The E30 M3 is undoubtedly an international icon. There are routinely the highest prices for auctions in the United States and abroad, even about beloved legends such as E46 M3 and V8 E9X M3S. A large part of love applies to the high-clamped four-cylinder S14 engine under the bonnet-more or less directly from motorsport and fell into the brightest model BMW made at this time. However, the E30 M3 was not the only street brem that received the S14 engine. In fact, it wasn’t even the only E30 -3 series. NO; There is another, far less striking E30 – the 320is, sometimes lovingly referred to as Italian M3. Interestingly, there is a lot more wrong name than the badge, since the car was also sold in Portugal.
Why and where the Italian M3 (320i) exists
At some point around 1987, Italy headed strict taxes on engines that displaced over 2.0 liters. Since they may already be enthusiastic, this meant that the E30 M3 was affected due to the 2.3 liter of the S14 shift. This is important because the steep taxes of Italy and Portugal meant that E30 M3 and all six-cylinder variants of the Autos-after all the dried ink would receive a considerable price boost. The resulting price was not with and BMW started brainstorming.
So … what is the Italian M3?
In the end they did what … well, actually this was a pretty new concept. They had a de-structured S14 engine created, which reduced the shift to even 2.0 liters. Paul Rosche, the brain behind the S14 (and also the S70/2 under the beautiful body of the McLaren F1), worked through his magic by shortening the crank and changing the pistons. The resulting engine also made almost the same performance – 141 kW (192 hp). BMW put a 320is badge on it and called it a day.
Only that didn’t do that. The 320is also shared many other running equipment with the contemporary M3. Including the DOGLEG gear and the limit slip differential (although, the latter has returned to a shorter ratio). In contrast to the E30 M3, you could snap one of them in a limousine shape and contribute to the mood of sleep. The production figures are around 3,700; Almost five times as many E30 M3s were produced. Despite their relative rarity – especially in the USA – not the same price as its E30 M3 brothers.
However, the 320is – or the Italian M3 – is an interesting piece of localized BMW history. From time to time you will still appear on auction pages, and I am ready to bet that you are as big as the true blue M version is as big.
First published by https://www.bmwblog.com
