E46 BMW M3 Remains the Generation Many Enthusiasts Still Return To

Take a survey and ask 20 BMW fans about which M3 was the best built, and the results might shock you: the E46 is definitely the winner here, as it kept the traditional straight-six formula intact rather than moving to eight cylinders.

This particular model was only offered as a Convertible and Coupe. No sedan version was available at that time, a detail that still defines how that generation is remembered. And as for power, this special model came out with a 3.2-liter S54 developing no less than 338 horsepower and 365 Nm of torque.

That pulling force arrived at 4,900 rpm, while the maximum power came at 7,900 rpm. The engine didn’t stop until it reached 8,000 rpm, which is still unusually high for a production six-cylinder road car.

When it came out, there were two transmissions available – a six-speed manual and a six-speed SMG. Rear-wheel drive was standard, and that was simply how the M3 worked then, because xDrive had not yet entered this part of BMW’s range. Production numbers were significant. More than 56,000 Coupe units are estimated to have been built, along with almost 30,000 Convertibles, all assembled in Regensburg, Germany, from September 2000 through August 2006.

Performance figures still read cleanly today. The E46 could sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in around 5.0 seconds, at an electronically-limited speed of 250 km/h. This might not seem much today, but it was something quite impressive more than 20 years ago.

When it first came into production in 2004, the model was available only in Silver Gray Metallic or Back Sapphire Metallic paint jobs. The weight was also dropped by 243 pounds to make it faster. Structural sections used glass-reinforced plastics, with the roof also switching to CFRP. Also, the body panels were made from carbon fiber.

Less insulation also played its part. Air conditioning and the stereo were later brought back as no-cost options.

The CSL also changed the driving hardware. The key point here is the tires. This particular model is wearing Michelin Pilot Sport Cup semi-slick tires wrapped in 19-inch alloy wheels. Other notable enhancements also refer to new brakes, revised suspension, and electronic stability control with the M Track mode. Buyers with a motorsport license could also remove the speed limiter.

BMW tested ideas beyond that, too. A V8-powered CSL prototype appeared in 2002 but stayed experimental. An M3 Touring prototype met the same fate. The rarest branch remained the M3 GTR: 10 examples total, including seven development cars and three production display units.

E46 BMW M3 – Photo gallery

Photo Source: autoevolution.com