Few cars in recent years have inspired such devotion among enthusiasts as the BMW M3. Now entering its fifth generation, BMW's compact performance car is recognised world-wide as the benchmark of its type. 'BMW M3 - The Complete Story' looks in detail at the first four generations of the M3, which arrived in the mid-1980s as an E30 "homologation special", intended to keep BMW ahead of rivals Mercedes-Benz on the racetracks. But the M3 soon became very much more than that. Before long, buyers latched onto is exclusivity and turned it into a status symbol - and BMW was only too happy to exploit that. For all fans of the BMW M3, this book provides essential background. It is packed with facts and details that make the M3 legend come alive. With over 250 photographs, the book covers: . The original E30 M3 of 1986 - from a 'homologation special' to a status symbol . Design and development of the E36 M3, including a new 6-cylinder engine and more body choices . The E46 M3 of 2000, with the developed 6-cylinder S54 engine and gearshift advances . Racing success for the E90-series M3s, introduced in 2007 with V8 engines . Driving, buying and special editions of all the models AUTHOR: James Taylor has been writing professionally about cars since the late 1970s, and his interests embrace a wide range of older cars of all makes and nationalities, as well as classic buses, lorries and military vehicles. However, he also enjoys keeping abreast of current special-interest models such as the BMW M3, because, he believes, today's interesting cars are tomorrow's classics. James has written well over 100 books in all, and among them have been several definitive one-make or one-model titles, including a number for Crowood. 259 colour photographs