The BMW M3 is a performance sedan with a legendary name and pedigree. In a perpetual dogfight with its competitors from Mercedes and Audi, the M3 is starting to give. New and Used BMW M3 Prices, Photos, Reviews, Specs. The BMW M3 is the performance version of the German automakers 3 Series sedan, the archetype for BMW as an automaker tactile, trackable, powerful and sporty, while remaining comfortable enough for everyday use. Only offered as a sedan, the M3 previously had been available as a two door coupe or convertiblebut never a wagon. Its been an icon for decades, with a wide span of powertrains that have included inline 6, V 8, and now a turbo 6. Available as a sedan, the M3 lineup used to include two door coupes and convertibles as well. In recent years, those models were spun off into a separate M4 model thats the same under the skin as the M3. After receiving a Competition Package with more power for 2. HTB1mXAtHFXXXXX0XFXXq6xXFXXXc/Car-DVD-Player-for-BMW-3-Series.jpg' alt='Bmw E90 Radio Manual' title='Bmw E90 Radio Manual' />The 2012 BMW 3Series is unmistakeable as a BMW, yet it makes some visual departures from the outgoing E90 version. Most notably, its and roofline lookand are. Map Of Chula Vista California. A rearview camera becomes standard, the i. Drive infotainment system gets a touchscreen, and the xenon headlights become LEDs. MORE Read our 2. BMW M3 review. The M3 has rivals in some of the best cars on the road, hailing from Germany, Japan, America, and the U. Bmw E90 Radio Manual' title='Bmw E90 Radio Manual' />K. Theres the Cadillac ATS V the Mercedes AMG C6. Audi S4 and the Lexus RC F, with Jaguar XE and XF high performance models in the pipeline. The new BMW M3. Todays M3 was new for the 2. For 2. 01. 5, BMW refocused the M3 on performance, keeping its weight in line while giving it a leaner, touring car champion driving feel. The key piece of equipment was the new twin turbocharged 3. It produces 4. 25 horsepower and 4. To go along with the new engine, BMW developed a new rear differential, called the Active M Differential. The system is able to vary its locking percentage from one wheel to the other between 0 and 1. The variable locking helps improve traction, allows the car to rotate nicely in turns, and put the most power down in a straight line. Coupled to the 7 speed dual clutch transmission, the current M3 leaps to 6. Top speed is electronically limited to 1. A lighter chassis also helps the new M3s overall performance. Up to 1. 76 pounds lighter than its predecessor, the M3 makes more extensive use of aluminum, including in the front fenders and hood, as well as carbon fiber in the trunk lid, driveshaft, and roofa first for the M3 sedan. An Adaptive M suspension system offers Comfort, Sport, and Sport modes that are made possible by variable rate dampers. The same three mode settings also control the electric power steering in all M3s, increasing or decreasing the steering force and feedback to suit the mission. The M3 received some mild updates for 2. Series line. The front and rear fascias were tweaked, and the taillights became LEDs arranged in an L shape. Keyless access, satellite radio with a one year subscription, and a Harman Kardon sound system were now standard equipment. Inside, it got additional touches of chrome, ambient lighting around the center stack, and new navigation unit hardware with faster startup, over the air map updates, better overall performance, and more realistic presentation of city details. In 2. 01. 7, BMW made standard its Adaptive M suspension and added an available Competition package to boost horsepower from 4. According to BMW, the package shaves a tenth of a second off the 0 6. Active M Differential, 2. BMW M3 History. It all started with the E3. BMW 3 Series in 1. That original M3 was a small, relatively light two door coupe and later a convertible in other markets. Power came from a 2. The E3. 0 M3 was only offered with a manual transmission. It saw wide use in racing, which continues to this day in vintage circles. The second generation of the M3 arrived along with the next generation of the 3 Series the E3. Bowing in 1. 99. 2, the new model upgraded to a 3. A sedan version of the M3 was introduced for the E3. Both 5 speed manual and automatic transmissions were available. That model ran through 1. In late 2. 00. 0, the E4. M3 came on the scene, with a much more potent 3. S5. 4 inline 6 rated at 3. It offered a choice of the 6 speed manual transmission or a new, stiff shifting SMG automatic transmission with a single electrohydraulic clutch, and steering wheel mounted paddle shifters. Next came the E9. E9. 0, E9. 2, and E9. M3, first sold in 2. A V 8 engine, displacing 4. M3 performance to new levels. At the same time, the E9. M3 gained considerable weight, pushing it more into the realm of grand tourer than sports car. A wave of technology also brought the M3 more fully into the modern era, with advanced traction and stability control programs to enhance performance, a new optional dual clutch transmission, and other advances. A number of special editions were offered, primarily in the form of appearance packages. The overall level of the M3s luxury and equipment also rose with this generation, wrapping in more advanced navigation, entertainment, and creature comforts. The fourth M3 was offered here as a coupe, sedan, and hardtop convertible.