BMW is perhaps one of the most popular German car companies in the world.  The BMW M3 is one of BMW’s most iconic cars and it has set the foundation of some of the most reputable sports sedans in the market today. These include cars like the Audi RS4 and the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio.

The M3’s dominance over the years has set the benchmark against which other sports sedans are measured. The BMW M3 has been in production for the past thirty years and is currently in the fifth generation and it doesn’t look like BMW is putting this legend into retirement anytime soon.

10 E30 BMW M3 Sport Evolution

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The original BMW E30 M3’s powertrain was a 2.3-liter four-cylinder. However, in 1988, BMW swapped this engine with a 2.5-liter engine that pushed 238 horsepower.

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This car was ideal for touring, track action, as well as a daily driver. The E30 BMW M3 Sport Evolution also featured lowered suspension, a rear spoiler, and am adjustable front splitter. Only 600 units were made.

9 E36 BMW M3 Lightweight

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While under immense pressure from BMW enthusiasts to build a homologation M3 to go up against the Porsche 911, BMW built the E36 BMW M3 Lightweight. This car was based on the E36 M3 coupe. To make sure that this car did not underperform because of its weight, BMW stripped it of air conditioning, the toolkit, leather upholstery, the radio, and the plush carpet.

By doing this, BMW shaved 200 pounds off the E36 BMW M3 Lightweight. This car was painted Alpine White with the BMW Motorsports flag decal. BMW promised to build 100 units of this car, but it is said that the company built 125 units and sold 116 to the public and 9 to private collectors.

8 E46 BMW M3 CSL

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While the E46 BMW M3 CSL might not be as rare as some other specials on this list, it is one of the greatest. BMW built and produced 1,383 units of the E46 M3 CLS. This ride featured a 3.2-liter inline-six engine that pushed 360 horsepower. This car was also fitted with lightweight body panels made of carbon fiber. To maintain the car’s lightweight, BMW stripped off the air conditioning unit and the sound system.

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Being great also comes with its share of issues. The E46 BM MS CSL came under scrutiny by BMW enthusiasts because of its automated manual transmission. However, some overlooked this and maintained that this ride is one of the greatest M3s of its generation.

7 E46 BMW M3 GTR

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If you have played Need for Speed: Most Wanted then you recognize this car. However, one of the most important facts that most people don’t know about the E46 BMW M3 GTR is that it’s the first BMW to feature a V8 powertrain.

Via: Motor1

The E46 BMW M3 GTR is not your typical ride. This car is a homologation special for the American Le Mans Series racing, which was built as part of the 100 cars that were to be built and sold worldwide. This was to be done so that teams could qualify for the competition without penalties. This ride was powered by a 4.0-liter V8 engine that was paired with a six-speed manual transmission. In 2001, BMW sold ten units of this ride for $310,000 each.

6 E46 BMW M3 Touring

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The E46 BMW M3 Touring is quite a controversial car. Some enthusiasts and critics are quite adamant about the E46 Touring being a prototype and there are those who believe that this car is a one-off special.

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Nonetheless, the one thing that everyone agrees on is that the E46 BMW M3 Touring is one of the greatest M3s of its generation. This ride is a wagon that boasts of a 3.2-liter straight-six engine that pushes 338 horsepower. BMW reworked and redesigned the E46 3 Series that this car is based on and fitted the bulging wide wheel arches.

5 E90 BMW M3 CRT

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The E90 BMW M3 CRT was built to go up against one of its own, the BMW E90 sedan – the same car it was based on.

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This ride boasted of a 4.4-liter V8 engine under its hood. This engine had a max power output of 450 horsepower. This car was made entirely out of carbon fiber making it lighter compared to the regular E90 M3 by 150 pounds. BMW made 67 units of this beauty. Although it was not sold in the states, it was allowed for show and display in 49 states only if it did not exceed 2,500 miles in a year.

4 E92 BMW M3 DTM Champion Edition

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BMW is one of the many German car manufacturers that participate in the DTM competition (Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters). In 2012, BMW built the E46 BMW M3 Touring to pay tribute to the Canadian driver Bruno Spengler who won the DTM championship title that year.

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This car was a two-door, two-seater coupe that featured carbon fiber aero parts, a matte black paint job, a dark chrome trim, matte black wheel, special decals, and M-colored racing stripes on the roof. BMW built 54 units of this car. All the 54 customers who bought this car were given one on one tutelage by Spengler at the Nürburgring.

3 E92 BMW M3 GTS

Via: Motor Authority

The E92 BMW M3 GTS is the one BMW in the E9X generation that stood out from the crowd. Its bright orange paint job added to the car’s flare. This car was based on the BMW E92 M3 coupe.

Via: Motor Authority

The E92 BMW M3 GTS was powered by a 4.4-liter V8 that had a max power output of 450 horsepower. This ride featured 19-inch light-alloy wheels that blended with the car’s paint job. This car was fitted with a carbon-fiber roof, lightweight interior panels, and titanium exhaust silencers. BMW stripped the E92 GTS of the back seats, the sound system, and air condition, making it one of the meanest and best performing M3s. Only 135 units of this car were built.

2 F80 BMW M3 30 Jahre Edition

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To celebrate thirty years of the M3’s dominance in the market, BM built the F80 BMW M3 30 Jahre Edition. This ride was based on the F80 Generation M3 with the standard competition package.

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The F80 BMW M3 30 Jahre Edition featured 20-inch alloy wheels from the M4 GTS, an upgraded powertrain that boasted 450 horsepower, and an active suspension. This ride had DCT or manual transmission options. It also came with two paint options - Macao Blue and Frozen Silver. Only 500 units of this car were made. The price tag on this ride was $11,000 more than the standard F80 M3.

1 F80 BMW M3 30 Years American Edition

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The American market has not always been lucky enough to receive any of the past special edition M3 that have been produced. However, BMW decided to change this and build a special just for America, the F80 BMW M3 30 Years American Edition. This car was built to celebrate BMW’s 30 years of success in the American market. This special is a one-of-one special edition car. It was based on the F80 M3 Competition Package.

Via: Car Guides

The F80 BMW M3 30 Years American Edition featured a Frozen Red II paint job with black accents. The interior of the car featured a red, white, and blue theme. A carbon-fiber wing was added to this car, an M-Performance exhaust system was fitted to the car, and to complete the look of this bad boy, Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires were fitted to the wheels. This car had a price tag of $128,635.

NEXT: 10 Forgotten Super-Fast Sedans That Predate The BMW M5