BMW M3

The first BMW M3 was based on the E30 3 Series and was intended to be a homologation special to satisfy the Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft and Group A Touring rules, which required a total of 5,000 of the base model to be built with a further 500 evolution specials. It was presented to the public at the 1985 Frankfurt Motor Show, and began production from March 1986 to June 1991. The E30 M3 was mainly produced in the coupé body style, but limited volumes of convertibles were also produced. The front splitter, the rear apron, sill panels, as well as changes to the body in the area of the rear window (C-pillar) and the bootlid improved the aerodynamics. For aerodynamic reasons, the rear window was flattened and the tailgate was made of light, glass-reinforced plastic raised by approximately 40 mm for better air flow. File:BMW M3 (E30) IMG 4388.jpg|Coupé File:BMW M3 Cabrio 1991 purble vl TCE.jpg|Convertible File:P9163398 (1392205533).jpg|E30 M3 interior Engine The E30 M3 used the BMW S14 four-cylinder engine, a high-revving DOHC design with a head closely based on that of the BMW S38 six-cylinder engine and the block from the BMW M10 four-cylinder engine with a 7,250 rpm redline. In countries where the M3 was sold with a catalytic converter, the initial versions were rated at and had a top speed of . The top speed was increased to . and rear wing. Brake cooling ducts were installed in place of front foglights. Ravaglia and Cecotto editions In April 1989, the Ravaglia and Cecotto limited editions were released, both named after Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft (DTM) racing drivers. Power was increased to with a catalytic converter. Cecotto Edition production consisted of 480 cars, plus 80 cars for the Swiss market de-tuned to to meet Swiss emissions limits. The production run for the Ravaglia Edition consisted of 25 cars. Production volumes Total production of the E30 M3 was 17,970 cars. Motorsport The M3 E30 competed in many forms of motorsport and was highly successful in touring car racing. In full race trim, the 1988 M3's naturally aspirated engine was rated at approximately . The E30 M3 won the 24 Hours Nürburgring five times (1989, 1990, 1991, 1992 and 1994) and the Spa 24 Hours four times (1987, 1988, 1990 and 1992), often competing against cars with significantly larger or turbocharged engines. To keep the car competitive in racing following year-to-year homologation rules changes, homologation specials were produced and sold in limited volumes. These include the Evo 1, Evo 2, and Sport Evolution, with upgrades including weight reduction, improved aerodynamics, taller front wheel arches (to allow 18-inch wheels to be used in DTM racing), bigger brake ducts and more power output from the engine. With the introduction of the 2.5L evolution engine into racing in 1990, power increased to approximately . The M3 also competed as a rally car, with Prodrive-prepared examples contesting several national championships and selected rounds of the World Rally Championship between 1987 and 1989. By the latter year, the cars, based on the regular M3, were equipped with six-speed gearboxes and were rated at . The M3 was not very competitive with the four-wheel drive cars on loose surfaces, but it was a very effective car on asphalt. Its most notable success was a victory on the Tour de Corse in 1987, driven by Bernard Béguin. Championships • World Touring Car Championship; 1 title (1987) • European Touring Car Championship; 2 titles (1987 and 1988) • British Touring Car Championship; 2 titles (1988 and 1991) • Italia Superturismo Championship; 4 titles (1987, 1989, 1990 and 1991) • Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft; 2 titles (1987 and 1989) • Australian Touring Car Championship; 1 title (1987) • Australian 2.0 Litre Touring Car Championship; 1 title (1993 – 1987 BMW M3 body with a 2.0L version of the S14 engine) • Australian Manufacturers' Championship; 2 titles (1987 and 1988 – both shared. 1987 with Nissan, 1988 with Ford and Toyota) • AMSCAR Series; 2 titles (1987, 1991) • Asia-Pacific Touring Car Championship; 1 title (1988) • Irish Tarmac Rally Championship; 1 title (1990) • New Zealand Touring Car Championship; 2 titles (1988, 1991) • Nissan-Mobil 500 Series; 1991 • Japanese Touring Car Championship; 7 titles in JTC-2 (1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993) == E36 generation (1992–1999) ==

