Oldtimer Australia is delighted to offer for sale this freshly restored 1987 BMW M3 E30.

Over the years the BMW M3 E30 has built up quite a reputation and it has become highly sought after by people in the know.

In 2004, Sports Car International named the BMW M3 E30 as number six on their list of Top Sports Cars of the 1980s. In 2007, Automobile Magazine included the BMW M3 E30 in their "5 Greatest Drivers Cars of All Time" category with their list of the 25 Greatest Cars of All Time.

The BMW M3 E30 was so much more than just a high performance BMW 3 Series with a body kit and spoilers. They were different cars mechanically and the only exterior body panels they shared were the bonnet, roof panel and sunroof.

As confirmed by the code AK03 in the VIN number, this particular example was delivered new to the USA.

According to the BMW M3 register this car was delivered new with the following options:

- Electric windscreens at the front (0410)
- AC (0530)
- Cruise control (0540)
- On-board computer II with remote control (0551)
- BMW sound system (0675)

The car was delivered in alpin-weiss (colour code 146) with a black interior (trim code 0203) and that is how the car still presents today.

At some stage it found its way to Japan before coming to Australia. The car was imported into Melbourne in 2005. There is a copy of the import approval on file issued on the 30th March 2005.

The car was sold into Sydney in March 2008 and it is understood that it was essentially parked up until 2022. It was acquired by the current owner in December 2022, who engaged the services of highly respected BMW specialist, Scott Robinson from Modern Classic Motorsport in Capalaba, to restore the car.

Over the next three years this BMW M3 E30 underwent a complete restoration with the exception of the interior. The interior was in such good condition it only required a sympathetic refresh.

The car was completely stripped and sent to Styling Automotive, based in Yeerongpilly on Brisbanes south side to be repainted. The car was completely refurbished mechanically by Modern Classic Motorsport. To say the work was comprehensive would be an understatement!

Once the engine was removed and disassembled, it was clear a full rebuild was required, including machining of the cylinder bores. Everything that needed to be replaced was replaced and in some cases upgraded. The S14B23 engines capacity increased from the standard 2,302cc to 2,341cc. Lots of parts were replaced during the rebuilt.

A summary of the work completed, includes:

- The engine now has: Wossner forged pistons with a compression ratio: 10.92:1, new conrod bearings, new main bearings, Elring bottom end gasket set, Elring VRS top end gasket set, new head bolts, new ARP conrod bolts, new IWIS timing chain, new chain guide rails, new oil pump chain, a rebuilt oil pump, new upgraded chain tensioner, new water pump, new silicone water hose set, new thermostat unit, new water pipe on the side of the block, new welsh plugs, new NGK spark plugs, factory headers ceramic coated, new v belts, new crankshaft speed and position sensors, and new fuel injectors.
- The cylinder head was fully serviced including resurfacing and a multi angle valve job. Throttle body butterflies were stripped, vapor blasted and assembled with new butterfly screws
- The valve cover and inlet plenum were powder coated in the correct black wrinkle finish.
- A new super sprint exhaust system was fitted.
- New BBS wheels were fitted as well as a BMW M3 Evolution style front splitter, lower engine cover and rear spoiler.
- The fuel tank was removed and cleaned.

The list goes on and it is way too long to include in this write up.

The end result is simply STUNNING. Alpine white is the perfect colour for a BMW M3 E30, beautifully highlighting the cars sharp lines and distinctive details. The BMW and M3 badges stand out brilliantly against the crisp white finish.

At the time of photographing the car the odometer read 88,222 miles, however, one could argue that the mileage is irrelevant considering it is a fresh restoration. The car presents today essentially as new.

Walking around the car, you cant help but be impressed. The paintwork is in excellent condition and we were unable to find any imperfections. The black front splitter, rear spoiler section, front grill as well as the black vinyl striping on the front and rear bumpers provide a perfect contrast to the Alpine White finish, enhancing the cars sharp, purposeful look. The badges on the car are all in excellent condition as are all the lights and lenses. All the glass is in a good condition with no cracks or repairs evident.

