Yes, the garden variety 5 series is only slightly heavier than an M3. But if you take that 528i, reinforce it, put in a much larger engine, add bigger brakes, stronger suspension pieces, heavier transmission, limited slip differential, and all the other things which turn it into an M5 (which has similar PERFORMANCE to an M3), that souped up 528 now weighs about 600 pounds more than the M3.

Yes, we'd all love it if the M3 was lighter. Go ahead - decide which features you want to throw out. Skip the fancy rear differential? Save a few pounds. Toss the big brakes and wheels? Plenty to save there...

There are even some options on the M3 which you can leave out. For example, my car will be ordered with no moonroof which will save me maybe 50 to 60 pounds in glass, motors and roof reinforcing. Same can be done with power seats.

And no, we don't know what options that official 3400 pound figure goes with. When they start shipping the actual cars (wait wait wait), some of us can take them to a scale and we'll let everyone know.

$0.02