01 · Überblick
One title, 148 cars
In 1988, Roberto Ravaglia won the Touring Car European Championship on an M3. BMW subsequently launched a special edition: the M3 European Champion, built in late 1988 in 148 examples. The number is well documented: bmw-m.com states it explicitly, and the recorded chassis numbers add up across seven separate ranges to exactly 148 — a structure so irregular that no one would work backwards to reach a desired result.
Technically it is a series-production M3 in catalytic converter specification with the S14B23 and 195 PS. What sets it apart lies in the equipment and the consistency with which it was maintained: all cars came in Macao Blue metallic, all with light-coloured full leather trim, and all received a plaque with Roberto Ravaglia’s signature and the BMW Motorsport GmbH lettering in the interior. The German Wikipedia states “all hand-signed by Roberto Ravaglia” — this is incorrect. The signature is printed; no car was personally signed. We verified this on the vehicles themselves.
The car in these images is number 061 of 148, first registered on 2 December 1988. It is in unrestored original condition, with documented history from 1994 onward — the photos therefore show no polished showpiece, but a car that has been driven.
For context: the European Champion should not be confused with the Cecotto of 1989. That car came a year later, had 215 PS and was built in 505 examples. With 148 units, the European Champion is by far the rarer car.
And a second distinction, since Roberto Ravaglia’s name appears twice: there is also an M3 Ravaglia — this is the British edition of the 1989 Cecotto edition, 25 right-hand-drive cars. The European Champion is a separate special edition from 1988; its plaque carries Ravaglia’s printed signature because he won the Touring Car European Championship on the M3 that year.
02 · Historie
The occasion
Why this car exists.
- 1987 Ravaglia wins the one-off Touring Car World Championship — the drivers' title, by 269 points to 268. Eggenberger takes the teams' title on Ford Sierra.
- 1988 Ravaglia wins the Touring Car European Championship. BMW subsequently launches the M3 European Champion: 148 units, Macao Blue metallic, plaque with his signature.
- 1989 The Cecotto edition follows with 215 PS: 505 vehicles, of which 25 as the Ravaglia edition for Great Britain. Ravaglia wins the DTM this year.
- 1990 With the Sport Evolution and 238 PS, the series of M3 special editions comes to an end.
03 · Modellübersicht
The M3 special editions compared
Four special editions in three years. The European Champion is the rarest of them after the Ravaglia edition.
Quelle: Werks- und Literaturangaben · geprüft
Technische Daten anzeigen — komplette Modellmatrix
| Modell | Motor | Hubraum | Leistung | Bauzeit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| M3 European Champion | S14B23 with catalytic converter | 2.302 cm³ | 195 PS (143 kW) | Late 1988, 148 units |
| M3 Evolution | S14B23 | 2.302 cm³ | 200 PS (147 kW) | 1987, 505 units |
| M3 Evolution II | S14B23 | 2.302 cm³ | 220 PS (162 kW) | 1988, around 500 units |
| M3 Cecotto | S14B23 with catalytic converter | 2.302 cm³ | 215 PS (158 kW) | 1989, 505 units (of which 25 Ravaglia) |
| M3 Ravaglia | S14B23 with catalytic converter | 2.302 cm³ | 215 PS (158 kW) | 1989, 25 of the 505 Cecotto, UK only |
| M3 Sport Evolution | S14B25 | 2.467 cm³ | 238 PS (175 kW) | 1990, 600 units |
04 · In detail
In detail
Coupé, Macao Blue metallic
The only version. Body and technology correspond to the series-production M3 in catalytic converter specification: widened wings, unique aprons, raised boot lid made of glass-fibre reinforced plastic, more steeply raked rear window, five wheel bolts.
Innenraum
Light-coloured full leather trim — the 3er-Club E21 und E30 e.V. calls it "silver"; the car in these images has extended Nappa leather in grey. Also M-Technic steering wheel and M-Technic interior mirror. The plaque with Roberto Ravaglia's printed signature and the BMW Motorsport GmbH lettering sits in the interior.
