Launched in 2014, the BMW M3 F80 marks a real turning point: out goes the naturally aspirated V8, in comes the `S55` biturbo and a much more modern take on performance. Against a Mercedes C-Class AMG W205, it gains torque, efficiency and tuning potential, but loses some of the emotional simplicity of the E90. That makes it a formidable M3, provided you accept more technical maintenance.
The `S55B30` starts at `431 hp`, the `Competition` rises to `450 hp`, and the `M3 CS` goes further still. A `6-speed` manual remains available, but many cars use the `7-speed M DCT`. On this generation, everything revolves around cooling, lubrication quality, the state of the charge-cooling hardware, hoses, oil-change discipline and reading the gearbox in light of how the car has been used. An F80 driven hard without tight maintenance ages very differently from one cared for like a real M car.