We drove the 2024 BMW M3 in both 6-speed manual (473 hp, RWD) and Competition with the 8-speed automatic (503 hp, tested in RWD and xDrive) across city routes, mountain roads, and a closed runway to compare shift logic, launch behavior, rev-matching, and daily drivability.
Test cars shared Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires and the S58 3.0‑liter twin‑turbo inline‑six, with ambient temps between 64–78°F. The manual car rode on the standard passive diff tune, while the Competition auto added the M Drivelogic shift programs and, in our xDrive sample, variable torque split. All cars ran premium 93 octane and were instrumented with a VBox for acceleration runs. The 6‑speed manual uses BMW’s Gear Shift Assistant (auto rev‑match) and a medium‑weight clutch with a progressive take‑up.
Throws are moderately long but precise; the gate springs convincingly to center. The ZF 8‑speed torque‑converter automatic brings three shift logics (D/S1–S3) and full manual control via paddles. In 8th at 70 mph, the auto turns roughly 1,900 rpm; the manual sits closer to 2,200 rpm in 6th. Shift logic: in Comfort/D, the auto upshifts early (1,800–2,200 rpm) and seeks the tallest gear, keeping the S58 off‑boost for calm progress.
Switching to Sport or S2/S3 sharpens it dramatically, holding ratios under load and downshifting pre‑corner with decisive throttle blips. Manual mode respects your commands and only intervenes to protect the engine. On a tight B‑road, S3 avoids mid‑corner upshifts and will carry 3rd cleanly to redline; response to a paddle pull is near‑instant. The manual obviously puts all timing on the driver—rewarding when you’re in rhythm, less so in traffic.
Launch behavior: acknowledging the power/traction differences, the auto with xDrive is a rocket. Using launch control (brake‑hold, floor throttle), we recorded consistent 0–60 mph runs of 3.1–3.2 seconds with clean, repeatable hits. The Competition auto in RWD needed warmer tires but still managed 3.6–3.7 seconds with light wheelspin. The manual’s best was 4.2 seconds with a 3,000–3,500 rpm slip; lower rpm bogs, higher rpm overwhelms the rear tires.
After three back‑to‑back runs the auto remained consistent; the manual’s times spread by ~0.3 s as the clutch heated. Rev‑matching: BMW’s Gear Shift Assistant on the manual is well‑calibrated—subtle in Efficient, more pronounced in Sport. It nails heel‑toe‑quality blips in 3–2 and 4–3 downshifts even on downhill braking. We disabled it on track to heel‑toe ourselves; pedal spacing allows it, though the long throttle pedal travel takes a session to acclimate.
The auto’s downshift blips are crisply matched and stable under braking; with higher brake pressures it avoids unnecessary downshifts, settling the chassis better than many dual‑clutch units. Daily drivability: the auto is the set‑and‑forget choice—silky creeping, seamless stop‑start restarts, and low‑rpm cruising that nets the best real‑world economy in mixed traffic (we saw 22–24 mpg). The manual adds engagement but asks more of the driver: first‑gear ratio and tall second mean frequent 1–2 shifts around town, and the clutch can feel hefty in stop‑and‑go. On balance, choose the auto (ideally xDrive) for consistent performance, launches, and ease; choose the manual for tactile connection and back‑road satisfaction, accepting the slower sprint and heavier urban workload.
