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BMW M3 Convertible

Mileage: 63,100 Top Speed: 145 Year: 1990 0 - 60: 7.3 MOT Expiry: April 2012 BHP: 215 Tax Expiry: Expired Transmission: 5 Speed Dogleg Manual Exterior Colour: Brilliant Red Engine Capacity: 2302cc Interior Colour: Black Nappa Leather Engine Configuration: Inline 4

BMW M3 Convertible | £19,995

Mileage: 63,100

Model History

The E30 M3 made its debut at the 1985 Frankfurt motor show and was a BMW motorsport division development based on the E30 3 Series. The reason for the development was to allow BMW to compete in Group A touring car racing against the likes of the Mercedes 190E 2.3 16V Cosworth, for some excellent footage of this racing follow this link to one of our favourite youtube videos - Touring car racing 1980s.

 

Group A rules demanded that each race car share its main components with the production road car, hence the wide arches to accommodate race wheels and tyres. The series required a high number of units to homologate the M3 (5000 units), so production was carried out by special teams at the normal Munich-Milbertshofe factory rather than the Motorsport unit in Garching.

While based on the E30 3 series, the M3 was a totally revised car designed and focused for use as a race car. The suspension was reworked resulting in three times more steering castor, a front anti rollbar linked to the struts, re-valved shocks and stiffer shorter springs, a wider track and stronger wheel bearings were added to cope with intense mechanical stress of track work. The power assisted rack and pinion steering is quicker (19.6:1). All the exterior panels on the M3 apart from the bonnet and sunroof are unique to the car with the rear screen re-angled for better airflow. Both front and rear screens are bonded in to the car to increase body stiffness. The M3 weighed a mere 1200kgs and coupled with the cars immense handling and driving behaviour it is no surprise that BMW had no problem selling all 5000 units.

 

The M3 convertible took the refinement and joy of open top motoring from the 325i and combined it with the race car heritage of the M3 allowing the driver to enjoy the best of both worlds. Just 786 M3 convertibles were produced and unlike the M3 were hand built at the Motorsport factory in Garching. The convertible uses much of the body work (apart from the boot lid and spoiler), the drivetrain, chassis and S14 four pot engine from the tin top M3 but adds structural reinforcements to the chassis and the extra weight of the power roof, in total approx 180kgs. To deal with the extra weight the M3 convertible uses slightly different springs and shocks.

 

Vastly expensive when new, £14,000 more than the saloon, it cost £38,000, more expensive than a 911 and twice as much as its smaller 325i convertible sibling. The M3 convertible was of course highly spec'ed and the fastest 4 seater convertible available at the time.

Equipment

Electric hood, Extended M-tech leather trim, Air conditioning, BMW Bavaria tape player, Multi function computer, Electric windows, Electric mirrors, Heated leather seats, 16" BBS Alloy wheels, Fog lights, PAS, Alarm, Headlight wipers, Evolution 2 front spoiler.

 

Exterior

The exterior of the car is in fantastic condition with a beautiful deep shine to the paintwork. It's very hard to find fault other than a couple of tiny chips to the front. All the plastic trim is intact and nothing has faded or perished as the car has been kept garaged since 1999. The roof has recently been replaced with a new item as the rear screen had started to mist.

Interior

The black nappa leather is a perfect combination with the brilliant red paint work. These Convertible M3's came with extra leather on the door cards and centre console, all of which is in excellent condition. Being a low mileage example the seats are showing no signs of wear and the front passengers benefits from the option of heated seats. All the electrics work as they should. 

Engine & Transmission

This M3 has only covered 63,100 miles and has a comprehensive service history. As you would expect it is in fine mechanical shape, the engine pulls well as it goes up the rev range and the gearbox is tight and precise. This car is one of the last versions of the E30 M3 and as such runs the 215bhp engine.

Wheels, Tyres & Brakes

The car is fitted with the BMW 16" X-Spoke alloys, these have all recently been refurbished so are in immaculate condition. The tyres are Goodyear Eagle F1's all round and all have minimal wear. All the disks and pads have been replaced with genuine BMW items in the last few thousand miles. 

History File

This E30 M3 was first registered in Germany in June 1990. The supplying BMW dealer carried out the running in service later that year and then continued to service the car till it was exported in 1998. The original service book is still present with all the BMW main dealer stamps.

 

Since coming to the UK the car has been serviced by a BMW specialist using genuine BMW parts. The book has been stamped and all the receipts for parts have been kept. All the MOT certificates have also been kept to further verify the low mileage. The current keeper has had the car since 1999.