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2006 BMW M3

BMW M3 a winner all round

2006 BMW M3
The 2003 BMW E46 M3 is acclaimed as Australia's Best Sportscar over $57,000 for the third year running.

The E46 M3 has made a habit of winning, underlining the enduring driver appeal the high performance M3 offers, not only compared with its would-be rivals but across the entire market for high performance machines.

Power and performance continue to be the hallmarks of one of Australia's most acclaimed sports driving machines.

The BMW M3 Coupe sprints to 100 km/h from rest in just 5.2 seconds yet consumes just 11.9 ltr/100 km over the combined cycle.

Athletic in style, elegant in looks 2006 BMW M3
From the very first sight, the new M3 exudes a sense of superb power, wide and muscular looks, as well as beautiful elegance. With its new front air dam with ellipsoid fog lamps and extra-large cooling air intake scoops, it stands out from all the other models in the BMW 3 Series range. The kidney grille, slightly modified in its position, blends with the new design of the front end.

Made of aluminium, the engine compartment lid is approximately 40 per cent lighter than the same unit made of steel plate. A particularly important factor is that despite this reduction in weight the engine compartment lid offers the same stiffness and crash safety as the steel plate unit in the 3 Series Coupe.

This was made possible using computer simulation to demonstrate how the geometric features responsible for stability affect the static and dynamic stiffness of the engine compartment lid.

The engine compartment lid on the M3 is characterised by the new contours of the power dome, a small hump in the middle of the lid, providing room for the new M3's engine. This sets the tone for the overall style and appearance of the M3, without one single feature serving only a visual purpose alone. Instead, all modifications versus the standard model are based on the clear rule that form follows function, offering beautiful styling and design at the same time.

The body of the new BMW M3, including the wheel arches is considerably wider (+20 mm) and features air scoops with the M3 emblem on the front side panels.

The wider body and flared wheel arches are needed to fit both the wider track as well as appropriate tyres and wheels. Indeed, the extra-wide 225/45 ZR 18 tyres at the front and the 255/40 ZR 18 tyres at the rear on newly designed M Styling double-spoke light-alloy wheels measuring 8 inches in width at the front and 9 inches at the rear provide a perfect match for this muscular appearance, clearly distinguishing the new M3 from the 'standard' 3 Series Coupe. The new M3 measures 4.49 metres in length, 1.78 metres in width, and 1.37 metres in height. The car's wheelbase is 2.73 metres.

New M exterior mirrors in aspheric design fold back electrically as an option whenever required. Special side-sill covers, as well as a streamlined rear air dam and a specially designed rear spoiler accentuate this powerful, dynamic look of BMW's new M athlete. The exhaust system with twin chambers and four tailpipes clearly identifies this model as a member of the exclusive M Car range.

The interior – sporting and elegant all in one

Benefiting from a typical BMW M instrument cluster with special scales on the instruments, the driver has a clear view of all the new M3's functions. Again in classic BMW M style, the circular dials so typical of BMW have, on this car, red indicator needles. A feature carried over from the M5 is the rev counter with its variable warning zone: Whenever the driver starts the engine cold, orange light-emitting diodes (LEDs) are illuminated as the engine speed reaches 4,000 rpm, they are then extinguished in steps of 500 rpm as oil temperature increases. As soon as there is only one orange and two red LEDs left on, the engine has reached its optimum operating temperature. A further standard feature is the oil temperature display.
The newly designed M multifunction steering wheel has a padded, extra-thick rim, M stitching and thumb supports making it not only attractive but also functional. A footrest in aluminium as well as the door cutout strips with the M3 symbol rounds off the special look and style of the car's interior.

The courtesy lights package, featured as standard, comprises both the illuminated gearshift lever with its six-speed gearshift pattern and M logo as well as the interior mirror with its automatic anti-dazzle effect. Automatic air conditioning with separate temperature control for the driver and front-seat passenger comes as standard. Passive safety is at the same high standard offered by the entire BMW 3 Series, frontal, side and head airbags featured as standard to protect the driver and front passenger, with two side airbags standard on the rear seats.

The Power Únit of the M3

The power unit featured in the new M3 excels providing its turbine-like power combined with equally outstanding running smoothness and refinement, fortes which have long become the synonym of BMW six-cylinders the world over. Now the new engine adds new meaning to these supreme qualities, introducing the BMW M high-speed features and technology at a standard equipment to that required by the most demanding and sophisticated competition engines in the world, the power units to be found in Formula 1.

Outstanding efficiency at all engine speeds and under all loads guarantees superior fuel economy in everyday motoring and a low level of emissions.

Source - BMW

The story of an exception: the BMW M3 is 25.

The story of an exception: the BMW M3 is 25.

The anticipation began in August 1985. That summer Germanys automobile magazines built up their readers expectations for the fastest 3 Series BMW of all times. The key data revealed a sports car that would punch way above its class 200 hp, top speed in excess of 230 kmh, sprint from a standing start to 100 kmh inside 6.7 seconds. However, the story was that the most dynamic BMW 3 Series drivers....
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The Champion in Touring Car Racing. 25 years ago the BMW M3 started its unique series of victories.

The Champion in Touring Car Racing. 25 years ago the BMW M3 started its unique series of victories.

In August 1985, a rumour surfaced in motor magazine Auto-Deutschland which emanated from a new sports car. An A Group Car from BMW that was a thoroughbred racing car according to the rules but was also to be produced in a version licensed to drive on open roads for everyday use. Speculation about this dream car that could take to normal roads and was intended for the Most dynamic among BMW 3 Series....
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