![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() Series production began in December 1997 after the E46 had been publicly unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show three months earlier. The standard E46 3-series had already been introduced when the last E36 M3s were still being built. The E36 M3’s popularity was also boosted by the addition of a clutchless manual / fully automatic SMG gearbox offered from 1997. Around 70,000 had been completed in Coupe, Convertible and Saloon body styles by the time production was discontinued in 1999. Towards the end of production, a Convertible version was added to the range, but less than 800 of the circa 18,000 E30 M3s built were completed as such.ġ6 months after the last E30 M3 had rolled off the production line, BMW replaced it with an E36 variant.Ī larger and more refined vehicle, the straight six-powered E36 M3 was not created for homologation purposes and, thanks to its broader appeal, was built in vastly greater numbers. The E30 M3 was powered by a raucous four cylinder engine and was only available in left-hand drive. The M3 programme originally began as a means to homologate a Group A competition version of the E30 for use in touring car racing and rallying. Following the critical, commercial and sporting success of the E30 and E36 M3s, it was inevitable that BMW would follow up with a Motorsport version of the E46. ![]()
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