Quick Take
The BMW M3 E46 is the early-2000s benchmark for naturally aspirated, rear-wheel-drive sports coupes — and it has been in every Forza Horizon game since FH3. With Forza Horizon 6 launching on 2026-05-19 and an in-game car list not yet fully published, this page collects what we know for certain: the real-world specs of the S54-powered E46 (and its rarer CSL sibling) and the verified Forza Horizon 5 in-game numbers, which are the most reliable predictor of how the car will arrive in FH6.
Key Facts
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Full name | BMW M3 (E46) Coupe |
| Production | September 2000 – August 2006 |
| Engine | S54B32 3.2L naturally aspirated inline-six |
| Power (Europe) | 252 kW / 343 PS / 338 hp @ 7,900 rpm |
| Torque | 365 N·m (269 lb-ft) @ 4,900 rpm |
| Redline | 8,000 rpm |
| Drivetrain | RWD |
| 0–100 km/h | 5.2 s |
| FH5 PI / Class | 675 / B |
| FH5 top speed | 283.2 kph |
| FH5 price | 33,000 Cr |
| FH6 confirmed | unconfirmed as of May 2026 |
Quick take: the E46 M3 in Forza Horizon
The 2005 BMW M3 has been a fixture of the Forza Horizon roster since FH3, and it returns in Forza Horizon 5 under the Retro Saloons category — available from launch via the Autoshow (33,000 Cr) and Wheelspin drops. Its FH6 inclusion is unconfirmed as of May 2026 until Playground Games publishes the official car list closer to the 2026-05-19 launch.
In FH5 the E46 sits at PI 675 (B class) with 248 kW (333 hp) at 1,549 kg, RWD, and posts a 0–97 kph in 4.685 s, 0–161 kph in 11.60 s, and a stock top speed of 283.2 kph (176.0 mph). It is one of the quickest stock B-class RWD cars in the game, with a strong 5.0 launch rating and 0.92 lateral G — and it tunes cleanly into S1 and S2 territory thanks to the chassis’s neutral balance.
The real-world reason it matters: the E46 M3 is the last naturally aspirated, rear-drive M3 with the S54 inline-six revving to an 8,000 rpm redline — the high-water mark for the M3 nameplate’s pre-turbo era.
Real-world specs: S54 inline-six and the E46 chassis
The E46 M3 was built in Regensburg from September 2000 to August 2006, with combined production of 56,133 coupés and 29,633 convertibles.
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Engine | S54B32 3.2L NA inline-six |
| Displacement | 3,246 cc |
| Power (Europe) | 252 kW / 343 PS / 338 hp @ 7,900 rpm |
| Power (US) | ~333 hp |
| Torque | 365 N·m (269 lb-ft) @ 4,900 rpm |
| Redline | 8,000 rpm |
| Transmission | 6-speed Getrag manual or SMG-II |
| Drivetrain | RWD |
| 0–100 km/h | 5.2 s |
The S54 is the headline act — individual throttle bodies, an 11.5:1 compression ratio, finger-follower valvetrain and a stratospheric redline made it the most over-built road-going BMW six of its era.
The CSL: the E46 you’ll wish was in Forza
The 2003 M3 CSL (Coupé Sport Leichtbau) is the variant enthusiasts ask about most. The S54 was upgraded to 360 hp (265 kW), and weight was cut to 1,385 kg — 110 kg lighter than the regular M3 through a carbon-fibre roof, carbon airbox, thinner glass and stripped-out interior.
Key CSL facts:
- Production: 1,383 cars total — all left-hand drive from factory, all built in 2003.
- Transmission: SMG-II only (no manual offered from factory).
- 0–100 km/h: ~4.9 s (manufacturer claim).
Forza coverage of the CSL is unconfirmed as of May 2026: as of FH5 the in-game 2005 BMW M3 is the standard coupé, not the CSL.
Forza Horizon 5 in-game stats (verified)
| Stat | 2005 BMW M3 (E46) in FH5 |
|---|---|
| PI / Class | 675 / B |
| Power | 248 kW (333 hp) |
| Weight | 1,549 kg |
| Drivetrain | RWD |
| Top speed (stock) | 283.2 kph (176.0 mph) |
| 0–97 kph | 4.685 s |
| 0–161 kph | 11.600 s |
| Lateral G @ 97 kph | 0.92 |
| Speed rating | 6.4 |
| Handling | 4.7 |
| Acceleration | 5.0 |
| Launch | 5.0 |
| Braking | 3.8 |
| Offroad | 5.5 |
| Price | 33,000 Cr |
| Category | Retro Saloons |
FH6 outlook: what to expect on 2026-05-19
Based on the E46’s continuous presence in FH3, FH4, FH5 and Forza Motorsport (2023), the safe expectation is that the 2005 BMW M3 returns to FH6, almost certainly in the same Retro Saloons category and likely with a similar PI band (B-class stock).
What is confirmed and what is not:
- Returning to FH6? unconfirmed as of May 2026 — not on any published FH6 launch list yet. Historical precedent: yes.
- FH6 PI / price? unconfirmed as of May 2026. FH5 baseline is PI 675, 33,000 Cr.
- CSL variant in FH6? unconfirmed as of May 2026 — no CSL has ever shipped in a Forza Horizon title to date.
FAQ
Is the BMW M3 E46 in Forza Horizon 5?
Yes. The 2005 BMW M3 (E46) is in Forza Horizon 5 from launch, listed in the Retro Saloons category and available via the Autoshow for 33,000 Cr or as a Wheelspin reward.
Will the BMW M3 E46 be in Forza Horizon 6?
Unconfirmed as of May 2026. Playground Games has not published the full FH6 launch car list. The E46 has appeared in every Forza Horizon since FH3, so its return is highly likely but not officially confirmed.
How much horsepower does the real BMW M3 E46 have?
The European-spec E46 M3 with the S54B32 inline-six produces 252 kW (343 PS / 338 hp) at 7,900 rpm and 365 N·m (269 lb-ft) of torque at 4,900 rpm. US-spec cars were de-rated to around 333 hp.
What is the BMW M3 CSL and is it in Forza?
The M3 CSL is a 2003 lightweight homologation special — 360 hp from a tuned S54, 1,385 kg curb weight (110 kg lighter than the standard M3), and only 1,383 units produced. No Forza Horizon game to date includes the CSL variant; FH6 inclusion is unconfirmed as of May 2026.
What is the E46 M3’s top speed in Forza Horizon 5?
Stock, the 2005 BMW M3 in FH5 reaches 283.2 kph (176.0 mph) with a 0–97 kph time of 4.685 seconds and 0–161 kph of 11.60 seconds.
Is the BMW M3 GTR in Forza Horizon 5?
Yes — the 2002 BMW M3-GTR Strassenversion (a separate V8-powered homologation car) appears in FH4, FH5 and Forza Motorsport (2023). Its FH6 status is unconfirmed as of May 2026.