BMW M3 (E30)

BMW M3 (E30) – A low-ownership, E30 M3 fitted new with the 2.5 S3 Sport Engine by AC Schnitzer.

The pedigree of the original E30 M3 is obvious all the way from its race-bred four-cylinder engine (designed to rev past 9000rpm in race form) and dog-leg, 5-speed gearbox to those wheel-arch blisters specified, not to look cool on the Kings Road, but to accept slick tyres of up to 10” in width. It has a design purity and simplicity of specification that hardly any modern car, and certainly not a new M3, could hope to match. Admittedly today’s M3 has double the power but it isn’t all about bhp. To really understand the M3, you need to get behind the wheel and drive one, and really drive it. Head down and fully focussed and you’ll be approaching automotive nirvana, safe in the knowledge that the car is so delightfully well-balanced that it will forgive any momentary lapse of talent and quietly sort itself out. It’s easy to see why, in its short life, the E30 M3 won a dozen Touring Car Championships across the globe and is often regarded as BMW’s finest sporting saloon ever.

Offered here is a really interesting example that’s fresh to market being offered from long-term private ownership. Its first owner was based in Germany and, as was an option at the time, he took it straight to BMW specialists, A.C. Schnitzer, who upgraded the engine to their 2.5-litre, ‘S3 Sport’ specification complete with their bespoke exhaust system,suspension and uprated Motronic ECU.

Our vendor, the car’s current owner, bought the M3 in October 1997 shortly after it had been imported to the UK and it has remained in his care ever since. It’s superbly finished in Brilliant Red with an Anthracite Uberkaro Grey Sport fabric interior and the odometer, at the time of cataloguing, was showing just 89,900km (55,861 miles).

The owner’s business is running and preparing BMW race cars combined with specialising in BMW engine rebuilds so he knows a thing or two when it comes to spotting the right car and looking after it properly. Indeed, he recently decided to inspect and reassemble the engine ensuring that the car is fresh and on the button for its next lucky owner, and there are full details of this work in the accompanying history file. Described as near immaculate and highly original by our vendor, its looks are enhanced by freshly refurbished alloy wheels painted Nogaro Silver to ‘Evo Sport’ specification.

This is a real enthusiast’s example that has clearly been well-looked after and benefits from the Schnitzer 2.5-litre upgrades along with the recent engine refresh. Realistically guided, this is a great entry into E30 M3 ownership and to be enjoyed doing the things that M3s do best. We welcome any inspection of this modern-classic to fully appreciate the quality on offer.

THE CLASSIC SALE AT SILVERSTONE FESTIVAL 2023

The Classic Sale at Silverstone Festival – one of our biggest auctions of the year, entries for this sale have now closed. This is our 13th year as the event’s exclusive Auction partner and this year we will be holding a Race and Competition Car Sale on Friday 25th August followed by a Sale of Automobilia and Collectors’ Cars on Saturday 26th August. Join us for one of the best historic motorsport weekends of the year, attracting around 110,000 visitors, where you can also enjoy incredible live music, family fun, a foodie fest and of course our fabulous auctions.