OV9

Stealing someone else’s insta.

You’re not allowed to love more than one… which is rather conflicting.

E30 was (is) such an icon. Road car, but more so grpA touring car / rally car. Frank Sytner worrying the Cossies. Which I loved more, but also cackled as the M3’s climbed over them in the twisty bits.

E46 arguably close to visual perfection for a pumped saloon. Lucky to have followed Marv’s CSL along highland roads. Even more beautiful in motion (Marv and the car). Art.

E92 has a v8. Mik love v8 long time. It’s not an E46, but it’s a damn handsome and purposeful thing. And it’s a v8.

And there are later cars that are more capable / faster.

E46 for me - I’ve never driven one in fact but I’ve driven plenty of E46s and they were all absolutely lovely. And the way it looks and the S54 engine are both very special.

Much as I enjoyed seeing the E30 dicing with Sierra Cosworths in BTCC, it falls down on the basis of its engine. Are values still climbing or is it less desirable to the millennials who didn’t see it racing in period?

E30 as lovely as it is I'd rather have a 190 Cosworth.

E36 is a close second mainly due to seeing some lovely species ones. Blue with cream interior, green with green, blue with that citrus yellow leather etc.

E46 wins for me, perfect proportions, a CSL intake and one of the greatest induction noises I've ever heard. I've driven a convertible and I wasn't hugely impressed but I think it was a bit of a dud.

V8 M3 pretty cool and still desireable but I'd rather the C63 AMG and also the side profile never quite looks right. Logically it's probably the better car.

The other 2, the M3 shouldn't have turbos in my opinion so I've no interest in them, apart from the touring but I don't see that as an M3, it's more like a very high spec 340.

Dave!

E46. I do love E30 and E90, but E46 is just perfection really.

E30 all the way, it’s the most distinctive and ugh, iconic.

Having owned an e46 and e92, the e92 is the better car. The V8 is an absolute work of art and feels truly special. People are drawn more to the e46 because it look so “right”, but having lived with both i even prefer the e92 looks too.

Yes its not the definitive "M3" but I'd have the e92.

Close call, but the E92 just edges it for me.

E9x saloon was better looking imho, and an E9x Touring would’ve been perfection… so an M3 Touring gets my vote!

IanF wrote: Sun Apr 26, 2026 9:17 am E9x saloon was better looking imho

Agreed.

G81 Touring for me please.

BMW never made the greatest m3, so people have had to take matters into their own hands

Rich B wrote: Sun Apr 26, 2026 7:49 am Having owned an e46 and e92, the e92 is the better car. The V8 is an absolute work of art and feels truly special. People are drawn more to the e46 because it look so “right”, but having lived with both i even prefer the e92 looks too.

Owned both as well and couldn't agree more, the E92 was better in every measurable sense.

This may be controversial but I don't even count anything with 4 doors as an M3.

E92 for me. V8 and looks fairly modern but understated without the daft grilles.

It’s a toss up for 2nd and 3rd. I really, really wanted an E36 Evo in Estoril as 17 year old but the E46 is no doubt better.

Not that I'm trying to sway votes or anything, but I gave my M3 a quick wash today, to get rid of all the dust and spider poo that accumulated on it over the winter.

Stancetastic!

Dave!