The car is fitted with a set of new BBS wheels and they are shod with Nankang Sportnex AR 1 tyres, size 225/45/ZR16. The tyres are date stamped 0424 (week 4, 2024). The wheels are in perfect condition.

Inside the cabin, everything appears to be original. When the restoration began, it was clear the interior was in such excellent condition that it deserved to be preserved. It was carefully reconditioned, with no need to replace components or retrim the seats.

As with many German cars of the 1980s, the layout is simple and highly functional. Look closer, however, and youll find some rather cool details, such as the M coloured stitching on the Alcantara steering wheel and handbrake, the M badging on the steering wheel, gear knob, door sills and even within the instrument cluster. Then theres the wonderfully retro, very 80s roof-mounted check control panel, a distinctive touch that adds to the cars period charm.

Opening the bonnet reveals the fully rebuilt engine, proudly displaying the unmistakable BMW M Power logo. The engine bay is exceptionally clean and neatly presented. The same attention to detail is evident in the boot, which houses the spare wheel and a partially complete factory toolkit.

As they say, there is a first for everything, and for us this is the first BMW M3 E30 we have had in our showroom. We were genuinely excited to find out if all the hype is justified.

The short answer is YES!

Getting into the car is easy and the seats are firm, yet comfortable and provide ample support. With multiple adjustment options available, finding the ideal driving position is easy for almost anyone. Starting the car is straight forward . . . you simply insert the key into the ignition and turn it. With a fully rebuilt totally fresh engine it is no surprise it starts easily and then quickly settles into a smooth idle. The sports exhaust produces a crisp, raspy note that immediately hints at the cars performance pedigree. This being a US spec car means the gearbox has the conventional H pattern as where the European spec cars were equipped with a dog leg gearbox.

The BMW M3 E30 was essentially designed as a Group A touring car and it race pedigree is immediately obvious once you get behind the wheel. By todays standards this is not a supercar, but its performance is still impressive and it offers the most exhilarating, responsive, balanced and engaging driving experience.

The engine revs freely and responds instantly to even the slightest input from the throttle, feeling eager and alive throughout the rev range. The harder you go, the better it gets! Equally impressive is the handling. The car feels as though its on rails, cornering with remarkable composure and precision. It reacts immediately to the slightest turn of the steering wheel, keeping you totally connected to the road. The brakes offer excellent pedal feel and strong stopping power, bringing the car to a halt quickly and in a perfectly straight line when required.

The BMW M3 E30 race pedigree and success is unpatrolled. It is now easy to understand why.

At time of photographing this car the restoration was 99.9% complete. There are a few minor details that need to be completed. Eagle eyed BMW M3 E30 experts may notice the seal between the body and the front bumper is missing. This item, along with few others, are on order and will be fitted to the car prior to the new owner taking delivery of the car.

The current owner has enjoyed the journey of the restoration and he has stumbled across another project that he has to have. As a result, he is now reluctantly offering this car for sale.

BMW M3 E30s do not come up for sale very often in Australia and the opportunity to acquire a car like this one which has just been restored by a BMW specialist is like finding a needle in a haystack.

Accompanying the car is some historical documentation, photographs and invoices related to the restoration, a spare wheel and a partially complete toolkit.

Highlights:

- Rare and desirable example of one the most iconic BMWs.
- Beautifully presented example.
- Fabulous original colour scheme.
- Ready to show, use and enjoy

Price $249,950




Background

On 7 March 1916 the Bayerische Flugzeugwerke (BFW) was established. The company was the result of a reorganisation of the Gustav Otto Flugmaschinenfabrik, a company founded by Gustav Otto in Bavaria, Germany, in 1910. The company was one of the aircraft pioneers in the early 20th century. A year later, in 1917, a Bavarian aircraft engine manufacturer by the name of Rapp Motorwerke changed its name into Bayerische Motoren Werke GmbH (BMW). That company transferred all its engine production assets to Bayerische Flugzeugwerke in 1922 and that company was then renamed to Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (BMW).

