1987 BMW M3 (E30)

• Sourced and imported from Germany in 1999 by its single UK enthusiast owner and mostly dry stored as a second car
• Dating from the 06/02/1987, one of the first 4,585 of the European market “AK05” (195bhp) versions
• Professionally repainted and retrimmed to original specification in 2016 including correct new OEM front wings
• The history file includes the original service book, manuals and a wealth of German paperwork
• Maintained regardless of cost. Recent mechanical overhaul and fresh MOT.

The pedigree of the original E30 M3 is obvious all the way from its race-bred four-cylinder engine (designed to rev past 9000 RPM in race form) and dog-leg five-speed gearbox to those wheel arch blisters specified, not to look cool on the Kings Road, but to accept slick tyres of up to 10” in width. It has a design purity and simplicity of specification that hardly any modern car, and certainly not a new M3 could hope to match. Admittedly today's M3 has double the power but it isn't all about BHP. To really understand the M3 you need to get behind the wheel and drive one, and really drive it. Get hold of it by the scruff of the neck and give it the ‘Full Monty’ and you'll be approaching automotive nirvana. Today the E30 M3 in any of its iterations is a wonderful device, but it's the way the car handles combining brilliantly crisp turn-in with unlikely stability and poise, that truly puts you in the seat of a car that, in its short life won a dozen Touring Car championships across the globe and made it without doubt BMWs finest car ever.

Offered here is a lovely well maintained E30 M3 that was sourced and imported from Germany in 1999 by its only UK owner. Manufactured on the 6th February 1987, it’s one of the first 4,585 of the European market “AK05” (195bhp) versions produced and was delivered new finished in Diamond Black with Anthracite cloth heated sports seats. This example had been enjoyed as a daily driver for four years before becoming a second car, dry stored and enjoyed on the occasional weekend with good weather. Around 2016, our vendor took the decision to bring his M3 back to its best and set about a complete refresh which included a full respray in its original Diamond Black with a new correct top-tint screen fitted, a complete retrim of the interior in the correct Anthracite cloth, and a programme of mechanical works including, new fuel pump, pressure regulator, fuel lines, filters, pads, discs and all the fluids changed, including gearbox and differential. More recently in 2020, it was fully serviced and inspected by a well-regarded E30 M3 specialist with fresh fluids and a new alternator.

The history file contains the original service book, a wealth of paperwork from Germany, previous UK MOTs and its current MOT (January 2022) which, together with other paperwork, supports the converted indicated mileage of 130,000 miles.

This is a superb example that has clearly been well looked after with a known history from new. Realistically guided, it could be a great entry into E30 M3 ownership to be enjoyed doing the things that M3s do best or perhaps take it to the next level and present it as a serious Concours contender.