Research into the BMW M3 E46

We’ve been working on the BMW M Special this week, it is our eleventh magazine issue. As part of each feature car article we like to highlight all the special edition models and number produced so you know exactly how rare and exclusive they are.

On researching the BMW M3 E46 production numbers and limited editions we found a full breakdown of special editions were made

BMW E46 M3 CS Competition Package – 3,011 cars
BMW E46 M3 CSL Coupe Sport Leichtbau – 1,383 cars plus over a dozen pre production test cars (422 sold in the UK)
BMW E46 M3 Silverstone (UK only) – 50 cars
BMW E46 M3 30th Years of the BMW M (Germany only) – 30 cars
BMW E46 M3 GTR – 10 cars

For reference BMW M3 E46 production numbers worldwide were 85,744 cars between 2000 and 2006.

Further detail on the BMW E46 M3 CS Competition Package

The M3 CS was an optional package available from early 2005 in the UK. Here is a breakdown of how many were specified with a manual gearbox or SMG II automated manual by colour.

Total UK Production of the M3 CS – 239 (This makes it rarer than the CSL in the UK!)

CS Interlagos Blue
SMG – 80
Manual – 58

Carbon Black
SMG – 25
Manual – 21

Silver Grey
SMG – 20
Manual – 18

Titanium Silver
SMG – 6
Manual – 1

Imola Red
SMG – 1
Manual – 1

Jet Black
SMG – 3
Manual – 1

Mystic Blue
SMG – 0
Manual – 1

Alpine White
SMG – 1
Manual – 0

BMW Individual Paint (Gold Metallic S04 & Estoril Blue 335)
SMG – 2
Manual – 0