}} The M3 model of the E36 3 Series was released in November 1992 and was initially available as a coupé only, with a convertible version added in 1994. A saloon version was also added in December 1994, to fill in the gap caused by the lack of the M5 saloon model between the end of E34 M5 production in 1995 and the launch of the E39 M5 in 1998. In September 1995, a facelift version of the coupé was introduced. Changes included the engine displacement increasing to , the manual transmission upgrading from a 5-speed to a 6-speed, different wheels and clear indicator lenses. The facelift changes were applied to the saloon model in November 1995 and the convertible model in February 1996. The kerb weight of the 1996 M3 coupe in European specification is . The facelift also saw the introduction of a 6-speed "SMG" automated manual transmission, the first time an automated transmission was available on an M3 outside the United States. The SMG transmission was praised for its fast shift times and operation in performance situations, but criticized for behavior in everyday driving situations. In 1996, BMW M hand-built an E36 M3 Compact prototype as an M-car which would appeal to younger customers. It included various performance and styling features of the E36 M3, including the 3.2-litre S50 engine, mated with a body familiar to North American BMW customers as the "ti" body style. This prototype M3 Compact was reviewed in the German magazine "", but never reached production. File:1995-1999 BMW M3 (E36) coupe 02.jpg|coupé File:E36 M3 Cabrio hardtop.jpg|convertible File:BMW-M.M3.arp.750pix.jpg|saloon File:BMW M3 Evo Covertible E36 Techno Violet - Flickr - The Car Spy (9).jpg|E36 M3 convertible interior Engine inline-6 engine The E36 M3 is powered by the BMW S50 straight-six engine. It was the first M3 to use a six-cylinder engine, which has since been used in the majority of M3 models (albeit in turbocharged form since 2014). In most countries, the initial version generated at 7,000 rpm and at 3,600 rpm. North American models (except for the limited edition Canadian "M3 Euro-Spec" model) used the less powerful BMW S50B30US engine instead. The facelift models in late 1995 were upgraded to a version of the BMW S50 engine, generating at 7,400 rpm and at 3,250 rpm. North American models used the less powerful BMW S52 engine instead. Special editions M3 GT (Europe) In 1994, BMW produced the limited-edition M3 GT as a racing homologation special for Europe, in order to compete in the FIA-GT class II, IMSA GT and international long-distance races. A total of 356 cars were produced, all in left-hand drive for mainland Europe. The UK received a special GT trim limited to 50 cars with only the cosmetic upgrades of the homologation special. The engine was the European-specification S50B30, which was upgraded with larger camshafts and a higher compression ratio, resulting in peak power of at 7,100rpm. All M3 GTs only came in one single colour, "British Racing Green". Other changes include a deeper and adjustable front splitter, M3 Lightweight (US Only) Following the introduction of the E36 M3, racing teams in the United States began pressuring BMW for a homologation version in order to compete in sports-car racing. As a result, the 'M3 Lightweight' was introduced in 1995. The cars came without a radio (although the speakers were installed and the car pre-wired for the radio), air conditioning, leather seats, tool kit or a sunroof. The doors have aluminium skins. There is no under bonnet insulation blanket, and the boot only has carpet on the floor. The under body insulation is thinner and there is special carpeting to lower weight. Overall the changes resulted in a weight less than a regular M3. The wheels are 17 inches in diameter, with a width of 7.5 inches at the front and 8.5 inches at the rear. The tyres fitted were 235/40ZR17. Powertrain changes included the removal of the top speed limiter and a shorter differential ratio (3.23 compared to 3.15). Suspension upgrades consisted of shorter springs from the European-specification M3. Before being sold, the M3 Lightweights were sent to Prototype Technology Group Racing in Virginia for final preparation, which included the front and rear Motorsport flag decals, and "trunk kit". In the boot there was a dual-pickup oil pump (from the European-specification M3), front strut bar, lower cross-brace, spacer blocks to raise the rear wing, and an adjustable front splitter. Canadian Edition Prior to the release of the North American specification M3, BMW Canada sold 45 of the European specification M3s. At the time, BMW North America was opposed to importing the E36 M3 (due to its high price and the poor sales of the previous M3). The Canadian Edition