U.S Team PTG had succefully raced the 6 cylinder E36 M3 winning the IMSA constructors title in 97 and 98. But could only win once in 99, trounced by new arrival Porsche's 911 GT3.
In 2001 BMW returned with 2 teams. PTG and Schnitzer both running their M3 GTR's with the all new 4-litre V8. Winning six of the eight races, the manufacturers and the drivers title. (Jörg Müller/Schnitzer)
An extraordinary feat considering the GT3 Porsches outnumbered the GTR's four to one at most races.

To comply with the ACO rules (also applied in the ALMS) BMW Motorsport had promised to produce a small series of street legal GTR's, but failed to do so by the end of the season.

In order to prevent Manufacturers entering "one off" specials in the Series (an argument campaigned by Porsche) the ACO came up with weight and inlet restrictor penalties for cars lacking the proper 2002 Homologation.

BMW started producing the road GTR early 2002, but not in sufficient numbers to match the ACO requirements. Calculating that these would render the GTR un competitive BMW withdrew its cars.

Two Schnitzer Motorsport GTR cars saw a comeback in 2003 at the 24 Hours Nürburgring, winning 1-2 in 2004 and 2005, as well as entries in the 24 Hours Spa. Onboard coverage recorded in 2004 Hans-Joachim Stuck, Pedro Lamy, Jörg Müller & Dirk Müller on the Nürburgring and Spa-Francorchamps. A GTR was one of the theme cars in the 2005 video game Need For Speed: Most Wanted and returned on the new installment Need For Speed: Carbon. The racing version of the car (as seen at the 24 Hours Spa in 2004) features in the 2006 game GTR - FIA GT Racing Game 2. Private teams (Scheid, Getrag, etc.) also have fit 4000cc BMW V8 engines into the E46 body to race on the Nürburgring, winning some VLN races in the last years.

BMW E36 M3 GTR, PTG, IMSA USSRC GT 1999:
Length : 4490 mm, Width: 1780 mm, Wheelbase: 2730 mm , Height: 1330 mm, Tyres: Yokohama 290/640x18 & 290/680x18, Wheels : BBS BBS 11x18 &11x18


BMW E46 M3 GTR, Schnitzer, ALMS GT 01:
Length : 4612 mm, Width: 1900 mm, Wheelbase: 2731 mm , Height: 1320 mm, Tyres: Michelin 27 / 65 - 18 & 27 / 68 - 18, Wheels : BBS 11x18 & 13x18