German car manufacturers have earned a great reputation of the years. Following World War 2, they set their eyes on being the most popular manufacturers of luxurious and sporty cars. Among all those outstanding companies is, of course, BMW. The Bavarian company has been at the forefront of innovation for over 50 years and has not stopped producing amazing vehicles.
Out of all the sports cars made by BMW, one truly stands out: the M3. Being the very first M-car to ever come out of BMW's manufacturing plants, the M3 was destined to either fail spectacularly or succeed beyond people's wildest imaginations - nothing in between. These days, it is well-known that the M3 was an epic success. However, there are still several things everyone forgot about the BMW M3.
10 The First
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When looking at the European car scene of the '80s, it is easy to see that German car manufacturers were making sure they would annihilate the competition. Audi and its Sport Quattro were dominating the World Rally Championship. Mercedes-Benz and its 500 SEC AMG were simply going for the jugular. At the same time, BMW was releasing the very first M-car.
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There are several reasons why every gearhead should drive a BMW M3 E30. The very first reason is the fact that the M3 E30 is the original M3. As surprising as it may be, the original M3 comes with a naturally-aspirated 2.3-liter S14 inline-four engine. Despite its size and age, the S14 develops a decent 197 hp at 6,750 rpm and 177 lb-ft of torque at 4,750 rpm. A 1986 BMW M3 E30 in pristine condition and with low miles on the odometer can go for over $100,000.
9 Euros Only
The Volkswagen Golf GTI 20th Anniversary Edition was not allowed in the States until recently. Facing a 25-year ban on import, Volkswagen's car was reserved essentially to car fans in the European market. The GTI 20th Anniversary Edition was not the only car in that situation. In fact, a larger number of exceptional European cars were not allowed in the States due to that ban.
The 1990 BMW M3 E30 Sport Evolution was not made available in the States. With only 600 units ever made, it is fair to say that the Sport Evolution was not made available in most countries in the world. This version of the M3 comes with the S14B25 engine that makes 238 hp at 7,000 rpm and 177 lb-ft of torque at 4,750 rpm. This high-revving beast is 0.39 inch lower than a regular M3 and comes with 18-inch wheels.
8 Bigger, Better, Faster
The 3-Series underwent a major facelift in 1990. The third-gen 3-Series looked fiercer than its predecessors, both aesthetically and mechanically. Though the E36 has dramatically decreased in value over time, it remains one of the best BMWs to turn into a track-ready beast. Though new editions have been released since 1990, the E36 has maintained its attractiveness.
Following the success of the M3 E30 and noticing the rumble it had caused, BMW decided to keep the nameplate and apply the same treatment on the E36. The new M3 was much larger and slicker. Though the car still looks extremely sporty, it has a much more luxurious feel to it. Far more affordable than its predecessor, the E36 M3 remains a must-have.
7 The Masterpiece
If there is one thing that BMW excels at, it's coming up with exceptional motors fitted in its vehicles. During World War 2, the BMW 801 found in the German Luftwaffe aircraft was a terrific motor that truly shows the engineering capabilities of BMW's 80 years ago. Since the end of the war, BMW has been focusing on providing vehicles to the public.
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BMW moved away from the legendary S14 engine for the M3 E36. Instead of a four-cylinder unit, BMW shoehorned a massive naturally-aspirated 3.0-liter S50B30 engine that develops 282 hp at 7,000 rpm and 236 lb-ft of torque at 3,600 rpm - later they would increase displacement to 3.2-liters. The power is transmitted to the back wheels thanks to a five-speed manual transmission. The S50B30 is a robust engine that can easily be tuned to produce 400 hp.
6 Special Editions
Most automakers release a special edition of their popular cars. When looking at the Ford Mustang, the Audi R8, or even the Acura NSX, outstanding cars simply cannot be left alone. They must have a special edition that only a handful of gearheads will get the chance to get their hands on. BMW did not fail from giving the legendary M3 its fair amount of limited editions.
