Let’s just make one thing very clear. We don’t think there’s such thing as a bad generation of BMW M3. Each is fabulous – you could argue any one of them is the best, and every iteration has its own dedicated group of fans. But there is one that we think has come the closest to perfection, in terms of what an M3 should be. What should an M3 be? Well, we don’t think it’s all about crazy speed or racey feel. Sure, there needs to be a sturdy helping of both, but above all, an M3 has to be beautifully balanced and great to drive.
The best BMW M3s ranked
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6. BMW E36 M3
The E36 M3 is a fantastic M3 and truthfully, it set the template for the E46 that followed. But it did nothing perfectly. As a follow-up to the pedigree-laden E30, it was a bit of a badge job. As the ultimate expression of a performance BMW for the road, the best was yet to come. As a car, it’s fantastic – a great chassis, compelling engines, good looks. But as an M3? It’s our starting point. Feel free to argue otherwise.
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5. BMW F80 M3
In following up the howling V8 E92, the F80 committed a couple of sins in our mind. It lost some charisma in its (admittedly excellent) 3.0-litre twin-turbo straight-six. With turbo torque however, it also lost some of that quintessential delicacy and control that the previous two generations were so revered for. Early F80s were considered wayward and aggressive – a Bavarian muscle car. They were good fun, but an example of razor-sharp M-ness at its best, it wasn’t. We do think it was one of the best-looking M3s, mind.
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4. BMW E92 M3
Objectively, the E92 is one of the worst M3s. It was bigger and heavier by some margin than any that came before and indeed, it’s far slower day-to-day than those that followed. But the E92 is the child of arguably M’s greatest era in terms of engines. That screaming 8,000rpm 4.0-litre V8 is a motor worthy of a supercar, that only saw action in the M3. It looked great and had a great chassis (for its weight and size) but that engine is the crown jewel.
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3. BMW E30 M3
Quite at the opposite end of the scale, is the original E30. Not since the original Lotus Cortina had a touring car made it to the road quite so authentically. This is a homologation special first and foremost, and a darling of analogue driving feel second. The looks are no less than iconic, with something of a precedent set of just how racey an M3 can be. Perhaps controversially, we will say the E30’s four-cylinder is probably the least desirable M3 engine of them all, with even some 3 Series variants of the same generation getting silkier sixes. In this case, the original M3 suffers for its motorsport connection.
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2. BMW G80 M3
It’s probably controversial to put the latest M3 both ahead of the E30 and indeed, many of its fabulous ancestors and at no less than second on the list, especially given its face, but hear us out. In all-wheel-drive form (yes really), these have been receiving truly rave reviews. Finally, the 500-plus horsepower the M3 now has, has been tamed, with what is said to be one of the best-judged all-wheel-drive systems yet seen. M3s are about using great engineering to make a great driving car. In the pantheon of current fast cars, this genuinely is middling in terms of performance, but it’s still bloody fast. Yet it still feels great. M3 fans will always look at the whatever the current M3 is as either one of the best, or one of the worst. We’re in the former camp.
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1. BMW E46 M3
But it doesn’t come close to the king. The E46 combines everything that the above generations perfect individually, in one cohesive package. It’s the perfect size, the perfect weight, with enough of a bespoke motorsport feel in perfect concert with a very road-focused package. The engine is delectable, revvy and characterful, like an attainable portion of the McLaren F1 experience, with enough power to make the E46 exciting. Looks-wise, it’s the perfect balance of aggressive but classy. You don’t have to look too closely to know – the four exhausts, prominent arches and more are enough of a clue – but it doesn’t slap you in the face. In other words, the E46 M3 is the nigh-on perfect M3 and we don’t see it being bettered. Of course, you’re entitled to your own opinions and we’d love to hear them.
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