Powertrain families
S65B40 V8
M3 (E90/E92/E93) — Sedan
2007–2013
Editorially reviewedReviewed 2026-08-10; market and model-year scope is stated in the record sources.
- Internal code
- E90
- Production
- 2007–2013
- Body style
- 4-door sedan
- Platform
- BMW M · longitudinal layout · rear-wheel drive
Body variants
M3 → E90/E92/E93 → Sedan
M3 E90/E92/E93: history, design and engineering
How this generation came about, what made it different and how the selected sedan fits into the family.
The fourth M3 generation was the only production M3 family built around a naturally aspirated V8. The high-revving S65 powered the E90 sedan, E92 coupé and E93 retractable-hardtop convertible, combined with either a six-speed manual or seven-speed M DCT depending on specification.
The three bodies have different dimensions, mass, production windows and roof construction and therefore require separate body records. Lifecycle development included the Competition Package and low-volume derivatives such as the GTS coupé and CRT sedan, whose engines, weight and chassis cannot be represented by the standard 420 hp row.
Country editions and North American model years do not map neatly to European production dates. The M3 Pickup was an internal factory transport one-off, not a customer model; racing derivatives likewise belong to motorsport history rather than the road modification matrix.
2007–2013generation lifecycle
3body branches
1engine/drive families
5range designations
E90/E92/E93factory code
BMW M · longitudinal layout · rear-wheel drivearchitecture
Sedan: dimensions and packaging
Dimensions can change with body, market and model year, so this page keeps them tied to the exact factory branch.
Length4,580 mm
Width1,817 mm
Height1,447 mm
Wheelbase2,761 mm
Luggage450 L
Fuel tank63 L
Seats5
Doors4-door sedan
Engines and powertrains
The generation could span very different engines and drivetrains. The table keeps output, gearbox, market and production period together.
Factory modification matrix
Documented sedan applications; output and availability remain market- and model-year-specific.
| Model | Years | Engine | Output | Transmission | Drive | Market | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M3 Sedan / Coupé / Cabriolet | 2007–2013 | S65B40 V8 | 420 PS / 414 hp US | 6MT / 7DCT | RWD | Global range | The BMW M3 generations |
| M3 CRT | 2011–2012 | S65B44 V8 | 450 PS | 7DCT | RWD | Global range | The BMW M3 generations |
Factory designations
M3 Sedan · M3 Coupe · M3 Cabriolet · M3 GTS · M3 CRT
High-performance powertrain
Engine, cooling, exhaust, software and transmission form a distinct M or ALPINA specification rather than an option package on the base model.
Diesel derivatives
Where diesels were offered, output, injection generation and emissions hardware are recorded market by market.
How power reaches the road
Gearboxes, driven wheels and final-drive hardware changed with engine, market and production date.
Transmissions
Gearbox type and unit code follow engine, market and production date. Gear count alone does not identify the transmission.
Driven wheels
Catalog architecture: BMW M · longitudinal layout · rear-wheel drive. All-wheel-drive availability and hardware remain derivative-specific.
Final drive
Ratio, differential type and electronic control belong to the exact derivative and can differ on performance models.
What changed underneath
Suspension, brakes, safety systems and electronics evolved across the range, even when cars shared the same basic architecture.
Body-branch dimensions
- E90: 4,580 mm × 1,817 mm × 1,447 mm
- E92: 4,615 mm × 1,804 mm × 1,424 mm
- E93: 4,615 mm × 1,804 mm × 1,392 mm
Body & suspension
- Mounting points and geometry follow the body branch
- Springs and dampers follow axle load and chassis package
- Wheels and permitted loads follow the factory label
Brakes & steering
- Brake size follows engine and equipment
- Assistance type and steering ratio can change
- ABS/DSC generation follows model year
Passive safety
- Airbag count varies by market and year
- SRS parts are VIN-specific
- Structural repairs require factory procedures
Electronics
- Vehicle-bus generations changed during production
- Control-unit software levels must remain compatible
- Retrofits are recorded separately from factory equipment
How the generation evolved
The important launches, additions and updates did not always happen at the same time for every body or market.
V8 coupé launched
E92 introduced the S65 and six-speed manual, with M DCT following in the programme.
