Skip advert
Advertisement

BMW M3 Competition

Competition Pack adds even more appeal to supercoupé

If you’re a performance car enthusiast, the M3 needs no introduction. Thanks to a bloodline that can be traced directly back to the stripped-out E30 model that wowed the motoring world in 1986, BMW’s coupé has been keeping customers happy for nearly 25 years.

And, although the current V8 version is far removed from the high-revving 2.3-litre, four-cylinder machine that was built with motorsport in mind, the spirit and engineering ethos that has come to define these machines through the years is no less apparent.  

Advertisement - Article continues below

Our test car came equipped with the recently launched Competition Pack. This £3,315 kit comprises lowered suspension, bespoke 19-inch CSL-style alloy wheels and EDC electronic damper control. The pack
also includes revised stability control software that allows for more slip in extreme situations.

As with the standard model, the M3 Competition Pack is a lovely piece of design. Muscular and taut, it features all the famous styling touches, such as the quad exhausts and aerodynamic mirrors, but adds 19-inch alloys and a lower ride height. Our test car also featured BMW’s striking new Frozen Grey paint finish. Although it costs an eye-watering £1,755 as a special-order option, it gives the M3 a unique matt look.

The same can’t be said about the interior. Despite the addition of some great sports seats and a chunky three-spoke steering wheel, the M3 doesn’t have quite the same premium feel as the Audi. Space is
also tighter, with considerably less shoulder room and a smaller, non-extendable 430-litre boot. However, BMW’s widescreen sat-nav comes as standard, while the once troublesome iDrive cabin control system has been developed into one of the best set-ups around.

Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

Used - available now

3 Saloon

2019 Mazda

3 Saloon

11,533 milesAutomaticPetrol2.0L

Cash £16,397
View 3 Saloon
Stonic

2020 Kia

Stonic

54,374 milesAutomaticPetrol1.0L

Cash £11,797
View Stonic
500

2024 Fiat

500

11,791 milesManualPetrol1.0L

Cash £11,497
View 500
Formentor

2024 Cupra

Formentor

22,591 milesAutomaticPetrol1.5L

Cash £19,997
View Formentor

Stir the M3’s 414bhp V8 into life, and any concerns about space and cheap trim soon fall to the back of your mind. With a crisper, more metallic engine note than the RS5, the 4.0-litre unit feels born to work hard. Peak power comes at a heady 8,300rpm, and it requires some serious willpower not to explore the outer reaches of the rev range when you find an open stretch of road. Equally entertaining is the optional DCT twin-clutch transmission. Although it adds a hefty £2,590 to the price tag, it complements the engine perfectly, banging up through all seven ratios with breathtaking speed and blipping the throttle expertly on downshifts.  

Being smaller and 70kg lighter than the Audi, the M3 feels more precise and focused when it comes to tackling twisting road sections. The Competition Pack features springs that sit the car 10mm closer to the tarmac.

While that might not sound like a big deal, it reduces body roll and gives the M3 a front end that feels significantly keener to turn in than the Audi.

And it’s this, along with revised traction control, which allows for a greater degree of slip that makes the BMW the more engaging machine to drive.

In terms of value, the Competition Pack-equipped M3 is on a par with the RS5. Although the list price of the standard, manual model undercuts the RS5 by £5,410, once the Competition Pack and DCT twin-clutch gearbox have been added, the price rockets to £59,180. Which, for some, may make opting for the BMW that little bit harder.

Details

Chart position: 1
WHY: Still the benchmark fast coupé, the M3 has been given a raft of improvements with the Competition Pack, which make it sharper and even more engaging to drive.

Skip advert
Advertisement

New & used car deals

Skoda Kodiaq

Skoda Kodiaq

RRP £38,140Avg. savings £3,406 off RRP*Used from £10,195
Volkswagen Golf

Volkswagen Golf

RRP £24,625Avg. savings £3,189 off RRP*Used from £11,990
Renault Clio

Renault Clio

RRP £16,160Avg. savings £3,343 off RRP*Used from £9,200
Volkswagen Tiguan

Volkswagen Tiguan

RRP £37,230Avg. savings £3,788 off RRP*Used from £11,795
* Average savings are calculated daily based on the best dealer prices on Auto Express vs manufacturer RRP
Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

Skoda Elroq and Enyaq get Electric Car Grant approval
Skoda Elroq - front cornering

Skoda Elroq and Enyaq get Electric Car Grant approval

Despite some models costing over the £37,000 threshold, Skoda has secured the government grant on its mid-size electric SUVs
News
2 Sep 2025
New Fiat Grande Panda goes on sale with tiny price and big ambition
Fiat Grande Panda La Prima - front cornering

New Fiat Grande Panda goes on sale with tiny price and big ambition

The newly crowned Auto Express Supermini of the Year is available in hybrid or pure-electric form, with the EV offering 199 miles of range
News
1 Sep 2025
Car Deal of the Day: Enjoy Scandinavian style with the Volvo XC40 for just £296 a month
Volvo XC40 - front full width

Car Deal of the Day: Enjoy Scandinavian style with the Volvo XC40 for just £296 a month

Swedish company’s popular compact SUV is still effortlessly cool, and great value with our Deal of the Day for 31 August
News
31 Aug 2025