2002 BMW 3-Series in Burbank

The current BMW M3 has been an all-conquering hero. In arguments around this office, its name is regularly invoked to slap down the claimed merits of other performance cars, even those considerably more expensive. It rebuffed the challenge of the Mercedes C32 AMG and the (previous-generation) Audi S4 in our May 2001 comparison test. For those who've grown weary of our veneration of BMWs and of the M3 in particular, we've got some more bad news: Twelve months and 31,653 miles with an Oxford green M3 coupe have only strengthened our enthusiasm.

We certainly never tired of looking at it. Compared with the regular 3-series coupes, the M3 squats low; it faces the world with a purposeful, but not garish, enlarged front air dam; its wheel openings flare out a bit. Eighteen-inch "satin chrome" wheels (eight inches wide at the front, nine inches at the rear) fill the wheel wells. Four exhaust tips peek out from under the rear valance. Despite the subtlety of the changes, the overall appearance is distinctly muscular.

Inside, there's a surprising level of luxury. "I had no idea such a cool leather package was available from BMW," commented associate editor Joe DeMatio, referring to the cinnamon-colored nappa leather that swathed the interior. That supple cowhide plus dual power front seats, rain-sensing wipers, and a power moonroof make up the $3100 luxury package. Our car's interior was further fancied up with a CD player ($200), a Harman Kardon sound system ($675), adjustable seatback width and lumbar ($500), and seat heating (part of the $700 cold weather package).... Read full article