WHICH BMW M3 IS THE BEST? A 40-YEAR LEGACY OF SPEED, STYLE AND SOUL.
It’s almost hard to believe, but the BMW M3 is nearly 40 years old. That’s four decades of asphalt-scorching performance, track-day trophies, and bedroom poster fame. From the featherweight homologation hero of the ‘80s to today’s snarling twin-turbo tech-fest, every generation has left its mark - and divided opinion. So, which one rules the M throne? It all started in 1986 with the legendary E30 M3, built to dominate Group A touring car racing. Its box arches, high-revving 2.3-litre four-pot and razor-sharp handling set the blueprint: lightweight, focused, and endlessly rewarding. With just 192 hp, it wasn’t the fastest, but it felt alive. It was a car with soul. Then came the E36 M3 in the early ‘90s, swapping race-car vibes for refinement. It packed a silky 3.0-litre straight-six with 240 hp and later bumped that to 321 hp in Euro-spec Evo form. Less raw, more grown-up - but still a weapon when pushed. The E46 M3? That’s many fans’ sweet spot. Introduced in 2000, its 3.2-litre inline-six made 333 hp and sang to the redline like a proper Bavarian symphony. And let’s not forget the ultra-rare CSL - a track-focused masterpiece that dropped weight and added even more bite. South Africa only got 65 units, making it a collector’s dream today.
By 2007, things got much more serious. The E90/E92 M3 broke tradition with a naturally aspirated 4.0-litre V8 under the bonnet. With 414 hp and a glorious redline just shy of 8,400 rpm, it was a proper screamer. Purists debated the shift in character, but no one could argue with the sound - or the speed. Then came the F80 M3 in 2014. Twin-turbo 3.0-litre inline-six, 425 hp, torque for days. Arguably the most popular generation in South Africa, it’s a tuner’s dream and a regular at car meets and track days. Sharp, brutal, effective. And now? We’re in G80 territory. The latest M3 wears that love-it-or-hate-it grille with pride, and backs it up with 480 hp from a heavily boosted 3.0-litre six. It’s bigger, faster, smarter - and with xDrive, it’s almost too good. So… which M3 is best? Depends on who you ask. Some say the E30 is untouchable. Others swear by the purity of the E46 or the drama of the V8. And for daily-driven devastation, the G80 might just take it. They’ve all evolved, they’ve all changed - but every M3, in its time, has led the pack. And nearly 40 years later, the legend shows no signs of slowing down. Here, it’s the E46 M3 that really tickles our fancy, and the CSL version is the ultimate halo car from BMW.
Take a look at the YouTube video from the awesome crew at Goodwood Road & Racing as they discuss the world's benchmark for performance cars - the almighty BMW M3. The video takes you through all the generations, including our favourite, the E46 M3: We've ranked every BMW M3 - From the E30 to the G80 | Goodwood Road & Racing
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