Porsche Chaser!

The current M3 generation is – as everyone knows – anything but underpowered. Nonetheless, there is a continuous desire for even greater performance. When you’re competing against the calibre of a Porsche 997 Turbo in particular, the 420-HP-V8 power of the M3 is no longer good enough. At Manhart Racing, we noticed a gap in the market for precisely this performance problem and developed a M3-V10-Coupé with 550 HP – not only comfortably keeping in check the Porsche Turbo with its 480 HP but also its big brother the GT2 with 530 HP. What is particularly interesting here is the fact that Günther Manhart almost exclusively sourced original parts from the BMW corporate group.

The power of 550 HP originally came from the current new version of the M5 E60 built V10 motor which - with its 5.0 L cubic capacity - just barely fits into the engine compartment of the M3 Coupé. Compulsory changes included removing the pointless Vmax bar of 250 km/h, up-dated DME-steerage and with a power of 550 HP, the catalytic convertor has a much more noticeable effect. With a differential gear boasting 100 percent bars, the 7 gear SMG gearbox was completely trounced by the M5.The species specific processing of exhaust fumes is carried out by a titanium complete system with four 84 mm thick exhaust tailpipes and two 200 Zeller-HJS running catalytic convertors. Thanks to a manageable basic weight of only 1.550 kg, the Mannhart M3 V10 accelerates to 100 km7h in only 3.9 seconds, while its highest speed is an impressive 334 km/h. This makes the M3 V10 the perfect choice for speed freaks on the Italian high speed racing track in Nardo!

For perfect contact with tarmac surfaces, Manhart Racing installed a state-of-the-art Bilstein PSS10- coilover in combination with classically attractive BBS challenge-R-wheel rims, at the front in 9Jx20 ET20 with 245/30ZR20 and behind with 10.5Jx20 ET20 with 295/25ZR20. The changes to the bodywork were somewhat limited but definitely what was needed. In this way, Manhart Racing's engineers gave the coupé silhouette of the M3 a front and rear spoiler, a diffuser, a roof spoiler, front steel flooring and an air collector - all of course finished in exclusive carbon.

The exclusiveness continues inside the M3. Here you can also benefit from the classiest accessories straight from BMW. Performance seats provide the perfect support while also offering seat heating. An authentic motor sport feeling comes with the performance steering wheel equipped with illuminated rocker switches, ¼ mile and side acceleration display. The complete interior has a sophisticated finish thanks to a number of carbon fibre trimmings and the almost extravagant use of Alcantara and leather.

Conclusion: With a basic weight of 1.550 kg, 550 HP is a real announcement for the sports car armada from Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen. If you look more closely at the Manhart M3 V10, you have to - quite rightly - ask yourself why the engineers in Munich did not already come up with the idea themselves!

Family racer

Attention all sporty, family men! The new BMW M3 is also available as a four-door saloon. That means it’s very easy to justify buying a new plaything to your sceptical wife (or, in fact, to your own conscience). It's just a shame that the Bavarian company hasn't yet been able to bring itself to make an M3 estate.

The tuners at Geilenkirchen-based Manhart Racing probably thought the same thing when they built the car that BMW didn’t want to build; an M3 touring. To produce it, the team centred around legendary mechanic Günther Manhart, furnished the E91 bodywork with the front apron, front side panels, side skirts and of course, the characteristic powerdome bonnet from the M3 saloon, designed their own M3-style rear apron and widened the rear wheel-arches to give them that M3 look. The aerodynamic rear-view mirrors really topped it all off. However, Günther Manhart knows that you obviously can't just make a car look good; it has to have something under the bonnet too. The axles, the tank, the complete steering system and a range of other hidden but otherwise essential parts have all come from the M3.

V10 power in the E91

So it only remains to talk about what really makes the M3: The 4.2-litre V8 engine. But wait! At this point it should be mentioned that Manhart Racing specialises in fitting various BMW models with the formidable 5.0-litre engine from the M5 E60. And so the V10 engine found itself used in another BMW model, the E91. After optimising the electronics and incorporating HJS’s stainless-steel four-pipe exhaust system with two 200-cell racing catalytic convertors, the heavy-duty unit manages an extremely impressive 550 PS, which is kept on a tight leash by the 7-speed SMG gearbox, also taken from the M5 and by the corresponding 100% limited slip differential

With the vehicle possessing such an armoury, it can catapult itself from 0 to 100km/h in only 4.3 seconds and on the motorway it easily cruises past most other performance saloons and estates (including the ‘true' M3 and M5 models) with its top speed of 324km/h.

It's a good thing then, that Manhart Racing has equipped the car with tunable Bilstein PSS10 coilover suspension and an extremely stable Stoptech Sport Trophy Kit braking system with a six-piston calliper with grooved 380mm brake discs at the front and a four-piston calliper with 355mm brake discs on the drive shaft.

The RÄD Monza three-part forged wheels with black rims fit perfectly with the character of this vehicle, and they are available in 9.5” and 10.5” x 20” sizes.

Flat, size 255/30ZR20 and 295/25ZR20 Hankook S1 Evo tyres aim to provide higher levels of longitudinal and lateral acceleration.

Performance interior

A detailed look at the interior is also very much worth your. Driver and passenger both sit in outstanding BMW sports seats, and the back seats can be upholstered with leather or Alcantara to match those in the front. Likewise, the leather interior with Alcantara roof and door linings as well as the carbon fittings and the BMW performance steering wheel with illuminating indicator switches really give the car that racing look.