M3 was imported using a loophole that allows low volumes of Norwegian-certified cars to be sold in Canada. Despite a high price of nearly $60,000 CAD, all 45 cars were sold in 3 days. 42 of the M3s arrived in Canada via boat in January 1994, with the final 3 cars shipping sometime in the following few months. As with other European specification M3s, these 45 cars had the version of the S50 engine, oil temperature gauge and glass headlights, as well as Canadian-required equipment such as a third brake light and daytime running lights. Each of the Canadian Edition cars has an individually-numbered plaque on the inside of the glovebox which reads "S50 B30 Limited Production Canadian Edition" as well as a special owners manual pouch with a similar plaque. The cars were numbered at random, with no correlation to VIN numbers, options or production date. When the North American specification M3 was released in 1995, it was initially not available in Canada. Sales of the North American M3 in Canada began in 1997. M3-R (Australia) In order to race in the Australian Super Production series, fifteen M3-Rs were sold by BMW Australia in 1994. With a power output of , the M3-R is the most powerful production E36 M3. Four of the cars were used for the race series, while the remaining eleven were sold to the general public. Buyers were required to possess a CAMS motorsport licence in order to purchase an M3-R. The cars were delivered to the workshop of the Frank Gardner racing team for final preparation. A bolt-in FIA-approved roll cage was a factory option. Suspension upgrades consisted of new springs, adjustable struts and rear perches. Engine upgrades consisted of AC Schnitzer camshafts, dual pickup sump, an oil restrictor in the head and a cold air snorkel into the air filter box replacing the left hand foglight. Other changes included four piston front brake calipers, a shorter (3.25:1) differential ratio, the driveshaft from the M5, a twin-plate clutch, a non-functional rear seat, no air conditioning, a deeper front splitter Production Production of the E36 M3 began in September 1992 and was discontinued in August 1999. The majority of cars were produced at the BMW Regensburg factory in Germany; however, a small number of low compression right-hand drive cars were assembled at BMW's plant in Rosslyn, South Africa. In total, 46,525 coupés, 12,114 convertibles, and 12,603 saloons were produced. The saloon ceased production in December 1997, the coupé in late 1998, and the convertible in December 1999. suspension changes, and single piece brake discs (instead of floating discs). The changes were made in order to reduce the price of the M3, as the US dealers believed the European specification M3 would be too expensive to sell well. In November 1996, the engine was upgraded to the BMW S52, with the same power outputs of , but with torque increased to . The manual gearbox remained a 5-speed, despite the European versions being upgraded to a 6-speed version. US sales figures include a total of 18,961 coupés, 7,760 saloon and 6,211 convertibles. Motorsport The introduction of the E36 M3 coincided with BMW's withdrawal from the Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft (DTM), resulting in BMW focussing instead on the 318i and 320i models in the Super Tourenwagen Cup. Nonetheless, the E36 M3 competed in many motorsport events. In 1993, the E36 M3 GTR won the German ADAC GT Cup, driven by Johnny Cecotto. The M3 GT competed in the European FIA GT Championship. In the United States, the Prototype Technology Group (PTG) Racing in Virginia ran the E36 M3 in the IMSA GT Championship. In the 1996 IMSA GT Championship, the M3 won 4 races in the GTS-2 class and BMW won the manufacturer's championship. In the 1997 IMSA GT Championship, the M3 won 8 races in the GTS-3 class, with BMW winning the manufacturer's championship again and Bill Auberlen winning the driver's championship. In the 1998 IMSA GT Championship, the M3 won 5 races and BMW won the manufacturer's championship in the GT3 class. The same year, the M3 won 4 races in the GT2 class. The M3 also competed in the 2000 American Le Mans Series, taking one win in the GT class. In Australia, the M3-R competed in the Australian GT Production Car Championship. == E46 generation (2000–2006) ==

