The BMW E30 M3 has been beloved among car enthusiasts ever since it hit the market in the 1980s, and Doug DeMuro recently had the opportunity to take a close look at a red example.
BMW first built the E30 M3 as a homologation special so it could comply with DTM and Group A Touring rules. It was produced between 1986 and 1991 and, in total, a touch under 18,000 examples are thought to have been produced.
Compared to regular 3-Series models of the day, the M3 featured an eye-catching widebody kit that still looks the part to this day. In addition, it received a new tailgate made from glass-reinforced plastic, among other parts. In fact, just the bonnet, roof, and sunroof were carried over from lesser variants.
Watch Also: Would You Swap A BMW E30 M3’s Four-Pot For With An E46 M3’s Straight-Six?
Whereas the upcoming 2021 BMW M3 will feature a twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter six-cylinder with a touch over 500 hp, the E30 M3 is powered by a high-revving naturally aspirated four-cylinder displacing between 2.0and 2.5 liters depending on the variant. In standard form, this engine was good for 192 hp in the United States and 197 hp in Europe where a catalytic converter wasn’t required. The only available transmission was a five-speed manual driving the rear wheels.
It is pretty hard to find low-mileage E30 M3s on the used market, and if you do, they’ll cost a pretty penny. The example tested by DeMuro has no less than 219,000 miles (352,533 km) on the clock, but still seems to run quite well.