Goodwood - The 11 Best BMW M Cars Ever list - includes M2 CS, M5 CS, G80 M3 xDrive

[racerbruce]

This is a great reminder of BMW's ethos and pursuit of performance....there are quite a few marques that are in parallel pursuits but BMW stands out IMHO.

[440i6MT]

Hey. They tried. Admiteddly, they failed to put together even a halfway-decent list, but at-least they tried.

Ignoring the elephant in the room (get it? oversized/weight reference), the e61 being on here is a very strange inclusion. The e60 sedan is undeniably a better-looking vehicle, regardless of the love-fest we all have (me included) for wagons.

They harp on about performance, but what is the definition of best? Is it purely performance-based compared to its era? Yeah, I'd put the G80 on there today. Near the very top, actually. If you define best using any other metric, it wouldn't make it onto the top 50 list of M-cars.

[DCC]

My S54 Z3M Coupe is feeling left out after this list came out...

[Germanauto]

Originally Posted by MooMooM2

I think the G8x will be a classic sometime, maybe even more than the F8x (m3/4, the m2s will be popular).

By virtue of being ICE + manual and universally regarded as an improvement over the meh F80, it likely will be remembered fondly.

If they fix the face for the LCI it will go down as a legend, but I don't see that happening. Demand seem to be strong. Who knows how much of that is due to pandemic inventory shortages, but BMW can argue the face has resonated fine with consumers.

[MadBimmeRad]

Originally Posted by Germanauto

By virtue of being ICE + manual and universally regarded as an improvement over the meh F80, it likely will be remembered fondly.

If they fix the face for the LCI it will go down as a legend, but I don't see that happening. Demand seem to be strong. Who knows how much of that is due to pandemic inventory shortages, but BMW can argue the face has resonated fine with consumers.

Why would BMW be worried? Even if they are selling fewer cars due to shortages, they are realising record profits with tons of forward orders.

They couldn't have asked for more and, certainly will milk the shortages excuse for as long as they can.

I've never paid MSRP before but can't say if I'll get a discount ever again (for a long time at least)

[Germanauto]

Originally Posted by MadBimmeRad

Why would BMW be worried? Even if they are selling fewer cars due to shortage s, they are realising record profits with tons of forward orders.

They couldn't have asked for more and, certainly will milk the shortages excuse for as long as they can.

I've never paid MSRP before but can't say if I'll get a discount ever again (for a long time at least)

That's what I'm saying. Demand is so strong despite the controversial face of the car. They won't change it for the LCI.

[M2Cmtl]

Originally Posted by Germanauto

That's what I'm saying. Demand is so strong despite the controversial face of the car. They won't change it for the LCI.

That argument doesn't really hold water these days since every car made has high demand. What does surprise me is that the XM concept has horizontal grills...not vertical.

Anyways, blowing my own horn here, but the M2C will be remembered as an absolute cracking value. The fact that you could get the S55 for so cheap still blows my mind.

[themnmd]

Originally Posted by Alarmin

Dear Mr. Cranky Negative Nancy,

I think you should try driving a G8X at a M track day and report back.

Sincerely,
Former hater to soon-to-be owner of G8X

To me the new M3 is one of if not the best daily driver out there.

[02M3ForMe]

Drive the G8x vigorously and it'll be clear why it's on the list.

BMW M are at the very top of their game right now. M5CS, M2CS, and the G80 xDrive are all absolutely amazing cars, and better than the best past M products were within the context of their original eras.

I'd rather have an M2C than any older BMW in any condition.

[jp1984]

Originally Posted by 02M3ForMe

Drive the G8x vigorously and it'll be clear why it's on the list.

BMW M are at the very top of their game right now. M5CS, M2CS, and the G80 xDrive are all absolutely amazing cars, and better than the best past M products were within the context of their original eras.

I'd rather have an M2C than any older BMW in any condition.

Wait a minute, your username does not add up then!

[02M3ForMe]

Originally Posted by jp1984

Wait a minute, your username does not add up then!

Ha! More like '22 than '02 these days, for sure ...