The M3 version of the E46 3 Series was produced in coupé and convertible body styles. The E46 M3 is powered by the S54 straight-six engine and has a acceleration time of 5.2 seconds for the coupé, with either the manual or SMG-II transmission. The skidpad cornering results are 0.89g for the coupé and 0.81g for the convertible. The top speed is electronically limited to . The available transmissions were a Getrag 420G 6-speed manual transmission or an SMG-II 6-speed automated manual transmission, which was based on the Getrag 420G. The SMG-II used an electrohydraulically actuated clutch, and gear shifts could be selected via the shift lever or paddles mounted on the steering wheel. The SMG-II was praised for its fast shift times and racetrack performance, but some people found its shifts to be delayed and lurching in stop-start traffic. Total production of the E46 M3 was 56,133 coupés and 29,633 convertibles. The cars were assembled at the BMW Regensburg factory in Germany, and production was from September 2000 until August 2006, for a total of 85,766 cars. An M3 Touring station wagon prototype was built to evaluate the feasibility of building an M3 model on the existing platform of the E46 station wagon (especially the integration of the M3's wider rear wheel arches onto the wagon body). The prototype did not reach production. The M3 was previewed at the 1999 International Motor Show Germany as a concept, resembling the final production version very closely. The final production version was first introduced in March 2000 at the Geneva Motor Show, with the new 3.2L S54 M-tuned inline-6 engine. Special editions CSL The BMW M3 CSL (, meaning 'Coupé Sport Lightweight') is a limited-edition version of the M3 that was produced in 2004, with production totaling to 1,383 cars. It was available in two colours: "Silver Grey Metallic" and "Black Sapphire Metallic". As its name suggests, an emphasis was put on reducing weight. The CSL has a curb weight of , lighter than the regular M3. Structural weight reduction measures include the use of glass-reinforced plastics in various structural points in the car, body panels constructed from carbon fibre The boot floor cover was made of lightweight fibre-board (not cardboard as infamously described on the Top Gear television show). The CSL discarded a large proportion of the M3's sound insulation, electric seats, navigation system, air conditioning, and stereo (the latter two were able to be re-added as no-cost options). These tyres provided high grip levels once warmed up on a racetrack, but poor performance on wet roads and when below their operating temperature. A warning label was included in the CSL to inform drivers about driving in cold or wet conditions. The brakes were upgraded with larger floating discs at the front and larger pistons at the rear. The suspension system was revised with stiffer springs, upgraded shock absorbers and a quicker ratio for the steering rack (14.5:1 vs 15.4:1 on the regular M3). The electronic stability control was retuned and an "M track mode" was added, allowing higher thresholds before the system intervened. The engine used in the CSL had increased output over the regular S54 by and over the European M3. This is due to the use of sharper profile camshafts, a bigger air intake with carbon fibre manifold, a refinement of the exhaust manifold, and slightly different exhaust valves. When ALMS changed the homologation rules at the end of the 2001 season, the road version project was stopped. All 7 development prototypes were recycled but the three production ready display cars exist to this day and all still owned by BMW AG. One of the Road M3 GTRs was displayed by BMW of North America LLC at Legends of the Autobahn in 2015 along with the newly restored ALMS race version of the car. Top speed was . The transmission was a six-speed manual and the differential was the same variable locking unit as used in the race car. The dry weight was . Weight reduction measures included a carbon fibre front bumper, rear bumper and rear wing. The M3 GTR gained a cult following in the gaming community after it appeared in the 2005 video game Need for Speed: Most Wanted. Road & Track, who collaborated on the first Need for Speed video game, described the game's custom M3 GTR as being "so iconic that fans still recreate the livery in real life." Once searched about the M3 GTR, nearly 85% of the results will relate the car to Need for Speed: Most Wanted. It also makes an appearance in Real Racing 3, with a special livery of the Need for Speed games and its own exclusive series as well. In November 2024, BMW vinyl-wrapped the 2001 ALMS GT-winning #42 M3 GTR driven by Jörg Müller with the livery from Need for Speed: Most Wanted as a museum piece, and it was available for show in the BMW Welt Show at Munich from December 2024-January 2025. North American models The North