Four generations of BMW M3
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Engine speed at max. output (rpm)
BMW M3, 1986–1991
BMW M3, 1992–1999
BMW M3, 2000 – 2006
BMW M3, from 2007
The series production launch of a road-going
sports car in 1986 introduced a vehicle whose
performance was considered almost unrivalled
from day one. In terms of speed, it was only
outstripped by the reputation that went before
it – established by the first-generation BMW M3
unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show a year
earlier. M enthusiasts around the globe could
hardly wait to get behind the wheel of this
extraordinarily athletic car, for what the BMW
engineers had developed was in many respects
groundbreaking.
At the heart of the M3 was a four-cylinder engine
with four-valve technology and individual throttle
butterflies that drew 147 kW (200 hp) from a
displacement of 2.3 litres. This power unit revved
right up into the five-figure band, taking the
1,200 kg M3 to a top speed of 235 km/h. But it
wasn’t speed alone that gave the BMW M3 its
appeal. An extremely resilient braking system
with ABS and inner-vented discs, as well as a
limited-slip differential that directed power to
the road via rear-wheel drive, even in the face of
extreme longitudinal and lateral acceleration,
gave pleasure in high performance a significant
boost. And with its dramatically flared wheel
arches and striking rear spoiler, the first BMW M3
made no secret of the fact that it was designed to
bring the motor sport experience to everyday
road driving.
or VANOS for short, BMW engineers had further
enhanced its nigh-inexhaustible performance
capabilities across a wide rev range. The BMW M3
was the world’s first production car to feature
technology of this kind. The Sequential M
transmission also marked its debut in this
generation. As a result, and ever since this series
came into being, the model designation M3 has
not only been strongly linked to motorsport but
has also stood for automotive milestones.
motoring. A muscular powerdome covered the
all-new six-cylinder in-line engine, while athletic
proportions distinguished the overall appearance.
Output of 252 kW (343 hp), maximum torque of
365 Nm and an engine speed of 8,000 rpm:
on paper these figures promised a breathtaking
driving experience. And the BMW M3 effortlessly
fulfilled that promise. Six electronically
controlled individual throttle butterflies meant
the power unit responded without the slightest
hesitation, while the high-performance,
In 2007, the fourth generation of the BMW M3
was lined up ready to exceed not just the
performance figures of its predecessors but
also drivers’ expectations for uncompromising
sportiness and absolute everyday utility. A
completely new development, this car not only
represented the continuation of the unique
success story of motorsport technology used
in production models – it also sounded the
starting signal for a new legend.
The second-generation model arrived in 1992.
Though without a spoiler and muscular wheel
arches, it still boasted powerful motorsport
genes that dictated above all what went on under
its skin. It was the first time a high-revving
six-cylinder in-line engine had been used. Output
of 210 kW (286 hp) propelled the Coupé from
standstill to 100 km/h in 6.0 seconds. Through
infinitely variable control of the inlet camshafts,
There was another milestone to come in 2000 in
the shape of the third-generation BMW M3 – the
benchmark for uniting motorsport with everyday
compound-design braking system provided
reassuring safety reserves even during racing-
style driving.
| Categories | BMW 3-Series Manuals, BMW Manuals |
|---|---|
| Tags | BMW E90, BMW E92, BMW E93 |
| Model Year | 2011 |
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| Document File Type | |
| Copyright | Attribution Non-commercial |
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