From the fine-handling E30 original to the sensational V8-powered E90, there wasn’t a generation of M3 that didn’t hit the spot. And then along came this, the no-E-numbers-please F80.

One consolation for the loss of the E92 M3’s screaming naturally aspirated V8 engine was the sheer performance of its forced induction replacement. The F80’s ... manual or BMW’s DCT ...