The fourth generation BMW M3 was announced on the 2007 Geneva Auto Show (Switzerland, March 6-18th, 2007) with the BMW M3 concept. As was the case with the E46 M3 Concept and E60 M5 Concept, the M3 Concept hid almost nothing of the looks of the production version, that had its world premiere on the 2007 Frankfurt Auto Show IAA (Germany, September 13 to 23rd). It was originally set to be called M4 along with 3 Series coupes and convertibles which were to become the 4 Series, but due to the interest in retaining the M3 bloodline, this was scrapped and the lineup continued as it is. The new M3 is once again available as a 4-door sedan, based on the E90 3-Series, but unlike the regular models, this car shares the coupe's front end, including headlights. However, it does not get the 2-door's carbon-fiber roof. The E93 hardtop convertible version joins the lineup shortly after the E92's launch, while an E91 wagon, which was due in the first quarter of 2009, has now been canceled. A CSL lightweight version is heavily debated and longed for amongst car enthusiasts, but while cars suspected to be the new M3 CSL have apparently been spotted at the famous Nordschleife (North Loop) of the German Nürburgring, the M division have stated that they do not plan to offer an e9x M3 CSL and are instead focused on producing M versions of the X5 and X6 in a significant departure from M's historic practices BMW Motorsport announced in February 2008 that Rahal Letterman Racing will campaign two factory-backed E92 M3s in the American Le Mans Series in 2009, following a two-year absence by the brand. This was the cover car for the simulation racing game Need for Speed: Shift. For 2010, BMW motorsport has been granted entry in the 2010 24 Hours of Le Mans and in the 2010 24 Hours Nürburgring. BMW Motorsport/Schnitzer Motorsport went onto to take an overall win at the 24 Hours Nürburgring with the #25 M3 GT2 of Jörg Müller, Augusto Farfus, Pedro Lamy, and Uwe Alzen. In addition, one of the M3 GT2's set to compete at Le Mans (#79) has been chosen as the 17th BMW Art Car, which will be done by American artist, Jeff Koons. On April 10, 2009, the week after the debut of the GT4, BMW's Customer Racing program announced it had partnered with Schubert Motorsport (sponsored by Motorsport Arena Oschersleben) to run the BMW M3 GT4 in the 2009 24 Hours Nürburgring race, in the new class for GT4 cars, listed as SP10 there. The BMW M3 GT4 also raced in the Nürburgring VLN ADAC Westfalenfahrt in April 2009, taking the win in the SP10 class and finishing 30th overall. The 2009 24h race took place on the weekend of May 23 and 24, with Jörg Müller, Andy Priaulx and sport auto journalist Jochen Übler at the wheel. Despite qualifying as best SP10/GT4 car at 57th overall and being at least 10 seconds per lap faster, the team finished third in the class, behind two Aston Martin V8 Vantage N24. The overall rank was 47rd. BMW announced the M3 GTS in November 2009. The car is powered by a 4.4-litre V8 based on the 4.0-litre engine found in the standard M3, which produces a maximum of 450 PS (331 kW; 444 hp). A total of only 99 units will be produced. In Germany deliveries begin in May 2010 while other countries are scheduled for the summer. The BMW E92 M3 GTS will start at €115,000 per unit. All E92 M3 GTS models have now been sold.E90/92/93 M3
Production 2008–present Assembly Regensburg, Germany Body style(s) 4-door sedan
2-door convertiblePlatform BMW E90 (Sedan)
BMW E93 (Convertible)Engine(s) 4.0 L V8 Transmission(s) 6-speed manual Wheelbase 108.7 in (2761 mm) Length 2008-2010 Convertible: 181.7 in (4615 mm)
2011- Convertible & Coupe: 181.8 in (4618 mm)
2008-2010 Coupe: 181.4 in (4608 mm)
Sedan: 180.4 in (4582 mm)Width 2008-2010 Convertible: 71.6 in (1819 mm)
2011- Convertible & Coupe: 71.0 in (1803 mm)
2008-2010 Coupe: 70.2 in (1783 mm)
Sedan: 71.5 in (1816 mm)Height 2008-2010 Convertible & 2011- Coupe: 55.8 in (1417 mm)
2011- Convertible: 54.8 in (1392 mm)
2008-2010 Coupe: 54.2 in (1377 mm)
2008-2010 Sedan: 55.9 in (1420 mm)
2011- Sedan: 57.0 in (1448 mm)Curb weight Convertible: 4,145 lb (1,880 kg)
Coupe: 3,704 lb (1,680 kg)
Sedan: 3,726 lb (1,690 kg)Related BMW 3 Series
Just as the previous M3 generations all introduced a completely new engine, the fourth generation M3 did the same: the BMW S65 engine was introduced. This S65B40 is a naturally aspirated, high revving 4-litre V8 (based on the S85B50 5-litre V10 that powers the E60/E61 M5 and the E63/E64 M6 to date), delivering 414 bhp (309 kW; 420 PS) at 8,300 rpm, with peak torque at 400 N·m (300 lb·ft) at 3,900 rpm, which represents a power increase of 22% over the E46 M3. The engine weighs 15 kg (33 lb) less than the outgoing six cylinder for a total weight of 202 kg (450 lb). A six-speed manual transmission is standard. As from April 2008, BMW offers a new Getrag double-clutch gearbox, called M-DKG (Doppel-Kupplungs-Getriebe) or M-DCT (Double Clutch Transmission) as an option, which reduces shift pauses to less than a tenth of a second and shortens the car's 0-100 km/h (62 mph) sprint time by 0.2 seconds vs. manual. It features both automatic and manual modes in a manner similar to the SMG gearboxes in the E36 and E46. The E92 M3 coupe inherits the carbon-fiber roof from the E46 CSL as part of the weight-saving program. For 2009, the E9x M3 received the same revisions as the non-M 3 series. The changes include revised front and rear bumpers, and LED tail lights.
The front-end design of the BMW M3 Sedan matches the specific look and high-performance character of its Coupé sibling; however the side-sills and rear air dam are uniquely tailored for the sedan. The M3 Sedan is powered by the same engine as the other two versions. The four-door M3 accelerates to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 4.2 seconds and records average fuel consumption in the EU test cycle of 12.4 litres/100 kilometres.
The BMW M3 Cabrio/Convertible is based directly off of the M3 Coupe. The Convertible uses a power retractable hardtop which adds 441 lbs. to the weight of the car, bringing the total to 4,145 lbs. The Convertible also features a special leather surface for the seats that reflect sunlight to ensure the seats to not get uncomfortably hot with the top down.
E92 M3 GT2
E92 M3 GT4
BMW Motorsport announced on July 7, 2009 the launch of a line of BMW M3 race cars which meet the SRO/FIA's GT4 spec and are oriented for sale to private teams and drivers. The BMW M3 GT4 price is 121.500 EUR without VAT. While BMW states that ‘the BMW M3 GT4 weighs just 1,430 kilograms’ and the ‘420 bhp engine remained largely untouched’, the 2010 24 Hours Nürburgring “Balance of Performance” requires that the power must not exceed 390 PS, while the minimum weight is set to 1400 kg.
The M3 GT4 is offered in Europe as a homologated production race car for sale to the general public. According to Larry Koch, BMW NA M-brand manager, a feasibility study is currently being conducted to evaluate the possible sale of the M3 GT4 in North America. However, without a sanctioned GT4-class racing series in the USA, the sale of the M3 GT4 in the States is not likely.
E90/E92 M3 performance
E92 M3 GTS