American models used the same S54 engine as in other countries (unlike the previous generation, which used lower performance engines in the United States). Due to minor differences in specification, the United States models were rated at and , resulting in an official 0– acceleration time of 4.8 seconds for the coupé version (with either the manual and SMG transmission). As in other countries, top speed was electronically limited to . The CSL model was not sold in the North American market. Motorsport In the United States, the E46 M3 competed in the 2000 American Le Mans Series GT category and finished third in the championship. The straight-six engine was viewed as uncompetitive compared to the Porsche 996 GT3, therefore BMW began to develop a new M3 racing car based around a more powerful engine. The resulting E46 GTR racing car was introduced in February 2001 and was powered by a version of the P60 V8 engine. With a more powerful engine than the straight-six powered M3 versions (which were outpaced by the competition), the GTR won the 2001 American Le Mans Series GT category, driven by Jörg Müller. The eligibility of the GTR was the subject of controversy, with some rival teams believing that the GTR was an in-house prototype vehicle rather than a production model available for purchase by the general public. The ALMS homologation rules for 2001 required the M3 GTR road car to be sold on at least two continents within twelve months of the rules being issued, which BMW claimed to fulfill by stating that 10 GTR road cars were available for sale. The ALMS rules were altered for 2002, now requiring that 100 cars and 1,000 engines must be built for a car to qualify without penalties. The GTR road car was never intended for production on this scale, so BMW withdrew the GTR from competition at this point. In 2003, the M3 GTR returned to competition at the 24 Hours Nürburgring, with two cars run by Schnitzer Motorsport. The GTR won the 24 Hours Nürburgring in 2004 and 2005, and competed in the 24 Hours Spa. Also in 2003, an M3 GTR raced in the 2003 Bathurst 24 Hour race in the hands of Australian race team Prancing Horse Racing. Although the car only arrived in Australia just a week before the race, John Bowe managed to still qualify the car (which ran a fairly stock 5.0L version of the BMW P60B40 V8 engine) in 3rd place. The race, with drivers Bowe, Neil Crompton, Greg Crick and team owner, Indonesian millionaire businessman Maher Algadrie, would only last 131 laps however (the winner covered 527 laps) before Algadrie was put out in an accidental clash on top of The Mountain at around 11 PM while being lapped by the Holden Monaro 427C of eventual race winner Peter Brock. == E90/E92/E93 generation (2007–2013) ==

}} The M3 model of the E90/E92/E93 3 Series range was powered by the BMW S65 V8 engine and was produced in saloon, convertible and coupé body styles. The E9x is the first and only standard production M3 powered by a V8 engine as its successor would revert to using a straight 6 engine. In the standard M3, the S65 engine rated at at 8,400 rpm and at 3,900 rpm. The official acceleration times for the coupé and saloon are 4.6 seconds with the DCT transmission (4.8 seconds with the manual transmission) and 5.1 seconds for the convertible. The E90 and E92 versions received many positive reviews, including "the greatest all-around car in the world", "the finest car on the market, period" and "the best, most complete car in the world". Development and production Total production of the E9x M3 was 40,092 coupés, 16,219 convertibles and 9,674 saloon. Production of saloon models finished in 2011, with coupés remaining in production until July 5, 2013. Body styles The first body style to be introduced was the E92 coupé, which was previewed at the 2007 Geneva Motor Show and introduced in production form at the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show on 12 September. The coupé version uses a carbon fibre roof to reduce weight and lower the centre of gravity. In 2010, the coupé and convertible versions received a minor facelift, which included revised LED tail-lights and minor interior trim pieces but it did not get the updated headlights from the regular series. The E93 convertible version was introduced shortly after the coupé and uses a power retractable hardtop. The leather seats in the convertible version are treated with a coating to reflect sunlight, in order to reduce their tendency to become uncomfortably hot with the top down. The E90 saloon version was introduced in 2008 and was the second (along with the E36) M3 by generation to be produced in a 4-door body style. The saloon has the same drivetrain and similar external styling as the coupé, however the lack of a carbon fibre roof contributes to a weight increase of compared to an identically equipped coupé. The official kerb weights for the 2008 European-specification models (with manual transmission) are for the coupé, for the saloon and for the convertible. 