Game Recognizes Game: BMW Commends Mate Rimac for His Unique E30 M3

      BMW M (via Instagram)

      It’s well-known that Mate Rimac, the CEO of Bugatti Rimac, has a passion for classic German cars. We’ve previously discussed his impressive collection, and let’s be honest, when someone leads one of the most innovative performance companies globally yet prefers to drive sport sedans that are over 20 years old on a daily basis, it reveals a lot about their enthusiasm — and we certainly appreciate what we see. Clearly, we’re not the only ones, as Rimac’s fleet of internal combustion vehicles continues to garner praise across the internet. This time, the admiration is coming directly from headquarters.

      The focus of attention now is Rimac’s E30 M3 Sport Evolution. This pristine one-of-600 Evo III is bound to draw attention wherever it goes, so it’s no wonder it has caught the notice of the team in Munich.

      This exceptionally rare E30 originated from BMW M’s Touring Car racing initiative, which was limited to production models. Back then, this meant any vehicle that had a production run of 5,000 units or more. The M3 met that criterion. When BMW sought to enhance its race cars further, they utilized a special exemption that permitted them to include even higher-performance parts than those found in the standard M3, provided that at least 500 units were manufactured.

      Thus, the Evolution was created, and we eventually saw three versions of it. The third was released as BMW was concluding its motorsport activities with this chassis, marking it as a tribute to a model that laid the groundwork for the performance segment’s most celebrated four-door nameplate.

      Introducing the 1990 BMW M3 Sport Evolution III — this spirited little sports car’s ultimate version. The enhanced four-cylinder engine now boasted a displacement of 2.5 liters (an increase from the standard 2.3) and delivered 238 horsepower compared to the standard M3’s 192. While this may seem modest next to today’s 500-horsepower sports sedans, such figures were impressive for a four-cylinder in 1990.

      Rimac’s example is stunning. If there’s a piece of trim that’s out of place or an incorrect replacement part, we’re unable to notice it. After all, anything flawless enough to catch the eye of competitors must be pretty remarkable, right?

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