BMW made sure to produce several special editions of its M3. One of the most interesting special editions of the M3 E36 is the Lightweight. Being 200 lbs lighter than the regular M3, the Lightweight is essentially made to be driven aggressively on a track. BMW cranked things up with the GTR based on the amazing M3 E46, BMW's monstrous GTR comes with a solid 4.0-liter P60B40 V8 that makes 345 hp at 7,250 rpm and 269 lb-ft of torque. Only six GTRs were ever made.
5 German Muscle
Between 2004 and 2011, BMW released a fair number of vehicles powered by truly remarkable units. Ranging from the sports coupe to the four-door SUV, there was not a vehicle in BMW's lineup during that era that was not provided with a robust and powerful motor. Some 3-Series cars such as the 335i were blessed with a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6 that made a conservative 300 hp.
There are several things gearheads love about the E92 M3. First, It follows the footsteps of the E46 by being simply outstanding. Second, it is the very first production M3 to come stock with a V8. To put this in perspective, most V8-powered muscle cars in 2007 were highly disappointing. However, a brand-new 2007 Mustang GT was far cheaper than a M3 E92.
4 Meaty
The S14 and S50 engines were terrific. They triggered and helped maintain the sense of passion that piston heads had developed for the M3. At best, those two engines were capable of developing 235 hp and 316 hp respectively. It may not seem much by today's standards, but these two motors were made available in the mid-80s and 90s.
BMW wanted to shake things up with the BMW M5 E60 and the M3 E92. Both the M5 and the M3 would be the first and last V10 and V8-powered M5s and M3s. As far as the M3 is concerned, the 4.0-liter S65 V8 churns out 414 hp at 8,300 rpm and 295 lb-ft of torque at 3,900 rpm. The M3 E92 was faster and more luxurious than a lot of American muscle cars released around that time.
3 Gentleman Special
The standard BMW M3 E92 truly blew people's minds. It was definitely an M3, but it was nothing like its predecessors. The M3 E92 is basically a murderous beast ready to destroy anything that would challenge it. BMW must have been satisfied with the outcome of the M3 E92, and consequently produced derivatives of the outstanding sports coupe.
The M3 GTS is the type of BMW performance cars worth every penny. With only 135 GTSs ever made, it is quite normal that the track-ready M3 E92 sold like hot cakes. The S65 went from 4.0-liter to 4.4-liter, and the power output was increased to 444 hp at 8,300 rpm and 325 lb-ft of torque at 3,750 rpm. Given the fact that the GTS is a rarity, only a handful of passionate and wealthy gearheads got their hands on this instant classic.
2 Modern Classic
Over the last couple of years, American car brands have released cars that have larger displacement and much scarier power outputs. It is fair to say that these companies have engaged in a passive horsepower war. In Germany, car manufacturers are going for smaller engines equipped with turbos in order to give them extra boost. The latest M3 may no longer have a V8, but it remains a true sports car.
Since BMW included the M4 in its lineup, the M3 was no longer available as a coupe. However, the four-door beast is far from being your average grocery getter. Underneath the hood sits a healthy twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter S58B30T0 inline-six that makes 473 hp at 6,250 rpm and 406 lb-ft of torque at 2,650 rpm. It is fair to assume that the M3 will not dramatically decrease in value for years to come.
1 Tuner's Favorite
When Ford announced that its 2022 Ford Mustang GT was keeping the 5.0-liter that would now churn out 450 hp, amateur and professional tuners nationwide quickly realized that the Mustang still had a lot of potential. It will not be surprising to stumble across a street-legal and daily-driven 900+ hp 2022 Mustang on Hotcars these days.
The 630 hp BMW M3 G80 Manhart may not annihilate the Dodge Charger Hellcat down the quarter-mile, but it sure will shake the Hellcat off its tail on a track such as the Nürburgring. The latest M3 is the perfect base for an insane project. Whether it is done by an accredited tuner or not, the M3 has all the potential to become a true supercar killer.