Germany is known as the birthplace of some of the most outrageous vehicles ever made. Back in the '50s, Mercedes-Benz came up with the insane 300 SL Gullwing that is now worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. In more recent years, Porsche released its controversial Carrera GT. However, there is one carmaker from Munich that has been captivating the scene with one particular vehicle for the past 35 years.
Out of all the cars made in Germany, one truly stands out: the BMW M3. Since 1986, gearheads have had the chance to watch this German Shepherd destroy other sports cars, both on and off the track. Though it may not be among the most important cars in BMW's history, the E46 M3 still remains one of the coolest M3s ever made. Stuck between the beastly E36 and the muscly E90 M3, the E46 M3 does not fail from being an astonishing high-end sports coupe.
10 The Wolfgang Gang
Not all gangs are as bad as you think. The Wolgang Gang is one of the few gangs gearheads should ever want to sit down with for a chat.
Wolfgang Ziebart and Wolfgang Reitzel engineered some of the greatest BMW models ever. Back in 1993, the two started working on the E46 project. At the time, Ziebart was Chief Engineer and Reitzel Head of Research and Development. Though the exterior design of the E46 was done by Erik Goplen from DesignworksUSA, the essence of the E46 is as Germanic as it gets.
9 Beginning Of An Era
Imagine that, for some reason, you become a YouTube rockstar. You get your 15 minutes of fame and are asked to play at a show right after ACDC and Pink Floyd. No pressure, right? This is exactly the situation that the E46 M3 found itself in. The car had to live it up to the E30 and E36 M3 legacies. However, when looking back, it is fair to say that the E46 M3 hit the bullseye.
The E46 M3 was first introduced at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 1999. Though much more exclusive cars were presented that year, the M3 did not fail from getting its fair share of looks. As a matter of fact, the third generation M3 was a huge hit. The Bavarian sport coupe was finally made available to the public in October the following year.
8 The Beast Within
By today's standards, the E30 M3 is a sluggish piece of engineering. The S14 four-cylinder was quite potent for 1986, but a 192 hp just is not cutting it in 2021. BMW was fully aware that its flagship sports car must be re-engineered and equipped with engines that would produce enough power to reach the stratosphere. The E46 M3 may not be as fast as some of the latest M-badged cars, but it will still give its drivers a serious adrenaline rush.
The engine is a naturally aspirated 3.2L straight-six is very similar to the engine found on the previous M3. Factory rated at 338 hp at 7,800 rpm and 269 lb-ft of torque at 4,900 rpm. The S54B32 is essentially a variant of the M54 powerplant, which is the engine on all BMW E46s.
7 Transmission
When people hear the name BMW, they automatically think about sturdiness, sportiness, and excellence. It is quite rare to have a negative thought whenever BMW is mentioned. The reason behind this is that the Bavarian carmaker always strives for perfection. When looking at other German carmakers, it is easily noticeable that most of them did whatever possible to become the default go-to luxury cars. Consequently, German cars like BMWs are equipped with some of the best technological features one could ask for.
The Getrag 420G transmission was fitted in the E46 M3. Capable of handling up to 368 lb-ft of torque, it is quite normal BMW decided to stick to the same supplier. The 420G is available both in six-speed manual (Type D) and automatic (SMG). Both versions use the same gearbox and have the same final drive ratio, making the E46 M3 absolutely mind-blowing.
6 Collectible
Several gearheads have claimed that a classic car must be at least 30 years old. Though it is true that oldies have something that newer cars will never have, instant classics do exist. At home, an example of an instant classic is the 2020 Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Widebody Daytona 50th Year Anniversary Edition. BMW did not fail to produce its fair share of instant classics. In fact, some E46 M3s are part of the group.
There are several reasons why the BMW M3 CSL is the best BMW of all time. Only 1,383 units of the Coupe Sport Leichtbau (Coupe Sport Lightweight in English) were made in 2004. The car underwent some serious weight reduction, and is 243 lbs lighter than a regular E46 M3. CSLs are available in either gray or black. A regular M3 with extremely low miles can go for over $70,000. Imagine how much a CSL could go for.
5 German Muscle
America makes the best muscle cars in the world. There is no denying that. Since 1948, American carmakers have shown the world that rowdy sports cars fitted with humongous engines could easily put import cars to shame. European carmakers quickly adapted to the market, and released their own versions of the legendary muscle car. It is fair to say that the tradition of manufacturing European-made muscle cars did not end back in the 1980s.
Is the BMW E46 M3 GTR among the coolest BMW "M" cars ever made? You guessed it right. The M3 GTR is the very first M3 to be equipped with a V8 engine. This beast was of course produced for homologation purposes. The 4.0-liter 90-degree V8 makes 382 hp at 7,000 rpm. Several parts are made out of carbon. The original MSRP was over $300,000. With only 10 M3 GTR ever made, it is fair to assume that the value of the car will skyrocket.
4 Race Car
It would have practically impossible for the E46 M3 not to be turned into a racing machine. Back in the early 2000s, the E46 M3 GTR was featured in the video game Need For Speed: Most Wanted, and was even the best car available in the game. The E46 M3 was not only great in the video game, it was also a beast in real life.
A car like the M3 must have a race car version. The M3 GTR race car is by definition a beast. For Le Mans in 2001, BMW configured the 4.4L V8 to produce 493 hp and 354 lb-ft of torque. That is an insane amount of power on a tiny M3. The P60B40a engine is simply wonderful. It can really become a true killer if modified the right way.
3 Grocery Getter
Every now and then, carmakers come up with somewhat interesting versions of their most popular sports cars. Nissan once released a four-door Skyline. Dodge unveiled the four-door Charger back in the early 2000s. Even Mitsubishi went crazy and came up with a Lancer Evolution GT wagon. BMW also had a go at creating one of the fastest and thrilling grocery getters to ever come out of Germany.
What is so special about the E46 M3 Touring? It seems like another carpool car on steroids. Well, the Touring version of the M3 was never commercialized. The wagon was indeed designed and produced in extremely limited numbers, but not a single suburban mom was able to get her hands on one. It is rather unclear whether BMW made the right choice by not selling the M3 Touring, but tons of people tried to replicate the mighty wagon.
2 Destroyer
If the BMW E46 M3 was a professional athlete, it would have been Michael Jordan with the leading skills of Brett Favre... and the longevity of a Galápagos tortoise. Until today, it is quite hard to find cars of a similar era that can truly match the E46 M3.
Surprisingly, the E46 M3 had absolutely no rivals in Germany. Some cars such as the Audi S4 B6 or the 2002 Mercedes-Benz CLK55 AMG could somehow pretend to be the M3's rivals. However, the Audi S4 comes with a 4.2L V8 engine and the Mercedes CLK55 AMG with a 5.4L V8. They respectively develop 339 hp and 342 hp. That is almost the same amount of power produced by the 3.2L straight-six found on the M3. Huge win for BMW.
1 Classic?
Like most things in life, the E46 M3 was eclipsed by newer versions. The E90 M3 and its scary 4.4L S65 V8 took the spotlight upon its release, and the E46 M3 was a thing of the past. Well, not for everyone. True car fans know that a car such as the E46 M3 simply does not fall out of favor. It may lose value, but it will never ever be a car that should be shunned. If anything, the E46 M3 is a true classic.
Limited editions such as the CSL and the GTR may cost as much as a house, but the mass-rpduced E46 M3 is a classic in the making. Though it may never be as iconic and valuable as a BMW E30 M3, the third generation is becoming increasingly valuable. Until today, some of the technology found on the E46 is still ahead of its time.