Xyoo 2002, BMW tau hloov kho peb tiam E46 M3's S50B30 cav thiab muab nws lub npe S54B32.
Nws nta 3.2-litre inline-rau lub cev muaj zog lub cev muaj zog nrog cov khoom siv lub cev muaj zog, Ob chav VANOS system ntawm ob tog noj thiab tso pa, hluav taws xob throttle, thiab tshiab hluav taws xob programming. Cov kev txhim kho no tau tso cai rau nws ua tiav lub zog siab tshaj plaws ntawm 256 kW (348 hp) thiab lub zog siab tshaj plaws ntawm 365 Nm, uas ua rau muaj lub zog tshwj xeeb ntawm 80 kW ib liter (108 hp ib liter). Thaum lub sijhawm ntawd, nws yog BMW lub zog tshaj plaws ntawm lub cev aspirated nrog lub siab tshaj plaws lub zog tso zis, thiab nws tseem yog lub cim kawg ntawm inline-rau lub tshuab nqus tsev uas siv hauv M3. Raws li tsuas yog lub pov haum seem hauv BMW Z-car lineup, lub cav no kuj tau teeb tsa hauv Z4 M qauv tso tawm xyoo 2006.
BMW ib zaug ntseeg siab tshaj tawm tias nws yuav tsis siv turbocharging thev naus laus zis, tab sis thaum kawg yuav tsum muaj kev cuam tshuam vim kev lag luam xav tau. Nyob rau hauv 2008, nrog rau cov kev taw qhia ntawm lub thib plaub-tiam M3 nruab nrog lub S65B40A 4.0-litre V8 engine, BMW tshaj tawm hais tias lub legendary S54B32 cav tau ua tiav nws lub hom phiaj keeb kwm thiab officially so haujlwm. Cov xov xwm no ua rau cov neeg nyiam BMW M3 thoob plaws ntiaj teb yuav luag sigh hauv kev poob siab.
