The world of automotive is graced by some huge names that have been in existence for ages. Such brands include BMW, a car brand well-known for producing some of the most iconic cars the world has ever known. Bayerische Motoren Werke AG, commonly known as BMW, has earned its honor by staying relevant in the market since its inception in 1916. One of the cars that have helped establish this reputation is the M3. The M3 was meant to be the greatest German car in motorsport, and true to this, it is a legend today thanks to its incredible performance in racing motorsport.
To complement this icon in the market, BMW introduced yet another great performer, the M4, an elite car that looks like a luxurious family hauler but performs like a small sports car. The M4 is the performance cousin to the more familiar BMW 4 Series. The M3 and M4 are superior cars offering superior performance, and of course, at premium prices. That said, stick around a little longer to learn about some of the finest models of both cars.
10 M4: 2018 BMW M4 Convertible '30 Jahre
One of the best new performance convertibles, the M4 Convertible '30 Jahre, is basically an M4 Cabrio equipped with the Performance Package. The '30 Jahre comes with a 444-horsepower, 20 horsepower more than the standard M4, an M Sport exhaust, and an adaptive M suspension with a Sport mode. The '30 Jahre is powered by the same 3.0-liter turbocharged inline-six mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch.
On the outside, the car gets two bespoke color shades — a Macao Blue and a Frozen Dark Grey with a matte finish. There's also the Mandarin II uni, reminiscent of the iconic E36 M3 Convertible's lurid Dakar Yellow hue.
9 M3: 1988 BMW M3 Evolution
The M3 is among the greatest BMW "M" cars ever made, and if they were to be ranked, its first generation still takes the trophy home. And not because it performs better than its siblings, but because it set the bar so high that those that followed had no option but to be great. The first-gen M3 remains the highest watermark for the small sports saloon, although this is not an argument anyone can win when it comes up in the pub.
The car received incredible upgrades in 1988 to transform it to M3 Evolution. The 2.3-liter four-pot engine was enhanced to produce 220 horsepower. In addition, larger wheels and thin and lighter rear and side glass were added. There was also the inclusion of a lighter boot lid and new spoilers, front, and rear.
8 M4: 2017 BMW M4 CS
One of the latest entrants into the BMW M division is the M4 CS, which plugs itself right between the M4 Competition and GTS. The car comes with the standard M4 3.0-liter turbo-six engine mated with a seven-speed paddle-shift transmission and a rear-wheel drive to produce 454 horsepower. There is no manual gearbox for the M4 CS.
With an acceleration time of 0-62 mph in just 3.9 seconds and a top speed of 174 mph, the CS proves to be among the greatest BMW sports cars ever. And with a claimed 33.6mpg and 197g/km of CO2, the CS must be the greenest M4 car yet. The vehicle features aluminum suspension components sourced from the Competition Pack and a standard Adaptive M Suspension. With a Nürburgring lap time of 7m38s, the CS is as quick as a Lexus LFA.
7 M3: 1990 BMW M3 Sport Evolution
This is the ultimate father of the E30 M3 generation. It features a larger version of the four-cylinder engine, enlarged from 2.3-liter to 2.5-liter to produce 238 horsepower. These upgrades essentially transformed the M3 into a road-legal touring automobile.
Other notable upgrades on the Sport Evolution were the adjustable front splitter and rear wing, and of course, the small gas tank designed to reduce the car's overall weight. The suspension also received an overall drop of 10 mm. And with only 600 units produced, the M3 Sport Evolution is still rare and worth adding to a dream collection.
6 M4: 2016 BMW M4 GTS
The most versatile model of the M4 is this one here, the GTS. It comes with an uprated turbo-six engine using water injection to cough out 493 horsepower, 68 hp more than the standard M4. The GTS gets a carbon front splitter and a massive rear spoiler.
There are no rear seats in the GTS — the front ones are carbon fiber buckets, and the doors are thinner. The car features 911 GT3-style pull straps instead of handles inside. Performance-wise, the GTS hits 62 mph in 3.8 seconds, with a top speed of 190 mph.
5 M3: 2010 BMW M3 GTS
With the third-generation M3, BMW sent out a straight-six engine and brought in a V8 powerhouse. And although the E46 GTR packed a V8, the car was produced in limited numbers, making the E92 the first M3 to load a V8 engine properly.
Following several customer requests, BMW rolled out the stiff hand-built GTS in 2010. It was equipped with a mighty 4.4-liter V8 with 450 horsepower, a carbon-fiber roof, a lightweight center console and door linings, and titanium exhaust silencers. Other upgrades included suspension, brakes, and traction control. It also has 19-inch alloy M wheels.
4 M4: 2016 BMW M4 DTM Champion Edition
The 2016 BMW M4 DTM Champion Edition is basically a GTS in a different skin. This Special Edition was built to celebrate the 2016 DTM victory. The car comes with a carbon bonnet, a roof and rear diffuser, and some exotic stripes.
Powering the M4 DTM Champion Edition is a water-injected straight-six engine that produces 493 horsepower. It exhibits some interesting performance stats; for starters, 0-62 mph takes only 3.8 seconds. And with only 20 units built, this turns out to be one of the rarest special edition cars ever.
3 M3: 2012 BMW DTM Champion Edition
BMW had taken a 19-year break from DTM racing, and in 2012, they returned with a bang — they managed to bag drivers', team and manufacturers' titles. To celebrate the milestone, BMW announced the production of this car, the 2012 DTM Champion Edition. The car was based on the E92 Competition Package M3.
The DTM model came with a 10 mm lower ride height and a new sports setting on the dampers, as well as a reprogrammed ESP system. For the Vader-spec DTM, BMW gave it carbon flaps, darker chrome accents, and wheel color that matched the car. It also featured a bit livery that included an M strip on the roof.
2 M4: 2016 BMW M4 Competition Sport
Like the M4 with the Competition Package, the Sport is powered by a mighty powertrain with 444 horsepower at 7000 rpm, complemented by a healthy 332lb ft. of torque. It'll splint to 62 mph in just 4 seconds, flat from a standstill, and top out at 174 mph.
The Competition Sport comes with new side skirts, CFRP mirror housings, and a new side diffuser. The kidney grilles and side moldings are finished in a beautiful touch of gloss. And to make it even more wanted, BMW produced only 60 units.
1 M3: 2016 BMW M3 Competition
This is the modern M3, and it's only available as a saloon. The M4 Competition is now the new M coupe. The M3 Competition comes with a 3.0-liter straight-six with over 400 horsepower and new springs, dampers, and new front and rear anti-roll bars.
The M3 Competition features adaptive suspension with reconfigured driving modes, and it has new differential settings. Those who have driven it can attest to this; the M3 Competition is a superb saloon.