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The BMW M3 is well-known in automotive culture, but one generation of M3s stands above the rest. For Bimmerphiles, the E46 generation, built from 2000 to 2006, is peak M3. It delivers the perfect balance of power, speed, and handling.
The E46 M3 arrived at the height of the car modification craze popularized by The Fast and the Furious movie franchise. The craze produced varied results—from backyard builds to pro-tuned examples like the 2004 BMW M3 recently for sale on eBay in Clovis, Calif. It's loaded with parts from Hamann Motorsport, the legendary German tuning company.
Americans Left Out
The M3 began as a homologation special of the E30-generation 3 Series. It earned BMW racing qualification for the immensely popular Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft (DTM) - opens in new window or tab. or German Touring Car series. Rules required BMW to build 5,000 roadgoing versions of the race car with widened bodies, spoilers, and performance upgrades
It was wildly successful on the track and the road, proving that BMW could bring the M's high-performance formula to the brand's entry-level model.
The original M3 was so successful that BMW followed up with the E36-generation 3- Series, which debuted in 1992. It added two cylinders to produce 282 horsepower from its 3.0-liter inline-six. The well-balanced engine layout became synonymous with sporty BMWs.
Unfortunately, when BMW introduced the E36 to the US in 1995, it used a less powerful engine. Due to emissions laws and cost savings, it made only 240 horsepower. The M3 was still popular, but enthusiasts were disappointed by the power reduction, which excluded Americans from the true M3 experience.
Best of the Breed
BMW didn't make the same mistake with the next generation. The E46 M3 landed in the US with the same 3.2-liter inline-six as its European counterpart. Due to emissions equipment, American models made less power than European ones, but the dip from 338 to 333 horsepower was negligible.
The E46 M3 shot from zero to 60 in just 4.6 seconds, an insanely quick time for a car of that era. Thanks to a 3,460-pound curb weight and razor-sharp steering, it was widely regarded as one of the best-handling sedans—not just at the time but in automotive history.
Unfortunately, when BMW created the fourth-generation M3, it took a "more is more" approach. This time around, it had a V-8 making 414 horsepower. But the car's extra weight offset the power gains. The magic balance that the E46 had achieved was lost, and that is why most BMW enthusiasts consider the E46 the best of the breed.
850 Horsepower
The E46 for sale is no ordinary M3. It was heavily modified with parts from Hamann, which has been turbocharging and modifying BMWs since the original E30 M3. With forced induction, the E46 listed purportedly produces an astonishing 850 horsepower at the wheels on race fuel. The M3 also wears a complete Hamann body kit and 19-inch HRE wheels - opens in new window or tab..
The seller says the recent rebuild was completed at 80,000 miles, and the car now has 81,707 on the odometer. That's likely why the price tag is $139,950, about three to four times the price of a regular E46 M3 in excellent condition.
This Hamman E46 M3 isn't a car for the purist or the faint of heart. But for the right buyer, this modified car is the ultimate of ultimate driving machines.
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