aerodynamic performance of the car was also influenced by the shape of the mirrors placed on the rear exterior.

The coupe is distinguished by the presence of a carbon roof and original five-spoke 19 Yokohama Advan Racing GT disks, favorably emphasizing the graceful and at the same time powerful lines of the M3. In winter it is better to install full size tires to make the car a little higher in clearance, and in summer low-profile rubber will do. In this condition, the vehicle looks like a real German sports car. The car is distinguished by enlarged air intakes in front of the bumper, ventilation holes in the design of front fenders and a curved hood.

Attract attention a small spoiler on the trunk, two twin exhaust pipes located near the center, as well as branded alloy wheels for 18-inch wheels.

All of these metrics combined to create a sports car that is also used in everyday life for normal driving.

Coupes are available in such color options as Red Melbourne, Blue Interlagos, Black Jeres, Silverston 2, White Alpine, Black Classic, Sparkling Graphite and Spatial Gray.

Interior

The interior of the cabin is designed to create maximum comfort and convenience for the driver. The round-shaped instrumentation, which is a trademark of “emocs”, iDrive controller, sports-type seats with memory. Carbon and leather upholstery creates a cozy and warm atmosphere inside the cabin.

The interior of the BMW M3 E92 features a harmonious combination of elegant leather and sporty elements, which is achieved by combining soft leather material and optimized ergonomics. Riding comfort is achieved through the side support function and seat position memory. It can be said that the interior of the BMW Sport Coupe has a predominantly sporty character, which is perfectly combined with comfort and coziness. This makes the car comfortable for both sporty and everyday driving.

The combination of carbon fiber and genuine leather is truly a breakthrough and innovation that changed the vision of sports car interior design.

This time around, the interior of the car resembles a minimalist style, especially in terms of the front panel. This makes the arrangement of instruments very convenient, as all of them are placed in such a way that the driver immediately, intuitively understands where to look for them. This saves time and makes the car
easier to operate.

Palladium Silver leather upholsters the doors, seats, control panel and center tunnel, adding to the style and prestige of the BMW M3 E92.
The instrument panel has a silver trim and is equipped with a tachometer with a red zone in the markings, indicating a figure of 8 thousand revolutions per minute.

The interior has undergone some changes. Thus, the ignition switch on the steering column is now replaced by the “Start” button in the front panel. Also, the window elevator keys have changed their location, having moved from the central tunnel to the door panels. Right in the middle of the front panel there is iDrive monitor. This system shows on the display the picture from rearview cameras, gives access to navigation, gives parameters of steering and chassis. The interface is complicated by the fact that too many functions slow down the process of work, as the driver is looking for the necessary task for a long time.

The comfortable M steering wheel is belted with red and blue austere threads and the M-DCT lever is in a similarly austere style, which are the final elements in creating the minimalist yet so elegant interior design of the BMW M3 E92.

Engine and oil

The S65B40 engine is one of the best engineering developments to equip cars. This is the engine with which the fourth generation of BMW is presented. The engine is an eight-cylinder V-shaped unit with a capacity of 4 liters or 3999 cubic centimeters and a power potential of 420 horsepower. The base for the new development of engineers became a V-shaped engine model S85B50 with 10 cylinders, which was intended for the M6 E64, M5 E60 and M5 E61.

With 420 horsepower, the engine develops torque up to 400 Nm, which means an increase in power by as much as 22% and a reduction in weight by 15 kg, if compared to the unit of the M3 E46.

The valves, connecting rods, valve springs and pistons have reached the final design, the most efficient for this motor. The technical characteristics of the unit are top notch and this:

• Equipped with a variable length intake manifold;
• use of an individual throttle for each cylinder;
• Double VANOS system;
• The cylinder blocks are made of silicon and aluminum alloy;
• special lubrication technology to prevent oil starvation even under severe overloads;
• pistons made of aluminum with a high temperature resistant coating.

