Excellant article on the E30 M3

[motoyen]

BMW E30 M3

Cliff notes:

“Mr. Rosche�, said the BMW Chairman sometime around the beginning of the 1980s, almost as an aside to his engine designer, “we need a sporty engine for the Three Series.�

It was this block that was to form the foundation stone for the champion engine of Formula 1. The designers therefore designed the crankshaft drive of the M3 as stiff as possible so that it could achieve in excess of 10,000 revolutions per minute. Paul Rosche: “Whether you believe it or not – we had created an outstanding four-cylinder engine for the 3 Series within the space of two weeks.

The standard M3 still reached a top speed of 230 km/h

The M3 packing 300 bhp beat its touring-car competitors in Germany, Belgium, Holland, France, Italy, Finland, Spain, Sweden and Yugoslavia hands down. It became the most successful touring car of all times by winning the champion’s title several times in the European Touring Car Championship, twice winning the German Touring Car Championship, and numerous victories and championship wins at international level.

[VtwinVince]

Interesting article, and it shows how back then BMW was at its' core an enthusiast company, not like the bloated behemoth it is now. I like von Kuenheim's statement, "Good, I like it".

[porschegt1]

awesome article. Makes you want an e30 M3 (well more than normal)