This has been a dream in the making ever since I learned that BMW was going to make an all-wheel drive M3. So needless to say, I'm pretty excited about what the coming years with this car will tell.
First I'll get the formalities out of the way and give you the spec's:
As the title says, '22 G80, Competition xDrive
826M Black wheels
Frozen Dark Gray Metallic
Fiona Red extended interior
Ventilated seats
Carbon Fiber interior package
Parking Assistance
Executive Package
M Shadowline lights
LED w/Laserlights
Red calipers
M Carbon Exterior Package
Carbon front splitter
Carbon door sill
Carbon side Grilles
M Performance Mats
** Modifications - Carbon Fiber seat backs, spacers front and back, hard-wired radar, Dr. Beasley ceramic coat, painted reflector set, CG Precision VSC-2 exhaust valve controller, 20% tint (sides and rear), M puddle lights. Not installed yet; I also have AST lowering springs and a RaceChip (waiting for break-in), black and silver carbon hood and trunk badges **
This is my 3rd generation M3, starting with the E36 (amazingly balanced and fun car), to my more recently F80 Competition with DCT. I'm not going to bother to try and compare this to the E36, besides I owned that car over 20 years ago. Compared to the F80 though, this car exudes confidence. The F80 always had that twitchiness to it, and the shifts snapped hard. The G80, especially in this AWD feels more planted, the shifts are fast (I can't tell a difference in speed of shifts), but the G80 shifts are very smooth compared to the F8x. I've also thought the F8x had a tidge of turbo lag, which even my wife's X3Mc has. There is NO turbo lag in the G80, but of course you then loose that snap feeling the F8x has around 3k RPM's...but the G80 just pulls.
I've even had the luxury of jumping in and out of my friends F82, to do this comparison.
That doesn't mean the G80 is better or the F8x is worse, it's just different. The F8x with it's unsettled rear, definitely brings some excitement that I don't feel with the G80. On the other hand, I really feel I can push this G80 more than I ever could the F8x. An interesting fact I learned about this xDrive is that in most cases when turning the AWD system will slow down in the inside wheel, but in this xDrive, they speed UP the outside wheel. I know this next comment is subjective, but I swear you can feel it. There's an element of pull vs. push that you can subtly feel in this car.
For the record, I never felt the ride in the F8x was harsh, I actually quite liked it, and I feel the same way about the G80, contrary to the X3Mc which I really think BMW over did in an attempt to make the SUV more sporty (I can only drive that car in comfort).
So now for the photos!! BTW, I tried to take some from both sides so you could see how the color changes. Enjoy (sorry they are iPhone photos). The photos are unedited and I have to say the red looks WAY more vibrant in the photos than in person.
A few other photos I took.