The engine is fully controlled by the Siemens MSS60 system, which eliminates the need for mass flow sensors.  Since the “heart” of any car is the engine, it should be taken care of accordingly. Properly selected oil can protect the engine from wear and breakdowns. Here it is important to understand that any fuel in the process of operation and at the expiration date loses its properties and requires replacement. For BMW of the third generation it is recommended to use oils of such brands as CASTROL, TOTAL, MOTUL, ELF, LIQUIMOLY and LUKOIL. The most popular raw materials are Castrol 0w40, Mobil 0W40 and the original BMW LL-4 0w40 oil.
The eight-cylinder S65B40 engine requires approximately 8.7 liters of engine fuel.

The oil avoids friction of mechanisms and parts of the car between each other. At the highest loads on the engine during fast or aggressive driving, parts are worn out. This can be prevented by using the right oil. Another important function of the fuel product is to protect the engine by minimizing friction and additives, which are made of synthetic materials. It is recommended to change the oil every 7-10 thousand kilometers of mileage.
If we talk about the amount of oil fluid in the engine, then this vehicle is filled with 8.7 liters. Developers recommend pouring original oil, namely BMW LL-4 0w40. You can also use oils of other brands and manufacturers. For example, according to reviews of car owners, Castrol 0w40 and Mobil 0W40
are considered excellent options. You should have at least 1 liter of oil per 1000 kilometers of mileage for topping up during driving.

Technical specifications

The production of BMW M3 E92 falls on 2007, and the engine of the model S65, installed on the fourth-generation car – 2007-2013.

The car has a top speed of 250km/h with acceleration to 100km/1hr in 4.8 seconds. The turning diameter reaches 11.7 meters. The permissible weight of the vehicle is 2080 kg, and the curb weight is 1655 kg.  The gas tank holds 63 liters of fuel. AI-98 gasoline is used. Rental of the car in different conditions allowed to compile fuel consumption figures. Thus, per 100 km of travel in urban conditions it is equal to 17.9 liters, on the highway – 9.2 liters, and when driving on mixed roads fuel consumption of 12 liters is noted.

Regarding the parameters of the car M3 E92, its length is 4612 mm, width was 1804 mm, and height – 1424 mm. Digital measurements of wheelbase are represented by a mark of 2761 mm, clearance – 120 mm, track of rear and front wheels – 1539 mm and 1540 mm respectively. The trunk volume is 430 liters.

The tire sizes are represented by 245/40 R18 front tires, while the rear tires are 265/40 ZR 18. Dimensions of front disks are 8γJx18 and rear disks are 9γJx18.

The engine used is the S65B40 with a distribution injection power system, eight cylinders arranged in a V-shape, 32 valves, which is made up of 4 pieces per cylinder. Piston stroke is 75.2 mm. The diameter of the cylinder is 92 mm. Engine placement – in the center, longitudinally. Eco standard – EURO 4.

The brake system features ventilated rear and front disc brakes, while the steering is a power steering system.

The transmission is characterized by rear-wheel drive and a standard six-speed manual gearbox. For models manufactured from the beginning of April 2008, a seven-speed gearbox was produced. It is characterized by the availability of manual and automatic possible modes.

The body type is coupe. The car is thoughtfully designed with 4 seats and 2 doors.
It is impossible not to say about the compressor S65. Thanks to it, it is possible to drive many thousands of kilometers. In these cars, this pump, which pumps air – reliable, powerful, is considered the best of VT2-625 whales. It is able to inflate 0.45 bar, and this will allow the car owner to develop up to 600 horsepower. Since the developers introduced this particular model, they took care that the pump has a reduced compression ratio, which is a huge plus, because due to this component part functions longer.

Electronics, chip tuning

The car is equipped with the DSC system, which ensures that the wheels retain traction when driving in aggressive conditions. If you run the program, the brakes that have traction will be activated. The M Dynamic mode is particularly useful for sporty driving, as it allows for increased drift at all speeds in both lateral and longitudinal directions. The electrically adjustable DSC system in three modes gives drivers complete freedom.
The braking system does an excellent job of slowing down when braking, driving in wet conditions, and is also resistant to temperature fluctuations, wear and tear. Disc brakes instantly respond to pedal contact, and due to the use of aluminum in the manufacture, their weight has been significantly reduced.

