RM Sotheby's ModaMiami BMW Offerings
RM Sotheby’s will offer 119 vehicles for sale during ModaMiami, not including the 1929 De Havilland DH60GM plane that was seen in the movie “Out of Africa.” In the past couple years we’ve noticed a trend at RM Sotheby’s, as well as other auction houses, of including more cars that appeal to younger enthusiasts and RM Sotheby’s have assembled a very impressive offering of BMWs for the first ModaMiami.
The E30 BMW M3 was born in 1985, when BMW Motorsport GmbH (now BMW M) decided to create a homologation special for the Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaft (DTM) and Group A Touring rules. These rules required that at least 5,000 road-legal copies of a racing car had to be sold within 12 months in order for a vehicle to be homologated for racing. BMW took the E30 3 Series as the base model and modified it extensively to create the M3.
The most distinctive feature of the E30 BMW M3 was its engine, a 2.3-liter four-cylinder with a four-valve head and two individual throttle bodies. This engine, codenamed S14, was derived from the M10 four-cylinder block and the S38 six-cylinder head (from the M5). The S14 engine produced 197 horsepower in its original form, but later versions increased the displacement to 2.5 liters and boosted the power to 235 horsepower. The S14 engine was known for its high-revving nature, reaching up to 7,500 rpm.
The E30 BMW M3 also had a number of other enhancements, such as a stiffer suspension, larger brakes, a five-speed manual transmission with a dog-leg first gear, a limited-slip differential, and a body kit that improved aerodynamics and reduced weight. The E30 BMW M3 had a power-to-weight ratio of 6.15 kg/hp, which was impressive at the time and still ensures a lot of driving fun today.
This 1989 model year convertible M3 shows less than 2,500 miles since new and has only had two owners since it left the factory. It includes heated seats as well as the “dogleg” five-speed manual transmission by Getrag. This is an increasingly rarer car as each year passes so finding one with such low mileage means this should have no problem meeting or exceeding RM Sotheby’s estimate of $150,000 – $200,000.
The story of the M1 begins in the early 1970s, when BMW’s motorsport division, founded in 1972, wanted to create a new car to compete in the Group 5 racing class. The existing BMW 3.0 CSL was getting outdated, and BMW needed a more powerful and aerodynamic car to rival Porsche.
However, BMW had no experience in building mid-engine cars, so they decided to collaborate with Lamborghini, the Italian company that had revolutionized the supercar genre with models like the Miura and the Countach. The design of the M1 was entrusted to Giorgetto Giugiaro, one of the most influential car designers of all time, who had also worked on the BMW Turbo concept car in 1972.
The plan was to produce 400 road-going versions of the M1, as required by the homologation rules, and then develop a racing version for the track. However, Lamborghini ran into financial difficulties and were not able to deliver the cars on time. BMW had to take over the project and find new suppliers and partners to finish the production.
The M1 finally debuted in 1978, after several delays and changes in the racing regulations. It was powered by a 3.5-liter inline-six engine that produced 277 horsepower and could reach a top speed of 162 mph. The body was made of fiberglass and featured a distinctive wedge shape with pop-up headlights and a rear spoiler. The interior was sporty but comfortable, with leather seats, air conditioning, and electric windows.
This is the only BMW M1 that left the factory finished in Polaris metallic and has covered less than 11,000 miles since it was new. It received a new clutch in 2013 and a repaint in the factory-correct color in 2014, while the interior is believed to be original. It includes its original set of books, tool kit, and original M1-branded suitcase.
These are rare cars – this is one of only 399 street-legal versions produced, so RM Sotheby’s estimate of $750,000 – $950,000 isn’t unreasonable by any means.
The E36 M3 by BMW continued the legacy of its E30 predecessor and was an enthralling car for all fortunate enough to have driven it. The US-spec version was detuned compared to the European version, but both were thoroughly enjoyed by their owners.
The BMW M3 Evolution was introduced in 1996 and was more than just a cosmetic upgrade, but a mechanical one as well. It featured a 3.2-liter inline six engine that produced 316 hp, an increase of 11 hp over the standard 3.0-liter engine. It also had a six-speed manual gearbox, a double VANOS variable valve timing system, and an improved limited-slip differential .
The E36 M3 Evolution also had some distinctive exterior and interior features, such as refreshed alloy wheels, clear indicator lenses, chrome door handles, and leather seats with “M” logos.
This is a very well preserved example of a car that jumped off the pages of magazines when it was new. It’s finished in Estoril Blue Metallic, one of BMW’s excellent color options from the E36 timeframe. It shows less than 30,000 km since new and is essentially the ultimate production version of the E36 M3. Considering where values have been on the E36 M3 recently, RM Sotheby’s estimate of $80,000 – $100,000 seems quite attainable.
The BMW M3 Sport Evolution was the ultimate version of the legendary E30 M3. It was an extremely limited production car with only 600 examples being built by BMW.
The Sport Evolution had a 2.5-liter S14 inline-four engine that produced 235 hp, making it the most powerful E30 M3 ever. It also had a number of aerodynamic and cosmetic enhancements, such as larger front bumper openings, an adjustable rear wing, thinner glass, and special 16-inch wheels.
The Sport Evolution was a true racing machine that dominated the DTM championship in the early 1990s. The example to be offered at ModaMiami shows less than 27,000 miles and was well optioned with air conditioning and power windows. It’s passed through the hands of three owners since it left the dealership and is a phenomenal example of an increasingly desirable collector car.
As only 500 examples of the M3 Sport Evolution were built for street usage – the other 100 were built as race cars – RM Sotheby’s estimate of $250,000 – $280,000 seems very possible. But this car will sell, as it’s being offered with no reserve – although the odds of anyone getting a deal on this are extremely low.
The M3 Evolution, also known as the Evo 2, was a limited edition model that was produced to keep the M3 competitive in the touring car racing scene. Only 501 units were made between March and May 1988, and they featured several improvements over the standard M3.
The Evo 2 had a revised engine with a higher compression ratio, a lighter flywheel, and a more efficient air intake. These changes increased the power output from 195 hp to 217 hp. The Evo 2 also had some cosmetic upgrades, such as thinner glass, lighter bumpers, and special 16-inch alloy wheels. The car was available in three exclusive colors: Misano Red, Nogaro Silver, and Macao Blue.
The Evo 2 was not sold in the United States making the chance to purchase this example all the more tempting to BMW collectors. It was imported delivered new in Germany and is the 119th Evo 2 built. It’s very well optioned with air conditioning, a power sunroof, heated seats, and rear headrests.
Imported to the US in 2017, this Evo 2 shows around 57,050 km since new – about 35,450 miles. Considering the options on this car and the fact that it will hit the block after the Sport Evolution, RM Sotheby’s estimate of $150,000 – $200,000 appears very reasonable.