It is one of the most successful chapters in the history of the automobile and in international motorsport alike: the story of the BMW M3 � and to this day, the end of this unique success story is not even in sight.
In 2006 BMW and BMW M GmbH celebrated the 20th birthday of the most successful touring car of all times. Within two decades, three generations of the BMW M3 have successfully entered and conquered both the market and the race track, each of these models quite unique and legendary in its own right. Dominating the racing scene and paving the way on the road for a new species of particularly sporting, but nevertheless highly practical series�production cars fully suited for everyday use, the BMW M3 to this day thrills a loyal and constantly growing group of enthusiasts and aficionados the world over.
This unique story of success started back in 1986 with the launch of the first BMW M3 based on the E30 version of the BMW 3 Series. From the start, this thoroughbred sports car thrilled not only the motorsport enthusiast and the racing expert, but also car fans the world over. Boasting powerful-looking spoilers and strikingly flared wheel arches all round, the very first BMW M3 was a sensation to behold even at a standstill. And although the road-going version offered all the everyday driving qualities required of a modern car, the real home of the BMW M3 was the race track. Powered by a four-cylinder featuring avantgarde four-valve technology, the BMW M3 brought home one victory after the other.
Originally conceived for just 5,000 units for the purpose of homologation, this very first BMW M3 gained growing polularity right from the start. And apart from the car�s convincing concept, an ongoing increase in engine power from 195 hp all the way to 238 hp added to the car�s fascinating thrill.
Total production up to the end of the car�s production cycle in 1991 amounted to almost 18,000 units including the BMW M3 Convertible. Subsequently, the two following generations significantly exceeded even this remarkable sales figure, the second generation of the BMW M3 based on the E36 model series accounting for a sales volume of almost 72,000 units, and the third generation based on the E46 model series achieving an even more impressive production run of over 85,000 units.
Precisely this success confirms the strategy of BMW M GmbH to convey the qualities of superior motorsport machines right through to series production. After three generations and more than 174, 000 units sold, production of the E46-based BMW M3 ended in 2006 � only to be continued in 2007 with the fourth generation carrying on this exceptional story of success.
The successor to a legend.
Based on the coup� version of the E36 model series, the second generation of the BMW M3 made its appearance in 1992. At first sight this model looked quite �normal�, without any large spoilers or striking wheel arches � but just one glimpse into the engine bay told another story, with this being the first BMW M3 to feature a six-cylinder power unit.
Developing maximum torque of 320 Newton-metres or 236 lb-ft all the way from 3, 600 to 6, 000 rpm, together with maximum output of 286 hp, this outstanding sports car offered the driver superior acceleration at all times and in every situation. Indeed, BMW�s engineers were able to achieve these performance figures quite unusual at the time through painstaking attention to detail and with a number of innovative solutions: Apart from VANOS variable camshaft management and the upgraded single throttle butterfly control unit, newly developed engine electronics able to process more than 20 million instructions per second helped to give the engine its enormous power and performance.
Catering for growing demand for a four-door model, the second generation of the BMW M3 was also built in saloon guise, in addition to the coup� and convertible versions. And the success of all three models was overwhelming, almost 72, 000 units of all three body variants leaving BMW�s Regensburg Plant throughout seven years of production. These were joined by another 700 units built as completely knocked down (CKD) kits at BMW�s Rosslyn Plant in South Africa.
The BMW M3 saga goes on.
Towards the end of the year 2000, the latest and still current version of the BMW M3 entered the market as the next generation. Based on the E46 model series coup�, this version of the BMW M3 again combines supreme performance, exceptional driving qualities and unique design, clearly distinguishing the car from other models in the BMW 3 Series.
Particularly the front section of the current BMW M3 supporting the engine compartment lid made of aluminium looks flatter and more aggressive than on every other regular production BMW 3 Series. And beneath the engine compartment lid with its striking powerdome lurks one of the most significant innovations introduced in this model � the new, even more powerful six�cylinder engine developing maximum output of 252 kW/343 hp and applying the high-speed engine concept carried over from Formula 1 and now so characteristic of all cars built by BMW M GmbH: When revving at a speed of 8,000 rpm, the pistons in the new M3 power unit move up and down at a velocity of more than 20 metres or 66 feet a second, thus reaching a new dimension for a car of this class.
The BMW M3 CSL was also based on this model. Boasting an even more powerful engine, developing 265 kW/360 hp and featuring radical lightweight technology using the most advanced materials such as carbonfibre-reinforced plastics and carbon, the BMW M3 CSL has a power-to-weight ratio of 3.85 kg/hp � a truly outstanding figure which raises this BMW M3 to an entirely new dimension of dynamic performance.
Still, the fact remains that yet another model stands out as the fastest and most expensive of all BMW M3s built so far � the BMW M3 GTR presented to the public in 2001 for the American Le Mans Series (ALMS). Indeed, this truly unique car was a genuine eye-catcher from the start not only through its muscular look, but also and in particular through its 4.0-litre V8 high-performance power unit developing 330 kW/460 hp in racing trim and, respectively, 258 kW/350 hp in the road-going version.
This supreme sports car set the standard also in another respect, its price of approximately Euro 250,000 making it a truly exclusive offer.
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