Lot 014: 1988 BMW M3 E30

"The M3 leaps through the corners like a cat, its feisty engine spinning and spitting until you snatch another gear or the rev limiter grabs it by the tail" (Car and Driver, November 1987). Determined to produce a FIA Group A Touring Car racer with which to beat the Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.3-16, BMW unleashed its first generation M3 in 1986. A homologation special, the newcomer was visually differentiated from its lesser E30 siblings by a deep front airdam, wider track and pronounced wheelarch flares. Less obvious but no less effective aerodynamically were the two-door's repositioned rear windscreen and angled boot lid spoiler. Riding on lowered, stiffened suspension (McPherson strut front / semi-trailing arm rear), the M3 was powered by a 2.3 litre DOHC 16-valve four-cylinder engine allied to five-speed manual transmission. Derived from that of the M1 supercar, the Bosch fuel-injected unit's advanced valvetrain resulted in prodigious outputs (197bhp, 177lbft) and a 6,750rpm redline. A favourite among road testers on both sides of the Atlantic, the purposeful BMW was reputedly capable of 0-60mph in 6.5 seconds and 146mph. Campaigned by privateers like Prodrive and Schnitzer Motorsport as well as the factory, the M3 (E30) won numerous prestigious series including the Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft, European Touring Car Championship and even the one-off World Touring Car Championship title in 1987. Finished in red with grey upholstery, this particular left-hand drive example is described by the vendor as being in "good overall" condition. Reportedly "a special edition model number 191 of 500", 'E793 LLP' is understood to have had "two UK owners" since being "imported from Germany in 1998". Riding on alloy wheels, the BMW is stated to have covered just 78,000 miles from new (a figure apparently substantiated by eight German services and nine UK ones). A modern day performance icon, this enticing M3 (E30) is offered for sale with MOT certificate valid until May 2009.