1988 BMW M3 E30 M3 COUPE

-- SLR photos from last week. I did not want to risk hand washing the car when it is 30 degrees out -- I'll polish it up and dust down the interior in a month or so and post new photos as needed.

This listing is for a 1988 BMW E30 M3 in Diamondschwarz with Pearlbeige interior. The chassis has 226k miles on it. engine has 132k. transmission is under 100k. 3. 73 limited-slip clutch type differential has 160k.


I bought this car about two years ago as a companion project for my 1991 Brilliant red M3. When I found it. the car had been sitting under a tarp in southern MN for about 5 years after a deer hit. The paint was absolutely gone. car had light dings all over it. replica E36 style 24 wheels and an OBD1 S52 under the hood. Still. the car's sheet metal looked over all pretty good and it was a real clean title WBS chassis. Upon getting the car home. I had the car fully repainted in the original two-stage Diamondschwarz with high quality PPG paint. had all the dents carefully removed from the original sheet metal when possible. I was not able to save the original hood. a rust free OEM replacement hood was installed and a replica VIN sticker showing the vehicle VIN has been placed on the hood (And left front fender) from Pukar Designs. Right front fender (was lightly bent by the deer) has been meticulously straightened and repaired all-metal at great cost and bears the originality so coveted by M3 owners. Every panel on the car including both bumpers. doors. spoiler. trunk is original except an OEM replacement fender and hood.


The under body of the car is very very clean. especially considering the mileage. Battery box is the only area showing evidence of corrosion with some minor deterioration around the original battery vapor tank outlet. It has been ground back and POR15d along with a replacement OEM tank installed.


Suspension is factory except for Bilstein yellows front and rear (about 10 years old). Very comfy. but not as sporting as a lowered chassis. I wanted an original looking car. so it is.


Steering is not original. The car bears a Z 3 1. 9 2. 7 turn steering rack. E 36 power steering components and S54 power steering pump.


Interior is all original. and all very nice except for the drivers bolsters which are quite worn. I have been searching for a convertible or M3 pearl beige horizontal stitch seat for some time but no success yet. 87-88 only color. Original radio still installed and operating fine. original Mtech 1 steering wheel. original cluster. F and R seats. carpet. floor mats (wrapped in plastic. good shape). Dash is somehow crack-free. Maplight mirror works well.


Mechanicals. Well here we have it. This car didn't have an S14 when I bought it. but that S52 is just not a special engine so since I had done the swap before. I decided to source a 2002 BMW S54B32 from a wrecked 6 speed vert from Wisconsin with 132k miles. preventatively changed the rod bearings for VAC coated units. ARP2000 rod bolts. Fastenal 12. 9 hardened fillister bolts with loctite in the cam sprockets and inspected vanos oil drive hub. After 1000 miles of driving. an oil analysis was sent to Blackstone and the engine came back with a flying-colors clean bill of health. The engine runs a factory BMW Siemens MSS54 ECU. retains OBD2 functionality but non needed items like secondary air pump. rear oxygen sensors. DSC. CANbus have all been disabled and the Euro tune has been flashed (requiring 91 octane minimum. 93 preferred). This engine pulls insanely hard. so much so it is almost frightening. Exhaust system is factory USM exhaust manifolds. cats removed. custom V band link. custom y-pipe. v-band downpipe. vibrant 2. 5" resonator and Magnaflow 14815 muffler to mimic the stromung catback look of an S14 car. Car doesn't drone and has good highway manners but sounds very menacing under power. Transmission is a 5 speed ZF S5D 310Z out of a 96 M3. shifts well. ZHP shift knob. Z3 shift lever. Factory 96 M3 drive shaft. E30 325i 3. 73 LSD differential. The S54 has a Mishimoto -10AN oil cooler adapter for the stock cooler housing and a large oil cooler in the OEM location with stainless braided lines. Heater is fully operational as is tachometer. temperature gauge. fuel gauge. speedometer. Economy gauge in OBC is not functional. oil temperature gauge in cluster is not operational but an S14 sensor could be adapted to fit the S54 housing and 1 wire is needed for operation.


Additional items: Spare tire and wheel are an OEM gold center 15" E30 M3 BBS with tire that holds air. Jack cover and battery cover present. full tool kit with spark plug tool present. Jack is present. OEM E30 euro headlight washer system is installed (complete kit included. but not currently operational). Headlights are new DEPO units. fog lights and brackets are new OEM BMW units. Grilles are Euro type Kopi units. Owners manual and supplement included. All four brake calipers were new re manufactured units under 2000 miles ago. along with rotors and pads. Vehicle has manual brake conversion with Massive Motorsports kit and a 318 i master cylinder.


All known faults:

-drivers seat bolsters worn

-sunroof headliner fabric adhesive pulling away from backing

-glove box contains the S54 ECU and all relays/wiring and as such is not really usable as a glove box anymore. Original owners manual is present and included.

-fog lights not connected due to missing passenger side plastic plug on chassis harness pins.

-oil temperature gauge in cluster is not operational due to sender type being very different from S54 and S14

-On Board Computer MPG / Range functions not functional due to S54 swap*

-AC non functional. not present

-ABS non functional due to wheel speed or ABS computer fault



Car is available with either 16" E38 wheels / Dunlop ZII tires as shown or 15" OEM wheels and DZ102 tires as shown in album.


Selling only because I have two of these cars and to free up some garage space. NOT motivated seller. but am willing to talk turkey to a serious potential buyer.


Thanks for looking.

Additional photos of all stages of the build from sitting under a tarp on a driveway for 6 years till now are available upon request.

4/13/17 update: belt. idler. tensioner and alternator just replaced with new OEM components after voltage regulator wore out in original alternator.

Want to buy this car?