[Stockholmarn]

Originally Posted by M3Dreaming

As soon as I saw G80 xDrive in the list of best M-series BMWs of all time I knew the list was immediately void. That vehicle is a testament for how far bmw has fallen from striving to produce the best and most driver centric M3. The M3 has always been BMWs flagship sporty coupe, and now it cannot be purchased with two doors. It doesn't compete with the M5. It is everything I hate all in one car. Call me a cranky negative Nancy but ever time I see one I wonder if I will ever again appreciate a modern M3.

Cranky negative Nancy

[Stockholmarn]

Originally Posted by M6-Coupe

Let me leave this video here too!

M8 seems like a great car. Long time BMW M fan the king of Sweden has one in his stable.

[hlmiii]

Originally Posted by SM2

The best car of all M3 CRT!

^ This, most definitely.
It is a unique production, unlike any other M's and superior to the rest of the E9x generation. Time spent in the driver's seat is a bracing experience.

[M6-Coupe]

Originally Posted by Stockholmarn

M8 seems like a great car. Long time BMW M fan the king of Sweden has one in his stable.

It doesn't seems like... Actually it is a great car... powerful, fast, luxury, beautiful and reliable. So stable on corners.

[MadBimmeRad]

Originally Posted by jp1984

Wait a minute, your username does not add up then!

Easier to change his car than his username 🤣

[Darth One]

I like how they extended the list to 11 just so they could fit in the G80.

I’m sure AvH is thrilled to see his pride and joy isn’t even the ugliest car on the list. That honor belongs to the E61 touring.

That said, i don’t have any huge problem with the list. The only glaring omissions are the clown shoe (ok well at least you got the E46 M3 that partially captures the ethos) and the Z8 (no excuse unless you’re one of those people who say it’s not an M)

[dezzracer]

Originally Posted by Jimjamz

Interesting. They picked the E46 M3 CS over the E46 M3 CSL.

The success of the M2 CS and M5 CS appears to be rewriting history and recalibrating people's opinion of the CS badge. Also perhaps reflecting a trend in motoring journos to prefer some everyday drivability along with track focused design.

Also interesting the F80 M3 CS never got the love it deserved in general. The M2CS is an awesome car but it's small. The M5CS is awesome car but it's big. The M3 CS fills the sweet spot right in the middle.

[RugbyBro]

Originally Posted by dezzracer

Also interesting the F80 M3 CS never got the love it deserved in general. The M2CS is an awesome car but it's small. The M5CS is awesome car but it's big. The M3 CS fills the sweet spot right in the middle.

I’m sure it will in time especially as BMW keeps releasing CS models that journalists love. At the end of the day the 2CS is practically the same car from a hardware/tuning perspective (which is really the main benefit of the F8X CSs) albeit a little bit sand bagged (just like the M2 is to the M3) - the only reason I would take it over a 3CS would be if I wanted 6MT. To its credit… that is a huge draw for many people.

[Jimjamz]

Originally Posted by dezzracer

Also interesting the F80 M3 CS never got the love it deserved in general. The M2CS is an awesome car but it's small. The M5CS is awesome car but it's big. The M3 CS fills the sweet spot right in the middle.

I loved the F8x - had a F80 for 6 years. However my suspicion of the success of the M2 CS and M5 CS is that they were built on already very well received base M cars - the same could not be said about the F80 CS. That said, with the G80x coming 4 in EVO's COTY imagine the momentum the G80 M3 CS will have going into 2023/4.

[Cortexiphan]

Originally Posted by CarJunkie

Anyone else notice that the remarks on the 1M and the M2CS were almost part A and part B of the same remarks? If not, read it again.

I also missed the clownshoe and the Z4M . . . Either of those could displace the G-series which need not be mentioned in this kind of conversation.

Having driven most of these cars, I actually think G80 absolutely deserves to be be in the list. Actually, if I can take one from this list, it would be M5 CS, second I'd take G80. I'd take out E39 and put clown shoe instead.

[IB M]

Meh - best is subjective - the E30, E39, E46 and E9x are special whether they are best or not. All four made the list. Why is M1 best - just because first and rare? Wouldn't want an M1, If you gave me one I'd sell it and buy something else.

Best for me is the Goldilocks car - F80 - not even on the list - imo best size, best looks, best overall usability with 4 doors, not the best sound lol, some turbo lag yep, and good over all performance with a mean torquey tail happiness. Find ur own best and don't worry about debating on a limited list of 10. Said another way Clown shoe boys need not explain.