1990 BMW M3 (E30) SPORT EVOLUTION

This BMW M3 Sport Evo (Evolution III) is a genuine example of one of the most sought-after performance cars of its era. The E30 M3 is a highly desirable modern classic, and the Sport Evo is the ultimate iteration, built to further homologate the model in Group A competition. It is powered by a 2.5-litre version of the four-cylinder S14 engine, producing 238hp, and driven through the rear wheels via a dog-leg five-speed manual transmission. The odometer indicates 128,319 miles (206,510 km) from new.

Just 600 examples of the highly developed Sport Evolution model were built between late 1989 and early 1990. Beyond the engine upgrade, the car also featured a revised differential ratio, bespoke bodywork with more pronounced front wings, adjustable front and rear spoilers, brake cooling ducts in place of front fog lights, and 16-inch multi-spoke alloy wheels. This version, also known as the ‘Evolution III’, was available only in red or black, and also came with thinner window glass.

Understood to have been delivered new in Germany, this car was brought to the UK early in its life and was first registered here in December 1997. Less than two years later, in June 1999, the car was unfortunately recorded as a Category D insurance loss. It is believed that this was due to relatively minor damage to the front end, which occurred at a time when the car was worth only a fraction of what it is today.

Almost immediately after the incident, it was acquired by the owner of a body shop in Bedfordshire, who set about repairing the damage and getting the car back on the road. It went through a fresh MOT test only a few weeks later, and he subsequently sold the car to one of his employees in November 1999.

Between late 1999 and early 2006, this owner covered some 74,000 km (46,000 miles), indicating that it was used as a fantastic daily driver. With values rising, the car was then stored off the road by the same owner for the next 10 years. The current seller acquired it in October 2015, and has spent the best part of £20,000 on a range of cosmetic and mechanical work to rejuvenate it.

Within the last four years, this M3 has had fresh paintwork in the correct Jet Black hue, along with a new front splitter. The car presents very smartly, with a smooth and glossy finish around the bodywork. An aftermarket exhaust silencer is fitted, along with flicked-up ‘DTM’ tail pipes, and the boot lid roundel badge has been swapped for a BMW Motorsport item. Period-style number plates are installed, and the two-tone 16-inch alloy wheels have been fully refurbished.

Inside, the Recaro front seats remain in sound order, upholstered in the original Anthracite M cloth that has some recent spot repairs to small holes in the fabric. They could of course be re-trimmed in the future, but they are perfectly usable as-is. The seller has had the steering wheel and gear knob recovered in suede by an independent specialist.

When first registered in the UK, the speedometer fascia was changed to a miles-per-hour readout, but the odometer still records in kilometres. The instrument dials work as they should, with the exception of the rev counter that over-reads at low revs and does not currently read above 5,000 rpm. It is assumed to be an issue with a sensor or sender, since the rev characteristics of the car are unaffected, and it pulls hard all the way to the limiter.

The red seat belts that denote the Sport Evo model are present, though the centre console plaque has been changed to a non-standard item. However, a VIN check confirms that this is a genuine 2.5-litre ‘Evolution III’ model - so the original glued-on plaque was likely lost. Factory-fitted equipment includes a retractable rear sun blind, a tilt-and-slide electric sunroof panel, and electric windows. A contemporary Bluetooth-enabled Alpine stereo system has been installed, along with speaker upgrades within the original housings.

After acquiring the car in late 2015, the current owner set about getting this M3 Sport Evo back into good running order and improving various components. The gearbox was sent to BMW Motorsport specialist JC Racing to be fully rebuilt, and a short-shift kit was also installed, along with a new clutch. An uprated Mishimoto aluminium radiator was sourced and fitted, as was a new heater matrix.

The distributor was replaced, along with the ignition leads, although the red OEM BMW items were simply not available at the time of fitment. Finally, the throttle bodies were synchronised, the timing chain tensioner was upgraded, and the front and rear top mounts were renewed. While the car has now been put back on the road and driven, there are a few smaller jobs to attend to, and it would undoubtedly benefit from specialist attention for the final set-up.

Its most recent MOT test took place on 10 March 2020 at 206,519 km (128,324 miles), which resulted in a clean pass with no advisories. Just a few days earlier it had failed on account of a non-functioning horn, and also had an advisory about worn rear brake pads. The horn was fixed, and fresh rear brake pads fitted, and the car was subsequently retested as above.

The alloys wheels are fitted with a fresh set of Kumho Ecsta SPT tyres in size 225/45 ZR16 all round, which are date-coded to late 2017 and remain in virtually as-new condition.

Accompanying the car is a file of paperwork covering recent repairs and maintenance, along with numerous old invoices and MOT certificates that help to substantiate the mileage.

This BMW M3 Sport Evolution is a sound example of a hugely desirable 1990s performance car, which would now benefit from another enthusiastic owner to finish its refurbishment and get it back into perfect running order. It can of course be used and enjoyed as-is, and its history means that this really is a Sport Evo that can be driven hard without undue concern for its financial value. The recent cosmetic work means that it presents very well, so the final stage of mechanical TLC will undoubtedly be worth the time and effort. Inspection is encouraged and welcomed, by appointment.