BMW E30 (M3)

BMW
BMW M3 (1986-1990)
M3 (E30)
Sales designation:	BMW M3
Production period:	1986-1991
Class :	Middle class
Body versions :	Limousine , cabriolet
Engines:	Petrol engines : 2.3-2.5 liters (143-158 kW)
Length:	4346 mm
Width:	1680 mm
Height:	1370 mm
Wheelbase :	2562 mm
Empty weight :	1165-1360 kg
successor	E36

The first M3 series was presented to the world public for the first time at the international motor show in Frankfurt in 1985. It served primarily as a homologation model for the German Touring Car Championship (DTM) and was based on the E30 series . However, the demand was so great from the start that it was manufactured and sold in far larger numbers than originally planned. In 1986 the first BMW M3 was produced in series, which was manufactured by the BMW subsidiary BMW M GmbH .

The BMW M3 was one of the main competitors of the sports version of the Mercedes 190 E 2.3-16 ( Mercedes M102 engine with four valves per cylinder and 136 kW / 185 hp), which was available from 1984 , both in racing (DTM) and in the private sector . From 1987 the Mercedes 190 E 2.5-16 came on the market with more displacement and increased output (150 kW / 204 PS).

technology

The engine used was a four-cylinder four-valve engine with the designation S14 , derived from the engine block of the BMW M10 and cylinder head of the six-cylinder engine BMW M88 originally used in the BMW M1 (with 2302 cm³ 143–162 kW (195–220 hp) in the S14B23, later 2467 cm³ (175 kW / 238 PS) in the Sport Evolution 2 in the S14B25). The engine was originally designed by the racing driver Alexander von Falkenhausen .

Incidentally, the first gear of the five-speed transmission is - as was common in racing back then - at the bottom left, which means that the second and third or fourth and fifth gears are on the same level.

The BMW M3 was initially only available as a two-door sedan , while the Cabriolet followed in May 1988. The two-door sedan was and is therefore not called a “coupé”, as the door panes on the first M3 had a frame. The base of the M3 , the BMW E30 , was available as standard as a sedan with two doors, although four doors were also available for an extra charge. However, this option did not apply to the M3 . It was not until the successor model, the BMW M3 (E36) , that the two-door variant of the model was referred to as a coupé , as it has an independent body with few similarities to the four-door sedan.

The body shape was for the M3 changed to, among other things, the torsional stiffness , the c _w value continue to improve and the driving dynamics. The focus was on suitability for racing, so restrictions on comfort and production costs could be made. The modifications included eye-catching flared fenders to allow a wider track.

The front spoiler, the rear apron, rocker panels, as well as changes to the body in the area of ​​the rear window (C-pillar) and the trunk lid improved the aerodynamics. The rear window was set flatter for aerodynamic reasons and the tailgate was made of light, glass fiber reinforced plastic and increased by approx. 40 mm for better air flow. The changes in the stern area resulted in lower lift forces and better straight-line stability. In addition, the windshield was glued in - and not, as with the other E30 models, framed with a rubber pane and piping . This allows the M3 reached a relatively low c _w value of 0.33 instead of 0.38 as in the normal model. Among other things, the subsequent conversions of the normal 3 Series to the M3 version can usually be identified on the C-pillar.

In addition, the 62-liter tank was enlarged to 70 liters, reducing the trunk volume from 425 to 404 liters. In the interior, the changes are less noticeable; the consumption display gave way to an oil thermometer, and there were also standard sports seats.

A 320is based on the M3 engine and the normal E30 body and chassis components was developed exclusively for Italy and only officially offered there without a catalytic converter. For vehicles with engines that have more than 2 liters of displacement, a high “luxury tax” was due at the time and is still due in Italy, which is why this special feature appeared for the Italian market. This version is unofficially referred to as "Kleiner M3" or "Italo-M3". The engine output of the S14B20 of 141 kW (192 hp) / 6900 min ⁻¹ and 210 Nm / 4900 min ⁻¹ with a displacement of just under 2 liters is still impressive 20 to 25 years later. Therefore, some found their way back to Germany as reimports, where they are still mainly used in motorsport and were and still are very successful.

In the fall of 1990, production of the two-door sedan was discontinued, while the convertible was produced until mid-1991.

