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BMW E30 M3

Mileage: 33,010 Top Speed: 146 Year: 1989 0 - 60: 6.5 MOT Expiry: Expired BHP: 192 Tax Expiry: Expired Transmission: 5 speed manual Exterior Colour: Brilliant red Engine Capacity: 2302cc Interior Colour: Natur Bison leather Engine Configuration: Inline 4

BMW E30 M3 | £42,995

Mileage: 33,010

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.

 

BMW produced a 'North American' specification car from 03/87 through 12/90. Cosmetically the cars were almost identical from their European cousins but could be identified by the bumper-mounted side marker lights, slightly different headlight configurations and a high-mounted third brake light, all required by Federal law. Mechanically except for a different air intake arrangement, the North American-spec E30 M3 carries essentially the same powerplant as the early catalyst-equipped European-spec model. The only significant powertrain difference concerns the gearbox, which is a Getrag 260 with a standard gear pattern, as opposed to the European-spec model's close-ratio Getrag box with its dogleg first gear location. The use of the conventional shift gate was determined to be more easily acceptable to Americans, and the wider ratios (shared with the E30 325i) are offset by a shorter 4.10:1 final drive.

Equipment

Electric operated windows, PAS, Electric operated Mirrors, Heated rear windscreen, Heated leather seats, Cruise control, Central locking and remote alarm, Limited slip differential, Tinted windscreen, Electric sunroof, Headlight wash wipe, Multi-function computer, Rear window brake light, Sony CD player (original BMW unit included), Side reflectors, ABS.

Exterior

This beautiful example has lived a coveted life in the hands of 2 careful owners both of which only using the car in dry summer weather and always keeping it garaged. The condition of the exterior is truly exceptional, the only evidence of use being a few carefully touched-in stone chips to the front end. Due to its indoor storage, all of the plastic and rubber seals remain in as new condition with no signs of fading or drying out.

 

The current owner had known of the car for many years before pursuing the opportunity of purchasing it 13 years ago. He owns many other fine classics and knows how to maintain the body to the highest standards. On this example he had both bumpers, all inner arches and the scuttle panel vents removed so the body could be 100% inspected, cleaned and then waxed.

 

The underside of the car is perfect, no road grime has been allowed to build up and every nut bolt and ancillary is clean and free from any surface corrosion.

 

The current owner does not usually show his cars however on arrival at the BMW festival at Gaydon, he was asked to enter the car into the concours event. The car cleaned up, winning 5 trophies. It was also the year celebrating the 25th anniversary of the M3 and the car is included in the ‘M' photograph with 68 other E30 M3's.

Interior

Opening the door you are greeted with that new car smell of fresh leather and plastics, as if viewing one at a BMW dealer back in the early 90's. The leather is heated and remains in stunning condition, there is no wear to any of the bolsters and the leather still remains textured and soft. All of the interior plastics still look and feel new and are completely free from any marks or signs of wear. The car is fitted with a European spec steering wheel and the original US spec wheel is included. The leather on both steering wheels and gear knob are excellent. The carpets are perfect and still protected with the original BMW valour mats.

 

The boot area is spotless, lift the carpet and the wheel housing is immaculate with the original spare, first aid kit and warning triangle all present and unused. Opening the tool kit you find all the tools glistening, an original BMW key ring in its plastic cover and the all important BMW duster.

 

Being a US spec car it is fitted with some rare options that include air conditioning, heated seats and cruise control. The car currently has a Sony CD player fitted and the original is supplied in the boot and is in fine working order.

Engine & Transmission

Under the bonnet shows a perfectly maintained and detailed engine compartment, every nut and bolt is immaculate. Don't confuse this with a car that has been prepped, detailed and polished, the reason for this remarkable condition is due to the careful dry weather use and 1st class maintenance. The car has been serviced and checked on a regular basis despite the modest mileage, importantly the car has had consistent use so has never had a long period in storage.

 

The car has recently undergone a full inspection and has had all of its fluids replaced.

Wheels, Tyres & Brakes

Being a late spec car, it is fitted with the 16" alloy wheels which really fill the box arches nicely. They are still shod in the original Pirelli P700 tyres that have never been removed from the rims. The wheels are immaculate and free from any curb marks. The brakes are in fine working order and looking through the spokes of the wheels you notice the calipers still retain their original paint finish and look like new, the front discs and pads were replaced 6,000 miles ago.

History File

The car is a North American production E30 M3 and was first built in 1989. It was sold through BMW Manhattan to the first owner, an Irish chap living and working in Saudi, he kept the car in Saudi for the first 2 years before having it shipped back to his home in Ireland in 1992. During his ownership he had the car serviced at ‘Donmac' a well known BMW specialist in Ireland.

 

The current owner had tried on several occasions to buy the car and then in 2001 he had the long awaited call and a deal was struck. Since being in his ownership it has been serviced and checked on a regular basis, all these services are stamped in the book and there is a huge history file full of invoices, detailing work that has been carried out over the years.

 

The car comes with both keys, a top quality tailoured cover, the original US spec steering wheel, the original BMW radio cassette player, a set of amber front indicator lenses and the cataylist converter which has been removed from the car but is included in the sale.