Poll: Which BMW M3 Is The Best Ever?

BMW recently unveiled its latest M3 concept at the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. And it's called the M4, for reasons you'll only really understand if you've been attentively following BMW's recent rejigging of its nomenclature.

Don't worry - we're told that colours other than this Aurum Dust (aka Radioactive Nose Goo Metallic) will be available. Of more import, though, will be whether the new M4 will come equipped with big enough cojones to match up to the legend of the M3, a lineage so hallowed and respected that not even a change of name can break it. So will the new M4 be the best M3 yet? Or maybe the best M3 ever's already been and gone. What do you think? To help you decide, we've given you the skinny on that famous heritage, and matched the M4 up to see how it compares. Remember to cast your vote for your favourite M3.

1. E30 M3

The E30 was the car that started the M3 legend off

The original. And for many, still the best. Although its mad, wailing engine had only four cylinders and 2.3 litres (or 2.5 in the very last Sport Evolution cars), it was still one of the most exciting powerplants of its era, a combination of an M10 cylinder block and a head based heavily on that of the M88, the legendary engine that powered the M1, M635CSi and E28 M5. But it wasn't just the engine that made the first M3; no, this was a pure-bred driver's car, a homologation special, and a genuine racer for the road. A wide-arched two-door body, at once elegant and brutal, hid a high-tech motorsport-bred chassis that offered energy and vivacity, and instantly sent the M3 straight into the book of BMW legends.

Specification (Sport Evolution)Engine: 2,467cc inline four-cylinder, 16v, naturally-aspiratedPower: 238bhp0-62: 6.5 secondsMax Speed: 154mph

2. E36 M3

The E36 brought the M3 to the masses - which was no bad thing

Strange to imagine these days, but the E36 M3 arrived to a slightly cool reception. No longer was the M3 a homologation special; instead, it was mass-produced, and consequently, the cognoscenti considered it to be not quite as special. More fool them, for the E36 was an absolute cracker. And it only got better when the Evolution model was launched, capacity increasing from 3.0 litres to 3.2, with a corresponding increase in power. In the end, the E36 was often cited as one of the finest-handling cars of the 1990s, and today they're one of the biggest bargains on the British used market. Also the first M3 to be available in saloon form.

Specification (Evolution)Engine: 3,201cc inline six-cylinder, 24v, naturally-aspiratedPower: 321bhp0-62: 5.5 secondsMax Speed: 155mph

3. E46 M3

The E46 - for some, the perfect recipe and the pinnacle of M3-dom

Many BMW enthusiasts today consider this the ultimate M3 - the last of the pre-Bangle M cars, and cosmetically, a heady blend of muscle and finesse. And beneath, it was the same story, with a nervy, energetic chassis matched to a soulful straight six which was loosely based on that of the E36, and which thrived on revs. And yet it had all the creature comforts you could want, making it more usable than any M3 before it, its rock-solid interior with its high-quality plastics lending it an exceptionally high-quality air. If that wasn't quite enough for you, though, there was always the CSL - a hardcore, track-focussed version that felt like an M3 distilled, and which has since become an object of pure lust for most M3 enthusiasts.

SpecificationEngine: 3,246cc inline six-cylinder, 24v, naturally-aspiratedPower: 343bhp0-62: 5.2 secondsMax Speed: 155mph

4. E92 M3

The E92 boasted a brutal V8 and mad tech aplenty

"All change" was the message when the E92 was introduced - all, that is, except for the M3's reputation for delivering one of the most exhilarating driving experiences on the planet. But the way in which it did so was now very different: a V8 lay beneath the bonnet in place of the previous six, while the restrained lines of previous generations had been replaced with Chris Bangle's fluid, rolling, flame-surfaced curves. This M3 was a technology showcase; for the first time, BMW's M-DCT transmission was offered, and a host of other acronyms made for a car that could take corners at faintly astonishing speeds. It was, in every way, a tour de force, and with a healthy power hike over the previous generation, it was supercar quick too.

SpecificationEngine: 3,999cc V-formation eight-cylinder, 32v, naturally-aspiratedPower: 420bhp0-62: 4.8 seconds (4.6 with M-DCT)Max Speed: 155mph

5. F82 M4

The F82 M4 will have a lot to live up to!

Little has been confirmed about the M4 as yet, but we already have a fairly good idea about how it'll shape up. Its engine will revert to the more traditional straight-six form, but this time it'll be boosted by not one, but two turbos. Power will see a moderate hike over its predecessor, but what'll likely make more difference will be the savings in weight, in part from the use of CFRP body parts, that will likely be a huge selling point. That should mean a hefty improvement in terms of power-to-weight ratio and a consequent performance boost too. We can expect to see the M4 joined later in its life by a four-door saloon variant more traditionally badged as the M3, too.

Specification (unconfirmed)Engine: 3.0-3.5-litre inline six-cylinder, 24v, twin-turbochargedPower: 450bhp (est)0-62: 4.4 seconds (est)Top Speed: 155mph

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