BMW M3 GTR E46 V8 STRASSEN (Road) version
Discussion
Quite a mythical car. I assume they did sell a few. Here are some photos of the road version https://www.flickr.com/photos/64831766@N06/sets/72...
bennyboysvuk said:
I could be wrong, but the shape of the intake in the Flickr pictures looks remarkably like the E39 M5's, albeit with a CF cover, not plastic.
My phone isn't loading the pics for some reason but I'd forgotten that engine - would make a lot of sense!Still love these e46s with the S85 V10 engines that some guys on the forum have built.
Some good info here, it was a bespoke V8 apparently AND was the basis for the next M3 which was a V8 obviously, the E92.
http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/txt/960/2/BMW-M3-GT...
Instead, the BMW Motorsport engineers decided to create a compact and lightweight V8 engine from scratch to power the new M3 GTR. This was an all-aluminium unit, featuring a 90° bank angle and displacing just under four litres. With the mandatory intake restrictors in place, it produced around 500 hp according to BMW. The new engine, code-named P60, was mated to a six-speed sequential gearbox
Beaten at their own game, Porsche were none too happy with BMW taking over in the GT class. They claimed that their fellow German rival was effectively running a prototype and despite BMW showing a fully functional Strassen Version at the season finale, the regulations were tightened. Would the German manufacturer want to continue racing the M3 GTRs in the ALMS, at least 100 complete examples and a total of 1,000 V8 engines had to be produced in a 12-month period.
Unable and perhaps also unwilling to comply with the stricter demands, BMW ended its ALMS effort with the M3 GTR after just a single, very successful season. As for the Strassen Version, none were sold and the cars were only rarely seen since 2001.
With an ALMS championship winning campaign and a pair of Nürbrurgring 24 Hours victories under its belt, the E46 M3 GTR fits squarely in the long line of great M3 competition cars.
The V8 engine would return in the subsequent E92 M3 road and competition cars , which were also successfully raced on both sides of the Atlantic.
http://www.ultimatecarpage.com/txt/960/2/BMW-M3-GT...
Instead, the BMW Motorsport engineers decided to create a compact and lightweight V8 engine from scratch to power the new M3 GTR. This was an all-aluminium unit, featuring a 90° bank angle and displacing just under four litres. With the mandatory intake restrictors in place, it produced around 500 hp according to BMW. The new engine, code-named P60, was mated to a six-speed sequential gearbox
Beaten at their own game, Porsche were none too happy with BMW taking over in the GT class. They claimed that their fellow German rival was effectively running a prototype and despite BMW showing a fully functional Strassen Version at the season finale, the regulations were tightened. Would the German manufacturer want to continue racing the M3 GTRs in the ALMS, at least 100 complete examples and a total of 1,000 V8 engines had to be produced in a 12-month period.
Unable and perhaps also unwilling to comply with the stricter demands, BMW ended its ALMS effort with the M3 GTR after just a single, very successful season. As for the Strassen Version, none were sold and the cars were only rarely seen since 2001.
With an ALMS championship winning campaign and a pair of Nürbrurgring 24 Hours victories under its belt, the E46 M3 GTR fits squarely in the long line of great M3 competition cars.
The V8 engine would return in the subsequent E92 M3 road and competition cars , which were also successfully raced on both sides of the Atlantic.
tedzwedz said:
Some good info here, it was a bespoke V8 apparently AND was the basis for the next M3 which was a V8 obviously, the E92.
It's interesting how early engines are developed when you consider this was 2001, and the E92 didn't arrive until 2007, so engine's are sorted well in advance compared to when they go into full production then. Gassing Station | BMW General | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff