It’s no secret that BMW makes some of the best daily drivers. BMW’s combination of comfort, performance and efficiency is very difficult to beat in your everyday grocery-getter. For enthusiasts, the M3 is and has always been one of the best performance cars you can use on a daily basis. Rear seats, a big boot and understated looks (not so much for the G80) make it the perfect vehicle for any car lover to carry out their daily duties.
But what happens when you take an M3 and double its horsepower? Does it still work as an everyday driver?
Founder & Director of R44 Performance, Rhys, has been daily driving his 1,000 horsepower (1,035 bhp to be exact) BMW G80 M3 Competition xDrive throughout 2024 racking up around 12,000 miles since the stage 3 build was complete.
For those interested - we have made a detailed spec list here.
The first point to note is Rhys’ G80 does stand out quite a lot in regular traffic - thanks in part to the Individual Mexico Blue paintwork - but also thanks to all the carbon fibre styling, yellow daytime running lights and the insane sound coming out of the Grail single midpipe exhaust system. However, many people wouldn’t mind that so we’re not going to mark it down too much on that front.
Surely 1,000 horsepower is too much to manage?
Well, it’s not the power that determines how easy a car is to drive - a huge factor is the software and mapping. This car was tuned by Tom Wrigley Performance & Mike Ball who are both the best of the best when it comes to tuning BMWs. The car is very usable and you can comfortably drive it under the speed limit and on long journeys.
Even with the stage 2 transmission by Pure Drivetrain Solutions, the car still shifts smoothly thanks to Mike Ball’s HP76 gearbox software. The shifts are a fair bit more aggressive than standard however it isn’t annoying or jerky - just more engaging.
How much does a 1,000 bhp BMW G80 M3 cost to run?
Aside from the initial cost of the modifications (circa £35,000 for the engine & drivetrain upgrades) the everyday running costs haven’t increased substantially like you might think.
Fuel Economy
Rhys averages around 22mpg with mixed driving, although he does have quite a heavy foot and could definitely do a lot better if he tried. Driving sensibly, it’s near enough just as economical as the standard car.
Servicing
With a build like this, regular servicing is essential. Rhys does an oil and filter change every 3,000 miles - a lot more frequent than BMW’s recommended intervals for a standard car. He uses MOTUL 300V 5W-40 engine oil which is similar in price to OEM BMW oil but can actually be cheaper if you buy it in bulk.
Rhys has also changed the spark plugs every 5,000 miles to keep the car running optimally which is also far more frequent than a regular M3 requires. This year, we’ll also do a transmission fluid change to ensure the longevity of the built transmission.
We do all servicing in our own workshop which does help lower the cost so expect quite a bit more expense if you’re taking your car to a garage.
Tyres & Brakes
As this car does spend lots of weekends at the drag strip, Rhys has gone through a few sets of tyres. However, with regular driving, there won’t really be any difference between 1,000 horsepower and stock - it’s all about how you drive the car.
As for brakes, Rhys runs EBC’s two piece discs and Bluestuff pads. As the discs have a 2-piece design, you only have to replace the centre section which saves on cost. Although, we haven’t had to change these yet!
Repairs
I think one of the main concerns with running this level of power is that you’ll be breaking differentials or blowing up your engine left, right and centre.
Other than routine maintenance, the car’s not needed any further maintenance or repairs. This is the advantage of investing in the highest quality components from brands like CSF Radiators, Pure Drivetrain Solutions, Pure Turbos etc. as well as software from an expert like Tom Wrigley. Tom has an outstanding reputation for being safe in his mapping.
Depreciation
Unfortunately, high-performance BMWs tend to depreciate as fast as they accelerate - especially since the pandemic prices have well and truly fallen. Rhys has put roughly £130,000 into this car including the purchase price.
Would he get all that back? Probably not.
However, by using well-known brands and components, you’d be surprised how much value is retained compared to many other tuned cars. If you’re on YouTube or social media, you can also justify the depreciation by creating content and generating revenue through various platforms.
Also, £130,000 for a car that does the quarter mile faster than a Bugatti Chiron… not bad at all!
We hope you found this post informative or at least interesting! We may well do another on Rhys’ single turbo BMW G81 M3 Touring in future so keep an eye out for that!
