Road Trip: Autobahn bound in BMW’s M3 Sedan

Story and photos by John LeBlanc MUNICH– Dinner on the Italian Isle of Capri. Surfing the north shore Pipeline in Hawaii. Reading Ian Fleming’s Thunderball on the patio of the British Colonial Hilton in Nassau, Bahamas. Trust me: some experiences in life are better done on their home turf. Take, for instance, driving a German car on the autobahn. During a recent BMW media event, the itinerary called for a short-hop flight between Dresden and Munich. The question came up: Would I like to be one of the first Canadian journalists to drive an M3 Sedan with BMW’s Dual Clutch Transmission? Hmmm… It’s just like an M3. But with two-more doors and a slushbox Hardcore driving enthusiasts may find that adding two-doors, 10 kg of curb weight and an automatic gearbox to BMW’s revered M3 Coupé is a perverse form of automotive blasphemy. But there are some distinct advantages to the breathed-on sedan. First off, adding two-doors is less expensive. The M3 Sedan starts at $69,900 rather the $71,300 BMW asks for the coupé. Although I was driving a German-spec model, a comparably equipped M3 Sedan in Canada—with the $2,500 MDrive Package and the new $3,900 M Double Clutch Transmission w/Drivelogic—will run you $76,300. As per the coupé, there’s a 4.4-litre screaming-mimi of a V8 with 414 hp in the four-door, helpful M-rear differential and all the exterior and interior trim and styling details. The only thing missing was the M3 Coupé’s carbon-fibre roof. So far, opting for the four-door M3 looks like the financial and practical choice. But on its home turf, can it deliver the same BMW M goodness as the two-door? Why fly when you can drive? The charter flight from Dresden to Munich was going to be less than an hour in the air. But that didn’t include the typical hurry-up-and-wait protocol of modern air travel. With only 461 kilomtres between Dresden (in the eastern part of Germany near Prague, Czech Republic,) and Munich (in the southern province of Bavaria,) ground travel would be the faster way to go. Leaving our accommodations at the Kempinski hotel located in the historic centre of Dresden, the M3 ground attack was going to be fairly straightforward: As much top speed autobahn kilometres that traffic and weather conditions would allow, with a scheduled pit stop at the Schleizer Dreieck, Germany’s oldest road racing track. In Germany, driving fast has its responsibilities There are some hard and fast rules for autobahn running. You can drive as fast as you like, but only in certain sections, times and conditions. Yes, Virginia, there are speed limits. You are not allowed to drive faster than 100 km/h, unless otherwise marked  by the digital overhead signs. For example in construction zones, you can get a ticket for speeding quite easily. Overall, German authorities recommend a "suggested" speed of 130 km/h. The right lane is for slower vehicles. Thus, you can only pass another car in the left lane as overtaking cars in the right lane is illegal. And before you pull into the left lane to pass another car, make sure to check the rear view mirror carefully—some cars (ahem) travel as fast as 240 km/h and approach very suddenly. Sedan offers few compromises to M3 Coupé Getting up to the M3 Sedan’s 240 top speed require very little sweat on the driver’s part. But with an inherently narrower track and shorter wheelbase, it’s not nearly as stable as the 2009 freight train 745i I drove the day before in similarly fast conditions. In comparison, the more compact M3 is a bit more nervous, calling for extra attention from the driver’s seat. The track is always open At these elevated autobahn speeds, it’s easy to miss the exit for the small town of Schleiz. Like some of the pre-war Grand Prix track layouts, the triangular Schleizer Dreieck circuit is made up of public roads track surrounded by a wooded landscape comparable to Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium. Like the opening scenes of the movie LeMans, where Steve McQueen’s character surveys the road circuit before the formal closing of the public roads, you just drive up and start clipping apexes on the Schleizer Dreieck. Originally constructed for motorcycle racing back in 1923, the track hosted Formula 3 in the 1960s. On the day we were there, there was a driving school on the pit lane entrance in the infield. But the three public roads that make up the main circuit were wide open. We take our shots, do a few laps clipping the still existing red and white striped curbing, and then get on our merry way. New gearbox makes this the most complete M3 ever Admittedly, I’m an orthodox clutch-pedal type of driver, stubbornly prejudiced against automated manual gearboxes with their video game shift paddles. And my previous experiences with BMW’s attempt at an automated gearbox—its Sequential Manual Gearbox—was less than satisfying. The shifts were so abrupt, I thought I broke the box during my first drive in an M6. Hence, I had doubts the size of thunder clouds about the new M-DCT. But after driving the M3 Sedan, I think I may finally be converted. The level of customization with the M-DCT is extensive: 11 different settings, including five shift settings (from soft to sporty, in either automatic or manual modes) plus a sixth track mode for experienced drivers and only available in manual mode with the stability-control system switched off. As with other duel-clutch setups, the transition from one gear to the next is seamless and swift. When done well, these types of gearboxes can be a real driver’s aid, eliminating the transition time created by your right foot moving from brake pedal to gas pedal required for proper heel-and-toeing down shift maneuvers. In the end, the 2009 M3 Sedan delivers the same razor sharp reflexes as the Coupe. For enthusiasts, this is the best, most rounded BMW you can buy today. Especially when one gets a chance to stretch its (lengthy) legs on the autobahn. And now the excellent M-DCT, with its customizable settings and lightning cog swaps, only adds to the M3’s all-around goodness. And you can do this too After leaving Schleizer Dreieck, the last leg was a short run into Munich to our final destination: the automaker’s recently opened customer centre, dubbed BMW Welt. It’s here that—if you’re already looking at an M3, or any other new BMW and want to exercise it in its native habitat—is the starting point to experiencing BMW Canada’s just updated European Delivery Program. Here’s how it works. Once you’ve either purchased or leased your BMW in Canada, you take delivery at BMW Welt (kind of like a Disneyworld for Bimmerphiles.) There, BMW representatives will give you a thorough run down of your vehicle. Once you’re done driving the German autobahn, or anywhere else in Europe, you can then leave your car at a prescribed drop-off point. Transportation of your vehicle from Europe to your local Canadian BMW dealer is paid for by BMW, along with duty, European licenses and European insurance fees. Plus, Lufthansa is offering two for one flights through BMW. If you have the time, it’s a great deal. And an even better opportunity to experience your M3 Sedan in its natural habitat. 2009 BMW M3 Sedan M-DCT Base price: $69,900 Type of vehicle: RWD compact sports sedan Engine: 4.4L, DOHC V8 Power/torque: 414 hp/295 lb.-ft. Transmission: Dual-clutch automatic 0-100 km/h: 4.7 seconds Fuel consumption L/100 km: 15.3 city, 9.9 hwy Competition: Audi S4, Cadillac CTS-V, Lexus IS-F, and Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG ROAD TRIP SUMMARY PROS - Sublime chassis, brakes and steering - Addictive V8 sound - New DCT transmission huge improvement over old SMG gearbox - Q-ship sedan styling CONS -       High-strung at high speeds

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