BMW M3 Celebrating 20 Years of a Sporting Legend

Text & photos courtesy BMW AG

For 20 years the BMW M3 has been the by-word for race-bred on- road excellence in a compact car. Over three generations, the legend has gone from strength to strength, beginning as a four-cylinder two- door coupé and flowering into Powered by a 252 kW, 3.2-litre high- concerned, a sporty car had to do a mighty six-cylinder naturally technology, high-revving straight-six one thing: win. That was when the aspirated Coupé, Sedan and engine, now shared with the just M3 was born. Convertible, the envy of the world. launched Z4 M Roadster and the soon-to-arrive Z4 M Coupé, the Basic engine drawn from As popular with fast road drivers 2006 M3 celebrates its 20th birthday as it was successful on track, the Formula 1 in trade-mark understated style. However, the designers of the M3 legend was born of humble sports engine weren’t exactly beginnings but has grown to a How the legend was born standing there empty-handed. The position of majesty. The sentence has become a legend: right ingredients for the projected “Mr. Rosche”, said the BMW engine were available, the mission Much copied, never matched in its Chairman sometime around the was simply to put them together in purity of performance, function, beginning of the 1980s, almost as the right way. The crankcase of the and understated yet distinctive an aside to his engine designer, four-cylinder engine was available styling, the M3 today is as much in “we need a sporty engine for as a basis. This was being installed demand by enthusiasts as ever, as the Three Series”. Eberhard von as a solid two-litre engine in volume critically acclaimed as never before, Kuenheim knew exactly who he was production. Paul Rosche had long and undoubtedly the benchmark motivating to take action: since found out about the potential for a plethora of would-be rivals. Paul Rosche was not only the really contained in the grey cast-iron engineering housing. It was this block that was managing to form the foundation stone for director of M the champion engine of Formula GmbH, he was 1. Four cylinders didn’t simply also the father mean less weight and high torque of the turbo for blue riband performance, but engine which also offered ideal specifications for had powered the projected sports engine. BMW had already introduced the six- to victory in cylinder era in the 3 Series. But no the 1983 World matter how smooth and powerful Championship, the running of the in-line engine driving a was, it had one major disadvantage BMW. for racing given the technology And as far as available at the time. As the engine Rosche was speed increased, the length of the

JANUARY 2007 crankshaft meant that it started to cut two vibrate much earlier than the short combustion four-cylinder shaft. The designers chambers off therefore designed the crankshaft the four- drive of the M3 as stiff as possible cylinder head so that it could achieve in excess of the M88 of 10,000 revolutions per minute. and bolted By comparison, at that time the a panel over four-cylinder of the 318i delivered the hole its maximum output at 5,500 rpm. on the rear The engineers were already aiming side.” for a rated speed of 6,750 rpm for the road version of the M3, i.e. they Potential left plenty of scope upwards. for developed in such a way that it records: The first engine could easily be supplemented by a Development goal: Group fires after just two weeks controlled catalytic converter. The A racing car development function was by no means a simple However, any plans for a The engineers then increased the task. In the mid-1980s, catalytic performance-enhancing capacity even further to 2.3 litres converters tended to reduce power supercharger had to be put to and the first prototype was now and make engines less fuel-efficient. one side. A turbo was out of the ready. Paul Rosche: “Whether you Another factor was that unleaded question on homologation grounds. believe it or not – we had created petrol didn’t exactly have the From the start, the fathers of the an outstanding four-cylinder reputation of being the ideal fuel M3 were also thinking in terms of engine for the 3 Series within the for high-performance engines. use as Group A racing cars, with space of two weeks. Under the The quality of the new fuel varied at least 5,000 units having to be development name S14, this engine too much in Europe to meet this manufactured within the space of was to generate specification. In order to err on headlines in the safe side, the team headed by sport and Paul Rosche adapted the engine in volume and reduced the compression from production 10.5:1 to 9.6:1. On the one hand, over the years this resulted in the engine not to come. One reacting to variations on the octane Sunday, I number with unpleasant knocking. drove to von On the other hand, the reduction Kuenheim’s flat in compression plus installation and gave him of the catalytic converter in the the car for a test exhaust system only resulted in a drive. When he loss of 5 of the standard 200 bhp. twelve consecutive months. This came back he said: ‘Good, I like it.’ meant that the M3 also had to be And that’s how the M3 came into Goal achieved: Full throttle capable of operating as an everyday being.” road vehicle. It was therefore ideal at Nardo Although the design engineers that the engineers had already Fast and clean: Adopting were pleased with the superior enjoyed many years of outstanding a catalyst barely slows the performance, they also spent some success with four-valve technology, sleepless nights. The north loop of most recently with the M1 that had M3 However, the engineers weren’t the Nürburgring was particularly only just been discontinued. Paul only working on performance. hard on materials and what was Rosche recalls: “We started work The emissions of the M3 engine blown into the manifold here by immediately. One advantage was were also supposed to be geared to the four-cylinder wasn’t digested so that the big six-cylinder originally future requirements. That’s why easily by the exhaust system – the had the same cylinder gap as the the four-cylinder was from the start pipes were continually fracturing. four-cylinder engine. We therefore

