195 HP with CAT
From July 1988 the M3 could be bought
with CAT. The power decreased with 5 HP, the torque sank from 240 to 230 Newtonmeters
both at 4750 RPM – belittleling but without any hurts. An interesting option
was the ability to adjust the dampers from the drivers seat for 3220 DM. The
system which was developed in unity by BOGE and VDO changed the setting of
the damper oilvalves. Three positions was available:”K”-Comfort, ”N”-Normal
and ”S”-sport, it abled the car to go from light understeer to neutral slalom
quality steering.
The
red Mauritian
Too much money to spare ? Let´s say
around 90000 DM ? and preferring no roof over a rear wing ? One can feel it
here is a superexclusive rarity -–the M3 convertible, wide fenders yes –rear
wing no ! – the reason is because of the construction of a convertible. A
standard E30 Convertible chassis was used and was kitted out with M3 Suspension,engine,Dynamics
and body parts. The convertible roof, and accoutrements came again from the
standard 325i. Which made sure the open top M3 could easily be recognized.
Because of the 150 kg´s higher weight the suspension was readjusted to cope
with the new weight. An electro-hydraulic top maneuver mechanism was standard
(seemed OK at 90000 DM) 786 cars was produced in between May 1988 and the
production end in 1991, one who owns one is not likely to give it away.
The racer
for fans – it´s Evolution times
............BMW
had a reason to celebrate. Roberto Ravaglia was the 1987 DTM European champion
and around 14000 street M3´s were produced.
Time was in for a Evolution model. For a extra Group Homologation certificate
500 had to be produced and the again the M3 was competitive.
The displacement was not changed but
the 16v produced 220 HP at 6900 RPM. But every sold car had atleast 220 HP
some even had 230 HP. If one looked under the hood, you could see the cheerfully
Munichs had painted the Valve cover and Plenum chamber white and adorned them
with M-stripes!
............New
Pistons(compression ratio 11 : 1 No CAT), stronger valve springs, widened
throttlebody,new camshafts, Bosch Motronic ML3 (in BMW language DME – Digital
Engine Electronics) Lighter flywheel, changed airfilterhousing – step by step
the Motorsport GMBH had given the potent fourcylinder a makeover; the result
was an astounding Litreeffect of 95,6 HP, The engine showed good manners as
a daily driver, and gave the fans a even more aggresive willingness to rev:
especially above 5000 RPM the Evo was devilishly fast 0 to 100 was over in
6,9 seconds and the topspeed was thanks to a longer final drive around 243
km/h. Optically the Evo did not dissapoint, it´s larger more obtrusive front
spoiler, the added rear wing lip (double-wing) became Evo trademarks which
was later available for the normal M3´s. The staff at ”the worlds strongest
letter” was directed by Karl.Heinz Kalbfell who allready had established himself
as a works tuner and small series producer (apart from racing). If you looked
carefully you could see a larger cooler intake below the BMW emblem and Brake
cooling intakes instead of the Fog lights: what you could not see was lighter
side and rear glass panes, as well as lightened bumpers trunk lid and rear
wing. Finally the Super-3 was equipped with 16 inch rims, 7,5 inch wide with
225/45 Pirelli P700´s, The suspension seemed more neutral but still showed
a soft understeer. Three colors was available Macaoblau and Nogarosilber (both
metallic) as well as Misanrot.
For 69900 DM´s you got a interior with
leather sides on the seats,M-Technic footrest and a plaque showing the serialnumber.
If you had a old 200 HP M3 (without CAT) you could drive by Motorsport GMBH,
pay 5700 DM and you received an Evo-kit, which depending on the state of your
engine gave between 20 to 30 Horsepower.
