M3 SPEC

ENGINE 
3.2-litre, in-line 6-cylinder

MAX POWER 
321bhp @ 7,400rpm

MAX TORQUE 
258 lb ft @ 3,250rpm

TRANSMISSION 
6-speed sequential

BRAKES  
Front and rear: vented discs

TYRES 
Front: 225/45 ZR 17
Rear: 245/40 ZR 17

DIMENSIONS

FUEL TANK 
62 litres

LENGTH 
4,435mm

WIDTH 
1,710mm

WEIGHT 
1,515kg (coupe)
1,635kg (convertible)

PERFORMANCE

155mph (limited)

ACCELERATION 
0-62mph in 5.5 seconds

FUEL CONSUMPTION 
25.7mpg (EC ave)

The BMW M3 is a limited-edition car known as an Homologation Special. This type of car was specifically designed and built to compete in the European Touring Car Championships which is the equivalent of our Showroom Stock series.

For any new model to be certified for the series, a minimum of 500 examples must be built within a one year period. A Mercedes 190E 2.3-16, Merkur Cosworth XR4Ti, Lancia Delta Integral, and BMW's own M3 and M5 are all homologated race cars. The racing departments built the cars they wanted, and then the marketing department removed just enough race car to make them street legal, if just barely.

However, the engines, suspensions and bodywork must remain the same as the racing versions. Because of the close ties between the street and race versions, the homologation process has created some of the best performing cars ever released for street use.