BMW E46 M3
The 3rd era of the BMW M3, this time around based around the E46 style 3 series , which made its debut in the year 2000. Once more, the third edition of the popular sports car coming from Germany excelled right away as a result of additional functionality, extra dynamism and more distinctive style, obviously establishing this particular unique BMW apart from the various other versions of the BMW 3 Series.
From the beginning, the first tests revealed from vehicle journals certainly proved that the BMW M3 is a particularly impressive sports car with the greatest caliber, with genuinely unparalleled performance.Engine
The freshly developed inline six displacing 3,246 cc is the very first engine appropriate for all nations and national specs. Nevertheless, instead of the 252 kW/343 hp ECE version, the motor is throttled on the American variation of the BMW M3 to reduced output of 333 SAE-hp (249 kW/338 DIN-hp).Which means that having an increase in motor volume by only 1.4 percent compared to the previous model, peak output is up by 6.9 and max torque up by 4.3 %.
This increase in power and torque is a direct outcome of the high-speed motor idea, constant management of the charge cycle and reduction of internal friction effects enhancing the motors specific output from 100 to almost 106 hp per liter.
Despite its higher max running speeds, the engine provides a large practical speed range, developing 80 per cent of maximum torque at just 2,000 rpm. Not surprising, this motor thrilled professionals and car writers right from the start, receiving the coveted Engine of the Year award, a really prestigious honor, six times back to back from 2001 through 2006.
Chassis and Suspension
The technicians responsible for producing the existing BMW M3 gave specific awareness from the start to the chassis and suspension. Following the idea that the chassis must be faster than the motor, they demanded the most of the chassis and suspension technology, a job clearly giving the suspension engineers a tremendous challenge considering the high-speed notion and outstanding overall performance of the M3 motor.
Nevertheless, they were able to set out from a fantastic foundation from the the start, using the chassis and suspension from the 3rd-era BMW M3 being a consistent development of the previous chassis. Plus the chassis on the 2nd-generation continues to be recognized even today as the benchmark in the performance car segment, being lauded by the authorities of US magazine Car and Driver for example, as the Best Handling Car.
The very sturdy body shell of the BMW 3 Series Coupe, the large portion of light-weight material axle parts, and well-balanced front-to-rear weight dispersal of almost 50 : 50 are indeed ideal prerequisites for providing unparalleled driving satisfaction with BMW standard drive feeding power to the rear tires. And despite the somewhat bigger dimensions of the new model, the chassis and suspension technicians succeeded in actually outperforming the predecessors handling attributes yet still sustaining a high level of daily driving.
Gear Box
The traditional shift lever has been a thing of the past for a long time now in the top realms of motor racing preferably, today’s Formula 1 driver shifts gears by means of paddles located on steering wheel, maintaining his foot completely on the accelerator pedal at the same time. In making this achievable, one of the most advanced engine electronics interrupt the stream of power in the motor for a split second, and the management unit changes gears electro hydraulically, opening and closing the clutch at the same time. Subsequently, there is no need for the clutch pedal anymore, which has therefore become superfluous.
BMW released the 1st version of this system now featured as state-of-the-art technology in Formula 1, in its successful touring cars for the racetrack dating back to in 1996, becoming the first manufacturer around the world to use this technology. At that time still including a stick shift in the center, the primary system served to shift gears on one level utilizing a sequential procedure similar to on a motorcycle. To shift up, the driver just pulled the shift lever back without using the clutch; to shift down he pressed the gear stick to the front. The benefit offered by it is a very rapid gearshift and overall reliability in use, with no chance of changing to the wrong gear.
Achieving more and more experience in motor-racing, BMW then moved over this particular
technology to its road-going cars, introducing the Sequential M Gearbox on the BMW E46 M3 in 1997. The 2nd generation of SMG now significantly enhanced over the first version is similar in technical terms with the standard manual gearbox on the BMW M3, 6 forward gears offering the driver absolute freedom in selecting the type of gearshift they desire. In particular the technique of switching gears by using paddles leads to the drivers active well being while traveling, allowing him to maintain his hands on the steering wheel all the time.Taking advantage of M Drivelogic, the driver of the BMW M3 can also adjust gearshift dynamics in the manual mode to his personalized type of driving by means of six different options cover anything from clean but dynamic (Driving Program S1) all the way to high performance and sporting (Driving Program S5). After which another highlight is Driving Program S6 activated whenever DSC (Dynamic Stability Control) included as standard within the BMW M3 is switched off, SMG then changing gears equally as fast as a racing car.The revolutionary Sequential M Gearbox also offers important advantages when it comes to safety: During a critical driving scenario, including when shifting back on a slippery surface, SMG instantly opens the clutch in fractions of a second, preventing the vehicle from spinning out of control as a result of excessive engine forces engaged on the drive wheels. A further point is that the driver can not make a miscalculation when switching gears. Consequently, SMG contributes not just to extra sportiness on the streets, but also to greater safety in daily traffic.
BMW E46 M3 Stats
Model - M3 (US)
Engine - S54B32
Produced - 2001-2006
Engine Size - 3246cc
Engine Type - I6, 24V
Power - 333 Bhp
Torque - 262 ft-lb
Performance
0-62 Mph - 5.5 sec
¼ Mile - 13.72 @ 105.36
60 - 0 - 112 ft
