The E30 M3 has become one of the most famous cars of all time, it is a car that has created a following all of its own over the years and has one of the most dedicated fan bases.BMW cars have a distinct set of fans, but you don’t necessarily need to love the brand to become a fan of the timeless E30, all you need to do is take the time to get behind the wheel of one of these classic cars. It actually does not look all that special on paper with fairly middling performance figures by modern standards, but it will deliver an unrivaled driving experience.With the latest M3 getting a lot of attention for all the wrong reasons, it is worth looking at where it all started.
10 An Elegant Wedge
The wedge design defined the automotive landscape of the 80s, with pretty much every manufacturer moving in this direction.
For the 3-series, this is the design that would really set the tone for BMW as a brand. Few angular designs look as elegant as this, and the M car with its body kit doesn’t shy away from the boxy shape, but rather enhances it.
9 Something Of A Poser
By the 80s, BMW had established themselves as a luxury brand, and their cars became something of a status symbol with young professionals at the time, who were all lining up for the relatively affordable 3-series.
With it already having a name, the exclusive M car became the ultimate status symbol. This gave it a bit of a poser reputation, but on the positive side this helped preserve the cars because very few of the owners bought them to actually drive them. Unfortunately, the reality of that fact is that low mileage cars are now worth a mint, so they might well just end up moving from one dusty collection to another.
8 Limited Edition
Every M3 after the original has become a mass-produced sports car, the first M3 was anything but that.
These cars were made in limited numbers to satisfy the Group A requirements, they didn’t necessarily need to sell these cars in great numbers, they wanted to go racing with a 3-series to underline their sporting potential.
7 Homologation Special
BMW were interested in most touring car options, but the local German DTM series was their primary target, but at the time the Mercedes-Benz 190E was giving them a lot to think about on track.
This new homologation special changed the trajectory of that particular battle, it forced both manufacturers to react with Evolution versions of the cars, those would become some of the most sought after road going specials in the world.
6 Race Bred
In many ways, the legendary M3 is more of a happy accident than something planned out in the usual German way. It was supposed to be a race car that could be used on the road, that turned out to be the best possible formula for a road going performance car.
Although the E30 was a limited edition sports car, the E36 that followed was anything but a limited edition, it sold in huge numbers largely thanks to the foundation the E30 had laid for it.
5 Drivers' Car
It is pretty hard to make a conventional sedan handle like a lightweight sports car, but the E30 does exactly that.
In the twisty roads the E30 will keep up with any more powerful contemporary sports car, it will also make most modern (better handling) muscle cars look a bit silly too.
4 Naturally Aspirated Inline-4
The block itself is fairly rudimentary, something they were already using since the 60s, but as you look higher it gets far more intricate with a race tuned head and advanced (for the time) fuel injection.
It is a highly strung large displacement 4-cylinder car, not the refined machine we might expect. Most BMW owners of the time would have been in for a shock, as it was harsh compared to their smooth inline 6s.
3 The Hype Is Real
It is everything and more, these cars do get a lot of hype, but all of it is for a good reason. These are very special cars, cars that define the industry.
No car defines a segment quite as well as the E30 M3 does, it is the quintessential sport sedan and after handing over the torch to the next generation car the model has only gotten better and better (and rather unfortunately uglier and uglier).
2 Sheer Driving Pleasure
It is without doubt a fun car to drive, it is raw though and for unsuspecting BMW customers in the 80s this unrefined sports car was not at all their cup of tea.
If you could understand what the car really was, it was that and so much more. It is planted and reassuring in every corner, with that harsh, rev-happy inline 4 always begging you to give it more.
1 Original M
Nothing quite beats the original, at least in some respects. BMW never reached this level again in terms of design, with their M cars gradually getting more carbon and less style.
Even though they are 40 years old now, these cars had precious few comfort and safety features, so they weigh a lot less, and even with half the power of the modern equivalent they are still more engaging to drive.