In 1986, BMW changed the world with the BMW M3. It was built for homologation purposes for Group A touring car racing and the German Touring car racing series. People absolutely loved it, and that's why BMW has been making it now for over 30 years across 6 generations.

The M3 has won many awards over the years and has challenged many high-performance cars from manufacturers all over the world. It is loved by car enthusiasts for being the ultimate driving machine. It has always been a great looking car that gets stares from everyone. Here is why every gearhead needs to own one.

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10 The History

The front of the E30 M3
collectingcars.com

The BMW M3 has a very rich history. It started as a homologation car, and only 5000 units were available worldwide, all in LHD. The main visual difference from the standard E30 was its wider and boxier arches, but in reality, nearly every body panel was different. BMW's next homologation car in the USA was the E36 M3 Lightweight, a car loved by Paul Walker.

Via CarScoops

This was followed were a few more limited edition cars such as the CSL and the GTS. It's been 33 years of the M3, and we've loved every single year of it. Here are the ten best special-edition M3 models.

9 The Looks

A silver E30 M3
wsupercars.com

The M3 has always been a looker. It's aggressive, wide, and they always look different from the standard 3-series models. The latest M3 model is by far one of the craziest cars of 2020.

bmwblog.com

The designers of the M3 have done a great job of making it stand out compared to a standard 3-series. This is much needed due to the price difference.

8 The Performance

bmwgroup.com

The M3 has always been head and shoulders above the regular 3-series when it comes to performance. The latest G80 Competition model has over 500hp and 443 lb-ft of torque. It does 0 to 60 mph in under 4 seconds, partly thanks to its AWD, which means it can get the power down a lot easier than ever before.

via caranddriver.com

Previous cars have been powerful and have given sports cars a run for their money. Sure over the last few years, competition mainly from Mercedes-AMG has given the M3 a hard time, but it always manages to come on top. Here are 15 reasons why would buy an M3 over a C63.

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7 The Engines

Via Bmwblog.com

The engines have always been brilliant in the M3. High performance, well-built, and an absolute joy to listen to. The M3 has been offered with 4-cylinder, 6-cylinder, and 8-cylinder engines, all of them have been brilliant. The engines the M3s use are based on standard BMW engines, for example, the S54 used in the E46 M3 is based on the M54 seen in the 530i.

BMW E92 M3 : AutoEvolution
via AutoEvolution

These normal BMW engines are fettled by the M-division to become high-performance power plants, hence they get a name starting with S to tell you that this one is a powerful unit. This is the same in all M-Cars except the original F87 M2, and some E28 M5 models.

6 The Fun

via bmwofbridge.com

The M3 is a laugh to drive, and it handles like a go-cart. The performance is brilliant, it can easily handle a track or winding roads. The noise is sensational, it has a great gearbox, and the build quality is sublime.

via Pinterest

The E36 model is a great example of this, and it is a great car because it's cheap, RWD and really fun to drive.

5 The Handling

Via motor1.com

The M3 is very well-known for its handling. Everyone knows it munches corners, and it really beats the competition when it comes to handling. It has always felt like a proper sports car, but that's no surprise because the standard 3-series is a better drivers' car than the competition.

JSutai BMW M3 E30
via Pinterest

The M3 is definitely one of the best German cars of the last decade and that's mainly thanks to its handling. It feels precise, and drivers feel confident to push it to the max around the bends.

4 The Driving Dynamics

2008 BMW M3 Sedan
via Reddit

The M3 gets even better when it comes to driving. Not only is the handling on point, but so are the brakes, the acceleration, and the ride quality. The suspension is very firm, but it has never been hard enough to break your back. The brakes have been hardcore but still easy to use.

bmwblog.com

The steering has always been very light, but you can feel what the car is doing, and it provides excellent feedback.

3 The Build Quality

Front 3/4 of the M3 CSL in white
pinterest.com

The M3 has always been built to a high standard. There has never been an M3 where people have complained about the fit or finish of the car. This is pretty good considering, not every standard BMW 3-series has been built to the highest standards of build quality.

BMW M3 E30
Via BMWBlog

The M3 is built like a proper performance car, there has been no cutting of corners whatsoever, it's straight to the point and one of the best performance cars out there.

2 The Interior

2006 BMW M3 Convertible 6-Speed
Via stancenation.com

The inside of the M3 has always been a very nice place to spend some time. The latest models have a blend of exotic materials such as carbon fiber and quilted leather. Previous models such as the E30 were more lightweight. However, it has always held a high standard, with more extras than a standard 3-series and better seats.

BMW-M3
via carmagazine

The M3 is a luxury car at the end of the day, so the interior has to keep a certain standard. It needs to be more than practical and sporty, it needs to represent the price tag of the car and the brand itself.

1 The Driving Experience

BMW M3 on the road
Via 3d-car-shows.com

The M3 is all about the driving experience, just like any other performance car. It's a car that will make you smile from ear to ear. It's almost unbelievable how this car can feel so special when it's based on a normal family car that has sold well into the millions.

1992-BMW-M3
via autocar

The M3 really defines BMW's slogan of the "ultimate driving machine." Most of the BMW M3 models are cool cars that are worth every penny.

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