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2023 BMW M3 Touring Revealed, Priced for Australia
By Ben McKimm - News Published: , Last Updated:
The long-awaited BMW M3 Touring is finally here, with the car set to hit Australian shores in Q1 2023 priced from $177,500 AUD before on-road costs. It’s a car that enthusiasts have been waiting to get their hands on since it was first confirmed in 2020, the model is set to become one of BMW’s best and will be available exclusively in Competition trim with the xDrive all-wheel-drive system. Engine and drivetrain configurations are kept the same as M3 and M4 Competition with a 3.0-litre six-cylinder in-line engine with M TwinPower Turbo technology producing 375 kW and 650Nm of torque. Here’s everything you need to know about the 2023 BMW M3 Touring.
Table of contents
What Powers the 2023 BMW M3 Touring?
Engine
The 2023 BMW M3 Touring features the famous 3.0-litre six-cylinder in-line turbocharged engine that produces a maximum output of 375 kW and peak torque of 650Nm. We’ve had the pleasure of testing this same engine in the M4 Competition and M4 Competition Convertible in the last 12 months and were very impressed by the strong wave of torque and overall power delivery. The accompanying soundtrack is hardly hurt by the emissions systems and the exhaust note is one of the best in a new car today.
Drivetrain
While the previous generation M3 utilised a DCT transmission, the new generation features an eight-speed torque converter automatic which is better suited for daily use and behaves as close to a DCT transmission as we’ve tested. Three Drivelogic programs are available at the click of a button with increased shove felt between shifts.
Performance
We’ve long said that the new M3 platform provides all the power you’ll ever need from a new car today and the Touring model follows suit with impressive performance figures. The brand quotes a 0-100 km/h time of 3.6 seconds and a 0-200 km/h takes 12.9 seconds. Opting for the M Driver’s Package increases the electronically limited top speed from 250km/h to 280km/h, should you need that in Australia.
Related: 2023 BMW M2 Teased: The Final Non-Electrified M Model
What Underpins the BMW M3 Touring?
Chassis
The real test for a quality performance wagon is the way it transitions between a daily driver and a performance car. Only a few brands on the market have proven they can handle such a task, and BMW is one of them, so we have high expectations for the M3 Touring. The brand has spent more than two years refining the suspension and chassis controls on the road, track, and country roads. Torsional stiffness in the body structure and chassis mountings is the beginning of a precise performance wagon and the addition of model-specific bracing in the underfloor section and load compartment provides the base.
While it might be a wagon, BMW will introduce the advanced DSC-controlled wheel-slip systems into the drive unit that can switch the M3 Touring into 2WD with 10 stages of wheel slip limitation built into the system. Outside of the hooligan mode, 4WD Sport mode is something we’ve come to love from BMW’s xDrive system and transforms the car into a particularly rear-wheel bias vehicle with all the exciting characteristics you would expect from such a car. Switching off DSC (Dynamic Stability Control) will switch the car into a pure rear-wheel-drive machine for plenty of naughty drifts.
Staggered M-performance wheels are standard with 19-inch wheels up front and 20-inch wheels in the rear. Track tires can be optioned.
Suspension
With a stiff and rigid upper body, the suspension then takes pride of place in the M3 Touring with a double-joint spring strut front axle and five-link rear axle that have M-specific tuning for high rigidity. As expected, the adaptive M suspension with electronically controlled shock absorbers and M Servotronic steering with a variable ratio come as standard on the BMW M3 Touring and is something we really loved in our time with the BMW M4 Competition Convertible earlier this year.
Braking
Two pedal feels are available and optional M Carbon Ceramic brakes can be optioned should you be pushing the vehicle on track. We’ve never had an issue with the standard M Compound braking system on the street, even when pushing the limits of responsible driving.
Related: 2023 BMW M4 CSL Unveiled
What’s the Interior of the 2023 BMW M3 Touring Like?
Infotainment System
Those with a keen eye will immediately notice the introduction of the latest BMW OS 8.0 operating system with 27-inches of screen real estate to the BMW M3 Touring. We first saw this application in the unveiling of the new 3 Series and had a chance to experience the huge screen in the BMW iX xDrive50 SUV. We’re very excited to check out the new ‘M Specific’ display graphics alongside the M widgets that show everything including tire condition. An M Specific heads-up display will also make its debut alongside the new system.
Trims and Touchpoints
Most notably, the M Carbon Bucket Seats make their return, an option that we recommend ticking for those who want to experience the racecar feel that comes with them every time you sit in the car. Electrically adjustable M Sport seats with memory function, seat heating, and Merino leather trim come as standard and we recommend these seats for those who are looking to drive the car more than a few KM per day. The folding rear seats transform the M3 Tourings rear load capacity from 500 litres to 1510 litres.
Related: 2022 BMW M4 Convertible Review: Grand Tourer or Sportscar?
2023 BMW M3 Touring Availability and Pricing
The new BMW M3 Touring will be available in Australia from Q1 2023 with pricing starting from $177,500 before on-road costs.