Sedan and Convertible
E90 and E93 completed the three-body production family.
Competition, GTS and CRT
Chassis packages and rare higher-output specials expanded the generation.
V8 era ends
The last coupé and convertible cars ended production before the M3/M4 name split.
The versions that stood apart
Performance models, option packages and regional editions may look related, but their engineering and production identity can be very different.
Sedan
E90M3 E90 is a distinct E90/E92/E93 body branch. The conventional four-door passenger-car body, balancing rear-seat access, luggage space and the generation’s core chassis layout. Engines/drive: S65B40 V8.
Coupe
E92M3 E92 is a distinct E90/E92/E93 body branch. A lower-roof two-door body with longer doors and a more overtly sporting brief than the corresponding sedan. Engines/drive: S65B40 V8.
Cabriolet
E93M3 E93 is a distinct E90/E92/E93 body branch. An open body with a folding roof and generation-specific structural reinforcement, seating and luggage packaging. Engines/drive: S65B40 V8.
Inside the car
Cabin technology and standard equipment changed by country and year; a build sheet remains the best guide to one individual car.
Cabin & comfort
- Trim and seats follow option codes
- Climate systems vary by market
- Audio and navigation changed by model year
Lighting & assistance
- Lamp technology and modules follow production date
- Driver assistance cannot be inferred from buttons alone
- Regional rules affect lighting and warnings
What to check today
A practical starting point for inspecting and maintaining a car from this generation — not a diagnosis of an individual example.
Identify first
- Match VIN on body and documents
- Obtain the factory option list
- Confirm market and production date
Inspect the structure
- Check repairs and corrosion
- Assess suspension, brakes and tyres
- Compare fitted parts with factory specification
Mechanical history
- Read faults with compatible diagnostics
- Verify engine and transmission maintenance
- Separate invoices from unsupported verbal history
| Item | Interval / trigger | Catalog note |
|---|---|---|
| Engine oil & filter | CBS/factory schedule; time and mileage for historic cars | Oil approval follows the exact engine and market. |
| Brake fluid | Time-based factory schedule | ABS/DSC-compatible bleeding procedure is required after hydraulic work. |
| Coolant | Factory schedule and condition | Fluid specification and bleeding method are generation-specific. |
| Transmission & final drives | Unit type and operating conditions | Use the exact approved fluid; no one interval fits every derivative. |
How to identify the exact car
The badge and registration year tell only part of the story; production date, body code, engine and factory options complete it.
- Factory body codes
- E90 — Sedan; E92 — Coupe; E93 — Cabriolet
- Range designations
- M3 Sedan, M3 Coupe, M3 Cabriolet, M3 GTS, M3 CRT
- Powertrain families
- S65B40 V8
- VIN
- Identifies model, plant and production branch and keys the parts catalog and factory equipment record.
- Production date
- More useful than first-registration year when choosing parts and locating technical revisions.
- Type code
- Refines engine, body, market and transmission combination.
- Option codes
- Confirm factory equipment; later retrofits are recorded separately.
- Unit number
- Supports engine or gearbox originality checks and component applicability.
Where the information comes from
The story is mapped through English Wikipedia and its bibliography, then important dates and technical claims are checked against BMW material.
- 01BMW M3Wikipedia contributors
Secondary E9x body, transmission, edition and production overview.
- 02The BMW M3 generations at a glanceBMW M
BMW M retrospective covering the engineering character, body programme and key derivatives of all six M3 generations.
Notes and limitations
- Research revision dated 2026-08-10: English Wikipedia was used as a subject and bibliography map; key claims were checked against the listed primary BMW Group material.
- E90, E92 and E93 need separate dimensions, mass and production-date fields.
- GTS, CRT and Lime Rock/market editions must be scoped individually; the factory pickup is not production.
- Tree years describe the worldwide generation lifecycle; individual market dates may be narrower.
- Exact dimensions, power, weight and emissions belong at body, engine, market and model-year level.
- Known-issue guidance is editorial context and never replaces inspection of the individual vehicle.
2 primary references · market differences documentedPhotography: kallerna, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons. Rights checked 2026-08-06; local 640 px and 1,280 px avif versions created; the complete source frame is retained without cropping.Updated 6 August 2026