Beneath the purple skin specific to this commemorative Edition 50 Jahre that celebrates a half-century of BMW's M Division, and shared by all M3 Competition models, is a stonking 503-hp twin-turbo 3.0-liter inline-six. With launch control engaged and the boost holding above 15.0 psi, the quickest-ever 3-series leaps to 30 mph in 1.0 second. The scoot to 60 mph takes 2.8 seconds, and the quarter-mile passes in 11.0 seconds at 124 mph.
Beneath the purple skin specific to this commemorative Edition 50 Jahre that celebrates a half-century of BMW's M Division, and shared by all M3 Competition models, is a stonking 503-hp twin-turbo 3.0-liter inline-six. With launch control engaged and the boost holding above 15.0 psi, the quickest-ever 3-series leaps to 30 mph in 1.0 second. The scoot to 60 mph takes 2.8 seconds, and the quarter-mile passes in 11.0 seconds at 124 mph.
Nothing in the segment comes close to the M3 Competition xDrive's acceleration, which plays in a world with Porsche 911s and Chevy Corvettes and isn't far from the 627-hp BMW M5 CS. Seriously quick. Furthering its supersedan status is a 1.03-g skidpad whirl and stops—aided by the $8500 carbon-ceramic brake package—from 70 mph in 153 feet and 100 mph in 297 feet. Some time behind the wheel of the BMW M4 CSL has us wondering what the Competition xDrive might be capable of if it were equipped with the CSL's sticky Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R Track Connect rubber. They are, after all, a direct-fitment tire and available from TireRack for $1836.
Moving away from the World of Dynamic Insanity, when the drive modes are left in their softest Comfort settings, the M3 Competition xDrive is a livable place for daily consumption. The sharpest impacts reverberate up forged 19-inch front and 20-inch rear wheels and through the $4500 carbon-fiber buckets. The super-supportive seats are somewhat tricky to enter and exit yet provide a surprising amount of comfort.
As with all 2023 3-series, the M3's interior is treated to BMW's Curved Display that incorporates a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a 14.9-inch touchscreen infotainment system. The iDrive 8 operating system replaces most of the physical buttons for the HVAC and radio controls with a not-so-intuitive infotainment menu structure. Fortunately, iDrive 8.5 rolls out this summer, and BMW promises to solve these teething issues by improving the layout. Perhaps the fact that this five-seat sleeper returned 27 mpg on our 75-mph fuel-economy test is enough to forgive iDrive's shortcomings.