05 · Motoren
The S14B23 with catalytic converter
Not a unique engine, but the standard catalytic converter version of the M3 — 195 PS. The 215 PS only arrived in 1989 with the Cecotto and were subsequently carried over into the series.
S14B23 · 2.302 cm³ · 195 PS geprüft
Four-cylinder with four valves per cylinder, two overhead camshafts and manifold injection. Block from the M10 family, cylinder head following the design line of the six-cylinder M88. Bore 93.4 mm, stroke 84.0 mm, compression ratio 10.5:1. With catalytic converter it produces 195 PS at 6,750/min and 230 Nm at 4,750/min. Without catalytic converter it was 200 PS — the catalytic converter version thus cost 5 PS. From September 1989, BMW raised the output of the catalytic converter version to 215 PS; the European Champion from late 1988 predates this.
Technische Daten anzeigen
| Bauart | In-line four-cylinder S14, four valves per cylinder, two overhead camshafts |
| Hubraum | 2.302 cm³ |
| Bore × stroke | 93,4 × 84,0 mm |
| Verdichtung | 10,5:1 |
| Leistung | 195 PS (143 kW) at 6,750/min |
| Drehmoment | 230 Nm at 4,750/min |
| Abgasreinigung | regulated catalytic converter |
| Getriebe | Getrag 265/5 with dogleg shift pattern |
| Achsübersetzung | 3.25:1 with limited-slip differential |
Sources: BMW Group Classic, Wikipedia DE (BMW S14), Wikipedia DE and EN on M3 (E30).
06 · Schwachstellen
What matters with this special edition
- The plaque is decisive. Without it, and without matching documentation, a Macao Blue M3 with light leather is, for the time being, simply a Macao Blue M3 with light leather.
- Colour and interior trim are part of the identity. A resprayed or reupholstered European Champion loses exactly what defines it.
- Otherwise the points that apply to the series-production M3 apply here too: originality of the M3-specific body parts, rust in the known E30 spots, uninterrupted maintenance history for the high-revving S14.
- No model-specific technical weak points of the European Champion could be substantiated — there are none. It is a series-production M3 with special equipment.
07 · Technik
Chassis, brakes, transmission
Body and dimensions
Transmission and axle
Bremsen
Räder
Technische Daten — Achsübersetzungen & Getriebe
- Number built
- 148
- Production period
- late 1988
- Paint
- Macao Blue metallic
- Engine
- S14B23 with regulated catalytic converter
- Output
- 195 PS (143 kW) at 6,750/min
- Torque
- 230 Nm at 4,750/min
- Transmission
- Getrag 265/5 with dogleg shift pattern
- Final drive ratio
- 3.25:1 with limited-slip differential
- Brakes front
- internally vented discs 280 mm
- Brakes rear
- solid discs 282 mm
- Wheel bolts
- five
- Length
- 4,346 mm
- Width
- 1,680 mm
- Height
- 1,370 mm
- Wheelbase
- 2,562 mm
- Interior identifier
- plaque with Roberto Ravaglia's printed signature, BMW Motorsport GmbH
- Not documented and therefore not listed
- price at market launch, the exact factory designation of the interior trim, the wheel size fitted at the factory. BMW Group Classic and the PressClub provide nothing on this special edition.
08 · Identifikation
Identifikation
The European Champion can be reliably identified through colour, plaque and year of manufacture.
- Lackierung
- without exception Macao Blue metallicgeprüft
- Plakette
- Centre console with printed Ravaglia signature and number out of 148geprüft
- Motor
- S14B23 with catalytic converter, 195 PS — not a 215 PS enginegeprüft
- Erstzulassungen
- from late 1988plausibel
- Not to be confused
- Ravaglia Edition 1989 = British Cecotto edition, separate modelgeprüft
- Fahrgestellnummern
- 1894358–1894364, 1894366–1894450, 1894452, 1894457–1894459, 1894461–1894464, 1894579–1894611, 1894614–1894628 — exactly 148 vehicles (service records of BMW M GmbH)geprüft
09 · Other special editions
Other special editions
More on this subject.
