28/05/2026
***SOLD!***
BMW M3 E30 'Henna-rot' 1988
- first generation M3
- known history
- original booklets available
- since 2001 in the Netherlands (second owner)
- since 2024 in Belgium (third owner)
- original, rare colour Henna-rot
- original BBS rims included
- black leather interior
- distinctive options such as air conditioning, electric front windows (0410) and folding rear windows (0361)
- updated stainless steel supersprint exhaust
- updated Kw Suspention
- updated BBS RC-090 17'' rims with Michelin Pilot Sport Tyres
The M3 E30: the first generation M3 from the 1980s and an iconic car that has become increasingly popular in recent years, certainly a beautiful example that is becoming increasingly rare. That is what makes this example so interesting: this is a beautifully executed M3 in the special red-orange colour 'Henna-rot', delivered on 30 March 1988 by BMW dealer 'Eurocar' in Lecco, on Lake Como in Italy. This dealer delivered the BMW to its first owner in the nearby Italian fashion city of Milan. An Italian with a German sports car must have been an enthusiast and the history shows that: maintenance has been neatly kept in the original service book (something we sometimes see otherwise in Italy). The other original booklets are also still present with the car: the instruction booklet, additional instruction booklet for the M3, the warranty certificate and the service booklet. Below is a summary of maintenance carried out in Italy:
- 1989: 11,963 km
- 1989: 15,163 km
- 1990: 22,850 km
- 1991: 35,356 km
- 1992: 43,939 km
- 1994: 59,600 km
- 1995: 61,370 km
- 1996: 63,650 km
- 1999: 97,600 km
- 2001: 125,194 km
In February 2001, the car was imported to the Netherlands and thanks to the NAP counter report, the history in the Netherlands is also known and logical. The car has been owned by one owner since 2001 and this owner had a collection of several special cars.
The M3 is in very clean condition: the paintwork has been repainted in the past. The sheet metal and underbody are clean and the fitments are correct. The interior, too, is still original and neat: the black leather upholstery is original. This interior features the M logo on the steering wheel and on the 'dog-leg' 5-speed manual gear lever. Windows and mirrors are electrically operated. Other options include ABS, alarm class 2, central door locking and air conditioning. |This air conditioning has been serviced as recently as 2021. Many MOT inspection reports are present without any comments; the current MOT is valid until 23 April 2025. The exhaust has been updated with a robust stainless steel exhaust that provides a fantastically beautiful and dark sound from the 2.3-litre 4-cylinder engine. This engine produces around 200 hp. Combined with a weight of only about 1,200 kg, this ensures excellent performance and a smile on your face: from 0 to 100 km/h in 6.7 seconds and a top speed of 235 km/h. Interesting to know about the Henna colour: this colour was not popular at the time and was therefore withdrawn from production. Only a few hundred were originally produced in this colour, most of them in combination with a beige interior. This makes this version with a black interior rare and all the more popular today.
In short: a beautifully executed and honest M3 with a relatively low mileage that is an addition to any collection or investment.
General information about the M3 E30
The M3 originated as a sports version of the mid-range 3-series: Motorsport 3-series. It is basically a street car of the most successful DTM race car of all time and that is how the model was created. To enter the Group A classification, a minimum of 5,000 street cars of the DTM race car had to be built within a year. German engineers in Munich developed the car in a sophisticated way and in 1986 the first M3 rolled off the assembly line: a powerful and lightweight car, equipped with lower and stiffer suspension and a ventilated braking system with ABS, among other features. As aerodynamics had to be improved, almost all body parts were also modified by BMW Motorsport. Although the E30 was also available with a 6-cylinder inline engine, a powerful 4-cylinder engine was chosen for the M3, as the 6-cylinder engine was too heavy and this disadvantaged handling. Consequently, the M3 E30 has many racing victories to its name, including rallying. In 1992, the M3 E30 was succeeded by the E36 generation.
