The BMW E30 M3 remains incredibly sought after today, but not just for being the car that started the M brand. The car is also desirable for its on-track prowess, having utterly dominated touring car racing across Europe throughout its run. Thanks to the Nürburgring-based YouTuber Misha Charoudin, we have a chance to watch a nicely prepared E30 M3 take on the ‘Ring in anger during a classic car track session.
While Charoudin is no stranger to piloting all sorts of machines across the Green Hell, the M3 in this particular clip is actually wheeled by racing driver Jonas Tischner. The car and driver pairing have raced in the Nürburgring Endurance Series, as well as the 24 Hours of Nürburgring in the Group N class. That’s why the car still retains most of its stock interior, though a cage brings a bit of added safety. The car has been slightly optimized for better on-track performance, including the addition of Bilstein Group N dampers from BMW Motorsport, slightly tweaked motor, and a close ratio gearbox with a 3.91 final drive. A set of original M3 wheels sit ahead factory brakes with Hawk HT10 pads, and come wrapped in Dunlop Direzza rubber.
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The M3’s 2.3-liter S14 inline-four engine is the star of the show, pulling hard all the way to its 7250 rpm redline. That shorter gear set keeps Tischner busy behind the wheel, but the gearing seems to be well-suited for a session at the Ring. Tischner has no problem cutting through traffic on track with the E30, passing other BMWs and vintage 911s without much trouble. The car’s inherent balance is on full display throughout, thanks in part to its driver’s tidy style. The clip certainly makes one want to spend some hours with an E30, be that at the Ring or elsewhere.
Lucas Bell
Born and raised in Metro Detroit, associate editor Lucas Bell has spent his entire life surrounded by the automotive industry. He may daily drive an aging Mustang, but his Porsche 944 and NB Miata both take up most of his free time.
Keyword: An E30 M3 and the Nürburgring Are a Perfect Pair