It’s not often that religion and enthusiasm for cars meet. But search the phrase “God’s Chariot” online and you’ll find pious zealots bowing down to the E30 generation of the BMW 3-series sedan. And the most sacred E30 of them all is the M3, which was sold in the US for the 1988-1991 model years. 

Enthusiasts know the E30 M3 as one of the founding legends of the BMW brand, and the original Ultimate Driving Machine. Born for racing homologation purposes so BMW could challenge the touring car racing field, the M3 catapulted to 60 miles per hour in less than 7 seconds - which was pretty brisk back in the 80’s. The front MacPherson struts and semi-trailing arm rear suspension design, borrowed and updated from the earlier 2002, assists the E30 M3 with smooth and predictable cornering ability as well. 

I recently had the opportunity to drive an E30 M3 for the first time, and it certainly lived up to all the hype. In classic BMW fashion, it drives like a fairly standard “sporty” car around town and on the freeway, and I found it to be quite comfortable and sedate. Once I turned down my favorite canyon road, however, it was impossible not to grin from ear to ear. The motor revved freely, creating a booming cacophony that reverberated against the canyon walls. The shifts were slick and easy, making heel-and-toe downshifts a breeze. I quite enjoyed the ample torque push between 3500 and 4500 rpm, and it appeared the S14 had no issues screaming all the way to 6000 (not my car, so I didn’t want to push it too hard).

If you’re thinking about buying one of these cars (and you should), a thorough inspection is highly recommended. That being said, the things to look out for are fairly standard items to look for on older BMWs. 

Rust is always something to keep an eye on, especially if the car didn’t spend most of its time in a dry climate. Any rust can certainly be repaired if necessary, but it will be cheaper if the truly critical areas are unharmed. Look at the frame rails, jack points, and shock towers. 

Speaking of shock towers, it’s well-known that BMWs from the 80s-90s sometimes have issues where the rear shock towers can crack. Several companies sell kits that reinforce these areas. Luckily, the E30 chassis didn’t suffer from the subframe mounts tearing away from the body like the later E36s did. 

Just like when buying any sports car, ensuring that the previous owners took care of consistent maintenance will bring you peace of mind. The 2.3L S14 engine can suffer rod bearing issues if the engine is not regularly serviced. As this is a high-displacement performance-oriented engine, some components may be more fragile than more pedestrian BMW engines - but keeping up on regular maintenance generally alleviates most nasty surprises. Some owners report these engines lasting more than 200,000 miles if taken care of.