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Profile BMW M3

“The most powerful letter in the world”: the
success of the M Series has continued into
the present – in motor racing as well.

BMW M3 (E30)

No. of units 17,184 (1986 – 1990)

Original price 58,000 marks
Engine four-cylinder in-line
motor racing, and thus became the and a concept was quickly devised. experience gleaned from racing and in 6.7 seconds, top speed 235 km/h) Evolution” and “Cecotto”, which are
unofficial successor to the M1. In com- Unlike the mid-engine sports car, the insights into production engine design. that was unmatched worldwide in this already sought-after today as absolute
Capacity 2,302 cc
mon with the M1, the new M3, as a pro- M3 was not to be a hand-built limited The cylinder head with four-valve tech- vehicle class. rarities. 1988 saw the appearance of an
duction car, was already fitted with all edition but a volume-production car off nology was clearly related in design to Despite its basic price of a substan- M3 convertible variant with highly exclu-
Bore x stroke 93,4 x 84 mm
the technical armoury to make it a the assembly line. It was earmarked for that of the M1 engine. tial 58,000 deutschmarks, the 5,000 M3 sive specifications, which saw a pro-
promising motor sport model. The touring car racing, which involved cars A four-cylinder engine was chosen production units required for homologa- duction run of just 786.
Output 200 bhp at6,750 rpm
BMW M3 wasn’t simply a higher-per- in near-standard production trim. More because the shorter crankshaft com- tion purposes were easily sold within In the light of the sweeping success
Transmission five-speed stick shift formance 3 Series, but an independent precisely, it was to be a Group A racing pared to a six-cylinder unit promised the requisite period of time, and the M3 of this, the sportiest of all BMW 3 Series
vehicle concept based on the 3 Series. car, defined as a “production car” higher engine speed reserves. Keen race versions were able to embark on models, it comes as no surprise that
Brakes disc brakes It was the first BMW to be developed by according to Annex J of the internation- attention was also given to the chassis, their now legendary career in touring BMW went on to reinterpret the M3 for
BMW Motorsport GmbH and to go into al motor sport regulations, which stipu- which received a special, lower set-up car racing. Inciting special interest the subsequent E 36 and E 46 3 Series
Weight 1,200 kg series production at BMW AG. lated that at least 5,000 units be built with a new front axle geometry, more among fans of exceptional sports cars ranges. Only recently, the BMW M3
In summer of 1981, the idea of within twelve consecutive months. direct power steering and a high-per- were several special editions of the CSL was launched as a particularly
Top speed 235 km/h using the new 3 Series as a basis for a The 2.3-litre four-cylinder in-line formance braking system with ABS. It BMW M3, usually limited to around 500 dynamic and technically intriguing ren-
successor to the M1 came to fruition, engine of the M3 was a synthesis of the all made for performance (0–100 km/h units, such as the “Evolution”, “Sport dition of the now classic M3 theme.

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