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Touring Stars: 1988-91 BMW M3
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Original Win.
In weeks past, we’ve looked at motorsports homologation specials from Japan (for rallying) and the United States (for NASCAR). This time, it’s the Germans’ turn, and a trio of road-going sport sedans that formed the basis for entries in the Fatherland’s answer to NASCAR, the DTM (Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft, or German Touring Car Championship). Although the series is presently contested by high tech silhouette versions of the Mercedes-Benz C-class and Audi A4, and featured the shrieking, spark-spraying Class 1 monsters (which packed such techno-wizardry as all-wheel-drive, four-wheel-steering, active aerodynamics and active suspension) of the mid-1990s, the DTM combatants of the late ‘80s and early ‘90s were, by and large, off-the-shelf production models with the requisite safety equipment and limited performance upgrades allowed under the FIA Group A rule package. And one of, if not the most iconic cars created to satisfy those regulations was the original BMW M3.
The second generation 3 Series, known within the company as the E30, was already a highly-regarded compact car, offered with a range of inline-four and inline-six engines in sedan, coupe, convertible and (outside North America) station wagon body styles. But the company wanted a replacement for the aging 635CSi on the touring car scene, as well as a possible rally weapon, so the in-house hot-rodding division, BMW Motorsport GmbH, was tasked with building the ultimate 3 Series. Using the coupe as their starting point, the engineers dropped in a special high-revving, DOHC 2.3L inline-four (with one throttlebody-per-cylinder – an M car hallmark) producing 192hp in U.S. trim and matched exclusively to a 5-speed manual. Other mechanical upgrades included a revised suspension, a 4.10:1 final drive ratio in North American models, and larger wheel bearings and brake calipers borrowed from the 5 Series. Cosmetic changes included a body kit featuring flared fenders, rocker panel extensions, deeper front and rear bumpers, a rear spoiler atop a special taller trunklid, and thicker C-pillars surrounding a rear window that was farther back and raked at a steeper angle for better aerodynamics, plus “M3” badges front and rear, and a special M steering wheel and shift lever. All told, 4,996 of these little Bavarian buzzbombs landed on this side of the Atlantic over the course of four model years.
Though these babies were pricey when new, their current prices make them pretty accessible. Clean, driver-quality cars with over 100,000 miles aren’t uncommon, and can be had for the low- to mid-teens. Low mileage examples, meanwhile, seem to be stuck in the high-teens. However, as is the case with most other late model German cars, replacement parts and service tends to clean out one’s wallet quickly, so plan accordingly. Then again, good luck finding a new four-passenger car that feels as raw and connected as this legend of the Straße and the Strecke.
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