JANUARY 2007 taper in order not to first pilot-production cars were interrupt the airflow ready and the M3 was launched over the edge of the to the press – appropriately on roof and at the same the racing track at Mugello. The time direct the airflow test drivers established that the more effectively onto aerodynamic profile of the M3 was the rear spoiler. Thick an understatement rather than an cheeks had sprouted overstatement – high-quality racing over the wide wheels of technology was housed under the the M3, the flared wheel beefy bodywork. Axle kinematics, arches came to an end suspension and damping had in a striking edge below changed. The braking system with the edges of the wings. ABS as standard comprised brake There was no question discs with ventilation at the front about it – the M3 looked and a high-pressure pump operated fast even when it was by the engine. This servo pump It transpired that the cause was perched on an exhibition stand. delivered power to the steering at unplanned growth in the exhaust the same time so that both systems system. High temperatures at were able to operate independently full load meant that the high- Plastic parts save weight Anyone who got that close was of the negative pressure of the performance system became so hot inclined to pat the new sports car engine. that it expanded by up to 25 mm on its chubby cheeks to see whether and became distorted within its the bulging wheel housings had mounting. A simple set of different 235 km/h top speed for simply been attached, or whether washers solved the problem. 58,000 marks they really had been pressed out The refined aerodynamic work The drivers from BMW Motorsport of sheet metal. And they were paid off with an outstanding GmbH immediately proved the impressed. The entire bodywork cW value of 0.35. The lift at the point. On the high-speed test track including the wings and the bonnet front axle was around half that of in Nardo, Italy, they drove an M3 were made of metal. A lightweight the other two-door 3 Series car. three times at full throttle over a plastic had been used for front The large rear wing reduced the distance of 50,000 km. The exhaust and rear bumpers, and side sills lift on the rear axle by some two system withstood the test just like and boot lid including spoilers in thirds. Bonded front and rear the rest of the car. order to keep weight down. The windscreens contributed to higher M3 weighed in at 1,165 kilograms bodywork stiffness that in turn M3 goes fast even without payload on the scales exerted a positive effect on driving standing still and hence remained a sporty performance. This was evident to On the BMW exhibition stand lightweight with only 5.8 kg for the driver in the form of increased at the Frankfurt Motor Show every 1 bhp. driving stability and more precise in autumn 1985, the M3 was steering characteristics at very high presented to a more broadly based The M3 kept its promises speeds. The standard public audience for the first time. In order to find Even without a special paint finish, out how the it was not difficult to distinguish M3 performed the car from the other 3 Series in real life, test vehicles. The boot lid was crowned drivers and by a wing across the width of the customers alike car. Aprons all round indicated the still had to be refined aerodynamic work that had patient for at been carried out on the bodywork least another of the 3 Series. Anyone who spent six months. long enough making comparisons It wasn’t discovered that the C-column was until spring slightly wider and had a flatter 1986 that the

JANUARY 2007 M3 still reached a top speed of Oestreich, Christian Danner, At the end of the season, Roberto 230 km/h with catalytic converter and Wilfried Ravaglia was standing on the and 235 km/h without catalytic Vogt took the wheel, and Anette podium as the first World Touring converter. And yet it was relatively Meeuvissen and Mercedes Stermitz Car Champion. But that was fuel efficient when running on formed a ladies’ team. only the pinnacle of the success super. Using the current Euromix list. Wilfried Vogt took the title formula made up of speed 80, 120 But “the established racing of European Champion. Altfried and town cycle, the M3 consumed community didn’t like the car at Heger came in second – both significantly less than 9 litres first”, noted one commentator. driving a BMW M3. The sportiest for every 100 km/h driven. The “The first test drives in Misano, 3 Series car was also winning muscular M3 came at a price: Italy, 58,000 marks when it was launched turned in 1986. By comparison, the 325 into a Convertible at 43,300 marks was battle with the next car down the 3 Series list. the more popular Finding customers for the specified 635 CSi volume of 5,000 vehicles wasn’t a Coupé, a problem. In the summer of 1986 favourite – long before delivery started especially – purchase contracts for the M3 at with a premium price were being offered Schnitzer on the relevant advertisement Team pages. In actual fact, it wasn’t until Manager 1987 that all 5,000 units of the first Charly M3 were gathered on the BMW Lamm. parking lot in Munich-Freimann for When the new car proved far competitions off the race track. An a family photo before being shipped superior to the old one, Lamm M3 crossed the finishing line in all over the world. drove the last lap in his coupé first place in the Corsica Rally and with a black flag in the righthand secured a victory for BMW after 300 bhp for competitive footwell as a signal that he was a gap of 14 years in a race for the racing changing over to the M3.” World Rally Championship. An entire build programme disappeared again into garages Roberto Ravaglia in an M3: “Sportiest saloon of the and workshops to be given a new First World Touring Car year” outfit. After all, the M3 had been Champion The well-informed public rewarded designed as a racing car, and now The first race for the 1987 World the success story of the newcomer was the time to prove that it really Touring Car Championship started when readers of the magazine Sport could race. A World Touring Car on 22 March in Monza – and Auto voted the M3 ‘the sportiest Championship was held for the ended with a sensation. All the saloon of the year’. The high-profile first time in 1987. And that was M3 cars were excluded from the 3 Series also became increasingly exactly what the M3 had been built placings. The vehicles were checked exciting in its civilian version. In for. But not quite in the guise in under chaotic conditions and 1987 it became the first BMW to which it was seen on the streets. disqualified because of sheet-metal be equipped with electronically Instead of 200 bhp, the 2.3 litre thicknesses that were allegedly adjustable shock absorbers. Drivers engine delivered up to 300 bhp at contrary to the regulations. BMW had a knob beside the handbrake 8,200 rpm in the racing version. appealed but the sports tribunal lever which allowed them to choose This put it on a par with the BMW decided that the appeal had been between the adjustments sport, 635 CSi. BMW didn’t line up on lodged too late. There was no normal and comfort. A control the starting grid with its own team, longer any talk of infringements lamp on the instrument panel but supported a number of famous of the rules. All the brouhaha displayed the setting that had been racing outfits like Schnitzer, Linder naturally didn’t have any effect on selected. or . Drivers like Markus the result of the championship.

