1989 BMW E30 M3

• Introduced in 1986 as an Homologation Special to allow BMW to compete Internationally in Touring Car races and International rallies around the globe
• Supplied to its first owner through Bavaria SA Portugal in August 1989
• Imported to the UK in 2016 by its present owner
• Has formed part of a small private collection with a competition/sporting bias
• Fastidiously maintained since purchase
• Recent health check by BMW specialists Redish Automotive Bristol

Based on the 1986 model-year E30 3-Series, the E30 M3 used the BMW 2.3-litre S14 engine and was produced from 1985 to 1992. In contrast to later M3 models, the E30 was campaigned by the Works as well as other racing teams including Prodrive and AC Schnitzer in many forms of motorsport including rallying and circuit racing. The latter included successful campaigns in the World Touring Car Championship, Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft, and the British, Italian, French and Australian Touring Car Championships. The M3 differed from the rest of the E30 line-up in many ways and although using the same basic body shell as the standard E30, was equipped with twelve different and unique body panels to improve aerodynamics and aesthetics. The 'box flared' wheel-arches to accommodate a wider track with wider and taller wheels were the most distinctive of these but, in fact, the only exterior body panels shared were the bonnet, roof panel, sunroof, and doors.

The sporting pedigree of the original E30 M3 is evident all the way from its race-bred four-cylinder engine ( designed to rev past 9000 RPM in race form) and dog-leg five-speed gearbox to those wide wheel arches, designed, not to look cool in the city centre, but to accept slick tyres of up to 10in in width. It has a design purity and simplicity of specification that hardly any modern car, and certainly not a new M3 can hope to match. Certainly, today's M3 may have 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. Get hold of it by the scruff of the neck, give it some beans and you'll be approaching automotive nirvana. Today the E30 M3, in any of its iterations, is a wonderfully tight and responsive little saloon car, handling brilliantly with a crisp turn-in, very little roll and famously communicative steering, making it easy to imagine that you are behind the wheel of an M3 Touring Car that, in its short life won a dozen saloon car championships across the globe and made it, without doubt, BMW's finest sporting saloon ever.

This particular example was manufactured in April 1989 as confirmed by a dating letter from BMW Group Homologation Department and supplied to its first owner by Bavaria SA, Portugal on 21 August 1989. It's beautifully presented in Diamond Black with an all-black interior and comes equipped with the desirable electric sunroof and air conditioning. Imported by its present owner from Portugal in 2016 and now fully UK registered, it has been fastidiously maintained forming part of a small eclectic collection with a motorsport-led bias.

Having covered just 100,000km/62,150 miles to date (atv) the overall condition is exemplary. A recent health check by BMW specialists Redish Automotive in Bristol provided the M3 with a clean bill of health with only minor works being required to bring the BMW right up to its current level, these included a new radiator, re-bushed suspension as required, replacement prop shaft coupling and gear lever linkage ball and socket joint. As you would expect, with authenticity in mind, only genuine BMW parts were utilised. The history file includes recent invoices, MOT Certificates and the original service book detailing its time in Portugal.

The E30 M3 has long been recognised as a sound long term investment opportunity and outstanding examples are no longer inexpensive, however, there is very little else in this price category that offers such unadulterated driving pleasure. With a current mileage of just over 60,000 the car could be used on a regular basis without hurting its value and in lovely mechanical condition and delightfully presented, superb.