The Birth of a Legend - The Story Behind the BMW M3 E30

The original M3 started life as a Group A homologation special to compete in motorsport events, but soon evolved into much more.

Table of Contents

History

The BMW M3 E30 has become one of the world’s iconic performance cars due to its dominance in touring car racing and its design becoming a symbol for high-performance motoring.

Beginning in 1986, BMW unveiled their M3 for sale to consumers. Conceived and manufactured by their M Division specifically to be raced at Group A touring car events, this unique car featured several modifications which distinguished it from regular 3 Series models.

The M3 received a wider track and featured unique front and rear bumpers with larger air intakes. Designers lowered its roofline while massaging its C-pillar to further increase aerodynamics – turning this M3 into an effective racing car designed to endure both the rigors of Nurburgring and Italy’s Nardo Ring circuits.

Design

Keen M series enthusiasts may initially find the E30 strange, as it stands apart from everything that came after. Inspired by motorsport and featuring an exceptional driving experience with clear feedback from the road and an easily reached limit point than many contemporary performance cars, its DNA lies with motorsport.

BMW’s M division designed their Group A homologation special M3 to compete in the Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft (DTM) touring car race series, completely reconfiguring its base 3 Series platform to race-ready status for this special. As such, its appearance differs drastically from that of other 3 Series vehicles with unique front and rear fascias, shorter trunk lid, wider track width and unique front/rear fascias.

Hover over each image for more info! Those seeking something reminiscent of the F80 may be disappointed, but this E30 offers a much gentler experience that makes it much more palatable than a raw homologation special should. Hagerty Design Editor Lee Mish crafted both Coupe and Touring variants of this Neue Klasse-inspired M3, the latter standing out with its decklid buttresses being particularly striking.

Engine

Change is in store when BMW swapped out its E30’s high-revving four-pot for an upgraded 3.5-liter I6 from an E12 5 Series; that engine now powers 405 horsepower through its five-speed manual gearbox and produces 405 horsepower.

The ratios on this shifter seem divinely inspired: first gear is ideal for setting off for the first hairpin at Nurburgring; while second, third, and fourth are closely spaced for B-road blasts.

At its height, the M3 was an unstoppable force in touring car racing, earning multiple world and European championship titles during its time on track. That success is one reason so many enthusiasts still covet it today; its legacy keeps on winning!

Performance

Hagerty’s valuation team observed that this E30’s median #2 value increased dramatically between 2013-2014 but remained constant through 2018.

Munich-based M GmbH’s in-house motorsport department created an exciting Group A touring-car homologation special, boasting impressive levels of traction and agility that led to championship wins.

2.3-liter four-cylinder engine produced an estimated 192 horsepower; however, its broad torque band and high redline made for rapid acceleration. Hefty bodywork modifications – flared fenders, deep front and rear bumper valences, massaged C-pillar and reangled rear glass that reduced drag coefficient from 0.38 to 0.33 – further heightened visual impact of M3.

Technology

This generation of the M3 offered many more variants than its predecessor. Two and four door coupe models as well as a station wagon were available.

The M3 was intended for motor sport use, with its body designed to optimise aerodynamics. Furthermore, its front spoiler, rear apron, sill panels and windscreen were redesigned specifically for high-speed performance – these changes helped reduce lift forces while increasing straight-line stability – all the while remaining legal at everyday speeds.

The M3 E30’s racing pedigree translated directly into its roadgoing design, featuring slimmer pillars for enhanced driver visibility than most superminis can provide. Due to its compact dimensions, large race tires could fit under stock wheels while still fitting under a slim exhaust pipe – something not possible with other superminis. BMW Motorsport also added other features designed to increase performance such as unique paint finishes and M-badged trim pieces – to further boost its performance.