BMW M3 | |
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Overview | |
Manufacturer | BMW M |
Production | 1985–present |
Body and chassis | |
Class | Compact luxury sports sedan |
Layout | FR layout |
E30 | |
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Overview | |
Production | 1985–1992 |
Assembly |
Regensburg, Germany Garching, Germany Rosslyn, South Africa |
Body and chassis | |
Body style | 2-door coupe 2-door convertible |
Related | BMW 3 Series |
Powertrain | |
Engine | 2.3 L I4 2.5 L I4 |
Transmission | 5-speed manual |
Dimensions | |
Wheelbase | 2,562 mm (100.9 in) |
Length | 4,345 mm (171.1 in) |
Width | 1,680 mm (66.1 in) |
Height | 1,370 mm (53.9 in) |
Curb weight | 1,165–1,360 kg (2,568.4–2,998.3 lb) |
E36 | |
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Overview | |
Production | 1992–1999 71,242 built |
Assembly |
Regensburg, Germany Rosslyn, South Africa Toluca, Mexico (BMW Mexico) |
Designer | Ulf Weidhase (1990) |
Body and chassis | |
Body style | 4-door saloon 2-door coupé 2-door convertible |
Related | BMW 3 Series |
Powertrain | |
Engine | |
Transmission | 5-speed automatic 5-speed manual 6-speed manual 6 Speed SMG |
Dimensions | |
Wheelbase | 106.3 in (2,700 mm) Convertible: 106.7 in (2,710 mm) |
Length | 174.5 in (4,432 mm) Lightweight: 178.0 in (4,521 mm) |
Width | 67.3 in (1,709 mm) saloon: 66.9 in (1,699 mm) |
Height | 52.6 in (1,336 mm) saloon: 53.7 in (1,364 mm) |
Curb weight | 1,460 kg (3,219 lb) Convertible: 1,560 kg (3,439 lb) |
E46 M3 | |
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Overview | |
Production | 2000–2006 85,744 built |
Assembly | Regensburg, Germany |
Designer | Ulf Weidhase (exterior: 1998) Martina Bachmann (interior: 1998) |
Body and chassis | |
Body style | 2-door coupe 2-door convertible |
Related | BMW 3 Series |
Powertrain | |
Engine | 3.2L S54B32 I6 |
Transmission | 6 Speed Manual 6 Speed SMG-II Drivelogic |
Dimensions | |
Wheelbase | 107.5 in (2,730 mm) |
Length | 2001–02: 176.8 in (4,491 mm) 2003–06: 176.9 in (4,493 mm) |
Width | 70.1 in (1,781 mm) |
Height | 2001-02 Coupe: 54.0 in (1,372 mm) 2001–02 Convertible: 53.7 in (1,364 mm) 2003–06 Coupe: 53.9 in (1,369 mm) 2003–06 Convertible: 53.9 in (1,369 mm) |
Curb weight | Coupe: 3,415 lb (1,549 kg) |
E90/92/93 | |
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Overview | |
Production | 2007–July 5, 2013 (saloon discontinued in 2011) |
Assembly | Regensburg, Germany |
Designer | Karl John Elmitt (coupe) , Hans-Bruno Starke (saloon) |
Body and chassis | |
Body style | 4-door (E90) saloon 2-door (E92) coupe 2-door (E93) convertible |
Related | BMW 3 Series |
Powertrain | |
Engine | 4.0 L S65 V8 |
Dimensions | |
Wheelbase | 108.7 in (2,761 mm) |
Length |
2011– Coupe & Convertible: 181.8 in (4,618 mm) |
Width |
2011– Coupe: 71.7 in (1,821 mm) |
Height |
2011– Coupe & 2008–2010 Convertible: 55.6 in (1,412 mm) |
Curb weight |
Coupe: 1,655 kg (3,649 lb) |
Category |
American Le Mans Series GT2 (then GT in 2010) 24 Hours of Le Mans GTE Pro |
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Constructor | BMW | ||||||||
Designer(s) | Jeff Koons (2010 LM24 Art Car) | ||||||||
Successor | BMW Z4 GTE | ||||||||
Technical specifications | |||||||||
Chassis | Unitary construction steel body with welded safety cell made of extremely rigid precision steel tubing; safety fuel tank in CRP sandwich tray; pneumatic four-stamp jack system | ||||||||
Suspension (front) | ZF Sachs based on production version, with increased wheel caster angle, enlarged track width and enhanced wheel camber; five-way adjustable shock absorbers; tubular stabilizer bar | ||||||||
Suspension (rear) | ZF Sachs based on production version, with enlarged track width and enhanced wheel camber; five-way adjustable shock absorbers, tubular stabilizer bar | ||||||||
