LIRR M3

| Technical Data Total Built: 174 Cars Weight: 112,400 pounds (50,984 kg) Length: 85 ft 0 in (25,908 mm) Max Speed (Design): 100 mph (161 km/h)
Max Speed (Service): 80 mph (129 km/h)

With electrification areas of railroads expanding, the MTA placed an order for another series in 1982, the M3 series. Essentially compatible with, and (on the exterior) very similar to, the M1 series, the M3s had updated mechanical elements such as the use of General Steel GSI 70 trucks and a few other small differences. Traction motor cooling was added to the M3 at the cost of added weight which was compensated for by the use of more powerful 160 horsepower (120 kW) GE 1261 motors. Even with the extra power this created different acceleration and braking rates from the M1. While LIRR chose to mix M1s and M3s in the same consist, Metro-North chose not to and would always run with uniform trainsets. A total of 174 M3s (9771–9944, with 9891 and 9892 renumbered to 9945 and 9946 after the Long Island Rail Road massacre) were produced for the LIRR between 1984 and 1986, while 142 M3As (8000–8141) were produced for Metro North, arriving between 1984 and early 1985.

This order would be the second-to-last handled by Budd, which in April 1987 left the railroad business after taking the name "TransitAmerica" under which the last M3s were produced though their builders plates kept the Budd name.