F80 M3 lifecycle?

[spool twice]

Hi all,

I was just curious if anyone had information on how long the life cycle will be on the F80 M3? In the E90, it was from 2008-2011; the end production cycle similar to the regular E90 3-series (which was a 6 year cycle). History tells me that the F30 body will survive through 2017, if that was the case, does anyone know if the F80 will end in 2017? Or does the new body designation (F80 versus F30) represent a new era where the current M3 body will be built along side of the new "G" body designations 3series so the F80 will run though until the F82 M4 life cycle ends? It doesn't make sense to build the M3 only through 2017 right?

I would love to know, because it's definitely one of my deciding factors when making a purchase between an M3 or M4 in a couple years.

[spool twice]

The E90 went to 2011, the F30 replaced it in 2012. Because of that, the E90 M3 only went from 2008-11, so it was only a 4 year cycle (08, 09 ,10, 11 = 4 years right?)

However, the E92/E93 went to 2013, which is why the M3 coupe/convert went through until 2013.

[Jockey]

Yes, you are correct the M3 sedan ended in 2011 but the F30 only replaced the non-M versions.

[spool twice]

Originally Posted by Jockey

Yes, you are correct the M3 sedan ended in 2011 but the F30 only replaced the non-M versions.

The previous M3's never lasted 7 years though, at least not in the states, only the standard 3 series did (the M3 coupe normally followed the 3series coupe a year after, so 6 years was actually the life cycle on the E46 and E92's M3's). The variations are confusing

So I wonder if the F80 will last past 2017 because the "heart" of it's body is from the F30 sedan, which is scheduled to be redesigned for 2018, while the F82 will last through 2020 (6 years) because the lifecycle will expire after that year for the standard F32 4series coupe.

The reasoning behind me thinking this through is because I plan on a purchase in 2-3 years, so it makes more sense to me to purchase the M4 if the M3 will have a short life-cycle. But I wonder, if the M3/M4 have brand new chassis designations, will that mean both the M3/M4 will have similar production cycles? I prefer the M3 body, looks so much more mean, but I may have to replace my E90 M3 sedan with an F82 coupe, which isn't a bad thing I guess

[DeejAus]

Just short of 7 years. I got the first M3 coupe delivered into West Oz and it arrived on 4 November 2007 and it is still my daily joy today and will be until the M4 arrives which again should be one of the first customer cars in Oz. It gets built in June and should arrive August ish, so that's just 3 month short of 7 years delivery to delivery.

And my word have I enjoyed every moment of it. Feels like a picked it up only a year ago.

The longest I have ever owned a car, by 3x, and that's why I'm doing it allll again.

[tooch]

If its a 2015 m3 I'd say there will not be a new M by the year 2017 thats only 2 years. If that was the case they'd already be testing the new version. they started track testing the current model in 2012

[Jockey]

I kinda get at what you're saying now. BMW did only make the 4-door M3 for 3(4?) years. But the coupe lasted 7 years.

I would strongly doubt that the F8X M3 and M4 don't mirror each other this time around.

They continued to make the E92 M3 for 2 years after the non-M E92 ceased.

I expect to see the same thing again. Expect the G-series (non-M cars) appearing 2 years left in the lifecycle of the F8X M3/4.
There's no way though that there would be a G-series M3 being produced along side a F-series M4. That's just not going to happen.

[DeejAus]

Yeh from now on they will mirror no doubt. The four door came in late last time as it was an addition to the model range that prob wasn't intended when they first started testing and designing the E92 Coupe.

[solstice]

Since what I understand the F30 and F80 is built in the same facility I would assume that they die together when this facility is retooled for the next generation 3-series sedan. Just my 2c.

[Jockey]

Same facility but I doubt they're built on the same line.

[khanyam4]

6 year 2 year departure

[LDSM]

I think the transition from the entire E9X series to the F3x/F8x is an anomaly and won't happen this time around.
This time the F3x/F8x versions were released on the right schedules to prevent the same messy transition when they move to the next generation

[spool twice]

Originally Posted by tooch

If its a 2015 m3 I'd say there will not be a new M by the year 2017 thats only 2 years that was the case they'd already be testing the new version. they started track testing the current model in 2012

there has always been a production gap with the sedan body, so they wont release a new sedan until they release a new coupe, which will be sometime after 2020, even if they discontinue the sedan prior to the coupe.

[Buddy Revell]

Originally Posted by spool twice

Hi all,

I was just curious if anyone had information on how long the life cycle will be on the F80 M3? In the E90, it was from 2008-2011; the end production cycle similar to the regular E90 3-series (which was a 6 year cycle). History tells me that the F30 body will survive through 2017, if that was the case, does anyone know if the F80 will end in 2017? Or does the new body designation (F80 versus F30) represent a new era where the current M3 body will be built along side of the new "G" body designations 3series so the F80 will run though until the F82 M4 life cycle ends? It doesn't make sense to build the M3 only through 2017 right?

I would love to know, because it's definitely one of my deciding factors when making a purchase between an M3 or M4 in a couple years.

Even if they stop building the F80 in 2017 or 18, its replacement wouldn't show up for a few more years after that (as was the case with the E90 M3), so I think you're fine.