Length | 4,634 mm (182 in) | ||||||||
Width | 1,912 mm (75 in) | ||||||||
Height | 1,280 mm (50 in) | ||||||||
Axle track | 1,900 mm (75 in) | ||||||||
Wheelbase | 2,779 mm (109 in) | ||||||||
Engine | BMW P65B40 4.0 L (4,000 cc; 244 cu in) V8 90° cylinder angle, 32-valve, DOHC, four valves per cylinder, naturally aspirated, front engined, longitudinally mounted | ||||||||
Transmission | Hewland/Xtrac 6-speed sequential manual (2009-2010)/semi-automatic (2011-2012) gearbox, mechanical limited slip differential with additional oil/air cooler | ||||||||
Power | 460 hp (343 kW) @ 7500 rpm (ALMS air restrictor) 500 hp (373 kW) @ 8750 rpm (2010+) |
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Weight | 1,245 kg (2,745 lb) maximum including driver and fuel | ||||||||
Fuel | Ethanol E85 + Petronas Primax 15% gasoline | ||||||||
Lubricants |
Castrol EDGE Petronas Syntium Petrobras LuBRax |
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Tyres |
Dunlop SP Sport Maxx Front: 30/66 - R18 Rear: 31/71 - R18 Rays Engineering aluminum wheels Front: 12 x 18 inches Rear: 13 x 18 inches |
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Competition history | |||||||||
Notable entrants | / BMW Rahal Letterman Racing (later BMW Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing in 2011) | ||||||||
Notable drivers |
Dirk Müller Tommy Milner Joey Hand Bill Auberlen Jörg Müller Dirk Werner Andy Priaulx Augusto Farfus |
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Debut | 2009 12 Hours of Sebring | ||||||||
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Constructors' Championships | 2 | ||||||||
Drivers' Championships | 1 |
F80 | |
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Overview | |
Production | 2014-present |
Assembly | Regensburg, Germany |
Designer | Florian Nissl |
Body and chassis | |
Body style | 4-door (F80) saloon |
Related | BMW M4 |
Powertrain | |
Engine | 3.0 L S55 I6 Twin Turbo |
Dimensions | |
Wheelbase | 2,812 mm (110.7 in) |
Length | 4,671 mm (183.9 in) |
Width | 1,877 mm (73.9 in) |
Height | 1,430 mm (56.3 in) |
Curb weight | 1,595 kg (3,516 lb) |
The BMW M3 is a high-performance version of the BMW 3 Series, developed by BMW's in-house motorsport division, BMW M. M3 models have been derived from the E30, E36, E46, E90/E92/E93, and F30 3-series.
The initial model was a coupe body style. At times the M3 has also been available in saloon and convertible body styles. Due to the 4 Series coupe and convertible models no longer being part of the 3 Series range from 2015, the F82/F83 coupe and convertible models are now called the M4. The M3 name remains in use solely for the saloon version.
Upgrades over the "standard" 3 Series automobiles include more powerful and responsive engines, improved handling/suspension/braking systems, aerodynamic body enhancements, lightweight components, and interior/exterior accents with the tri-colour "M" (Motorsport) emblem.
Based on the 1986 model year E30 3-Series, the E30 M3 used the BMW S14 engine.
In contrast to later M3 iterations, the E30 M3 was campaigned by BMW as well as other racing teams including Prodrive and AC Schnitzer in many forms of motorsport, including rallying and road racing. The latter included campaigns in the World Touring Car Championship, Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft, British Touring Car Championship, Italian Touring Car Championship, French Touring Car Championship and the Australian Touring Car Championship. The production of the E30 road car was to homologate the M3 for Group A Touring Car racing. It was to compete with various models including the "2.3-16V" variant of the Mercedes-Benz W201 190E that was introduced in 1983.