1989 BMW M3 (E30)

Please note the car has just been issued with a fresh MOT with no advisories.

The pedigree of the original E30 M3 is obvious all the way from its race-bred four-cylinder engine (designed to rev past ,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.