2008-2010 BMW M3 (E90) sedan 05.jpg | Saloon (E90) BMW M3 E92 - Flickr - Alexandre Prévot (4) (cropped).jpg | Coupé (E92) 2008 BMW M3 Convertible - Flickr - The Car Spy (1).jpg | Convertible (E93) File:BMW E92 M3 Coupé Interior.JPG|E92 M3 interior M Performance Parts M Performance Parts were made for the sixth generation M3. These include black kidney grilles, M wheels, an M Performance exhaust that reduces the weight by , carbon fibre mirrors, spoilers and splitter, a handbrake, steel pedals, a sport steering wheel, black side trim and alcantara leather steering wheel button trim, M stripes decal. Special editions Competition Package (ZCP) The "Competition Package" (sometimes known as ZCP) version was released in 2010. The changes related to the suspension and electronic stability control and consisted of: • Ride height lowered by • Revised tuning of the adjustable dampers (Electronic Damping Control) • 19-inch wheels (Styling 359) GTS BMW announced the M3 GTS in November 2009 and began production in 2010. The GTS was designed as a "road-legal clubsport-oriented model" and produced only in the coupé body style. Changes over the regular M3 include an upgraded engine, reduced curb weight, revised suspension, upgraded brakes and adjustable aerodynamics. The GTS uses an engine enlarged to which has a power output of . The sole transmission option was the 7-speed dual-clutch transmission (M-DCT) and the official acceleration time for the GTS is 4.4 seconds. The car weighs less than the regular M3, due to a lighter centre console and door panels, polycarbonate side and rear windows, a lack of rear seats and the removal of acoustic insulation. Suspension changes include adjustable camber angle and ride height, a rigidly mounted rear axle and revised dampers. The front brakes were upgraded to 6-piston callipers with larger discs, and the rear brakes were upgraded to 4-piston callipers with larger discs. Aerodynamics are adjustable via the front apron and the angle of the rear wing. Production was limited to 135 cars, which sold out quickly. CRT The M3 CRT (Carbon Racing Technology) was a special edition of the M3 saloon that was produced in 2011. The CRT was powered by the same 4.4 litre version of the S65 engine as the GTS, however it retained a higher level of luxury features compared to the track-focused GTS. The CRT used a carbon fibre bonnet and front seats to reduce weight, resulting in a kerb weight approximately lower than an equivalently specified version of the regular M3 saloon. Production was limited to 67 cars, all numbered with a plaque on the dashboard. The official acceleration time was 4.4 seconds. DTM Champion Edition BMW Motorsport returned to the DTM in 2012, and 54 "DTM Champion Edition" cars were built to commemorate the BMW M3 winning the championship. The unique features of the DTM Champion Edition consisted of visual changes to associate the car with the DTM race car, such as the "Frozen Black" paint colour, stripes over the roof and bootlid, carbon flaps, a gurney flap and matte black wheels. Interior changes included carbon fibre for some interior trim items, an "M Power" logo embroidered on the handbrake grip and a numbered plaque with Spengler's signature and the text "DTM champion 2012" above the glove box. All cars were produced with the dual-clutch transmission. Lime Rock Park Edition (US) In the United States, the M3 Lime Rock Park Edition was produced for the 2013 model year. A total of 200 cars were sold, all coupés painted in the "Fire Orange" colour. Performance changes included a carbon fibre front splitter Frozen Edition Due to the GTS version not being available in South Africa, BMW developed the BMW M3 Frozen Edition in 2009. The engine was upgraded to generate , due to an AC Schnitzer intake manifold and changes to the engine management system. Twenty-five Frozen Edition cars were produced, all with exterior colours of either "Frozen Black" or "Frozen Grey". Competition Edition Frozen Silver In 2012, BMW announced this edition with 40 to be built for US and 100 for Europe. Built to commemorate the 40th anniversary of BMW's M Division, each model came with "Frozen Silver Metallic" exterior