There was a time when the used car market didn’t really care about the E30 M3, but appreciation hit really hard the German sports car in recent years, rendering it unattainable for the majority of people that want to experience the first M3.
There isn’t much to criticize about the E30 M3, aside from its straight-line performance if compared with more modern metal, but then again, BMW created this car as a homologation special therefore the magic is to be found on the more twisty stuff.
This super clean example is almost completely stock, with the exception of a carbon-fiber intake manifold, a Dinan chip and an Eisenmann Race exhaust. With just 80k miles under its belt and a few exterior bits from the newer Evo version, this E30 M3 looks just awesome.
The 2.3-liter S14 engine plays an angry, motorsport-derived tune as the revs climb while the perfectly balanced chassis is more than just a well-matched partner to the whole equation. It’s a momentum car, one that doesn’t suit all roads or circuits, but when you find that sweet spot, it all comes together.
Matt Farah rediscovers the magic of the BMW E30 M3 in his One Take video below.