JANUARY 2007 Evo arrives: Taking M3 to a Specials: Evo 2 and 320is success proved them right. The new high The M3 had a commanding engines withstood the stresses and The resilience of the four-cylinder presence on the international strains of even under tough operating conditions touring car racing scene for at maximum output without any on the race tracks rewarded private five years. It became the most problem. customers with two very special successful touring car of all times offers in 1988. BMW created a by winning the Champion’s title A road-going version of the original small special series of even more several times in the European M3 with the biggest capacity drove powerful M3 cars with the suffix Touring Car Championship, twice onto the roads with the additional “Evo” for Evolution. Identifiable winning the German Touring Car name of Sport Evolution. by even more opulent spoilers, Championship, and numerous Characteristic features of the car this special M3 was powered by a victories and championship wins at were its adjustable front apron and 220 bhp engine. Naturally, there international level. Depending on rear wing. The 238 bhp rocket was was also a version with a catalytic the competition rules, the four- limited to 600 units. There was converter – this generated 215 bhp. valve engine had to be adapted to also a version of the 2.0-litre engine The second offer was intended for national regulations. The capacity used in Italy for everyday use. It a very special circle of customers: for England was limited to 2 litres was designated 320is and had the an open M3 based on the 3 while for and France it stroke reduced to 72.6 mm, but at Series Convertible. The 215 bhp was raised to 2.5 litres with effect 10.8:1 it had a slightly increased convertible had a top speed of 239 from 1990. This enabled the four- compression. km/h and was by far the fastest cylinder to deliver up to 360 bhp. open-top four-seater to be bought in Depending on the version and the This allowed the 2.0-litre engine to a limited series. deployment profile, engine and deliver 192 bhp and it was sold in mixture management also varied. Italy and Portugal so as to fall below 24 Hour Race: M3 scores The suction side was managed by the valid capacity limits for highly a double victory at the independent throttle valves and taxed luxury cars. Nürburgring valve control systems. In the meantime, the BMW M3 First generation cars notch was really getting going on the In the version with the biggest up another victory race track. The two-door car didn’t capacity, the engineers of BMW By the end of 1992, 17, 970 first just win the German Touring Car M GmbH went hard up against generation M3 cars had left the Championship. It also took six the limits of what was feasible, in small facility of BMW Motorsport other national titles, including order to make full use of the 2.5 GmbH, including 800 convertibles. France, England and Italy. In litre limit, they not only increased Nobody had anticipated this the following year, the BMW the stroke of the 2.3 litre unit from overwhelming success, either on the racing car was equally difficult to 84 to 87 mm, but also increased road or on the racing circuit. beat. The M3 packing 300 bhp the bores of the four cylinders beat its touring-car competitors from 93.4 mm each to 95.5 mm. ***** in Germany, Belgium, Holland, This reduced the width between France, Italy, Finland, Spain, the cylinders to just 4.5 mm. But Sweden and Yugoslavia hands down. Belgian battled through the Monte Carlo Rally with an M3 and took eighth place as best driver in a car without four-wheel drive. The driver teams Piro/Ravaglia/Giroix and Heger/ Grohs/Manthey crowned the success story with a sensational twin victory at the 24 Hour Race on the Nürburgring.

JANUARY 2007