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As vacation season is in progress and there is not many interesting car premieres going on in the “average Joe’s” motoring world, I decided to write few words about another classic. One of my all time favourites, icon: BMW E30 M3 definitely deserves a “tribute post”. Regardless of how good and fast the currently produced sport cars are… the choice You have among makes and versions actually doesn’t allow You to point the best one in the stake. All of them are good and “driver friendly”. Back in the ’80s it wasn’t that easy…

Today You can choose among other performance cars in this segment (BMW M3, Audi RS, Mercedes AMG, Volvo R series, Lexus IS-F etc). Even VW Golf is easily more powerful than the first M3. We take the performance versions of “regular” road cars for granted. These versions change every 5-6 years, every 2-3 years You have a lifting. And this very first of the BMW’s bearing the M Power logo will always be the best of all road racers, because back then in the ’80s, You hardly had any choice. And if You would try hard You could choose other brand (Ford Cosworth, Lancia Integrale, Audi Quattro), but the first M3 was absolutely the most versatile and driver friendly.

Some history

This first BMW M3 was created based on E30 3-series road model in 1986. As the car market was different back then, BMW didn’t just started a sport model production, hoping that people would buy the car. They needed to have 5000 road legal M3 cars, so they would be able to join the Touring Cars competition and race against Cosworth powered Mercedes 190E.

The core of the project was the engine. BMW chose a 4 cylinder engine instead of 6 cylinder version to save weight and allow it to rev higher (6 cylinder engines had problems with vibrations back then). The engine (2.3 liter 16v) produced 200 HP (195 HP with optional catalytic converter). Rev limit was 7300 rpm. This propulsion allowed the car to reach 0-62 mph in 7.2 seconds. Later versions: 212 HP 6.7 seconds, 238 HP 6.0 seconds.

The M3 shared larger wheel bearings and front brake calipers with the E28 5-Series. It also had a Getrag 265/5 5 speed gearbox, and rear differential with different final-drive ratio and 25% lockup. Also it had modified suspension, springs, anti-roll bars and an increased caster angle to improve handling.

Unlike the younger versions of M3, the body was rebuilt pretty much. The only elements that remained common were the hood and the sunroof. The M3 was stiffer, more aerodynamic (higher boot lid), “box flared” wheel-arches to accommodate a wider track with wider and taller wheels and tires. Front and rear bumpers were modified as well. The result of these changes was reduction the drag coefficient from 0.38 in regular E30, to 0.30.

The versions

Originally BMW M3 went on sale in 1987. The pricing is difficult to compare – pure numbers won’t tell much as the money value changed, but it cost about 30% more than regular E30 325 sport version. It was just 10% cheaper than Porsche 944. So it was expensive (this remains unchanged so far ). But among all the M3 series, E30 will always remain the first, most unique and most successful (see the sport achievements below).

The car was unique. Only 18.000 E30 M3 were ever made. Most of these were regular road versions (Euro and US versions: 8,661 and 4,996). The rest of them were exclusive limited series: Evo 1 and Evo 2 lightened sport versions 505 and 500 times. 786 – convertible.

The “Cecotto” model was built 505 times for the European market and the “Ravaglia” was built 25 times for the British market. These models obtained the highest specification M3 engine, 16″ BBS light alloy wheels, a lightened booth lid, power windows and some other goodies in the interior.

All this special performance series made the car absolutely unique. And now…

BMW E30 M3 today

…you can buy one at a reasonable – VW Golf – price. And You can count on the increase of value, if You will take good care of the car. Of course these limited series are more expensive and difficult to find – but this is what makes the car an icon. I don’t see any following M3 version to be able to compete with it in the future.

Sports achievements:

• 24 Hours Nurburgring: 4 wins (1989 – 1992)
• World Touring Car Championship; 1 title (1987)
• European Touring Car Championship; 2 titles (1987 and 1988)
• British Touring Car Championship; 2 titles (1988 and 1991)
• Italia Superturismo Championship; 4 titles (1987, 1989, 1990 and 1991)
• Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft; 2 titles (1987 and 1989)
• Australian Touring Car Championship; 1 title (1987)

Therefore the E30 M3 series is considered as the most successful road-race car ever!

Source: Wikipedia; Photos: MotorTrend.com

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