Roberto
Ravaglia
............In
1988 The M3 again made the headlines, Roberto Ravaglia was again DTM Euro
champ and also the national championships in England, France,Portugal and
the Netherlands was won in BMW M3´s. Motorsport GMBH reacted by making 150
”Europameister M3”, better known as the ”Roberto Ravaglia” The base vehicle
of this special November/December 1988, was the 220 HP Evo. The ”Ravaglia”
could only be had in Macaoblaumetallic with Leather interior in Walknappa
silver, chassis and rims was taken from the Evolution; Foot rest, door panels
and M seat clasps was delivered as the ”BMW Motorsport Package”. The Europameister
M3 cost 71700 DM´s and was optionally delivered with a appropriate plaque.
215 HP
in Evo-cat
............With
a subtler apperance and lightly changed engine(Catalytic converter) the Evo-cat
entered model year 1990. The 2,3 litre DOCH´s power output was now 215 HP(158
Kilowatts) at 6750 rpm´s, topspeed was 240 km/h. Foglights was standard again
and 16 inch rims was on the optionslist at 1500 DM´s. The exhaust was changed
so that vibrations between 4000 and 5500 RPM´s was eliminated. The Evo-cat
cost 64000 DM.
”Johnny
Cecotto”
............Officially
BMW produced 505 of the exclusive-model ”Johnny Cecotto”. The car was designed
with help from the former Formula 1 driver and BMW worksdriver, it was based
on the 215 HP Evo-cat. Identifying marks was Black rim centers and chromed
exhaust-tips. The ”Cecotto” was only painted in Macaoblau, Nogarosilber (both
metallic) and also Misanorot. The valve cover and plenumchamber was painted
in the cars color. The interior of the 72000 DM´s expensive ”Cecotto” was
the new ”Motorsport-design”. Trim, M-Technic footrest,panels with M3-logo´s,Boardcomputer
and illuminated gear lever. The corresponding Plaque with serialnumber and
signature was again to be found on the center console.
Sport
Evo – The wild dog
............Why
does everyone love the Sport Evolution ? Because it was the last official
M3 ? Because it was the most powerfull(238 HP) or perhaps it was because it
oversteered so beutifully at the racetrack every weekend ? Maybe it was because
of the adjustable spoilers......
In November 1989 was the 600-produced
”Sport Evolution” pushed in the spotlight – much earlier than the MB 190 Evo
II could be a serious match. Ravaglia won the 1989 DTM series, and the new
changes received their Homologation correspondingly. The ”Sport Evolution”
was offered along the normal Evo-cat.
Hex-screws could be loosened to change
the adjustment of the front or rear spoiler – each had three position giving
a total of 9 settings. BMW spoke of setting ”Monza” all adjusted for topspeed
with minimal drag, ”Normal” for middle adjustment for everyday driving compromises
and ”Nurburgring” for high drag but real pressure on front and rear wheels.
The extendable front spoiler worked by the Venturi-principle. Designed for
giving more stability. All this and a 10mm lower rideheight. Our Chief-editor
remembers : We were with a Evo and Sport-Evo at the ”Ring” It was like you
climbed into a completely different vehicle. Were the Evo understeered lightly
you could steer the Sport-Evo with the accelerator pedal. The adjustment of
the spoilers was a hassle but proved to change the handling significantly.
The 225/45-16 tires was Michelin MXX´s. The Sport-Evo´s steering abilities
was very precise, light and superhandy – a real champ on cornering. The Center
of the rims were painted in ”Nogarosilber” so the looks was not dissapointing.
The Engine ? Motorsport GMBH gave the
powerpack a new crankshaft with more stroke (87mm), as well as oilcooled 95mm
pistons (2467 CCM) Furthermore the valves were bigger as well as a changed
throttlebody which all changed the power output of the 2,5 litre engine to
238 HP(175 NM) at 7000 RPM. The Sport-Evo had a Metall-cat and consumed 12
litres by a fresh driving style. – All in all OK for a racecar in plainclothes,
it reached 248 KM/H with ease. Top speed limitors was not in mind then. The
design included Red Sparkplug covers. The race atmosphere was definetely there,
fast revving,more vibration and aggresive characteristics gave it real sport
character. The customer could only choose between two colors: Red with black
bumper trim and Black with red Bumper trim.