[GregW / Oregon]

Originally Posted by spool twice

The previous M3's never lasted 7 years though, at least not in the states, only the standard 3 series did (the M3 coupe normally followed the 3series coupe a year after, so 6 years was actually the life cycle on the E46 and E92's M3's).

Had first E46 & E92 M3s in Oregon; 6/01 & 3/08, so 6.75 years. F8X will be here 6 or 7/14 so about 6.3 years.

[spool twice]

Originally Posted by GregW / Oregon

Had first E46 & E92 M3s in Oregon; 6/01 & 3/08, so 6.75 years. F8X will be here 6 or 7/14 so about 6.3 years.

good points, however, that would technically mean the lifespan for the regular series closer to 8years then right?

[GregW / Oregon]

Originally Posted by spool twice

good points, however, that would technically mean the lifespan for the regular series closer to 8years then right?

No, regular 3 just starts sooner and ends sooner than M3; life cycle is shifted forward 1-2 years

[M6-Coupe]

I have no idea if they want to stop any of F80/F82 earlier like E90, but for sure you wont see the next generation of M3/M4 anytime sooner than 2020

[mkoesel]

Originally Posted by spool twice

I was just curious if anyone had information on how long the life cycle will be on the F80 M3?

No one knows for sure. but I think we can make a very reliable guess. I notice some mention of the M4 in the responses which is slightly confusing the issue. Let's carefully lay this all out.

In the E90, it was from 2008-2011; the end production cycle similar to the regular E90 3-series (which was a 6 year cycle).

Right. You're on the right track here. Specifically, the M model has always ended production when the series model on which it is based ends production.

History tells me that the F30 body will survive through 2017, if that was the case, does anyone know if the F80 will end in 2017? Or does the new body designation (F80 versus F30) represent a new era where the current M3 body will be built along side of the new "G" body designations 3series so the F80 will run though until the F82 M4 life cycle ends?

Well, I don't have any inside information on this, but I don't think there is any compelling evidence to suggest that the F8x designation represents a change from the established pattern for the end of the M product life cycle.

It doesn't make sense to build the M3 only through 2017 right?

It does make sense to end the F80 production when F30 production ends. They share the same tooling so once the factory is retooled and assembly of the next generation 3 begins, that's it for the predecessor.

But is 2017 really when we should expect that to happen? I would say that is extremely unlikely. Instead, it should go until the end of 2018 and, quite possibly until early 2019. See my posts in this thread for why I think so:

http://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=864358

Also:

http://www.f30post.com/forums/showpo...3&postcount=47

I would love to know, because it's definitely one of my deciding factors when making a purchase between an M3 or M4 in a couple years.

I completely understand. Knowing that the sedan will only be with us for four and a half years is why I decided to take the plunge now. In the past when I bought convertibles (E46 and E93), there was a longer lifespan and later end date so this time around I had a new factor to consider and it absolutely influenced my decision to get in early.

Originally Posted by Jockey

Yes, you are correct the M3 sedan ended in 2011 but the F30 only replaced the non-M versions.

While this is true, the point to be made here is that the introduction of the next generation series car can make even the predecessor's M model look dated.

Another key: typically, major changes in the direction of the styling occur every two generations. Notice the similarities between the E21 and E30, the E36 and E46, the E9x and F3x/F8x. So we are on schedule for another significant reimagining of the car.

Originally Posted by Jockey

They continued to make the E92 M3 for 2 years after the non-M E92 ceased.

Untrue.

[Jockey]

Originally Posted by mkoesel

So we are on schedule for another significant reimagining of the car.

Fortunately that's a few years off cause I can't handle it anymore.

IMHO, the F30 didn't make the E92 M3 look dated, it made the other 3-series look dated on the other hand. I think that makes sense, ha.

[mkoesel]

Originally Posted by Jockey

IMHO, the F30 didn't make the E92 M3 look dated, it made the other 3-series look dated on the other hand. I think that makes sense, ha.

Whether a car looks dated or not is subjective, but you're only confusing yourself by bringing up the E92 M3.

Compare the F30 M Sport to the E90 M3. For me and for many others, the F30's new styling and the hint the M Sport package gave about what shape the new proper M3 would take (long before it was actually revealed, and in fact before mules were seen) did make the preceding M3 sedan look long in the tooth.

[Jockey]

Originally Posted by mkoesel

Whether a car looks dated or not is subjective, but you're only confusing yourself by bringing up the E92 M3.

Compare the F30 M Sport to the E90 M3. For me and for many others, the F30's new styling and the hint the M Sport package gives about what shape the new proper M3 will take (long before it was actually revealed, and in fact before mules were seen) does make the preceding M3 sedan look long in the tooth.

No, I'm not confusing myself, I was trying to make a point actually. The extra styling cues on the M3, again IMO, did not make it look dated, even next to an F80.

But put the F30 next to the E92 M-sport, the E92 looks dated.

Yes, I'm comparing an M-car to an M-sport but seeing as how BMW has a habit of releasing the M-car 2 years after the base models, the extra styling of said M-cars holds up.

Like you said, looks are subjective and that's my opinion.