• 

  Rear view of the M3

• 

  BMW M3 Evolution II (1988–1990)

• 

  BMW M3 Sport Evolution (1990)

• 

  786 copies were produced: M3 Cabriolet

Technical specifications

BMW S14 engine of the E30 M3

	M3 convertible	M3 (with cat.)	M3 (without cat.)	M3 (with cat.)	M3 convertible
Construction year	05.1988-06.1991	02.1987-05.1989	02.1986-06.1989	06.1989-10.1990	06.1989-06.1991
engine	S14 B23	S14Z	S14 B23	S14 B23
Displacement	2302 cc
Cylinders / valves	4/16
Bore × stroke	93.4 x 84 mm
compression	10.5: 1
Max. Power at min −1	143 kW (195 PS) at 6750		147 kW (200 PS) at 6750	158 kW (215 PS) at 6750
Max. Torque at min -1	230 Nm at 4750		240 Nm at 4750	230 Nm at 4600
Top speed	228 km / h	230 km / h	235 km / h	241 km / h	239 km / h
Acceleration 0-100 km / h	7.3 s	6.8 s	6.7 s	6.7 s	7.3 s
Elasticity 80–120 km / h in 4th gear		7.5 s	7.1 s	7.8 s	8.4 s
Empty weight	1360 kg	1200 kg			1360 kg

Special models

M3 as DTM master car (1989)

• BMW M3 European Champion 143 kW (195 PS); 148 pieces (all signed by Roberto Ravaglia )
• BMW M3 Cecotto 158 kW (215 PS); 505 pieces (including 25 pieces as special Ravaglia model)
• BMW M3 Evolution II : 2.3-liter four-cylinder in-line engine (S14), 162 kW (220 PS); (limited to 500 pieces, produced from October 1988 to October 1990)
• BMW M3 Sport Evolution : 2.5-liter four-cylinder in-line engine (S14), 175 kW (238 hp); (limited to 600 pieces, produced from January to March 1990)

In addition, between November 1987 and December 1990 there was a version of Alpina built in only 62 copies with the designation B6 3.5 S and the 3.43 liter six-cylinder, which was significantly redesigned (Alpina engine type B10 / 5, 3430 cm³, 187 kW / 254 PS, 320 Nm).

Production numbers

BMW M3 (EU model)	8661
BMW M3 (US model)	4996
BMW M3 Evolution	505
BMW M3 (EU model with 143 kW / 195 PS)	1519
BMW M3 Evolution II (162 kW / 220 PS)	500
BMW M3 convertible	786
BMW M3 Sport Evolution	600
BMW M3 Sport Evolution Convertible	3
BMW M3 European Champion signed by Roberto Ravaglia	148
BMW M3 Cecotto (158 kW) including 25 special Ravaglia models that went to England, 2 Nogaro silver and 23 Misano red	505
BMW M3 Cecotto Switzerland throttled to 211 hp due to exhaust gas regulations	50
BMW M3 Alpina B6 3.5S (187 kW / 254 PS, 3.5 l six-cylinder) small series	62

literature

• Jeremy Walton: BMW 3 Series. Heel Verlag, Königswinter 1993, ISBN 3-89365-341-4 .
• BMW dimensions: BMW 3 Series. Concepts, technology, design , Hans-Hermann Braess, Heel, ISBN 3-932169-34-4
• Peter GH Sebald: 17,970 emotions , Starnberg / Bielefeld 2005 (only M3-E30S)
• Wilbert / Holz: BMW M3 - Scenes from a career (only M3-E30S)
• Walter Matthias Wilbert, Friedbert Holz: F = m · a: if Isaac Newton had built a sports car; the BMW M3 CSL. Gloor Verlag, Munich 2004, ISBN 3-938037-01-6 . (M3 CSL-E46S only)

Web links

Commons : BMW M3 (E30)  - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files

• 25 years of the BMW M3: meeting of generations. classicdriver.com, accessed June 27, 2016 . 
• Data and technology of the M3 series. m3-klassik.de, accessed on June 27, 2016 . 

Individual evidence

1. ↑ BMW ALPINA - E30. alpina-archive.com, accessed on May 10, 2012 . 
2. ↑ Alpina B6 3.5 S in the driving report: The muscle M3 from the Allgäu. motor-klassik.de , April 22, 2012, accessed on May 9, 2012 . 
3. ↑ BMW ALPINA - E30. (No longer available online.) ALPINA Burkard Bovensiepen GmbH + Co. KG , archived from the original on May 10, 2012 ; Retrieved May 9, 2012 . Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice.