2008 BMW M3 (E93)

Highlights

• E93 M3 Cabrio with folding three-piece metal roof

• 4.0 V8 with SMG sequential transmission

• Well-maintained car from long-term ownership

• Tracker and immobiliser

• Genuine, original, unmodified car

 Overview

According to petrolheads across the pond, there’s no substitute for cubic inches. And with the E90 generation of M3, it appears that BMW took a leaf out of America’s playbook. 

For while most of its European rivals were busy jumping through the hoops of emissions legislation and attaching increasingly high-pressure turbochargers to modest four-cylinder engines, the German company’s M-Division took a much more traditional approach.

Over at the M Performance HQ in Garching, just outside Munich, the rulebook was thrown into the wastepaper basket; the outcome being a naturally aspirated 4.0-litre V8, which in the M3 would be longitudinally mounted and feeding its power to the rear wheels. It’s a glorious anachronism in many ways and a technological tour de force in others. 

Barking its way round to a heady red line of 8,300rpm, it delivers an invigorating growl and performance to match, yet if you need it to, it’s equally as at home being a sedate boulevard cruiser or lapping the M25. If we can’t go full metal jacket in the performance stakes, we’ll take the boulevard… 

If, however, the road conditions allow, there’s 414bhp to play with – an 80bhp increase over its E46 predecessor. That’ll get you from 0-60mph in a straight line in 4.5 seconds, or will smoke the tyres dramatically if you choose to get a wiggle on – for that’s something that’s always been the M3’s party piece. You can make it look dramatic if you want to, but it’s always poised and controlled, with empirical levels of grip. 

This one is an E93 – BMW speak for the coupé-cabriolet model – and is equipped with the firm’s ultra-fast seven-speed SMG sequential manual transmission. It has been with its current keepers since 2014 and comes with a comprehensive service record. Being a June 2008 car, it’s one of the first UK-specification E93s as well – and now it’s 17 years old, it’s edging on modern classic territory as well as being a fabulous car to drive, with the stiffness of folding hardtop and open-top appeal delivering the best of both worlds. It’s a charming and intoxicating combination.

History and documentation

• Registered June 30th 2008 and supplied new by Cotswold BMW

• UK V5C in the current owner’s name

• MOT until April 27th 2026 

• One key

• Original handbook and BMW book pack

• Genuine mileage

• Service book stamped at: 2008 PDI (main dealer), 2008 @ 910 miles (main dealer), 2010 @ 13,046 miles (main dealer), 2012 @ 19,970 miles (main dealer), 2012 @ 21,331 miles (main dealer), 2013 @ 28,456 miles (independent), 2014 @ 28,734 miles (main dealer), 2015 @ mileage unrecorded (main dealer), 2017 @ 48,404 miles (main dealer), 2018 @ 51,090 miles (main dealer), 2019 @ 53,915 miles (independent), 2021 @ 56,446 miles (independent)

• Subsequent invoices (not in book) for independent services: 2023 @ 60,350 miles , 2025 @ 61,217 miles

Interior

• Black leather upholstery in excellent order

• Black leather door trims with titanium-effect highlights

• Excellent overall condition with some very minor bolster wear to driver’s seat

• Excellent carpets and headlining

• Titanium-effect dash inserts

• Factory infotainment system with iDrive controller

• Automatic air conditioning

• M3 kickplates

• M-Sport steering wheel

• Tracker and immobiliser

• Some minor wear to luggage area 

Exterior

• Space Grey metallic

• Very good overall condition with some minor defects

• Always kept under cover 

• There is very slight damage to the front grill, with three small dents visible from the front and scratches on the underside of the bumper

• Minor surface scratches on the passenger door 

• Falken tyres, all said to be in good condition

• Wheels have some alloy corrosion and diamond cut surfaces would benefit from refacing

• Underside appears sound and has never received a corrosion advisory at MOT

• Electric roof retracts and operates as intended

 Mechanical

•  4.0-litre normally aspirated V8

• Six-speed SMG sequential transmission

•  414bhp

• 0-60mph in 4.6 seconds

• 155mph electronically limited top speed

• Reported by the vendor to drive well, with no warning lights or apparent defects

Summary

There’s something wonderful about BMW’s bullishness with the E90/92/93 M3. Rather than follow the pack, the company went back to its roots and delivered a full-fat V8, rear-wheel-drive, longitudinal engine and no forced induction. 

The fact that it did so in such a dynamically agile package, and surrounded by what was, at the time, the very latest electronic tech made it an engineering masterpiece. 

But more than that, it’s an M-Car. And in the BMW world, M is madness as much as it is motorsport – something it delivers in spades. There are few cars more entertaining at this price level, and now is your chance to find out for yourself. 

To arrange a viewing, click the 'Book Viewing' button located under the 'Place Bid' button. Viewings can be booked up until the day before the auction ends, after which the option will change to 'Contact Seller' for further enquiries. This seller is located in Tetbury, Gloucestershire.