Why was the E46 M3 GTR banned?
Due to rule change for the 2002 alms championship where each competitors needed to build 100 street-legal copies and 1000 engines for their racecars, bmw stopped the bmw m3 e46 gtr program because it was too expensive for them at the time. Bmw e46 m3 gtr strassenversion the m3 gtr strassenversion is the rarest m car, with only 10 units planned and each priced at €250,000 (approximately $290,000 at today’s exchange rate).The M3 GTR was primarily designed for the American Le Mans Series (ALMS) in the GT class, where it was a formidable competitor, as noted by BMW M. It has also gained popularity through its appearance in the video game Need for Speed: Most Wanted, where it is a highly sought-after and iconic car.The real-life car is built on the #42 team bmw motorsport e46 m3 gtr driven by jörg müller and j. j. lehto in the 2001 alms gt series. The pair not only won a team championship (having won seven of 10 races), but müller also collected the drivers’ championship.The BMW E46 M3 GTR Strassenversion is considered the rarest BMW ever made. Only 10 were produced, and only 6 were sold to the public.
Is the E46 iconic?
It’s the M Car that many enthusiasts claim is the ultimate iteration of BMW’s most lovable performance car, with sleek lines and a orchestral exhaust note, the E46 M3 truly does it all. As they celebrate their 25th birthday, E46s are now certified future classics, and here’s 8 to choose from! It’s always uncommon to see an Individual BMW, yet seeing a Ruby Red Metallic E46 M3 is downright rare. Allegedly, only around 25 buyers were willing to spec their new E46 with Ruby Red through BMW Individual, and the left-hand-drive examples were in the single digits.A 2004 BMW 3 Series 325i Sedan 4D has depreciated $248 or 7% in the last 3 years and has a current resale value of $3,195 and trade-in value of $1,063.The BMW E46 3 Series is, unlike the BMW E36, indisputably still a good value in 2025. BMW sold so many of these things that there is no shortage of good ones, okay ones, and beat-up ones. So it’s easy to shop at your price point and get something that works for your needs.
Is the E46 a good engine?
The E46 can be a very reliable car, for a very long time, IF (and it is a very emphasized “IF”) you are willing to perform the regular maintenance and repairs. The straight six cylinder engine in that car is very solid and reliable, but it is not without it’s faults. You will need to rebuild the Vanos system. Is the E46 318i engine reliable? Yes, the E46 318i engine is generally considered to be a reliable and durable engine.Best E46 Year For Reliability: 2001 Model This was in the era when BMW gradually began replacing traditional controls with the iDrive interface.The E46 is praised for perhaps being a car that is good at nearly everything it does. Sure there are cars that are better at a specific area but the E46 strikes a sweet spot. Most people would say that it looks good, handles good, is reliable, is easy enough to maintain, is versatile, and is practical.Among all the E90 options, the N52 engine (found in the 325i and 330i) is often considered the most reliable. It features a magnesium-aluminum alloy block and a valvetronic system that’s relatively robust compared to the turbocharged N54.
Why is the E46 so famous?
TIMELESS DESIGN, POWERFUL PROPORTIONS. As with the iconic M3 E30, the M3 E46 is immediately recognisable as the premium model in its series thanks to numerous details. In particular, aesthetic changes such as widened fenders, special side skirts and the modified front apron catch the eye of every observer. The “Big 3” (BMW E46 M3) You will often hear people talk about “The Big 3” when it comes to maintenance on your E46. The Big 3 includes rod bearings, a rebuilt VANOS, and subframe reinforcement.M3 GTR road car As per the race M3 GTR, the roadgoing Version was powered by the BMW P60B40 4. L V8 engine which was slightly detuned and generated a maximum power output of 283 kW (380 hp) at 7,000 rpm.The BMW E46 M3 features the high-revving 3. S54 inline-six engine, which generates around 338–343 hp and 262 lb-ft of torque.
What BMW is E46?
The BMW 3 Series (E46) is the fourth generation of the BMW 3 Series range of compact executive cars manufactured by German automaker BMW. Produced from 1997 to 2006, it was the successor to the E36 3 Series, which ceased production in 2000. Among late-model 3 Series, 2014 to 2018 and 2020 to 2023 models have the highest reliability ratings and the fewest problems. What are the worst BMW 3 Series years? Generationally, the worst 3 Series is probably the fifth-generation “E90” model built from 2005 to 2011.The F30 BMW 3 Series (2012-2019) The BMW 3 Series, particularly the F30 generation, is one of the most reliable and best-selling models BMW has ever produced.