BMW M3, thirty years and five generations of sportiness and design

If we think of a saloon or a coupé in the mid-size segment with a powerful engine capable of delivering efficient sporting performance, the BMW M3 is probably the first that comes to mind. This model was launched on 12 September 1985, when the engineers of the German brand began working to give the 3 Series a broader range of engines to turn it into the most powerful and sporty version of the range. It had to be a competition car but also had to be useful on the road.

Once this vehicle had been developed, it had to be homologated, which required manufacturing and selling 5,000 units. The response from users was much more enthusiastic than expected, and in the end 17,970 vehicles from this range were sold. Thirty years later, it has become a cult car among enthusiasts of this type of car and remains at the top of drivers’ preferences around the world.

The second generation of the BMW M3 arrived in 1992, when the decision was made to adapt the image and performance more towards road driving than competition. Its appearance was softened and it was given a more tamed image, without losing the sporting spirit it has shown throughout its existence. It replaced the previous engine with a six-cylinder inline engine, capable of producing 321 CV at 7,400 rpm.

In 2000 it gave way to a third generation, which once again featured a more dynamic and sporty look on its bodywork, seeking to recover the appearance of the model’s first version. The six-cylinder inline engine was improved to offer up to 343 CV at 7,900 rpm, with fuel consumption that was quite restrained given its performance. On the exterior, elements present in the first generation were removed to give it a look more suited to road driving, while always seeking the sporting spirit.

The fourth chapter of this story was written in 2007, when the BMW M3 received a V8 engine capable of delivering 420 CV at 8,300 rpm. Its look changed again and although it retained some elements reminiscent of previous versions and borrowed from the basic model, such as the doors, the boot shape and the front and rear light clusters, it was completely different. It was a BMW M3 and had to offer the differences that made it a different and unique car.

The time has come for the fifth generation, so the engine has been reworked, adapting it to the new reality that seeks more power but lower consumption and a reduction in polluting emissions. Thus, the new BMW M3 features a six-cylinder engine with M TwinPower Turbo technology that delivers 431 CV from 5,500 rpm and 551 Nm of torque between 1,850 and 5,500 rpm. In addition, it consumes 25% less than previous versions.

No model reaches a fifth generation unless it has meant something important for the manufacturer, so these five cars can be considered part of the History, with a capital H, of BMW. Have you driven any of them? Tell us about it.

Source | BMW

Technical specifications of this car

SedanBMW Serie 318 versions · from 50,200 €