Friday 9th July 2010

Pic Of The Week: BMW M3 At 25

Many happy returns to an iconic sports saloon

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This August, the BMW M3 celebrates its quarter century. That was when the press began to get excited about the new car, before the M3 made its debut proper at the Frankfurt motor show in the autumn.

To celebrate the birthday of one of the most iconic performance cars of the 1980s, we've dug out this wonderful publicity shot of the first evolution of the E30 M3 from 1988.

Why this particular image? Well, as anybody who loves cars will confirm, every birthday brings an inundation of cards from relatives bearing cheesy images of performance cars.

So what better way to mark the 25th birthday of the M3 than with a cheesy birthday card-style image of itself? Happy birthday, M3...

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[007singh]

A pro-shoot with Pradip's E30 (KNE IP) would be a great treat for the e30 M3 Birthday! Still make me look twice whenever I see one, and very tempted to get one!

[pSyCoSiS]

That is one of my all-time favourite cars.

Probably the best-looking BMW EVER MADE !

[JonyPI]

great track weapons, that was some 3 wheeled action up at croft this time last year, awsome car!

[8400rpm]

Got offered a silver one about 3 years ago for £8,000.

Wish I'd taken the opportunity before the prices went silly. Only M3 I've ever really wanted, stunning car. Only car also that I'd put up with LHD for.

[C5L]

Salute

Have always had a M3 in the garage, in various models for the last 8 years.

Shame i'll never buy another after the introduction of turbo sixes and the V8.

still thank you M3 for all the thrills and memories.

Edited by C5L on Friday 9th July 13:48

[bramley]

I didn't know it was available in orange?

[Hoofty]

It wasn't - unless your name was Armin Hahne. That looks like Hennarot to me, with a yellow stripe on the road being reflected in the door.

[Baggio850]

My previous 2 cars. I deeply regret selling both of them. Best car i've ever owned..

[Mermaid]

Hoofty said:

It wasn't - unless your name was Armin Hahne.

[C5L]

Hoofty said:

It wasn't - unless your name was Armin Hahne. That looks like Hennarot to me, with a yellow stripe on the road being reflected in the door.

///M beard spotted !!!

Pardeep your white M3 was stunning.

That B7 is FUDGING awesome however.

[Great Pretender]

Happy Birthday M3

Here's to the next 25 years

[Baggio850]

C5L said:

Hoofty said:

It wasn't - unless your name was Armin Hahne. That looks like Hennarot to me, with a yellow stripe on the road being reflected in the door.

///M beard spotted !!!

Pardeep your white M3 was stunning.

That B7 is FUDGING awesome however.

Thanks, the B7 is a good car but the M3 was a great car...

[gtechrob]

just had one of these beauts dropped off for the full Gtechniq treatment this morning. Thing is covered in machine lines and oxidized paint. Will be a nice transformation - transformation pics to follow.

Here she is:

[typezerora]

The one version of the M3 I haven't driven.

Had a stack of E30 325i Sports but missed out on getting an original M3, ending up owning an E36 M3 Evolution in estoril blue...which was nice

[Hoofty]

C5L said:

///M beard spotted !!!

Guilty as charged. I even have a beard too!

Loving the red ones folks. I have one, but no matter how clean I get it I can never stop thinking how much better it would look in red. Or black. Or white. Or dark blue. Anything but silver. Always buy on colour, never condition!

Edited by Hoofty on Friday 9th July 18:39

[Debaser]

I've had a few E30s, but never an M3. I'd have really loved one of these, but I know the LHD would end up pissing me off.

[Hoofty]

Epic fail. On closer inspection that's a Sport Evo on the POTW, and as such, only came in Brilliantrot. But I don't recall it ever being available with 275 rear tyres, as it appears to have here.

Beard still intact. Phew.

[Mermaid]

Hoofty said:

Epic fail. On closer inspection that's a Sport Evo on the POTW, and as such, only came in Brilliantrot. But I don't recall it ever being available with 275 rear tyres, as it appears to have here.

Beard still intact. Phew.

Correct, it's on pages 2 & 3 of the M3 Sport Evolution brochure 1990.

The colour is Briliant Red No 308 and the tyres are 225/45 ZR16's. The lighting distorts the rear wheel, and colour is true Red in the brochure.


Wheels, black tape on front & rear bumper, what looks like an extended front spoiler are clues, but interestingly the rear spoiler is not in the extended mode.

Edited by Mermaid on Friday 9th July 20:17

[Billywink]

Baggio850 said:

Sorry, but doesn't that belong in the bad parking thread.......

[turbo-ww]

Mermaid said:

Hoofty said:

Epic fail. On closer inspection that's a Sport Evo on the POTW, and as such, only came in Brilliantrot. But I don't recall it ever being available with 275 rear tyres, as it appears to have here.

Beard still intact. Phew.

Correct, it's on pages 2 & 3 of the M3 Sport Evolution brochure 1990.

The colour is Briliant Red No 308 and the tyres are 225/45 ZR16's. The lighting distorts the rear wheel, and colour is true Red in the brochure.


Wheels, black tape on front & rear bumper, what looks like an extended front spoiler are clues, but interestingly the rear spoiler is not in the extended mode.

Edited by Mermaid on Friday 9th July 20:17

Epic Beardy