M3 with evolution engine ("Evolution", 1987)
200 PS, externally standard specification — the quiet homologation step from spring 1987.
Zur Unterseite →
M3 Evolution II (1988)
220 PS and, for the first time, dedicated aerodynamics, 500 units in three colours.
Zur Unterseite →
M3 Cecotto (1989)
505 units with Cecotto signature, 215 PS with catalytic converter.
Zur Unterseite →
M3 Ravaglia (1989)
The British edition of the Cecotto edition, 25 right-hand-drive cars.
Zur Unterseite →
M3 Sport Evolution (1990)
2.5 litres, 238 PS, adjustable spoilers — the final chapter of the model line.
Zur Unterseite →
10 · M GmbH
A special edition as trophy
The European Champion belongs to a small group of M models whose reason for existing is not technical, but sporting. There was nothing new to homologate and no performance to increase — the car marks a title. Precisely for this reason, the plaque matters more than any spec sheet.
11 · Motorsport
Ravaglia's year
In 1988, Roberto Ravaglia won the Touring Car European Championship on the M3. It was his third major season in succession with the car: in 1987 he had taken the drivers’ title in the one-off Touring Car World Championship, and 1989 brought the DTM.
A point of accuracy: Ravaglia decided the 1987 World Championship in his favour by 269 points to 268 — the teams’ title was won by Eggenberger Motorsport on Ford Sierra Cosworth. The blanket statement “BMW won the World Championship in 1987” is therefore imprecise.
12 · Kaufberatung
What matters: identity before condition
With a series-production car, you check the metal first. With a special edition of 148 examples, you check first whether it really is one.
Plaque in the interior with signature and the BMW Motorsport GmbH lettering — present, original, undamaged?
Macao Blue metallic paint, ideally confirmed by the colour sticker in the engine bay.
Light-coloured full leather trim in original condition.
Only then the usual E30 points: gusset plates behind the front wheels, battery tray, rear wheel arches, sills, boot floor, front windscreen frame.
Check M3-specific body parts for originality: wide C-pillar, flat rear window, raised boot lid, five wheel bolts.
Maintenance history of the S14 — for a high-revving engine, this is a basis for assessment, not a bonus.
The order is: first plaque and papers, then colour and leather, then metal, then technology. A European Champion without a plaque is a good M3 — but not a European Champion.
13 · Die Konkurrenz
The competition
Mercedes-Benz 190 E 2.5-16 Evolution
Stuttgart's answer to the same racing series, also in 500 examples. Unlike the European Champion, it is a genuine homologation model with technical changes, not a series-production car with special equipment.
BMW M3 Cecotto
A year younger, 215 rather than 195 PS, borrowing from the Evolution II — and, with 505 examples, roughly three times as common. Anyone wanting the stronger engine takes the Cecotto; anyone wanting rarity takes the European Champion.
Ford Sierra RS500 Cosworth
The opponent against whom the titles were fought. Turbocharging instead of a naturally aspirated engine, 227 PS in series form, and the real benchmark on the racetrack during these years.
14 · Galerie
Bilder
European Champion number 061 of 148 in Macao Blue metallic, unrestored original condition. Own photography.
15 · Quellen
Belege & Literatur
Primary sources are BMW Group Classic, the BMW PressClub and Wikipedia. However, BMW Group Classic and the PressClub provide nothing on this special edition; the details on colour, interior trim and production numbers are based on Wikipedia DE and the BMW 3er-Club E21 und E30 e.V., which independently agree with one another. Details on the vehicle depicted come from our own documentation.