The company survived World War I and started focussing on the production of motorcycle engines, farm equipment, household items and railway brakes. In 1923 BMW produced its first motorcycle, the BMW R23.

In 1928 BMW purchased the Fahrzeug Fabrik Eisenach which built Austin Sevens under license. That is when BMW officially became an automobile manufacturer. The first car BMW sold under its own name was the BMW 3/15 which was basically a rebadged Austin 7. Throughout the 1930s BMW focussed more and more on producing their own cars and expanded its range into sports cars and larger luxury cars.

During World War II the BMW factories were heavily bombed and severely damaged. Motor vehicle production was curtained and BMW has concentrated on building aircraft engines during the War. As a result, after the war the company was prohibited from producing aircraft or motor vehicles. Miraculously the company survived by making pots, pans and bicycles. It began manufacturing motorcycles again in 1948 and cars in 1952.

Its first post war effort was the BMW 501 which was built in a new factory in Munich. The car was reasonably successful and it effectively relaunched BMW. At the time BMW was also building its fabulous little Isetta, but the company was doing it tough financially. In 1955 the BMW 507 made its debut at the Waldorf Astoria hotel in New York. The 507 was roadster powered by a 3.2 litre V8 engine and was meant to revive the companies sporting image. Instead, the high production cost led the company to the verge of bankruptcy. Only 252 examples were built before production ceased in 1959. As it turns out, it would take BMW nearly 30 years before it would produce another roadster. The company was in serious financial trouble in 1959 and only a large investment from a third party saved the company and prevented a takeover by Daimler-Benz.

It was the launch of the BMW New Class cars in 1962 that proved to be a game changer for the company. Initially these were 4-door compact sedans aimed at the executives. The first one was the BMW 1500 which was first introduced at the September 1961 Frankfurt Motor Show. Other models like the BMW 1800, the successor of the 1500 the BMW 1600 and the BMW 2000 followed soon. In 1965 BMW introduced a coupe versions of the 2000, the 2000C and he 2000CS.

Around the mid 1960s BMW recognised there was a market for a slightly smaller version of their New Class cars. Around the same time they stopped producing the BMW 1600 they introduced the BMW 1600-2 which was a shorter two door model. In 1968 BMW started producing the two door BMW 2002 with its stronger 1,990cc M10 engine.

In 1973 BMW introduced its first turbo charged production car at the Frankfurt Motor Show, the BMW 2002 Turbo. It produced 170hp and had a top speed of 211 km/h.

Only 1,672 were ever built between July 1973 and June 1975, including twelve pre-production cars constructed between July and December of 1973. The BMW 2002 Turbo was only built as left hand drive.

The BMW 02 series was superseded by the BMW 3 series (E21) in 1975. The E21 remained in production till 1982 when it was replaced by the BMW 3 series (E30)

When BMW decided to race the E30 in the  Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft (DTM) and Group A Touring it was required to built a homologation version of the car to satisfy the regulations. The M3 (E30) was born. It was presented to the public at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 1985. Production started in 1986 and the car remained in production till 1991. The M3 (E30) was only ever built as a LHD car.  In total 17,970 cars were built.

An article written by Horatiu Boeriu and published on the January 29, 2026 in BMWBLOG, sums up the BMW M3 E30 perfectly:

E30 M3 is Now 40 Years Old: The Car That Defined BMW M Forever

From homologation special to cultural icon, the E30 M3 defined what BMW M means - and still refuses to slow down four decades later.

The E30 M3 proved that intelligent engineering beats raw power. Its 195 hp naturally aspirated 2.3-liter four-cylinder from a 1,200 kg chassis set the template for every M car that followed.
Dominating the WTCC, DTM, British Touring Car Championship, and 24 Hours of Spa, the E30 M3 was essentially unbeatable. In race trim, it produced up to 360 hp - proving road and race could be one.
Nearly 18,000 road cars sold. Jay Z gifted DJ Khaled one. Kith collaborated on a one-off. Goodwood featured it prominently. The E30 M3 transcended "classic car" to become a genuine cultural artefact.