Overview & Reviews
The BMW 3 Series has long been regarded as the benchmark compact sport coupe. Taking this already athletic vehicle to new heights is the M version, known as the BMW M3. In the Bimmer world, the letter M stands for the company's Motorsports performance division. These fun-loving engineers tweak a given BMW model's engine for more output, upgrade the suspension for even more agile handling and add sporty exterior and interior design elements.
Throughout its two decades on the U.S. market, the BMW M3 has been a favorite of enthusiasts looking for sports-car performance and handling from a true four-place car. Although content to smoothly burble around while doing daily driver duty, the M3 transforms into a back-road burner when conditions allow and gives its pilot the opportunity to attack corners with precision and rocket out of them with gusto.
Current BMW M3
Based on the present-generation 3 Series, the M3 is offered in only one trim level among the coupe and hardtop convertible body styles. Both are powered by a 4.0-liter V8, good for 414 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, which revs to a thrilling 8,400-rpm redline. A six-speed manual is the standard means of sending power to the rear wheels, and a seven-speed automated-clutch manual gearbox with paddle shifters is optional. M3s also get specific hardware upgrades such as more powerful brakes, stiffer suspension tuning and a specialized limited-slip rear differential.
Like previous M3s, the current model comes well-equipped with the latest luxury amenities, which in this case includes xenon headlamps, leather upholstery, heated power sport seats and a 10-speaker audio system. The convertible features a nifty hardtop and sun-reflective leather. Features like 19-inch wheels, heated seats, satellite radio, the iDrive navigation system and M Sport personalized performance settings are optional. The Competition package available on the coupe adds a lowered suspension, a wider track and reprogrammed electronic damping and stability control systems.
While past M3s have been performance stars, the M3 coupe is quite simply one of the best cars to grace our test track. It accelerated from zero to 60 mph in a blistering 4.6 seconds and came to a stop from 60 mph in an extremely short 100 feet. The slalom and skid pad test results were also on par with vastly more expensive supercars, while on-road handling is beyond reproach. Getting the less rigid convertible degrades these capabilities a little, but regardless of which body style you choose, expect one of the best performance machines money can buy.
Used BMW M3 Models
The present-generation BMW M3 was introduced for 2008 in coupe, convertible and sedan body styles. The latter, discontinued after 2011, was perfect for those who desired M3 performance but with a greater degree of practicality. Changes have been limited to feature additions, with first-year models featuring a less user-friendly iDrive system and slightly different sedan styling. The Competition package was added for 2011 for the coupe and sedan.
The previous M3 lasted from 2001-'06 and was available in coupe and convertible body styles. There was a single trim level for both, powered by a 3.2-liter six-cylinder engine producing 333 hp and 262 lb-ft of torque. A six-speed manual transmission was standard, while a six-speed sequential manual gearbox (SMG) was offered as an option starting for the 2002 model year. The latter allows manual-style shifting via paddle shifters next to the steering wheel, and although it was popular, we weren't fans of its herky-jerky performance.
Changes were minor during the lifespan of this generation of M3s. A CD player became standard for 2002, while the following year saw the addition of a few extra convenience features plus an improved DVD-based navigation system. (The former one was CD-based.) The only major addition arrived for 2005 with the Competition Package (coupe only), which provided some of the performance hardware from the European-market M3 CSL, such as 19-inch forged wheels, revised suspension tuning, a quicker steering ratio, upgraded brakes and a less intrusive Track mode for the stability control system.
Every road test of this M3 sang the car's praises in terms of its incredibly balanced handling, prodigious grip and telepathic communication between car and driver. The downsides of this no-compromises performance car are few: a stiff ride, tinny exhaust note, and more wind and road noise in the convertible than one might expect. For die-hard sports car enthusiasts who need four seats, it doesn't get much better than the BMW M3. However, these cars tend to be driven hard and owners frequently modify them, so it's important to examine a used example closely before signing on the dotted line.
The second-generation M3 was introduced in 1995 and was a tidy package, with only its subtle rocker panel extensions, tri-color "M" badges and different wheels to separate it from the common 3 Series. Along with a buttery-smooth 240-hp inline-6, this generation of the M3 wooed enthusiasts with its ripping performance, finely balanced chassis and everyday livability. For enthusiasts on a budget, this is perhaps the best deal for a used M3, combining a wide choice of body styles (coupe, convertible and sedan), along with plenty of entertaining performance and an affordable price tag. The coupe ran throughout this generation from 1995-'99, while the sedan (1997 and '98) and convertible (1998 and '99) were only available briefly and are consequently harder to find.
