With the BMW M3 CRT E90, M GmbH created a high-performance sports car in every respect. Designed for racing and approved for road use, the CRT saw the first application of many technologies and manufacturing processes. For this strictly limited-edition model, based on the BMW M3 E90 Sedan, a process that was new at the time – and, in the case of the M3 CRT, unique worldwide – was used for the production of components made from carbon fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP). Combined with a modified powertrain for enhanced performance, the BMW M3 CRT epitomised racing and lightweight construction with road approval.
5 POWERFUL FACTS:
- Special edition limited to 67 units
- Max. power: 331 kW (450 hp)
- High-revving V8 engine with up to 8,300 rpm
- 0 to 100 km/h in 4.4 seconds
- Top speed: 290 km/h
is the power-to-weight ratio of the BMW M3 CRT E90.
LIGHTWEIGHT COMPONENTS MADE FROM CFRP.
LIGHTWEIGHT COMPONENTS MADE FROM CFRP.
In the run-up to series production of the BMW i3 and BMW i8, which relied on state-of-the-art lightweight construction, BMW M made use of the new production processes. For the first time, carbon fibre strands could be woven into CFRP mats of any size. This made it possible, for example, to manufacture the bonnet and the driver and front passenger bucket seats from cellular carbon honeycomb. The components achieved the strength of a conventional steel part whilst weighing around a quarter as much. Compared to the aluminium bonnet of the standard BMW M3 Sedan, this still resulted in a weight reduction of around 50 per cent.
The BMW M3 CRT E90 thus followed in the tradition of high-performance sports cars optimised through lightweight construction, a tradition dating back to the 1973 BMW 3.0 CSL. For 2011, this long-standing expertise in lightweight construction translated into a power-to-weight ratio of a mere 3.5 kilograms per horsepower for the M3 CRT. With its kerb weight of 1,580 kilograms, the CRT was around 45 kilograms lighter than the standard sedan – despite extensive standard equipment such as the M double-clutch transmission with Drivelogic, the navigation system Professional, the BMW Individual High End audio system, an alarm system and Park Distance Control. Without this equipment, the weight reduction would have been as much as 70 kilograms.
RACING CHARACTER WITH ROAD APPROVAL.
RACING CHARACTER WITH ROAD APPROVAL.
Beneath the carbon-fibre bonnet of the BMW M3 CRT E90 beats a tried-and-tested four-stroke mechanical heart. The S65 engine, developed for the BMW M3 E90 and also fitted in the BMW M3 GTS E92 with numerous modifications to boost performance, is what gives the CRT its impressive performance. At the time, this made it the fastest BMW high-performance production model. Among other things, its crankcase was designed as a bedplate made from a special aluminium-silicon alloy to reduce vibrations and improve structural integrity. Furthermore, the engine was upgraded with individual throttle butterflies and fitted with knock sensors using ion current technology and a dynamically optimised wet-sump oil supply.
The V8 engine generates 331 kW (450 hp) from a 4.4-litre displacement, which the high-revving engine achieves at an impressive 8,300 rpm. Maximum torque of 440 Nm is available at 3,750 rpm. A rich V8 sound is delivered by the sports exhaust system featuring a lightweight titanium rear silencer.
Power is transmitted to the rear wheels via the M double-clutch transmission with Drivelogic. The 7-speed gearbox operates on a principle developed in motorsport and enables gear changes without any interruption in traction, resulting in extremely dynamic acceleration. This allows the car to sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in just 4.4 seconds. The top speed is electronically limited to 290 km/h.
CHASSIS WITH RACING TECHNOLOGIES.
CHASSIS WITH RACING TECHNOLOGIES.
The chassis technology of the BMW M3 CRT E90 also incorporated numerous technologies adapted from motor racing. The front and rear axle design, for example, was enhanced with a rigidly bolted rear subframe and an adjustable coilover suspension. The advantage over conventional designs lies in the increased stiffness of the structure, more precise steering response and improved feedback to the driver regarding road conditions and grip.
The M3 CRT was equipped with a 6-piston high-performance braking system with a low-weight compound construction, which receives its braking commands via Stahlflex brake lines. These special lines, used in motorsport, ensure consistent braking performance, a constant pressure point and short pedal travel compared to standard solutions. In addition, the Dynamic Stability Control (DSC), ABS and M Dynamic Mode (MDM) have been specially tuned to the increased performance potential of the BMW M3 CRT.
A TRUE RARITY WITH A UNIQUE LOOK.
When it was launched, the BMW M3 CRT E90 was a truly exceptional car. On the one hand, this special edition model impressed with its use of state-of-the-art lightweight construction technologies, which it combined with top-class performance. On the other hand, it also boasted an exclusive appearance thanks to its Frozen Polar Silver metallic exterior paintwork combined with Melbourne Red metallic accents.
Inside, the sedan was also fitted with model-specific bi-colour seat covers in Sakhir Orange and Black, exclusive door sills, door panels, trim strips in an aluminium grain structure, and a special two-seater rear bench with individual seat characteristics, thus combining elegant luxury with a racing flair.
The fact that the high-performance sedan was produced in a very limited run of just 67 vehicles made the BMW M3 CRT an instant collector’s item upon its release. Given the limited numbers, the model was difficult to find then and remains so today; when one does turn up, the response is correspondingly enthusiastic. In the summer of 2025, one example fetched just under 260,000 euros at an RM Sotheby’s auction in Munich.
