From boxer twins and inline sixes to sonorous V12s and even diesels, BMW has built numerous iconic engines throughout its ...

Yet even in the company of the E46 M3 CSL and the much-lauded M2 CS ... apron is a simple but effective identifier, like the bonnet ‘nostril’ of the Toyota Celica GT-Four.

Featuring an 8,000-rpm redline, a perfectly balanced chassis, and a distinctive exhaust roar, the E46 M3 is often considered the ultimate M3.