It is no secret that European carmakers have created some of the most emblematic cars ever made. Whether it is Aston Martin or Mercedes-Benz, most prominent car manufacturers from the old continent have at least one or two ultimate classics under their belts.
Several iconic cars came out of Germany. From the Porsche 356 to the Audi Sport Quattro, German automakers have defined the art of car-making. BMW has released a couple of iconic cars, with the M3 being one of the most exciting and popular sports cars made by BMW. The M3 is of course one of the best classic German cars to modify.
10 Creators
Back in the '70s, BMW seemed to have gotten the inspiration it was somewhat lacking. Some of the cars produced during that decade are worth hundreds of thousands of dollars today. While a very limited number of 3-Series released in 1975 may be worth a lot, it sure was a very decisive vehicle in BMW's road to greatness.
There are several little-known facts about the BMW 3 Series, such as the fact that its creator passed back in 2008. Though most gearheads would rejoice if they could get their hands on an E30 3-Series, they do not know that Eberhard Von Kuenheim (then CEO of BMW) is the man that wanted to see more power in a 3-Series. M3 fans worldwide thank you, Mr. Von Kuenheim.
9 First Edition
The BMW E30 M3 was officially released in 1986. The car had a price tag of $48,000 in Germany, which is around $100,000 in today's dollars. The M3 sure was not your average BMW. In fact, the car may have been more exclusive back then than it is today. Consequently, the value of the E30 M3 has exploded.
The E30 M3 is automatically among the coolest BMW "M" cars ever made. Being the very first M3 ever made, the E30 is automatically one of the snazziest M-badged cars out there. E30 M3s in number one concours condition with extremely low mileage can go for over $200,000. Not bad for a first draft.
8 Road/ Track
When carmakers come up with above-average vehicles, it is often because these vehicles will ultimately take part in professional racing. Mitsubishi developed the Pajero Evolution specifically for the Paris Dakar Rally. The same applies to some of the most iconic muscle cars. They were basically made to become race cars.
The E30 M3 exists for one and only reason: racing. Most car fans are fully aware that taking part in professional racing means that carmakers may have to release a homologation model. While the regular E30 M3 is powered by a 2.3-liter inline-four that develops 195 HP and 177 lb-ft of torque, the powerplant on the Group A version churns out 320 HP and 205 lb-ft of torque.
7 Summer Bod
The BMW E36 M3 is one of the coolest BMWs you can buy for cheap. The word "cheap" can be subjective though. It is possible to find M3s in decent condition but with a lot of miles on the odometer for about $10,000. M3s in terrific conditions can cost just as much as a brand-new M3.
This $100,000 BMW E36 M3 Lightweight is the M3 any European car fan needs to drive at least once in their life. In 1995, BMW made only 126 M3 Lightweights. As the name indicates, the car shed a few pounds. In fact, it went from a little over 3,300 lbs to something shy of 3,000 lbs. Not bad, given the fact that the 3.0-liter inline-six produces "only" 240 HP and 225 lb-ft of torque.
6 Most Wanted
BMW has been featured in movies and video games for decades now. The Z8 was featured in the motion picture James Bond: The World Is Not Enough. The carmaker first made its appearance in the Gran Turismo saga back in 1999 for the second edition of the game.
Most car aficionados with an addiction to racing games know the BMW E46 M3 GTR was the ultimate car in Need For Speed: Most Wanted. In real life, the M3 GTR is without doubt one of the most epic E46s ever made. With an original MSRP of a little over $300,000, the GTR was only produced as a homologation model. Only 10 street-legal versions were ever made. The best part about the GTR is the 4.0-liter V8. With a power output of 350 HP and 269 lb-ft of torque, the GTR sure is a fast BMW.
5 Once In A Lifetime
The early 2000s saw the apparition of a large number of monsters. In the States, Chrysler was setting the tone with its muscle sedans. In Japan, the Z-series was brought back to the front of the stage with an even more incredible powerplant. At BMW, it was the "huge displacement" era.
The only M3s engineered to be fitted with a V8 are the E90, E92, and E93. Most versions were equipped with the 4.0-liter S65 V8. The unit can produce 414 HP and 295 lb-ft of torque. The GTS edition comes with a 4.4-liter S65 V8 that develops 444 HP. Back in 2015, the M3 GTS was valued at $190,000.
4 End Of An Era
Several cars were facelifted in ways that would infuriate most hardcore piston heads. Back in the early 2000s, the Charger was brought back as a sedan. The same thing happened to the Australian version of the Ford Falcon. Wanting to diversify its lineup and shake things up a bit, BMW decided to drastically transform the M3's identity.
If you have not seen a single M3 coupe over the last seven years, no need to panic. You are not going crazy. BMW decided to give the M3 the Charger's treatment. The M3 became a mid-size sedan in 2014. The only two-door option has been the M4. The S65 V8 gave way to a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter S55B30T0 V6 that pumps out 425 HP and 405 lb-ft of torque.
3 Aussie Style
Interesting half pickup, half coupe vehicles have been around for decades. In America, names such as the El Camino, the Ranchero, or even the Sprint are far from being unfamiliar. Though American carmakers stopped making them, they remained extremely popular in Australia and New Zealand.
Your Australian friend from way back when did not come up with these sick M3 utes though. BMW designed these awesome-looking sport utes. Though they were both one-offs, they were put to use. BMW used them as work trucks. Tuners in South Africa and Australia later replicated BMW's oddities.
2 Unicorns
When cars become popular, carmakers look for ways to make them sportier and more powerful. When looking at the '70 Ford Mustang, anybody can tell that the base model is nowhere as attractive as the top-line Boss 429. BMW adopted the same business model with its M3.
BMW released several astonishing limited editions of the M3. However, few come as close as the BMW E36 M3 GT. With only 356 units produced, the car's 3.0-liter inline-six makes 295 HP and 238 lb-ft of torque. As for the CRT (Carbon Racing Technology), it featured the 4.4-liter S65 V8 found on the GTS. Only 67 units were made.
1 In This Day And Age
At this point, it is fair to say that the M3 is BMW's flagship vehicle. Despite having other beasts in its lineup, such as the M5 or the M8, BMW quickly understood that the M3 was a gold mine. For the past 35 years, gearheads with cushy bank accounts have had the chance to cruise around this German monster.
The latest M3 inherited the kidney grille front end BMW seems to love so much. The M3 still looks gorgeous though. For a little less than $90,000, the G80 M3 can become yours. The Bavarian sports sedan features a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter S58B30T0 inline-six that churns out at best 503 HP and 479 lb-ft of torque.