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The BMW M3 is a Sports version of the popular Compact BMW 3-Series Automobile , made by BMW Motorsport . The first M3 was based on the 1986 s E30 range, and there has been an M version of every 3-Series since. E30 M3 Based on the 1986 E30 3-Series body, the first M3 was introduced with a 2.3 L S14 Engine , derived from the M10 Straight-4 . One of the main reasons for production of the road car was to Homologate the M3 for Group A Touring Car Racing , as an answer to the "2.3-16V"-model of the Mercedes-Benz W201 which was introduced in 1983. The first version produced 195 hp (143 kW), and later versions upped displacement to 2.5 L and 238 hp (175 kW). 786 Cabriolet s were also produced. The E30 M3 differed from the rest of the E30 line-up in many ways. The M3 was equipped with flared fenders to accommodate a wider track with wider and taller wheels and tires. It also had three times the Caster Angle of any other E30 . The M3 had larger brakes and shared wheel bearings with the E28 5-Series. Special editions and later homologation specials included the Evo I, Evo II and Sport Evo (AKA. Evo III) some of which featured less weight, improved aerodynamics, and more power to keep the car competitive in racing following homologation rules. Production of the original M3 (E30 coupe) ended in 1991 . The M3 was (and is) a successful racer, winning the Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft , European Touring Car Championship and even the one-off world title in 1987. The E30 M3 is also a multiple winner of Macau Grand Prix , 24 Hours Nürburgring and Spa 24 Hours . Performance
In 2004 , '' Sports Car International '' named this car number six on the list of Top Sports Cars Of The 1980s . E36 M3 The replacement for the original M3 appeared at the 1992 Paris Auto Show . This E36 Coupe model got the 3.0 L S50B30 Straight-6 engine, which produced 286 hp (210 kW). For the 1996 model year the M3 was upgraded to a new 3.2 L, 321 hp (236 kW) engine ( S52B32 ),a six speed gearbox and the M5 's larger Brake s. The new SMG gearbox was also offered as an option. These models are often described as the "Euro" models to differentiate them from the models sold in the US which were quite different. The 3.2 Euro is also known as the M3 "Evolution" or "Evo". The first E36 M3 to be imported to the United States was the 1995 model, which received a 3.0 L engine with 240 hp (176 kW) and 305 N•m (225 ft·lbf) ( S50B30US ) and a different suspension. The reasons for the less powerful motor were largely due to excessive costs for the US market with the original engine and possible difficulty in getting the Euro engine to pass emission tests. The 1996-1999 model years had displacement bumped up to 3.2 L, with 240 hp (176 kW) and 320 N•m (236 ft·lbf) which is the same engine used in the early M Roadster and M Coupe . The 1996+ model is known for being more difficult to performance tune, due to slightly smaller intake manifold runners and more complicated electronic parts. It was also available as a Sedan starting in model year 1997, and as Convertible in 1998. Production of the sedan was halted in 1998 , while the other models continued until 1999 . Performance
Special Models There were four special-edition models of the E36 M3 produced: the M3 CSL (also known as the M3 Lightweight), M3 GT, M3 GT-R, and the M3-R. M3 CSL Beginning with the first E36 M3's delivered to American shores, American BMW racers began pressuring BMW North America and BMW AG for a race-ready version with which to compete against Porsche 911 in American sports-car racing. In 1995, BMW relented and began building batches of the M3 CSL at BMW Individual. Upon completion they were sent to Prototype Technology Group (PTG) Racing in Virginia for final preparation, which included the front and rear Motorsport flag decals, and "trunk goodies." =Performance Modifications
Some claim that adjustable camber plates or cross-drilled brake rotors were included with the M3 CSL, however, this is incorrect. =Appearance Modifications
=CSL vs. Lightweight naming controversy There is a minor controversy in which some people believe the M3 CSL should not be called an M3 CSL (referring to the famous 3.0 CSL ), but rather an M3 Lightweight, as that was the name that BMW advertised the car as. While it is true that BMW's press referred to the car as the M3 Lightweight, each M3 CSL's build sheet (the instructions from BMW AG to BMW Individual) clearly labelled the car as an M3 CSL, so there can be no doubt that the factory itself thought of the car as a CSL. This controversy can perhaps be attributed to the fact that the English translation of CSL is Coupe Sports Lightweight. =Number built Although BMW promised to build at least 85 examples, BMW never released the number of M3 CSL's built, and because of the peculiar assembly line, to this day may not know. However, enthusiasts now believe the number of models extant are approximately 120, all of which were delivered to the U.S. The first two cars, which were used as press cars, are not technically