The BMW M3 is without a doubt, the most successful BMW M model, and it all started almost three decades ago with the E30 BMW M3. Built over the years in coupe, convertible and even sedan variants (the E36 and E90), the M3 is still the default choice for those who want supercar performance for premium sedan money.

To this day, the original E30 BMW M3 stirs emotions like no other M3, but that doesn’t mean the following generations were flops. However, as far as the E36 M3 is concerned, BWS Motorsports’ Marc Norris has a different opinion though, as he sees it as a step backwards compared to the E30 M3, despite the fact that it was the first M3 with a six-cylinder engine.

On the contrary, the third generation E46 M3 is seen as a major leap forwards, especially in terms of refinement and interior quality, while the fourth generation E90 M3’s top quality was its V8 engine.

As the fifth-generation BMW M3 sedan and its M4 coupe version are around the corner, the following video serves as a good BMW M3 history lesson, so do scroll down to watch Norris’ description of each generation.

By Dan Mihalascu

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