Rare BMWs, E46 M3 GTR on Track at DMV Challenge

Each year, DMV Motorsport organises a series of races in Germany. The guys at DMV aims to gather BMW fans across the country to take the BMW-DMV-Challenge. There will be 13 races happening for this year’s event and it will be held for more than 7 weekends. The last one was held at the famous Hockenheim and there were lots of rare and interesting cars on the track, including a few E46 M3 GTR models.

The BMW E46 M3 GTR is a really rare car. It was only released in three road-going versions in Titanium Silver Metallic paint. It was only created so that BMW can be allowed to race in the American Le Mans Series. The competition required manufacturers to offer an equivalent street version of the car that raced on the track and it had to be offered to the public on at least two continents within 12 months. Those were pretty strict rules.

According to history accounts, three cars were built between late 2001 and early 2002 and they were sold for about 250,000 Euros each. However, BMW ended up failing to comply with the rules so the whole initiative was stopped. Good thing that BMW managed to buy back all three cars that were initially sold.

The E46 GTR is powered by a 4-liter V8 which delivered 380 HP and 288 lb-ft of torque on the road-going models. The power is transferred via the Getrag six-speed manual gearbox and M Differential Lock from the regular E46 M3. The chassis benefits from a wider track and more aggressive spring/shock rates, though the steering rack, 12.8-inch cross-drilled vented disc brakes with compound calipers and forged 19-inch M Double Spoke II alloy wheels carry over unaltered from the regular E46 M3. BMW claims the 2,976-pound (dry) E46 M3 GTR can accelerate from rest to 62 mph in 4.7 seconds.

In terms of the look, it has a more aggressive front fascia, standard E46 M3 dashboard, no rear seats, and special door sill plates with the “M3 GTR” insignia.