The BMW M3 CRT is a 2011, four-door E90 M3 Sedan special edition built around carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic (CFRP), extra power and a substantially revised specification. BMW produced only 67 examples. Compared with a standard E90 M3 Sedan, the CRT combines a 4.4-litre, 331 kW (450 hp) V8, a quoted 0–100 km/h time of 4.4 seconds, motorsport-inspired brakes and aerodynamics, and cellular carbon-honeycomb components that BMW developed for low-volume production.
CRT means Carbon Racing Technology. The name describes the car’s defining construction approach, not a different body style: it remains a practical four-door sedan with a special two-place rear bench.
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What the BMW M3 CRT is
BMW introduced the M3 CRT in June 2011 as a limited-production derivative of the E90 M3 Sedan. It was the four-door counterpart to the M3 GTS special edition, using the same basic sedan architecture while adding a higher-output engine, weight-saving materials and chassis hardware aimed at faster road and track driving.
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BMW built 67 cars worldwide. That number is central to the CRT’s identity: this was not an option package that could be ordered on an ordinary M3, but a completed special edition assembled in a tightly limited run. BMW’s period US release said the model would not be homologated for sale in the United States because the worldwide volume was so small. That is a 2011 statement about US homologation; today’s import, registration and equipment rules depend on the vehicle’s location and current law.
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The CRT is therefore best understood as an E90 M3 Sedan transformed by a factory lightweight program. It is still a road-going four-door, but its materials, output, brakes, aerodynamic parts, interior and production status place it well outside the normal E90 range.
Engine and performance: more output from the high-revving V8
4.4-litre engine and 450 horsepower
BMW M identifies the CRT’s engine as a 4.4-litre V8. BMW’s 24 June 2011 launch release gives maximum output as 331 kW/450 hp. The contemporary description emphasizes the engine’s traditional M high-revving character, while BMW M’s later model history lists a maximum engine speed of 8,300 rpm.
BMW’s quoted acceleration figure is 0–100 km/h in 4.4 seconds. BMW also states a 3.5 kg-per-horsepower weight-to-power ratio. These are manufacturer figures, not results from an independent road test, and should not be treated as a guarantee for every road, tire, fuel or test condition.
Top speed
BMW M’s current CRT retrospective lists a 290 km/h top speed. The launch material and later retrospective were published at different times, so the figures should be attributed to BMW rather than presented as a fresh independent measurement.
How that compares with a standard E90 M3
A standard E90 M3 is not one universal specification. Model year, market, transmission and equipment can alter the baseline, and BMW sold the M3 in sedan, coupe and convertible forms. The most relevant comparison for the CRT is the standard E90 M3 Sedan, but the BMW material used for this comparison does not establish one single standard-sedan output, weight or acceleration number that applies to every market.
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| Specification | BMW M3 CRT | Standard E90 M3 Sedan baseline |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 4.4-litre V8 | Varies by model year and market; not stated as one fixed figure in the cited BMW CRT material |
| Maximum output | 331 kW/450 hp (BMW, 2011) | Varies by specification; use the car’s market and model-year data |
| 0–100 km/h | 4.4 seconds (BMW, 2011) | Varies with transmission and specification; no single comparison figure is established here |
| Maximum engine speed | 8,300 rpm (BMW M retrospective) | Not stated for one universal baseline |
| Top speed | 290 km/h (BMW M retrospective) | Varies by specification and market equipment |
CFRP is the CRT’s defining difference
Cellular carbon-honeycomb bonnet
The most technically distinctive CRT component is its bonnet. BMW described it as an early production application of a process for making CFRP parts with a cellular core. BMW’s later technical account says the bonnet used two CFRP mouldings around an aramid honeycomb. The structure provides stiffness with less mass than a conventional equivalent, while visible areas received a conventional carbon layer for the finished appearance.
This is more than a cosmetic carbon-fibre panel. The honeycomb construction is an engineered sandwich structure: the outer CFRP skins carry loads while the lightweight core maintains separation between them. That construction helps explain why BMW highlighted the manufacturing process as much as the material itself.
Carbon-honeycomb front bucket seats
The front seats use the same basic lightweight principle. BMW says each bucket seat has CFRP layers around a recycled-paper honeycomb core, with a conventional carbon layer on visible surfaces. The seats reduce mass while giving the cabin a distinctly competition-inspired shape and support profile.
Other CFRP aerodynamic parts
The CRT also uses CFRP for aerodynamic components, including the rear spoiler and a front air-channeling piece. These parts are part of a coordinated low-mass and airflow package rather than isolated styling accessories.
Two different BMW weight comparisons
BMW reports the weight saving in two different ways, and the figures should not be merged. BMW M’s historical overview says the CRT’s CFRP components and other changes saved around 70 kg versus the production vehicle. BMW’s launch-era technical material lists a 1,580 kg DIN unladen weight and says that was about 45 kg below the standard M3 Sedan.
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The different numbers use different comparison wording and sources. The 70 kg statement is BMW M’s broad comparison with the production vehicle; the 45 kg statement is the 2011 figure against the standard M3 Sedan. Neither should be rewritten as though BMW supplied one universally measured weight difference.
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Six-piston fixed-caliper brakes
The launch specification lists six-piston fixed-caliper high-performance brakes using a low-weight compound construction. Compared with ordinary road-car hardware, fixed multi-piston calipers are designed to maintain pad contact and resist heat-related performance loss during repeated hard stops. BMW presents the CRT’s brake package as part of its handling and weight-reduction program.
Forged 19-inch wheels
Forged 19-inch wheels are another mass-conscious choice. Forging allows wheel material to be distributed for strength without simply adding bulk. The wheels also provide the clearance needed for the CRT’s larger performance brake hardware.