Manhart Racing has set the purchase price for the complete car package at around €120,000. If desired, your current basis car can be upgraded.

Technical facts

Vehicle: BMW M3 E91 5.0 V10 SMG

Bodywork: M3 E90 front apron, M3 E90 front fenders, M3 E90 bonnet, M3 E90 side skirts, M3 E90 wing mirrors, Manhart Racing-designed, M3-style, rear apron, widened rear wheel arches in the style of the M3.

Engine: 5.0-litre V10 from the M5 E60, modified engine electronics, lifting of the Vmax limiter, complete stainless steel exhaust system with 2 x 200-cell HJS catalytic converters and 4 x 86mm exhaust pipes, tank from the M3 E90, 550 PS.

Transmission: 7-speed SMG from the M5 E60, 100% limited slip differential from the M5 E60, front and rear axel from the M3 E90.

Chassis: Bilstein PSS10 coilover suspension, steering system from the M3 E90.

Brakes: Stoptech Sport Trophy Kit front and back, 6-piston callipers and 380mm slats in the front, and 4-piston callipers and 355mm slats at the rear.

Wheel/Tyres: three-part RÄD Monza aluminium rims in 9.5” x 20” ET20 and 10.5” x 20” ET20, Hankook Ventus S1 Evo Tyres in sizes 255/30ZR20 and 295/25ZR20

Interior: heated BMW performance sports seats, leather-covered back seats in the style of the front seats, full leather interior with Alcantara roof and door lining, BMW performance steering wheel with illuminating indicator switches, acceleration and ¼ mile time displays.

M3 with up to 655 HP!

What Paul Rosche was for BMW in formula 1 in the 1980s, that’s what Günter Manhart is for the BMW tuning scene now, namely the undisputed motor pope. For decades he developed the BMW power trains for many renowned tuners, but remained completely incognito. But that has come to an end because for a few months now, Manhart is storming the tuning charts with sensational compressor and V10 reconstructions and even successfully competed in the high speed circuit at Nardo, Italy, with his M3 E91 Touring with V10 motor (an absolute unique).

3x compressor power!

For the current M3 generation Manhart offers a 3 stage power package, which strengthens the eight cylinder high speed motor to up to 655 HP. Of course with the standard 420 HP you are not exactly under-motorised, but a car fan can never have too much power. The first power stage starts with a small compressor and a supercharging pressure of 0.35 bar, which gives you 515 HP. In stage II the supercharging pressure is increased to 0.50 bar, whereby 585 HP is straining on the rear axle. In the third and largest build-up stage a large compressor from ASA with a supercharging pressure of 0.67 bar is combined with a specially developed exhaust system with 70 millimetre pipe diameter and two 200 cell race catalytic convertors – and the whole thing is made from TITANIUM. With this, a full 655 HP are at the start which catapult the Bavarian power athlete from 0 to 100km/h in just 3.7 seconds. The top speed is just over 350km/h.

Classic BBS wheels!

However, power alone is not everything, because so much power wants to and must be converted into propulsion. In order to do this without too much loss, Manhart Racing used a Bilstein PSS10 threaded suspension into the vehicle shown here, on the end of which turn classic BBS challenge rims in black. With 9Jx20 ET20 with 245/30ZR20 at the front and 10.5Jx20 ET20 with 295/25ZR20 continental tyres at t he rear they ensure grandiose grip at all times. In order that this power can be kept perfectly in check, 365mm brake discs are used on the front axle with floating callipers from the BMW M5 E60 and the braking system from the M3 E92 with 345mm discs are used on the rear axle.

BMW Performance!

The interior is a nice mix of sportiness and luxurious ambience, thanks to full leather fittings in Alcantara/leather combination, the wonderful performance seats with seat heating and an exclusive performance steering wheel with LED display which shows temperature, transverse acceleration and ¼ mile times. And of course there is a real switch guide plate with six channels to be inserted manually, which is how racing drivers like it.

Power for X6 M and X5 M & high end exhaust technology

Also new to Manhart Racing are increased performances for the new offroad steam hammers X6 M and X5 M. Manhart Racing endows their 4.4 litre V8 with BI turbo supercharging optionally with 600 HP (€5,900), 650 HP (€9,900) or even 700 HP (€14,900). A stainless steel exhaust from the turbocharger with 90mm pipe diameter as well as square or round, 86 or 90mm diameter end pipes are obligatory for all three power stages, at the price of €4,900.

For the M3 E92 Manhart Racing also has high quality exhaust technology at hand. The in-house exhaust system from the heaers has a constant diameter of 70mm and ends with four 82mm end pieces. In the “stainless steel” version (€2,490) it produces extra power of around 18 HP and a booming sound. Even more luxurious: the “TITANIUM” version which not only generates 25 additional HP but also has a weight advantage of 50% compared to the standard technology.

Technical data

Vehicle type: BMW M3 E92
Motor: 4 litre V8 with ASA compressor, 655 HP
Exhaust: 70mm titanium complete system from header incl. modified catalytic convertors (2x200 cells)
Empty weight: 1,550kg
Body: carbon mirror, carbon roof
Undercarriage: Bilstein PSS10 threaded suspension
Wheels/tyres: BBS Challenge R Black rims, front in 9Jx20 ET20 with 245/30ZR20, rear in 10.5Jx20 ET20 with 295/25ZR20
Brakes: front BMW M5 E60-365mm discs with floating calliper, rear BMW M3 345mm discs with floating calliper.
Interior: performance seats with seat heating, performance steering wheel with digital display, full leather fittings with Alcantara/leather combination, carbon hand brake grip.