Facelifted BMW M3 Gains 20bhp, Loses Rear-Wheel Drive

For most of its life, the BMW M3 was defined by its oversteer-happy front engined, rear-wheel drive layout. That changed in 2020 with the introduction of the current G80 version, but now, in the UK at least, BMW has gone a step further: the facelifted M3 is now all-wheel drive only.

To be fair, this shouldn’t come as a massive surprise. Earlier this year, the M4 coupe and convertible underwent a similar change, and it’s a sensible decision from BMW given how popular the xDrive versions of both cars have proven on Britain’s perennially greasy roads. What’s more, drivers do still have the option of sending all the power to the rears – this can only be achieved with the stability control switched entirely off, though, so it’s an option that comes with a big yellow ‘CAUTION’ sticker on it.

As before, the Competition trim remains the UK’s only choice, although the deletion of the rear-drive variant now makes selecting an M3 a lot easier: it’s simply a straight choice between saloon and Touring (which was always xDrive only anyway). No matter which one you go for, you get the same combination of a 3.0-litre, twin-turbocharged straight-six and eight-speed automatic as before. However, some clever people have had a fiddle with the engine’s digital control unit and freed up an extra 20bhp, taking overall output from 503 to 523bhp.

The saloon will hit 62mph in a possibly conservatively-estimated 3.5 seconds, with the Touring 0.1 seconds behind. Because these are fast German cars, top speed is pinned to 155mph as standard, but spec the M Driver’s Package, and that number rises to 180mph in the saloon and 174 in the Touring.

Externally, the term ‘facelift’ is used very lightly: it’s the same treatment the M4 had a few months ago, bringing those distinctive double LED slashes within the headlights. There’s also a new design of forged alloys available – 19 inches up front, and 20 at the rear. On the inside, there’s a redesigned steering wheel and some refreshed trim, and the M3 also gets the latest version of BMW’s native operating system.

The now solely all-paw M3 is on sale now, with deliveries beginning later in the summer. In the UK, the saloon starts at £82,420, and if you want the Touring (it’s a fast estate, of course you want it), you’ll need to find at least £84,700.