The first BMW M3 debuted in the latter Eighties as a homologation special for touring car racing based on the E30 3-series coupes, powered by a gnarly DOHC 2.3L 4-banger.
The second generation, based on the E36, upped to an inline six and added a sedan version, the latter to supposedly cover a gap in the generations of M5 sedans.
The E46 third generation, like the Alpine White example in the photo, returned to being offered only as a coupe. Debuting as an '01 model, it was the first version where the US market and Euro cars used the same engine (although the NA imports were still down a couple ponies, 333 vs. 338, to their overseas counterparts.)
Car and Driver tested a 2001 sample and managed a 4.5 second sprint to sixty and a 13.1 second quarter at 107 miles per hour through the traps. On the skidpad it displayed 0.87g roadholding and stopped from seventy in a mere 160 feet. Just ten years earlier those were the sort of acceleration numbers returned by Vipers and 911 Turbos.
This one was photographed in May of 2021 using a Nikon D5000 and 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 VR II zoom lens.
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