Four generations of racing-inspired BMW M3 special editions
Thursday June 10, 2010
The BMW M3 has been the pinnacle of the BMW 3-series range for 4 model series: the E30, E36, E46 and E90/E92/E93. Although any BMW M3 is special in its own right, in each of these model series BMW has produced limited edition M3 models that borrow heavily from racing traditions. These special editions have often served to homologate various technical adaptations for racing purposes by offering them for sale to the public and fulfil the requirements of whatever contemporary regulations were in force.
The original E30 BMW M3 was a 2.3 litre 4 cylinder that produced 200 PS (147 kW) at 6750 rpm, and was available primarily as a 2 door coupé, and was introduced in 1987. Over the next few years, various Evolution models of the M3 were produced, mainly to answer the challenge thrown down by Mercedes-Benz and their 190E 2.3-16 and 2.5-16 saloon car racing efforts. The E30 M3's final incarnation was as the exclusive BMW M3 Sports Evolution, which saw the 4 cylinder unit bored and stroked to 2467 cc from the original 2302 cc. Power and torque were increased to 238 PS (175 kW) at 7000 rpm and 240 Nm (177 ft.lb) at 4750 rpm respectively, and the 0-100 km/h sprint time dropped from 6.7 seconds to 6.5 seconds. Top speed was increased to 248 km/h, from 235 km/h. Wider rims and fatter tyres, along with uprated suspension featuring adjustable shock absorbers helped it handle and corner better around the track, and various aerodynamic tweaks delivered better downforce and cooling. Just 600 were produced. The BMW M3 Sports Evolution was the ultimate E30 M3 variant.
The next BMW M3, based on the E36 3 series, was the first 6 cylinder M3. Originally a 2990 cc inline 6 cylinder, the E36 Evolution M3 models had the capacity enlarged to 3201 cc. Shortly before the arrival of the Evolution models, BMW released a GT version of the M3. This had an unchanged capacity of 2990 cc but developed 10 PS more, at 295 PS. It featured wider rear wheels, minor aerodynamic adjustments, some chassis strengthening and some cosmetic tweaks to the interior. It was also available exclusively in British Racing Green. This model was, like the others highlighted in this article, produced to give BMW an entry into certain classes of racing and to satisfy their homologation requirements, specifically the FIA-GT Series, IMSA GT Series in the USA and international endurance racing. Despite the later BMW E36 M3 Evolution models being more powerful, the singular purpose of the 1995 BMW M3 GT makes it all the more interesting and special. Just 356 of these machines were produced.
In 2000 BMW launched the E46 3-series. The standard BMW M3 model featured a 3246 cc straight six engine producing 343 PS. The special edition that we shall look at from this range was the first BMW M3 to be powered by a V8 engine, the BMW E46 M3 GTR. Exploiting the wording of the American Le Mans (ALMS) rules for the 2001 season, BMW offered the car for sale to a very small number of customers, but managed to comply to the exact letter, if not spirit, of the regulations by making it available to customers on two continents. The V8 was a 90 degree, 3997 cc, dry-sumped engine that produced 350 PS at 7250 rpm and 365 Nm at 5000 rpm in road trim. (BMW actually claimed "more than 350 PS", but did not give further specifics). The bodywork was suitably modified for homologating various components for the racing version, and a full 220 kg was pared from the weight by employing carbon fibre for the roof, rear spoiler and the front and rear aprons. As the first V8 engined BMW M3, the BMW E46 M3 GTR was a precursor to today's E90/92/93 M3.
This leads us neatly into the latest racing-derived BMW M3 model - the BMW E92 M3 GTS. The 3999 cc V8 from the E92 M3 Coupé has been enlarged to 4361 cc, helping to lift maximum power to 450 PS at 8300 rpm and torque to 440 Nm (325 ft.lb) at 3750 rpm. Various racing-inspired aerodynamic enhancements have been made, increasing downforce and improving cooling. The brakes have been uprated and larger discs are fitted front and rear. Additions such as a roll cage make the handling sharper, whilst 70 kg of weight has been shed over the standard 2010 BMW E92 M3 model with the same transmission. It is also the first BMW M3 model to officially have a claimed top speed of more than 300 km/h - BMW claim 305 km/h for the M3 GTS. As the ultimate E92 M3 variant, the BMW E92 M3 GTS also stands tall as the fastest, most powerful M3 incarnation to date.
