The E30-generation M3 bowed in pre-production form towards the end of 1985 at the Frankfurt Motor Show. While it may have looked at first glance like a standard 3-Series coupe with a body kit and boxed wheel arches, it was more race car than road car underneath—indeed, the E30 M3 road car was created to homologate the M3 for Group A Touring Car racing. Full production commenced in 1986 at the BMW factory in Munich, bringing the ‘M’ badge to a wide audience.

At the time, BMW chairman Peter Flohr described the M3 as ‘a sports car within the financial reach of private racing drivers and with sophisticated but straightforward and unproblematic technical features’. These features included independent front and rear suspension with gas dampers, anti-roll bar, and servo-assisted, vented-disc brakes. The M3 was offered only in left-hand drive and featured a more rigid and aerodynamic body, with flared wheel arches accommodating a wider track and wider and taller wheels and tyres.

The M3 offered here was first registered in March 1992 and was specified in the relatively rare Alpine White (code 218) over an anthracite interior. Delivered with electric windows, sunroof, and to UK specification, as confirmed by BMW, this car presents incredibly well, displaying fewer than 55,000 miles. Indeed, this M3 has travelled fewer than 1,000 miles in the last 12 years, according to MOT records. During that period, the car underwent significant recommissioning at Dick Lovett BMW in Swindon, with many perishable items replaced, while it has also benefitted from a respray. It is relatively rare to see a white M3, ensuring this car stands out from the crowd both for its condition and its bright appearance compared to more frequently seen black and grey examples.