BMW M3, 1988
BMW M3, I (E30)
BMW M3, I (E30)•
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Chassis No.: WBSAK0300J2196532
Auction: Monterey 2017
Auction date: August 19, 2017
Lot No.: F18
$66,000 | Sold
- Exterior: White
- Interior: Red
- Rare color combination of Alpine White with Cardinal Red interior
- Believe to be 78,450 miles since new
- 2.3L 4-cylinder engine
- 5-speed manual transmission
- 4-wheel disc brakes
- Electric sunroof
- Power windows and locks
The BMW 3-series was into its second-generation 1982-91 E30 production run when the in-house Motorsport division, now known simply as M, created the limited-production homologated version of its BMW 3-series Group A Touring Car dubbed the M3. With a race-derived 4-cylinder engine good for at least 60 HP over the base 6-cylinder, M-worked suspension and box-fendered style, the U.S.-market specification M3 changed little from 1988 to 1991. This 1988 BMW M3 left the factory with a rare combination of Alpine White exterior and Cardinal Red interior, and it has traveled just 78,450 miles since.
The 2.3L 4-cylinder S14 engine features a dual overhead-camshaft cylinder head with four valves per cylinder and multi-port fuel injection feeding individual throttle bodies. The naturally aspirated iron-block and aluminum-head 4-cylinder was rated for 192 HP at 6,750 RPM and 170 lb-ft of torque at 4,750 RPM in U.S.-specification trim. The S14 engine is mated to a 5-speed Getrag manual transmission that channels power through a clutch-type limited-slip rear differential with 4.10:1-ratio gears out to the rear wheels. Four-wheel disc brakes work with an updated and revised M-tuned suspension for touring-car road control.
A dozen M3-specific body parts from chin to rear-deck spoiler set the Alpine White M3 apart from the standard 3-series with peak ‘80s box-fendered homologated touring-car-style perfection. Bolstered bucket seats with adjustable thigh height and a BMW Motorsport steering wheel work with power windows, locks and sunroof for the M3 combination of pure sport control and touring-car appointments. The BMW M3 rides on wider-than-stock factory BBS mesh wheels equipped with low-profile tires for maximum grip and predictable levels of famously entertaining M3 off-throttle oversteer on the way towards a more than 140 MPH top speed.