paint. According to BMW, the colour is a special matte paint that adds a metallic lustre to the vehicle. The interior has black leather and palladium silver accessories. M3 Pickup Prototype The M3 Pickup is a one-off custom variant of the M3 which was based on the E93 M3 convertible and publicly announced on April Fool's Day in 2011. It was used as a workshop transport vehicle for BMW M GmbH, replacing their E30 M3 pickup version after 26 years of use. The vehicle was assembled by M GmbH's employees, as well as interns and engineering students. Motorsport The E92 M3 saw BMW return to the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (DTM) after a break of 20 years. In its debut season in 2012, the M3 won the drivers championship, the manufacturers championship and five out of ten races for the season. In endurance racing, the BMW Motorsport/Schnitzer Motorsport M3 GT2 won the 2010 24 Hours of Nürburgring, driven by Jörg Müller, Augusto Farfus, Pedro Lamy, and Uwe Alzen. The M3 also qualified second at the 2010 24 Hours of Spa and led the race until being forced to retire in the final hour due to suspension failure. The M3 won the GT2 category in the ILMC 2010 1000 km of Zhuhai in China. A GT4 version of the M3 was introduced in 2009 and competed in various races, including finishing third in the GT4 SP10 class at the 2009 24 Hours Nürburgring, and winning its class at the ADAC Westfalenfahrt race at the Nürburgring in April 2009. In July 2009, BMW Motorsport released an M3 GT4 model for sale to private teams and drivers; this included the GT2 body kit. The official kerb weight was and changes to the were claimed to be minimal. For the 2010 24 Hours Nürburgring, the "Balance of Performance" required the M3 to not exceed a power output of and to have a minimum weight of . In the United States, Rahal Letterman Racing entered two factory-backed E92 M3s in the 2009 American Le Mans Series season, competing in the GT2 category. In 2011, the BMW achieved a 1–2 finish in the 12 Hours of Sebring. In the 2011 American Le Mans Series GT class, BMW Team RLL swept all categories, winning the GT manufacturer, team and driver championships. In 2012, the M3 won the GT class at the 12 Hours of Sebring. The #79 M3 GT2 that competed at Le Mans became the 17th BMW Art Car after it was decorated by Jeff Koons. The M3 GT2 was succeeded by the BMW Z4 GTE in 2013. == F80 generation (2014–2018) ==

The M3 version of the F30 3 Series was designated the F80 and was produced from 2014 to 2018. The F80 M3 was powered by the BMW S55 twin-turbocharged straight-six engine, therefore being the first turbocharged M3 model. Despite the smaller displacement than the V8 engine used by the previous generation of M3, the switch from naturally aspirated engines to turbocharging resulted in peak power being increased from , and peak torque being increased from . The official acceleration times are 3.9 seconds with the M-DCT transmission and 4.1 seconds with the manual transmission. Top speed is limited to but an optional M Driver's package raises this to . The kerb weight is . The F80 M3 was unveiled, alongside the F82 M4 (its coupé counterpart), at the 2014 North American International Auto Show. The two-door M3 had been renamed BMW M4 – in line with the new BMW 4 Series range. 2016, a Competition Package became available for the M3 and M4. Changes included an increase in power to , revised tuning of the electronic differential and the electronic stability control ("DSC"), suspension upgrades and new front seats. The official time was 4.0 seconds with the dual-clutch transmission. To minimise weight, the roof is made of carbon fibre and the bonnet and front quarter panels are made from aluminium. Facelifts The F80 M3's design was updated in (summer) 2015 for the 2016 model year and in (march) 2017 for the 2018 model year. In the former, the taillights were given LEDs, and in the latter, the headlights were restyled and also given newer and more angular LEDs. M Performance Parts M Performance Parts can be fitted to all M3 models. These include a carbon fibre diffuser, a carbon fibre spoiler, a carbon fibre bumper winglet, a splitter and side skirts. Special editions M3 Pure The Australian-only M3 Pure model was sold as the base model, being cheaper than the regular M3. The M3 Pure has the engine, exhaust and suspension from the Competition Package. Exterior trims include black badges, front grilles, side grilles and exhaust tips, while the interior trim uses a combination of leather and cloth. M3 CS An "M3 CS" special edition was produced in 2018 with an upgraded