M3 CSL's as they were regular production M3's that PTG made similar in appearance to the not-yet-built CSL. After press duties, those two cars were brought back into the PTG stable and successfully campaigned. =Hand-picked engines BMW and other German car makers test each engine on the assembly line to ensure that they meet the claimed power rating. It is claimed that the most powerful motors of each batch were hand-picked and reserved for the M3 CSL. However, at least one M3 CSL owner disassembled his motor and compared it to a stock U.S. S50 engine and found no differences. Nonetheless, those who drove both stock M3's and M3 CSL's always remarked how much more powerful the M3 CSL motor was. =Racing history In an ironic twist, the car that BMW built for Americans to race was hardly raced. Outside of multiple cars raced in the BMW CCA Club Racing series (an amateur series specific only to BMW models) PTG had between two to four models that they raced in IMSA . It seems that one of those cars was sold to Jeff McMillian, in which he won the SCCA World Challenge series, without winning a single race. One was raced in the SCCA's Touring 1 class by John Browne, and one or two may have been raced in the extinct Motorola Cup. Most M3 CSL's, it seems, never saw a racetrack. M3 GT The M3 GT was a limited-edition European-only edition of which 356 were made, 50 being right-hand drive. Famous for being British Racing Green with a Mexico Green interior--a peculiar choice when the traditional German national racing colors were white with red numbers. =Performance Modifications
=Appearance Modifications
M3 GTR DTM Very little is known about this car: it is believed that BMW intended to race the E36 M3 in the DTM . When mid 1990 s pre-season testing showed the car to be quicker than existing competition, Mercedes-Benz purportedly influenced the DTM sanctioning body to either slow the M3 GTR or make it illegal for DTM. Anyway, wide-body E36 GTR were entered in the German ADAC "GT Cup" series. M3-R Fifteen M3's were ordered by BMW Australia in 1994 to race in the Australian Super Production series. All were delivered to Frank Gardiner Racing for final preparation. =Performance Modifications
=Appearance modifications
Accolades The E36 M3 is considered one of the better-handling cars of all time, and was in fact named "Best-Handling Car" by Car And Driver in 1997. E46 M3 The 2001 E46 M3 appeared worldwide with the new 3.2 L S54B32 engine. During the car's introduction, this engine had the Highest Specific Output Naturally Aspirated engine ever made by BMW, producing 343 PS (333 SAE net hp (252 kW) in North America) and 365 N•m (262 ft·lbf) of torque. The available SMG Drivelogic (also known as SMG II) transmission, a Formula 1-style electrohydraulic manual gearbox with no clutch pedal and steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters, is also a highlight. The model also came with a new 6-speed transmission and red-line RPM's of 8000, a first for any BMW. BMW gained fame for the ability to produce more than 100 horsepower per litre (333 bhp/3.2 litre) in a naturally aspirated automobile engine, while Honda had already raised the record to 120 hp /litre in the Honda S2000 . Performance
M3 GTR V8 An E46 GTR came to life on February 2001, powered by a 4000cm³ V8 producing over 450 bhp. Unlike the straight-six powered M3 versions, which had been beaten by Porsche 996 GT3, the racing version of the E46 M3 GTR V8 did incredibly well in the American Le Mans Series (ALMS), entered by Schnitzer Motorsport . Archrivals such as Porsche started to complain as a V8 engine was not available in the road-going BMWs, which is in violation with the spirit of the Gran Turismo idea, making the V8s rather Prototype s. In 2001, ALMS regulations stated that a car had to be for sale on two continents within twelve months of the rules being issued. In response BMW put on sale 10 GTRs for 250,000 euros (then $218,000) each, for very selected customers apparently. In the end, the rules were rewritten to state that about 100 cars and 1000 engines must be built. Although BMW could have raced the V8 with the new weight and power penalties under this new regulations, they chose to pull out of the ALMS, ending the M3 GTR's career there. Two Schnitzer Motorsport GTR cars saw a comeback in 2003 at the 24 Hours Nürburgring , winning 1-2 there in 2004 and 2005, as well as entries in the 24 Hours Spa . E90 M3 BMW was expected to announce an all-new M3 based on the E90 platform at the 2005 Frankfurt Motor Show (to be released in 2007 ), but this did not happen. It is rumored that the next-generation M3 will have a 425 hp (315 kW) 4.0 L V8 , and there is much speculation as to whether or not it will be marketed in coupe or convertible form as the M4. Some believe the E90 convertible may be a retractable hardtop, similar to the Mercedes-Benz SLK . However, such rumors have yet to be substantiated, and the issue won't be definitively settled until BMW officially releases the new "3" convertible. EXTERNAL LINKS
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