Why the E46 M3 Is the Most Successful BMW M Car and a Classic in Its Own Right.

Bobby Dubey
3 min readFeb 19, 2023
Photo by Jason Clifton on Unsplash

The E46 M3 was a groundbreaking vehicle that captured the hearts of car enthusiasts and gamers alike. With 85,000 units sold during its production run, it remains the most successful BMW M car ever made. But what made the E46 M3 so successful and memorable? In this blog post, we’ll delve into the technical specs of the car, its role in pop culture, and its impact on motorsports.

Technical Specifications

The E46 M3 was introduced in 2000, featuring a new S54 straight-six engine that produced 343 horsepower at 7900 RPM. It had a weight of 1570 kilograms and could go from 0 to 60 in 4.8 seconds. You could choose between a 6-speed manual or an SMG-II 6-speed automated manual. The convertible model was available from the start, and there was also a touring concept that sadly never made it to production.

Photo by Matt Tsai on Unsplash

The CSL model, introduced in 2003, trimmed about 10% of the weight and was capable of a confirmed 0–62 MPH in 4.9 seconds with the help of launch control. With only 1383 cars made, the E46 M3 CSL is regarded as the best E46 M3 ever created. The M3 CS, a “Competition Sport” package, also came with a…

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