BMW takes us to their photo studio to showcase the M3 generations: E30, E36, E46, E93 and now F83 M4.
Since 1988, the M3 convertibles were part of the M3 family and have become a staple automobile.
E30 M3 Convertible
The first generation E30 M3 Convertible was powered by a four-cylinder engine and came with a soft roof. The S14 four-cylinder with 2.3 liter displacement was initially available with 195 hp, later developed 215 hp. The sprint from 0 to 100 came in 7.3 seconds.
E36 M3 Convertible
In 1994, BMW debuted the E36 M3 Convertible with an inline six-cylinder engine and again a soft top bu this time opened and closed via an electric switch. The engine power ranged from 286 to 321 horsepower and BMW used an SMG transmission.
E46 M3 Convertible
The E46 M3 Convertible, first introduced in October 2000, appeared worldwide with the new 3.2 L S54 M-tuned engine. At the time of the car’s introduction, this engine had the highest specific output naturally aspirated of any engine ever made by BMW (except in the McLaren F1), producing 343 horsepower (256 kW) and 365 N·m (269 lb·ft). It was only available in coupe and convertible bodies as the saloon version has been dropped.
The E46 M3 was offered with a standard 6-speed Getrag transmission, but optionally came with a SMG drivelogic transmission (also known as the SMG II).
E93 M3 Convertible
Similar to the previous M3 generations that introduced a new engine, the fourth generation M3 did the same: the BMW S65 V8 engine. The engine produces 414 bhp (309 kW; 420 PS) at 8300 rpm,[36] with peak torque of 295 lb·ft (400 N·m) at 3900 rpm. A six-speed manual transmission is standard. As of April 2008, BMW offers a new seven speed Getrag double-clutch gearbox, called M-DKG (Doppel-Kupplungs-Getriebe) or M-DCT (Double Clutch Transmission) as an option, which reduces shift pauses to less than a tenth of a second and shortens the car’s 0-100 km/h (62 mph) sprint time by 0.2 seconds vs. manual. It features both automatic and manual modes similar to the SMG gearboxes in the E36 and E46, but with more speed and efficiency.
F83 M4 Convertible
he third addition to the new M3 and M4 family made its debut earlier this year and brings an emotional design to the powerful looking M4 Coupe. Built atop the elegant and beautiful 4 Series Convertible, the BMW M4 Convertible will join its siblings, the M3 Sedan and M4 Coupe, this summer.
Under the hood, it features the same S55 3.0 liter inline-six TwinPower engine producing 425 horsepower and 406 lb-ft of torque. The power is sent to the rear-wheels via a six-speed or an optional 7-speed M DCT transmission.
