This is the M3 Edition, a limited-production, more extreme variant of the
BMW M3. It will only be available as a two-door coupé and BMW will only produce it for six months, allowing it to sell as many as demand dictates rather than limiting the actual number.
Buyers can specify theirs in white, blue or yellow, and for a £3,000 premium over the standard M3 will get lowered suspension (by 10mm), though the actual hardware remains unchanged, meaning active damping is still an option.
A black chrome grille, exhaust pipes and unique alloy wheels separate the M3 Edition visually from lesser M3 Coupés and the interior gets new centre armrest trim and unique stitching for the leather seats.
So, changes are largely cosmetic, although buyers will be assured of a more exclusive M3 for their extra outlay - the M3 Edition costs £53,435 - and it also leaves room for an even more hardcore 'CSL' variant at some stage too.
Mark Nichol - 2 Jun 2009