The original E30 BMW M3 was a 2.3 litre 4 cylinder that produced 200 PS (147 kW) at 6750 rpm, and was available primarily as a 2 door coupé, and was introduced in 1987. Over the next few years, various Evolution models of the M3 were produced, mainly to answer the challenge thrown down by Mercedes-Benz and their 190E 2.3-16 and 2.5-16 saloon car racing efforts. The E30 M3's final incarnation was as the exclusive BMW M3 Sports Evolution, which saw the 4 cylinder unit bored and stroked to 2467 cc from the original 2302 cc. Power and torque were increased to 238 PS (175 kW) at 7000 rpm and 240 Nm (177 ft.lb) at 4750 rpm respectively, and the 0-100 km/h sprint time dropped from 6.7 seconds to 6.5 seconds. Top speed was increased to 248 km/h, from 235 km/h. Wider rims and fatter tyres, along with uprated suspension featuring adjustable shock absorbers helped it handle and corner better around the track, and various aerodynamic tweaks delivered better downforce and cooling. Just 600 were produced. The BMW M3 Sports Evolution was the ultimate E30 M3 variant.
The next BMW M3, based on the E36 3 series, was the first 6 cylinder M3. Originally a 2990 cc inline 6 cylinder, the E36 Evolution M3 models had the capacity enlarged to 3201 cc. Shortly before the arrival of the Evolution models, BMW released a GT version of the M3. This had an unchanged capacity of 2990 cc but developed 10 PS more, at 295 PS. It featured wider rear wheels, minor aerodynamic adjustments, some chassis strengthening and some cosmetic tweaks to the interior. It was also available exclusively in British Racing Green. This model was, like the others highlighted in this article, produced to give BMW an entry into certain classes of racing and to satisfy their homologation requirements, specifically the FIA-GT Series, IMSA GT Series in the USA and international endurance racing. Despite the later BMW E36 M3 Evolution models being more powerful, the singular purpose of the 1995 BMW M3 GT makes it all the more interesting and special. Just 356 of these machines were produced.
In 2000 BMW launched the E46 3-series. The standard BMW M3 model featured a 3246 cc straight six engine producing 343 PS. The special edition that we shall look at from this range was the first BMW M3 to be powered by a V8 engine, the BMW E46 M3 GTR. Exploiting the wording of the American Le Mans (ALMS) rules for the 2001 season, BMW offered the car for sale to a very small number of customers, but managed to comply to the exact letter, if not spirit, of the regulations by making it available to customers on two continents. The V8 was a 90 degree, 3997 cc, dry-sumped engine that produced 350 PS at 7250 rpm and 365 Nm at 5000 rpm in road trim. (BMW actually claimed "more than 350 PS", but did not give further specifics). The bodywork was suitably modified for homologating various components for the racing version, and a full 220 kg was pared from the weight by employing carbon fibre for the roof, rear spoiler and the front and rear aprons. As the first V8 engined BMW M3, the BMW E46 M3 GTR was a precursor to today's E90/92/93 M3.
This leads us neatly into the latest racing-derived BMW M3 model - the BMW E92 M3 GTS. The 3999 cc V8 from the E92 M3 Coupé has been enlarged to 4361 cc, helping to lift maximum power to 450 PS at 8300 rpm and torque to 440 Nm (325 ft.lb) at 3750 rpm. Various racing-inspired aerodynamic enhancements have been made, increasing downforce and improving cooling. The brakes have been uprated and larger discs are fitted front and rear. Additions such as a roll cage make the handling sharper, whilst 70 kg of weight has been shed over the standard 2010 BMW E92 M3 model with the same transmission. It is also the first BMW M3 model to officially have a claimed top speed of more than 300 km/h - BMW claim 305 km/h for the M3 GTS. As the ultimate E92 M3 variant, the BMW E92 M3 GTS also stands tall as the fastest, most powerful M3 incarnation to date.