Pricing for the current BMW M3 lineup is as follows (before on-road costs);
- 2022 BMW M3 Base Model – $151,500 AUD
- 2022 BMW M3 Competition – $160,500 AUD
- 2022 BMW M3 Competition xDRIVE – $166,500 AUD
- 2023 BMW M3 Touring – $177,500 AUD
More information can be found via the link below, but we’ve also included all the options for the M3 Touring at the end of this article.
2023 BMW M3 Touring Standard Specification
The standard specification for the BMW M3 Touring has been revealed and includes the following.
- 19-inch/20-inch M light alloy wheels
- Active M Differential
- Adaptive M Suspension
- Ambient light
- Automatic climate control, 3-zone
- Automatic operation of the tailgate
- BMW Head-Up Display
- BMW Laserlight incl. High Beam Assistant
- BMW Live Cockpit Professional with 12.3” Instrument Display and 14.9” Control Display w.BMW Operating system 8
- BMW M 50 year anniversary badging
- Comfort Access system incl. BMW Digital Key
- Connected Package Professional
- DAB+ digital radio
- Driving Assistant Professional
- Electric seat adjustment
- Full Leather ‘Merino’ Upholstery
- Galvanic embellishers for controls
- harman/kardon Surround Sound System
- Luggage compartment package
- Lumbar Support for driver and front passenger
- M Compound Brake, Blue
- M Drive Professional
- M high-gloss Shadowline with extended contents
- M interior trim finishers Carbon Fibre
- M Lights Shadowline
- M seat belts
- M Sport Seats for driver and front passenger
- Metallic paintwork
- Parking Assistant Plus
- Seat Heating for driver and front passenger
- Smartphone integration with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay
- Steering wheel heating
- Storage compartment package
- Tyre pressure monitoring system
- Wireless smartphone charging
2023 BMW M3 Touring Optional Equipment
Optional Equipment for the 2023 BMW M3 Touring includes the following.
M Carbon Experience ($17,500 AUD) that includes.
- M Carbon bucket seats
- 9.6kg weight reduction
- Cut-outs in the rear seat backrest, side sections and functional belt guides for multi-point seat belts
- Visible carbon surfaces across back sections
- Removable headrest cover for additional helmet space
- M Carbon exterior package
- Mirror caps in CFRP
- Side inlets in the front bumper with CFRP frame structure
- A rear diffuser insert in CFRP
- BMW M Driving Experience Advance 1
- Voucher for BMW M Driving Experience Advance 1 course at BMW Driving Experience
- M Driver’s package
- Vmax increase from 250 km/h to 280 km/h
- Voucher for BMW M Driving Experience Advance 2 course at BMW Driving Experience
M Carbon ceramic brakes (16,500 AUD) that include.
- Increased fade stability and thermal stability
- High wear resistance and corrosion resistance
- Reduction in rotating wheel masses
- M lettering
- Front axle: 6-piston fixed-calliper brake, painted gold matt carbon-ceramic brake disc 400mm×38mm, internally ventilated and perforated
- Rear axle: 1-piston floating-calliper brake, painted gold matt, incl. integrated parking brake carbon-ceramic brake disc 380mm×36mm, internally ventilated and perforated.
Note: The BMW M3 Touring is fitted with the M Compound brake system that features blue callipers as standard. High-gloss red or high-gloss black callipers are available as no-cost options.
Exterior Paint Finishes include.
- Non-metallic paintwork (no cost options)
- Alpine White
- Sao Paulo Yellow
- Metallic paintwork (no cost options)
- Black Sapphire
- M Portimao Blue
- M Toronto Red
- M Isle of Man Green
- M Brooklyn Grey
- Skyscraper Grey
- Aventurine Red
- BMW Individual paintwork
- Dravit Grey ($2500)
- Tanzanite Blue ($2500)
- Frozen Portimao Blue metallic ($5000)
- Frozen Pure Grey metallic ($5000)
- Frozen Black metallic ($5000)
- Frozen Orange metallic ($5000)
- Frozen Brilliant White Metallic ($7000)
Interior Options on the BMW M3 Touring include.
- Full Leather ‘Merino’ (no cost option) in the following colours.
- Yas Marina Blue/Black
- Silverstone/Black
- Kyalami Orange/Black
- Black/Black
- BMW Individual Full Leather ‘Merino’ in the following colours.
- Fiona Red/Black ($1000 or $3000 with Carbon seats)
- Tartufo ($1000)
- Ivory White ($1000 or $3000 with Carbon seats)
- Fjord Blue/Black ($1000 or $3000 with Carbon seats)
Alloy wheel options (all no-cost options) include.
- 19-inch/20-inch M forged wheels Double-spoke style 825 M Bicolour Black with mixed tyres.
- 19-inch/20-inch M forged wheels Double-spoke style 825 M Orbit Grey matt with mixed tyres.
- 19-inch/20-inch M forged wheels Double-spoke style 826 M Bicolour Black with mixed tyres.
- 19-inch/20-inch M forged wheels Double-spoke style 826 M Black with mixed tyres.
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