BMW M3 (E30)

The BMW M3 (E30) was the first BMW M3, a high-performance version of the E30 3 Series developed by BMW M GmbH as a homologation special for the Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft and the Group A touring car rules, which required 5,000 road cars plus 500 evolution specials. It was shown at the 1985 Frankfurt Motor Show and built from March 1986 to June 1991, mainly as a coupe with a limited number of convertibles, 17,970 cars in all. A flattened rear window, a raised boot lid of glass-reinforced plastic, a front splitter and a rear apron cut the drag coefficient to 0.33 from 0.38 on the standard 3 Series, which shared only its bonnet, roof panel and sunroof with the M3. The BMW S14 four-cylinder engine was rated at 143 kW with a catalytic converter and gave a top speed of 235 km/h, through a Getrag five-speed manual gearbox and a clutch-type limited-slip differential.