The interior was very good, half race
seats with openings for race seat belts gave a Motorsport-feeling in first
degree. Brightred seatbelt and suede steering wheel,gearknob and handbrakelever
enhanced the impression, if you was not accustomed to the left and back first
gear you could rely on the illuminated gearknob. All the heavy extra´s such
as Aircondition and leatherseats was not on the standard equipment list. Despite
that the price was no less than 85000 DM. It was somewhat comforting to look
at the 1990´s DTM version, it had a power output of 330 HP wore 245 tires
on 18 inch rims and the cost was 275000 DM, it did not make the Sport-Evo
so expensive.
The M3
and the tuners
............This
car was also improved on. Compressor kits from Hamann gave 285 HP on the Evolution,
or a Bamo-power M3 with Franz Albert turbo which gave 330 HP on the first
model. But classical tuning was more popular, with more displacement, camshafts
and remapping. MK Motorsport offered a 250 HP car in 1989, Schnitzer came
with the S3 Sport 2.5 which delivered 245 HP, before BMW itself offered the
2.5 litre ”Sport Evolution”. TUNING-chief editor remembers: Schnitzer came
with the car in 1988 which we later compared to the Sport-Evolution, from
low revs more torque, real power from 4000 RPM and mor power than you could
think of from 6000 RPM, plus a suspension you could not even dream of. Agile
and spontane like it was screwed down to the road. When it came to exhaust
the tuners should be aware, many sportexhausts was to blame for the car losing
power, the standard exhaust was extremely well suited for the engine and gave
very little room for experiments. You did not have to wait long for six-cylinder
conversions for example the 315 HP M5 engine. Outwardly the tuners luckily
showed some restraint, the chassis was interesting enough in stock form, Tinted
head and tail lights was fitted in later years, when the spoilers changed
it was almost always for BMW made kevlar items, naturally they became lower
rideheight with improved dampers,Stabilizer bars and tower strut bars, at
the end of the eighties the rims were mostly 8 and 9 by 16 inch, later years
changed to 8,5 and 10 by 17.
Picture
Captions:
Front
quarter view of Ravaglias Works M3: ”On it´s way to the most succesfull
Touring
car in the world”
Bird
eye view of Convertible: ”Red Mauritian – The superrare convertible was only
made 786 times”
Front
view of Evolution: ”Bigger Frontspoiler and rear Wing lip, 220 HP”
Rear
quarter view of ”Cecotto”: ””Johnny Cecotto” Black painted rim centers, chromed
exhaust tips”
Bird
eye view of interior: ” Special trim in ”Motorsport” design and M3-panels”
Rear
view of ”Cecotto” : ””Johnny Cecotto” as a TUNING-testcar”
Side
view of Sport-Evo: no translation necessary !!
Side
view of trunk lid: ”Front and rear spoiler is adjustable in three positions”
Side
view of interior: ” Supersporty ”Sport Evo” interior”
Notes: My German is not good enough, to translate all
the small details of language and figures of speech, the technical side however
should be OK, as a note i might add that there to my knowledge are a few faults
in the text, The mentioned ”Roberto Ravaglia” was by BMW officially called
M3 Evolution, and not ”Roberto Ravaglia” as many collectors mean. The ”Europameister”
was made as a tribute to Ravaglia and wore his signature on the centerconsole
mounted plaque and this model ”only” had the 195 HP 2,3 litre Cat engine.
The color of the leather in this model is Walknappa Silver, a light grey applied
to the seats door trim and centreconsole and gearknob and handbrakelever.
The six cylinder M5 conversion mentioned was initially the Hartge H35-24 with
300 HP which later became 330 HP based on the Euro S88 (286 HP).
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