BMW M3 Frozen Silver Edition
We get behind the wheel of the latest limited-run version of the BMW M3
The BMW M3 still feels like a new model from behind the wheel. While the thirsty V8 is a bit outdated, there’s little else to complain about with the Frozen Silver Edition. Not only does it look great – it also comes loaded with kit for a relatively sensible price. The problem is getting your hands on one of the limited production run of 100 cars.
A new BMW M3 arrives in a year, so what better way to see out the current generation than with a limited-run Frozen Silver Edition? This car is much more than a marketing gimmick, though – it could be the best example of the current M3 yet.
And that’s not only down to its looks – although there’s a lot to be said for them. It gets matt silver paint and matt black alloy wheels, plus a gloss black grille and engine intakes. It doesn’t look like a five-year-old design.
The interior has been updated, too: it now features more leather, with contrasting stitching and an Alcantara steering wheel wearing an M3 chequered-flag badge.
All 100 Frozen Silver M3s will have a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox and BMW’s Competition Pack. The latter lowers the car’s ride height by 10mm and adds a firmer damper setting for even better handling.
The steering feels perfectly weighted and is so intuitive and responsive that the nose seems to have headed into the corner before you’ve turned the wheel. With so much grip and so little body roll, the M3 makes even the fastest corners a breeze to drive.
This is impressive for a car that could easily be extremely daunting to drive. The 414bhp 4.0-litre naturally aspirated V8 is unchanged from the standard M3, meaning acceleration from 0-62mph takes only 4.6 seconds.
The seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox shifts almost instantly and blips the throttle for you on downshifts for smooth changes.
Despite its age, the M3 still feels like one of the best performance cars you can buy. But beyond that, the Frozen Silver Edition also offers great value for your money. It costs £58,720 – £4,000 more than a standard M3 – but comes with around £9,000 worth of optional extras, including the Competition Pack and dual-clutch gearbox.
