Once overlooked, the BMW E90 M3 CRT is now a six-figure collector car. Here’s how this rare sedan became one of BMW M’s most prized secrets.
From a $130,000 launch price to quarter-million-dollar listings, the BMW E90 M3 CRT has had one of the quietest yet most dramatic climbs in the collector car market. At first glance, it’s just a four-door M3 with some lightweight parts, but peel back the spec sheet, and the story is far more interesting. Produced in ultra-low numbers, never sold in the U.S., and overshadowed by its orange, winged E92 GTS sibling, the CRT almost flew under the radar. So how exactly did this carbon-clad sedan become one of the rarest, most sought-after M cars ever made?
What Is the BMW E90 M3 CRT?
CRT stands for “Carbon Racing Technology,” and that wasn’t just a marketing line drafted up in a boardroom. Limited to just 67 chassis worldwide, the CRT took the E90 M3 sedan platform and upgraded it with the heart of the GTS, a 450-hp 4.4-liter S65 V8 paired with BMW’s 7-speed DCT. Weight-saving carbon fiber panels (including the hood and front seats), improved cooling, and suspension adjustments made it a sleeper track weapon disguised as a four-door luxury car. A 0-60mph time came in just over four seconds, and thanks to those lightweight carbon upgrades, it came in roughly 220lbs lighter than a standard M3 sedan.
Why It Was Overlooked
When the CRT first launched in 2011, it wasn’t exactly headline news, especially for U.S. enthusiasts who couldn’t get their hands on one. Priced higher than a GTS, offered only in left-hand drive for select markets, and styled conservatively in Frozen Polar Silver, the CRT didn’t scream “collector car” at the time. However, as the E92 M3 era matured, enthusiasts started paying closer attention to its exclusivity and purpose-built design. The CRT’s rarity, motorsport DNA, and early use of carbon tech started making it look less like a quirky limited production model and more like a legitimate halo car.
The Current Market
Over the past few years, the CRT has quietly climbed from cult status to investment grade among purists looking to preserve one of the best eras of motoring. Examples have surfaced at top-tier auctions with upwards of $200K in sales and private listing prices at the $250K mark. It’s now mentioned in the same breath as the E46 CSL and E92 GTS, only with fewer examples and arguably more usability. Collectors love its low-key exterior, daily-drivable layout, and ties to a golden era of naturally aspirated M power. The CRT may have been underappreciated at launch, but today, it’s finally getting the spotlight it deserves.
Source: BMW Group