engine rated at and . The weight was reduced by through use of a carbon fibre hood and front splitter, M3 30-Jahre Edition To celebrate the 30th anniversary of the introduction of the first M3, BMW produced a limited run of 30-Jahre edition cars. Only 500 were made and distributed worldwide, with 150 of these making their way to the US. The US cars were all equipped with Individual Macao Blue paint, Fjord Blue and Black interior, Competition package and numerous badges and trim denoting the cars as 30-Jahre Edition. M3 Velocity Edition In 2018, BMW produced 20 M3 Velocity Edition models that were only available for purchase to military members stationed in Stuttgart, Germany. The Velocity Edition is equipped with the Competition Package and is only available in the "Fashion Grey Metallic" colour. A laser engraved dash/engine strut denotes the number of 20 cars made. Motorsport With the M3 model now being solely as a saloon, the motor racing activities switched to the M4 (F82) coupé. Discontinuation Production ceased in October 2018, due to the extensive changes required to meet the WLTP emissions regulations. However, the M4 model remained in production. == G80/G81 generation (2020–present) ==

| Front-engine, rear-wheel-drive | Front-engine, all-wheel-drive }} }} The full M version of the G20 3 Series is powered by the BMW S58 turbocharged straight-six engine that debuted in the G01 X3 M. The more notable changes for the G80 M3 is a power output of 473 hp, which is a 35 kW (47 hp; 47 hp) increase over the previous F80 M3, and the adoption of the twin-kidney grille from the 4 Series. All-wheel drive (xDrive) is optional on the new M3, the first time that an M3 has used a drivetrain layout other than rear-wheel drive. A manual gearbox is available only with rear wheel drive, and is the only transmission available on the standard M3 model. It is available as a Touring (estate) model, marking the first time BMW has offered an M3 Touring. The BMW M3 G80 went on sale as a 2021 model, with the initial prototypes tested at the Nürburgring alongside the BMW M4 G82. It was officially unveiled on 23 September 2020 alongside the new M4. File:2023 BMW M3 Competition xDrive Auto 1.jpg|G80 Rear File:2022 BMW M3 Touring.jpg|G81 Front (Touring) File:BMW M3 COMPETITION (G80) China.jpg|G80 Competition M3 Competition At launch in 2020, the M3 Competition model was unveiled alongside the standard M3 model. Compared to the standard M3, the M3 Competition increases power output by to a total of and torque is increased by to , and it is offered exclusively with an 8-speed M Steptronic Sport automatic transmission. The M3 Competition also features a separate transmission oil cooler, black chrome exhaust tips, forged M light-alloy wheels, automatic brake hold function, and high-gloss black mirrors. M3 CS In 2023, at the 24 Hours of Daytona, BMW unveiled the limited-production M3 CS model. The model features a power increase to and a weight-reduction of compared to the M3 Competition xDrive. It is offered only as an all-wheel drive and 8-speed automatic model. BMW will also make 30 units of M3 CS Touring for the Japanese domestic market. File:2023 BMW M3 CS.jpg|G80 M3 CS File:BMW M3 CS (G81) DSC 9670.jpg|G81 M3 CS Updates In July 2022, for the 2023 model year, the M3 saloon received the new dual curved display featuring iDrive 8, matching the facelifted, standard 3 Series. It replaces the previous separate digital cockpit and infotainment system with iDrive 7. The M3 Touring launched directly with the new display. M Performance Parts M Performance Parts can be fitted to all models. These include a wing, carbon fibre side skirts, an M Performance Exhaust system, canards, a carbon fibre splitter, a carbon fibre diffuser and rear ground effects. Motorsport Originally an April Fools' Day joke made by BMW in a social media post in 2025, overwhelmingly positive reception from users convinced BMW to proceed with the idea of developing a racing version of the M3 Touring. Nearly a year later on 16 March 2026, BMW formally unveiled the M3 Touring 24H online, sharing images of the car both in studio and on track completing a shakedown. It shares the same platform as the BMW M4 GT3 Evo, but is 200 millimetres longer and 32 millimetres taller (including the rear wing) resulting from the estate body style. In the announcement, they confirmed their intention of entering the car in the 2026 24 Hours of Nürburgring in the SP-X special vehicles class with factory drivers Connor De Phillippi, Ugo de Wilde, Jens Klingmann, and Neil Verhagen. == Production volumes ==