With the M Drive system, the driver can program the vehicle to perform certain tasks according to his or her wishes. The DME electronic control unit, the engine, the Servotronic steering system, the dynamic stabilization system and the electronic adjustment of the shock absorber stiffness are subject to this process. To start working with the device and select programs, you only need to click on the M Drive system icon on the steering wheel.

In order to increase the torque and power of the car owners of BMW M3 E92 install chip tuning. With its help, the car becomes more powerful, faster and, as a result, more economical. Thanks to chip tuning you can achieve similar effects without the need to replace the turbine or motor.

Specialists in car dealerships perform this procedure in three stages. First, the initial firmware is downloaded, which adjusts the operation of the vehicle’s electronic control unit. Next, the firmware is modified to improve the technical characteristics of the car. At the final stage, the edited program is built back into its place.

After full loading, a test stage takes place, where the driver finds out the new capabilities of his “iron horse”. If the result is satisfactory, the chipping procedure can be considered complete.

Options

The BMW M3 E92 is equipped with front and rear seat airbags, side and center airbags. Their control depends on the intelligent safety system. With the help of the same technology it is possible to control seat belts, disable central locking and suspend the fuel pump.

Safety is enhanced by front adaptive headlights, a hood air intake, a protective apron with diffuser, and a spoiler with well-designed air intake openings.

Anti-theft systems include an immobilizer, satellite anti-theft technology and central locking.

For maximum comfort, coziness and relaxation in the car, the radio, car computer, multifunctional steering system and control buttons on the steering wheel are thought over.

Coupe M3 E92 is equipped with a device for darkening the rear inner mirror, equipment for adjusting the position of the steering wheel by angle and depth, heated side front and front mirrors, climate control systems, start-stop and cruise control, front windows, adjustable seats in front and adjusting the position of side, front mirrors.

The lighting system consists of fog lights and bi-xenon headlights.

Problems

Premature wear of the engine crank liners may be observed. Ideally, they should be replaced every 80 thousand kilometers of mileage. Failure of the starter, which is easy to fix in a car service. Possible breakdowns of front brakes and candles in case of their untimely replacement.

For a driver who is unused to the new “beast”, the complexity is caused by the system of long-stroke clutch. Because of the soft pedal and a huge stroke, it is quite difficult to move without error. You will have to adapt and get used to new sensations for the first time.

Few people pay attention to power. Chip tuning improves it, but over time and with a certain amount of mileage it is not enough. The vehicle can absolutely not develop revolutions more than in the figure of 3000. Also, in this state, the check lights up and directional stability is violated. In other words, reviews of car owners indicate that there is still a problem concerning the synchronization of the throttle valves in the engine.

In addition, there may be errors of “throttle blanks”, moreover, the car having fixed the error blanks it out on the screen, after which the emergency mode is automatically switched on. This means that the malfunction is related to the wear of gears and in the manifestation of backlashes. After replacing the servo drives, the car functions in the “combat” mode again.

It is not recommended to leave the vehicle in the hot sun during the hot season. The front windshield tint has a tendency to crack and dry out. To prevent this from happening, it is necessary to tint the front window by a small percentage.

Conclusions

The BMW M3 E92 Sport Coupe is a head-turning, fast and attractive car, both inside and out. Electronics and control systems are clear and easy to use. “Heart” of the car is an eight-cylinder 4-liter engine, and its “brain” is an electronic control unit DME.

To improve the technical characteristics of the car, you can use chip tuning, for the installation of which specialists perform an uncomplicated procedure consisting of three stages. It should be noted that only in March 2010 this car was updated. On the market came restyled model M3 LCI 2011 of the new model range was designed in such a way that the developers introduced a new front and rear optics, which improved the light. This is a big plus, because this way, car owners are able to drive with good lighting.

As well as any motor transport BMW of the fourth generation is not immune to breakdowns and failure of component parts. With regular diagnostics, oil replacement, necessary parts, you can avoid such troubles and prolong the life of the machine. Timely service at service stations is the key to success of a long driving time of the vehicle.

Generations and configurations

4 generation

09.2006 – 06.2013