Best performance on a BMW 3 Series? Go for the E46 M3. Here’s why.

By Farzana Chaumoo

A breakdown in the BMW 3 Series petrol engine line-up and why the E46 M3 deserves your money.

All of BMW's 3 Series petrol engines deliver keen performance, even the entry-level ones such as the three-cylinder 1.5-litre BMW 318i. Even though this specific one has to be pushed harder to deliver performance on par with its entry-level diesel derivative, it still is surprisingly refined. The 318i can accelerate from 0-100 km/h in 8.9 seconds.

Taking it up a notch, the 2.0-litre BMW 320i and BMW 330i can be found in the 3 Series range. These cars are significantly quicker and can accelerate from 0-100 km/h in 7.2 and 5.9 seconds respectively. 

Then there's the BMW 340i, it is the fastest standard 3 Series aside from the M3, which sprints from 0-100 km/h in just 5.5 seconds. The 340i is certainly quick and almost on par with the entry-level Porsche 718 Cayman. When cruising the engine is quite but it ultimately lacks a tad bit of character which is difficult to justify the extra money spent when compared to the 330d.

The most high-performance car, and also the most expensive, in the 3 Series range is the BMW M3. If you can afford it, then the M3 is the one to have! 

But particular the E46 M3 is the one that you will find all enthusiasts raving about. It has good power, reliability, it is built well and it was also the last M with the sequential manual gearbox (SMG). However, there is one common failure and that is the engine bearings. BMW reccommends an oil change at every 25,000km but it is usually recommended to change the oil at every 7,500km.

Reasons to own an E46 M3:

1. It is very affordable for its caliber of sports car. It may very well be the best valued M3.
2. Powered by a 3.2 litre inline-six engine that puts out 333 hp (248 kW) and sprints from 0-97 km/h in 5.1 seconds.
3. Two transmission options: as aforementioned - the SMG automated manual with paddle shifters and the 6-speed manual. The SMG is not too reliable but is faster than the manual. However,  the manual provides a level of enjoyment and connection that the SMG simply can’t.
4. Over a decade old but still one of the best looking BMW's.
5. The sound of naturally aspirated glory.
6. Absolutely incredible to drive!