Why Every Car Fanatic Should Drive A BMW E30 At Least Once

When the first E30 M3 rolled off the line in 1986, BMW found itself garnering attention in a new arena: racing. Built as a homologation model for Group A rally racing, the M3 had great success, according to SIGFest, winning the DTM, European Touring Car Championship, and even the one-off world title in 1987. Auto-Data reveals that not only did the M3 sport a nearly 50/50 weight distribution, but it also boasted one of the best power-to-weight ratios in the business thanks to its 215 horsepower naturally-aspirated four-cylinder engine and svelte 2,645-pound curb weight.

In terms of acceleration and speed, Acceleration Times pushed the E30 M3 from 0 to 60 mph in just 6.1 seconds and recorded a top speed of more than 140 mph, which was impressive for the mid-1980s. As quick as those times were, however, the E30 M3 still didn’t make it as one of the Car & Driver’s fastest cars of the 1980s. Fortunately, BMW made the E30 M3 for those who loved to drive. Not everyone was going to race their car off the showroom floor, so with things like a sunroof, optional leather seats, ABS, power locks, and power windows, the E30 also managed to fit into the luxury category, striking a balance as both a high-end passenger vehicle and a sports car.