Aerodynamic additions
In addition to the CFRP rear spoiler, BMW lists a front air channel. The purpose is to manage airflow around the front of the car and support the CRT’s high-performance chassis balance. These are functional changes in BMW’s specification, not merely trim differences.
Flap-controlled titanium exhaust
BMW M’s E90 history adds a flap-controlled titanium exhaust to the CRT’s equipment. Titanium contributes to the weight reduction, while the flap system changes the exhaust character under different operating conditions. BMW describes the exhaust as both a mass-saving measure and a contributor to the car’s sound.
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It remains a four-door sedan with usable rear seating
The CRT does not trade the E90’s sedan layout for a two-seat race-car interior. BMW describes a special rear bench with two moulded individual seats, alongside the two front bucket seats. That gives the car a four-seat-style arrangement while retaining the access and roofline of a four-door sedan.
This matters when comparing it with more extreme special editions. The CRT’s front seats are clearly influenced by motorsport, but the rear compartment is not deleted. It is a road-going sedan that uses individual rear seating rather than a conventional flat bench.
Exterior and interior specification
Paint and exterior accents
BMW M’s 2026 retrospective identifies Frozen Polar Silver metallic as the exterior finish, with Melbourne Red accents. Those colors help distinguish the CRT visually from an ordinary E90 M3, but appearance alone is not proof of authenticity: a standard car can be repainted or modified.
Cabin trim
The interior combines Sakhir Orange and black seat trim with distinctive door sills and interior detailing. The front carbon-honeycomb buckets and the special rear bench are more significant identification points than color, because they reflect the CRT’s construction brief rather than a reversible cosmetic change.
CRT versus a standard E90 M3: the differences at a glance
| Area | M3 CRT | Standard E90 M3 Sedan |
|---|---|---|
| Role in the range | 2011 limited special edition; four-door counterpart to the M3 GTS | Regular-production M3 Sedan, with specification varying by market and model year |
| Production | 67 worldwide | Regular production; total volume is not established by the cited CRT sources |
| Engine output | 331 kW/450 hp from a 4.4-litre V8 | Market- and model-year-dependent baseline |
| Acceleration | BMW-quoted 0–100 km/h in 4.4 seconds | Depends on transmission and specification |
| Materials | Cellular-honeycomb CFRP bonnet and front bucket seats, plus CFRP aero parts | Standard production body and seat construction |
| Weight | 1,580 kg DIN; BMW also cites around 70 kg saved versus the production vehicle | BMW’s CRT sources cite about 45 kg more than the CRT for the standard M3 Sedan comparison |
| Brakes and wheels | Six-piston fixed-caliper brakes and forged 19-inch wheels | Standard equipment varies by market, model year and option specification |
| Exhaust | Flap-controlled titanium exhaust | Standard E90 M3 exhaust system |
| Seating | Two front bucket seats and a two-place moulded rear bench | Standard M3 Sedan seating configuration |
| Availability | Not homologated for US sale in BMW’s 2011 announcement because of the tiny worldwide run | Sold through the normal E90 M3 market channels where offered |
Why the CRT is collectible
Rarity is not an afterthought; it is one of the car’s engineering and market differences. BMW’s quoted production total is 67 cars, making the CRT far less common than a regular E90 M3. The combination of a manual-style high-revving M identity, sedan practicality, factory CFRP construction and a documented low production run gives it a distinct place in BMW’s M history.
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BMW M reported that one example sold for just under €260,000 at an RM Sotheby’s auction in Munich in summer 2025. That is a single historical sale reported in BMW M’s 10 April 2026 retrospective, not a current asking price, an appraisal or a dependable market range. Condition, mileage, originality, documentation, jurisdiction and tax treatment can all materially change the value of an individual car.
How to assess a claimed M3 CRT
Because ordinary E90 M3s can be fitted with carbon parts, wheels, seats or paint from the CRT’s visual theme, a buyer should treat a claimed example as a provenance question, not just a styling exercise.
- Confirm the production identity. Check factory documentation and the car’s recorded build information against BMW’s 67-car worldwide production claim.
- Inspect the structural parts. Look for the cellular-honeycomb CFRP bonnet and the specific construction of the front bucket seats, not merely carbon-look trim or aftermarket panels.
- Verify the mechanical package. The documented specification includes the 4.4-litre, 331 kW/450 hp engine, six-piston fixed-caliper brakes, forged 19-inch wheels and flap-controlled titanium exhaust.
- Check the complete interior. The special rear bench with two moulded individual seats is an important distinction from a standard rear-seat installation.
- Compare the finish and trim. Frozen Polar Silver metallic, Melbourne Red accents, and Sakhir Orange/black interior treatment are consistent with BMW M’s retrospective description, but paint and upholstery can be changed.
- Separate originality from replacement. Ask which components are factory-original, which have been repaired, and whether any crash, corrosion or restoration work affects the CFRP parts.
- Evaluate the market evidence carefully. The reported €260,000 auction result demonstrates that a CRT can command a very high price, but it does not establish what every example is worth.
What “CRT” means in practical terms
Carbon Racing Technology is a concise description of the car’s priorities: reduce mass with advanced CFRP construction, increase the V8’s output, sharpen the brakes and airflow, and retain a usable four-door cabin. The CRT is not a new BMW M generation and not a race-only shell. It is a road-legal, sedan-based E90 special edition whose limited production and unusual materials make it fundamentally different from an ordinary M3 Sedan.
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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesThat combination is the answer to the comparison. A standard E90 M3 gives you the regular production car’s specification for its market and model year; the M3 CRT adds a factory-developed lightweight structure, a 450-hp 4.4-litre V8, dedicated chassis hardware and exceptional rarity in one complete package.
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