Let’s take a tire-shredding trip down memory lane with ultimate driving machine – the legendary BMW M3. Here’s our guide to every generation.
This Bavarian beast has been setting hearts racing and leaving lesser motors in its dust for over three decades. So, grab a drink, settle in, and let’s dive into the history of BMW’s most iconic M Car…
The Birth of a Legend: BMW M3 E30 (1986-1991)
Picture this: It’s the mid-80s. Synth-pop’s blasting on the radio, everyone’s rocking questionable hairdos, and BMW’s cooking up something special in their Motorsport division. In 1986, they unleashed the original E30 M3 on an unsuspecting world, and boy, did it make a splash! This wasn’t just another 3 Series with a fancy badge. Oh no, this was a proper homologation special built to dominate Group A touring car racing. BMW’s engineers went to town on the standard E30, giving it a wider stance, boxy flared arches, and that iconic rear wing that looked like it could double as a picnic table. Under the bonnet lurked a high-revving 2.3-litre four-pot S14 engine, good for a screaming 200 bhp.
That might not sound like much today, but back then, it was enough to have this lightweight monster hitting 60 mph in just 6.7 seconds and topping out at 146 mph. Not too shabby for a car that still had to do the weekly shop! But BMW wasn’t done. They kept tweaking and fettling, giving us the Evolution and Sport Evolution models. By the time the final E30 M3 rolled off the production line in 1991, power had been bumped up to a whopping 238 bhp from a 2.5-litre engine. That’s proper old-school muscle, that is!
The Smooth Operator: BMW M3 E36 (1992-1999)
As the 90s rolled in, bringing with it grunge, Friends, and questionable fashion choices, BMW decided it was time for the M3 to grow up a bit. Enter the E36 M3 – smoother, more sophisticated, but still packing a proper punch. Gone was the raw, race-bred four-cylinder. In its place, we got a silky-smooth 3.0-litre straight-six, initially pumping out 286 bhp. This new M3 was less of a track day special and more of a high-performance grand tourer.
It could still hustle when you wanted it to, mind, hitting 60 mph in about 5.6 seconds. But the real party piece came in 1995 with the introduction of the 3.2-litre engine. Now we’re talking 321 bhp of pure Bavarian muscle! This M3 was also the first to offer BMW’s SMG automated manual gearbox. It might’ve been a bit jerky compared to today’s dual-clutch units, but back then, it was proper cutting-edge stuff.
The People’s Champion: BMW M3 E46 (2000-2006)
If the E36 was a bit too smooth for your liking, the E46 M3 came along in 2000 to rough things up a bit. This is the one that many reckon is the sweet spot in M3 history – the perfect blend of old-school analogue feel and modern performance. Under that bulging bonnet sat a 3.2-litre straight-six S54 engine, belting out 343 bhp. This thing revved to the moon and back, with a spine-tingling soundtrack to match.
It’d hit 60 mph in about 5 seconds flat and keep on pulling all the way to 155 mph. But it wasn’t just about straight-line speed. The E46 M3 handled like it was on rails, especially if you opted for the Competition Package with its beefed-up suspension and bigger brakes. And let’s not forget the CSL – a stripped-out, pumped-up version that’s now more desirable than a winning lottery ticket!
The V8 Bruiser: BMW M3 E90/E92/E93 (2007-2013)
As we rolled into the new millennium, BMW decided to go big or go home. The fourth-gen M3 landed with a bang in 2007, packing a 4.0-litre V8 under its hood. This was proper supercar territory, with 414 bhp on tap and a noise that could wake the dead. Available as a saloon, coupe, or convertible, this M3 was a proper jack-of-all-trades. It could do the school run on Monday and then embarrass supercars at the track on Sunday.
The 0-60 sprint was dispatched in just 4.6 seconds, and if you were brave enough to take off the electronic limiter, it’d top out at over 180 mph! But it wasn’t all about brute force. The E92 M3 introduced some clever tech, like the M Dynamic Mode that let you have a bit of slip without completely turning off the electronic nannies. Perfect for when you wanted to get a bit lairy without ending up in the hedge!
The Turbo Terror: BMW M3 F80 (2014-2018)
As we hit the mid-2010s, even BMW couldn’t resist the siren call of turbocharging. The F80 M3 landed in 2014, sporting a twin-turbo 3.0-litre straight-six. Purists might’ve moaned about the loss of natural aspiration, but you couldn’t argue with the numbers: 431 bhp and a 0-60 time of just 4.1 seconds. This generation saw the M3 name reserved solely for the four-door saloon, with the coupe and convertible versions rebranded as the M4.
It was lighter than its predecessor, thanks to clever use of carbon fibre, and it handled like a dream. The turbos meant it had buckets of low-down torque, making it an absolute weapon on the road.But it wasn’t without controversy. Some reckoned it was a bit too clinical, lacking the raw edge of earlier M3s. And let’s not even get started on that artificially enhanced engine note pumped through the speakers. Still, in terms of pure performance, this M3 was an absolute monster.
The Modern Marvel: BMW M3 G80 (2021-present)
And that brings us to the latest and greatest – the G80 M3. Launched in 2021, this thing’s got more tech than the Starship Enterprise and enough power to restart the Big Bang. We’re talking 503 bhp in Competition spec, 0-60 in 3.8 seconds, and enough electronic wizardry to make Harry Potter jealous. But let’s address the elephant in the room – that grille. It’s big. It’s bold. It’s… controversial. Some love it, some hate it, but you can’t deny it makes a statement. And hey, at least you can spot it coming a mile off! For the first time ever, you can now get your M3 with all-wheel drive. Purists might scoff, but when you’re trying to put down over 500 bhp, a bit of extra traction doesn’t go amiss.
Don’t worry though, you can still switch it to rear-wheel drive mode when you fancy getting sideways. And if that wasn’t enough, BMW’s only gone and made an M3 Touring! That’s right, you can now have your M3 as a proper estate car. Perfect for when you need to get the kids to school in a hurry, or just fancy taking the dog for a very, very fast walk.
Wrapping It Up
So, there you have it, folks – 35 years of M3 madness condensed into one high-octane history lesson. From its humble beginnings as a homologation special to the tech-laden powerhouse it is today, the M3 has always been at the pointy end of the performance car world. It’s been imitated, emulated, but never quite replicated. Whether you’re a fan of the raw, analogue feel of the early models or the face-melting performance of the latest versions, there’s a BMW M3 out there for everyone.
Which one’s your favourite? The classic E30? The sweet-spot E46? Or are you all about that modern G80 life? Whatever your poison, there’s no denying the M3’s place in the pantheon of performance car greats. Here’s to another 35 years of BMW’s ultimate driving machine! Now, if you’ll excuse us, we’re off to check down the back of the sofa for some spare change. We’ve got a BMW M3 to buy!
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