- "Whether you're looking to cruise around town or refine your track skills, the M3 E36 was the ideal car for driving enthusiasts. The M3 legacy began with the iconic first-generation E30, designed for Group A homologation. But it's the second-gen E36 that truly cemented the model's reputation for performance. This iteration introduced BMW's now-legendary inline-6 engine. Even more enticing, this particular model came from a later release after a series of refinements. The combination of the 3.2-liter inline-6 mated to a 6-speed manual gearbox made it a favorite among sports-car fans. It delivered a perfect blend of low-end torque and high-revving exhilaration, offering both power and precision with an unforgivable exhaust note."
- ―Ingame description of the car in Used Cars (GT7)
- "From race car to luxury grand tourer, the second-generation M3."
- ―Ingame description in GT7
The BMW M3 '97 is a road car produced by BMW. Part of the E36 generation, it first appeared in Gran Turismo 7 as part of Update 1.49.
Colors[]
Eight colors are available for this car:
- Alpine White
- Arctic Silver
- Cosmos Black
- Boston Green
- Techno Violet
- Estoril Blue
- Bright Red
- Dakar Yellow II
Description[]
Car Index (GT7)[]
The second-generation M3 was introduced in 1992, two years after the debut of its base model, the third-generation 3-Series, codenamed E36.
The original E30 M3 was a racing homologation model, extensively modified from the standard 3-Series. In contrast, the E36 M3 shifted towards the direction of a grand tourer, featuring a more mature appearance with understated aerodynamic components.
Despite this shift, performance remained its central focus. The 3.0-liter inline-6 engine produced 282.1 HP with 236.5 ft-lb of torque. With this powerful engine, the car accelerated from 0 to 100 km/h in just six seconds and reach a top speed of 250 km/h, limited by a speed governor.
A minor model update in 1995 introduced a 3.2-liter engine, boosting output to 316.6 HP and 258.2 ft-lb of torque. This update also included the replacement of the 5-speed manual transmission with a 6-speed unit and several chassis enhancements to improve handling. In 1997, a 6-speed semi-automatic transmission was introduced.
The E36 M3 significantly elevated the line's reputation as a road car, while the feel and sound of its inline-6 powerplant were celebrated as delightful and enduring features.
Acquisition[]
Game | Purchase location | Credits | Other methods |
---|---|---|---|
Gran Turismo 7 ( ![]() |
Used Cars | 74,600 | --- |
Customization[]
Engine Swaps (GT7)[]
Engine | Price | Version | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
LS7-BRZ | 300,000 | v1.49 | --- |
Trivia[]
- In Livery Editor, the light cover setting can be changed, affecting the front blinkers.
- Prior to the addition of the E36 M3 in GT7, a regular (non-M3) version of the E36 3-Series had appeared in some demo builds of Gran Turismo 2, internally named gb3cn and with the replay name BMW E36 323i Coupe. It has a complete body, but with no rims and the rear-left wheels popping out of the rear bumper. This car never appeared in the final version.[1]
- The replay name database of the GT2 demos also mentioned a BMW E36 320i Coupe (with internal name gb0in). While having no body of its own (defaulting to a Toyota Altezza placeholder body), it would have likely used the same body as the 323i.[1]