The first-generation BMW M3 was the most radical. Running from 1988-'91, this M3 was essentially a hard-edged, racetrack-ready version of a 3 Series sport coupe. These M3s featured aggressively blistered fenders fore and aft, slightly thicker C-pillars that allowed a more aggressively canted rear window, and a higher trunk lid fitted with a large spoiler. Under the extroverted bodywork was not an inline-6, but a highly-tuned DOHC 16-valve inline-4 that cranked out, for its time, a very impressive 195 hp without the help of a turbocharger or supercharger. An unmolested first-generation M3 is a rare find these days and tends to require more maintenance and care than the second-generation car because of its more specialized four-cylinder engine.
User Reviews:
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Spectacular - 2002 BMW M3
By VinceW - April 5 - 2:00 amBest car on the road!
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A Simply Amazing Car... - 2002 BMW M3
By EricM - March 30 - 2:00 amLooking for the ultimate 4-seat sports car? Here it is. Nothing else approaches it. Power, handling, & braking, plus style, comfort, quality, safety - its all here in a big way. Manual transmission (or the clutchless manual SMG) keeps you in control, as a sports car should. Blazingly fast: only extreme, dedicated sports cars can overmatch it on the track, and yet practical & civil enough to be a daily driver. Its our only car! Wife drives it to work I drive it on trips and just for fun. Appearance sleek but not over-the-top. Only drawback: harsh ride on crappy roads.
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best m3 in this world - 2002 BMW M3
By dougie - March 29 - 2:00 amthis has got to be one of the best sports cars in the world. it has super race car like handling with great interior and exterior styling. this is one car that everyone should drive before they die.
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about time - 2002 BMW M3
By maron - March 27 - 2:00 amDont put off having a ball in life. The Z3 has been the best investment in fun that I have made in a long time. It has a unique caracter that brings a smile to your face and those in around you. Quality is in every aspect of the vehicle and the service from the dealer is a-one.
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wow - 2002 BMW M3
By benji - March 27 - 2:00 amyou cant get a better car than this...unless youre willing to pay an extra 20 grand to buy something else with this kind of performance
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Did we miss the exit - again!!! - 2002 BMW M3
By Myggen - March 26 - 2:00 amThis car is build for people driving from A to D, without notifying B and C. Not just is it fast, but the enjoyment driving it makes time and place not matter. A perfect way to enjoy time off - relax and get the adrenaline to pump at the same time. Just keep an eye out for your exit - you might miss it - some times even on purpose!
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M3 Cic SMG - 2002 BMW M3
By LGBAaron - March 23 - 2:00 amWe have a carbon black with black leather, xenons, H/k sterio, navm and cold weather. The kicker is the SMG transmission, I dont like manuals, but this is incredible. Well worth the money. We were told its the only carbon black M3 convertible with SMG in the country
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2002 M3 COUPE - 2002 BMW M3
By rm - March 23 - 2:00 amTHE TRANNY HAS AN IRRITATING KLUNK APPARENTLY DUE TO THE LOCK UP DIFFERENTIAL, THE STEREO VIBRATES [HK] ON TALK STATIONS, OTHERWISE THE CAR IS A CONSTANT SOURCE OF ENTERTAINMENT.
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Automotive Perfection? - 2002 BMW M3
By Michael Martin - March 22 - 3:06 pmIf you have been skeptical of the praise heaped upon the M3 by the automotive press, let me allay your concerns: this car is the real deal. Its performance limits are astoundingly high a sane individual will not exceed them on public roads. The build quality is typically Teutonic - read top notch. The styling, at least to my eye, is perfect: the proportions are just right, and the overall look is aggressive without being flamboyant. The M3 is a true sports car that allows you to share the fun with three of your closest friends.
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No wonder theres a waiting list.... - 2001 BMW M3
By ttocsffej - March 20 - 2:00 amEverything youve read is true! BMWs E46 M3 is really a race car in street clothes. From the moment you fire it up, you know it is not your normal E46 coupe. My delivery experience at the BMW Performance Center was totally first rate! Its free and you should go if you can. Driving (their) M3 on the track gave me first hand experience of this cars true capabilities, which Im sad to say will probably always exceed mine as a driver. Get one!
