Performance Review: BMW 3 Series M3 Competition 3.0 Bi Turbo G80 - [2020]

Figures & Specs Summary:

BMW 3 Series Performance Review.

Introduction:

This edition of the BMW 3 Series M3 Competition 3.0 Bi Turbo G80 is the 8 speed / Auto version and was first brought out in 2020. This was at around the same time as the introduction of the 2021 McMurtry Speirling Goodwood and the 2021 Rimac Nevera 1888bhp Electric AWD.This particular BMW 3 Series has a 2993cc Turbo Petrol powerplant with 6 cylinders in a St formation.

Alternative Petrol St6's includes the 1965 Aston-Martin DB6 1965

The 3 Series shares its Petrol St6 engine configuration with the likes of the 1965 Aston-Martin DB6 1965 and the . If you're looking for other fast cars which share the 3 Series's Rear Wheel Drive, Saloon combination then how about the 1982 Fiat X1/9 1.5 8V or the 1965 Aston-Martin DB6 1965.

Power and Weight:

Weighing in at 1805 kgs (3979 lbs) this makes the BMW 3 Series M3 Competition 3.0 Bi Turbo G80 in the same weight category as the 2022 Aston-Martin Vantage V12 5.2 Twin Turbo or the give or take 50kg.

The BMW 3 Series shares the same bhp with the 2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse 5.0 V8 (500 bhp)

In terms of power the 2993cc 24V St6 engine produces 503 bhp (375 kW) @ 6250 rpm similar to the 2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse 5.0 V8 (500 bhp) or the 2023 Porsche Boxster Spyder RS 4.0 982 (493 bhp).

The Turbo St6 throws out 479 lb-ft (649.4 Nm) @ 2750 rpm placing it with cars of similar torque performance figures such as the 2024 Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray 6.2 V8 Petrol Hybrid C8 (470 lb-ft) or the 2023 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 5.5 V8 C8 (460 lb-ft).

Power to Weight:

If one combines the weight with power or torque performance for the BMW 3 Series you can get a better idea of it's real world performance.

The 2012 Aston-Martin Vantage V12 Zagato (303.5 bhp per ton) has similar Bhp Per Ton stats as the BMW 3 Series.

The BMW 3 Series has a Power to weight ratio of 278.6 bhp per ton and 265.3 lb-ft per ton. Bhp Per Ton figures of the 2020 3 Series competing with the 2012 Aston-Martin Vantage V12 Zagato (303.5 bhp per ton) or the 2020 Mercedes GT AMG S Roadster 4.0 V8 Bi Turbo (302.9 bhp per ton).

Power to Weight(cont.):

If you agree with the late great Carroll Shelby then arguably an even better indicator of potential performance, Torque. Use weight as well and you end up with - Torque per ton, with the BMW 3 Series generating around 265.3 lb-ft per ton. If you're curious as to what other cars have as much torque to weight then look no further than the 2001 Lamborghini Murcielago 6.2 V12 (290.3 lb-ft per ton) or the 1969 Oldsmobile 4-4-2 7.4 V8 Sports Coupe 365 (290.0 lb-ft per ton).

Acceleration:

With a 0-60mph time of 3.80 secs or a 0-100km/h (0-62mph) of 3.9 secs, this made the BMW 3 Series M3 Competition 3.0 Bi Turbo G80 as fast as the 2023 BMW X5 M Competition 4.4 Turbo F95 (3.80 secs) the 2022 Porsche 911 Carrera T 3.0 Turbo PDK 992 (3.80 secs) the 2021 BMW i4 M50 (3.80 secs) the or the 2021 Mercedes SL Class 55 4Matic+ 4.0 V8 Twin Turbo (3.80 secs). This BMW 3 Series M3 Competition 3.0 Bi Turbo G80 is also faster than the 2022 Volkswagen-VW Golf R Performance 2.0 Turbo (3.90 secs) the 2022 BMW 2 Series M2 3.0 Twin Turbo G87 Steptronic (3.90 secs) the 2022 Porsche 911 Sport Classic 3.7 Turbo 992 (3.90 secs) the and the 2021 Porsche Taycan 4S Cross Turismo (3.90 secs).

Quarter Mile time is a close race between the 3 Series and the 1969 AMC AMX 6.4L V8 7030

When talking about the performance of the BMW 3 Series on the drag strip it can reach a quarter mile in an estimated 12.62 secs @ 108.4 mph. Similar performance down the quarter mile can be found with the the 1969 AMC AMX 6.4L V8 7030 (12.59 secs), the 1991 Porsche 928 GTS 5.4L V8 (12.60 secs), and the 2006 BMW Alpina B3 3.0 Bi Turbo (12.60 secs).

Top Speed:

Modern performance cars are often artificially restricted to 155mph. The 2020 version of the BMW 3 Series M3 Competition 3.0 Bi Turbo G80 has a maximum speed of 155mph.

Top Speed of the 2020 3 Series equals the 2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse 5.0 V8 (166 mph)

If maxing out your car on the AutoBahn is your thing and you're wondering what's faster than the 2020 BMW 3 Series M3 Competition 3.0 Bi Turbo G80 then how about the 2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse 5.0 V8 (166 mph), the 2022 Ford Mustang GT 5.0 V8 (166 mph), or the 2021 Ford Mustang Mach 1 5.0 V8 (166 mph).

Related Links:

2020 3 Series Rivals List.

A Brief History of BMW

Car Comparison