Watch the Evolution of the BMW M3

A new video from BMW details the story of the M3 from 1986 homologation special to the autobahn assault weapon of today.

It all began when BMW wanted to take the fight to Mercedes in the German Touring Car Championship (DTM), so the E30 3-Series was given an M-Division makeover. Flared wheelarches allowed for a wider track, the four-cylinder 2.3-litre motor was fettled to deliver 195bhp and BMW bosses crossed their fingers that 5000 customers would be willing to cough up in order to meet the DTM’s homologation rules. In the end more than 17,000 were made and the M3 secured its position in the BMW catalog.

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Its 1992 E36 successor was developed purely as a road car (although plenty also took to the track in privateers’ hands) and, for a more rounded performance it gained a three-litre straight six with 286 horses, plus a four-door sedan option to go with the coupe and cabriolet that the first M3 introduced.

For the E46 M3 of 2000 BMW initially planned to offer a Touring version, but in the event it was only available as a coupe or convertible, powered by a 343bhp 3.2-litre straight six. The 2007 E90 added to the cylinder count becoming the first – and only – M3 to feature a V8. The four-litre motor, lurking beneath a mighty hood bulge, delivered a whopping 420bhp straight out of the box.

When the F80 arrived in 2014 BMW downsized the M3 back to three-litres and six cylinders but added a twin turbo setup to boost power to 432 horses. Significantly the M3 now only came as a four-door sedan with the two-doors trading under the M4 name.

The current G80, launched in 2020 used essentially the same motor, now further boosted to 480bhp as standard, but with up to 550 horses available in the CS version. Perhaps even more significantly it was finally available in long-roof Touring specification.

What’s next for the M3? A G84 version is scheduled for 2028 and will likely follow the M5 with a hybrid powertrain, while there is also set to be a pure electric iteration on the Neue Klasse platform. Until then enjoy a visual history in the film below.