However, back to the M3 - there isn't a particular mechanical problem that causes the engine to blow up, the engine has way too many problems for me to list. In fact, it has a whole webpage devoted to it's failtures
http://members.roadfly.org/jason/m3engines.htm

The M3 engine is one of the worst engines ever made, and I have no clue how it made it onto the top 10 list. My best guess would be that the editos got paid off by BMW to include it in the list