It took a little longer than we thought it might, but the BMW Australia has now launched the Competition variants of the four-door M3 sedan and two-door M4 Coupe/Convertible locally.
Pricing for the sharper handling and more powerful variants of the popular M-division creations starts with the M3 Competition at $144,615, moving further on to the M4 Competition Coupe at $154,615, and the soft top M4 Competition Convertible rounds it off at $165,515.
Shawn Ticehurst, Head of Product and Market Planning for BMW Group Australia, said: “With more power, enhanced suspension and bespoke settings for the differential and stability control systems, the Competition variants are aptly named. Arriving hot on the heels of the M2, the M3/M4 Competition models prove that BMW M is on a roll in the company’s centenary.”
As previously reported, the M3 and M4 Competition gain an uptuned version of the S55B30 3.0-litre TwinPower Turbo straight-six petrol engine, which now produces 331kW (a 14kW gain) and the same 550Nm torque figure that’s sent to the rear wheels. The M-DCT dual-clutch automatic is standard but buyers can opt to have a six-speed manual as a no-cost option.
That extra power is matched to a suspension that’s recalibrated from the standard Adaptive M system to offer firmer damping across the Comfort, Sport, and Sport+ drive modes. The Active M Differential and stability control settings have also been revised. Additionally, there are also beefier anti-roll bars and more robust bushings to cope to suit the car’s more focused personality.
Mechanical grip and unsprung weight has also been improved upon with the addition of forged 20-inch light alloy wheels which take their star-spoke design from the M4 GTS. They are shod in stickier Michelin Pilot Super Sport tyres.
Standard for the M3 and M4 Competition is BMW’s Shadow Line pack sourced from BMW Individual, adding high-gloss black finishes to the kidney grilles, side vents, and quad tailpipes.
For more on BMW vehicles, including pricing and specifications, check out our Showroom.
