01 · Überblick
2,500 cars for one aerodynamics package
The 318is Class II is a child of the regulations. Class 2 touring car racing — later known as Super Touring — permitted, until 1995, only aerodynamic parts that were available through retail, and required a minimum of 2,500 vehicles built for homologation. Alfa Romeo led the way with the 155 Silverstone, Renault followed with the Laguna Airflow — and BMW built exactly 2,500 units of the 318is Class II from April to June 1994. Not one more.
That is why the car exists only as a four-door Sedan: the regulations required four doors and a minimum length of 4.20 metres. Anyone offered a Class II as a Coupé is looking at a conversion — the aero parts were, after all, deliberately made available through retail.
The engine remained untouched: the same M42B18 with 1,796 cubic centimetres and 140 PS as in the standard Sedan, the same 213 km/h. The DM 6,000 surcharge went into the extendable front lip with GT corners, the side skirts, the two-piece rear wing, the M Sport suspension, sports seats and the plaque on the glovebox.
Incidentally, BMW itself writes the car with a Roman numeral — “Class II” is the road model, “Klasse 2” is the racing category.
02 · Historie
From regulation to title
- 1992 Tim Harvey wins the British Touring Car Championship in the E36 318is — still with a two-litre derived from the S14.
- 1993 Joachim Winkelhock secures the BTCC drivers' title for Schnitzer, BMW the manufacturers' title. Steve Soper finishes second.
- 1994 April to June: construction of the 2,500 Class II. In the same year, Johnny Cecotto wins the newly created Super Tourenwagen Cup in the BMW 318i.
- 1995 The FIA raises the homologation quantity to 25,000 units — explicitly to stop the wave of homologation models. The Class II belongs to the last generation of this breed. Joachim Winkelhock wins the STW Cup.
03 · Modellübersicht
Class II and relatives
Technische Daten anzeigen — komplette Modellmatrix
| Modell | Motor | Hubraum | Leistung | Bauzeit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 318is Sedan (production) | M42B18 | 1.796 cm³ | 140 PS (103 kW) | 07/1993–11/1998, from 01/1996 as M44 with 1,895 cc |
| 318is Class II | M42B18 | 1.796 cm³ | 140 PS (103 kW) | 04–06/1994, 2,500 units |
| 318i STW (race car) | S42B20 | 2,0 l | 280 PS (1994) to 320 PS (1997) | Works and privateer racing |
04 · In detail
In detail
Four-door Sedan
The only body style — mandated by regulations: at least 4.20 metres, four doors. Six colours, of which, according to register data, almost half in Cosmos Black.
05 · Motoren
Road and race engine
M42B18 · 1,796 cc · 140 PS — the road car geprüft
The four-cylinder remained completely standard: 140 PS at 6,000 rpm, 213 km/h — both figures are listed identically for the standard Sedan and the Class II by BMW Group Classic. Despite the large rear wing, BMW quotes the same top speed. A Class II with the later 1.9-litre M44 cannot be an original vehicle — that engine only arrived in January 1996.
Technische Daten anzeigen
| Hubraum | 1.796 cm³ |
| Leistung | 140 PS (103 kW) at 6,000/min |
| Höchstgeschwindigkeit | 213 km/h |
| Motorcode | M42B18 |
BMW Group Classic
S42B20 · 2.0 litres · up to 320 PS — the race car geprüft
The Super Touring car did not run with the 1.8-litre engine from the road car, but with the S42 race engine derived from the M42: around 280 PS in 1994, around 320 in its final specification in 1997. The Class II therefore did not homologate the engine, but the aerodynamics — the engines were governed separately by the regulations.
Technische Daten anzeigen
| Basis | BMW M42 |
| Hubraum | 2,0 l |
| Output 1994 | 280 PS (206 kW) |
| Output 1997 | 320 PS (235 kW) |
Wikipedia — BMW M42
06 · Technik
Engineering and equipment
The aerodynamics package
Innen
How to recognise a genuine car
The role model on the racetrack
07 · Identifikation
Identifikation
With the Class II, body style, equipment code and spelling are decisive.
- Karosserie
- four-door Sedan only — required by regulationsgeprüft
- Ausstattungscode
- SA 777geprüft
- Heckspoiler
- Class II spoiler — it existed before the M3 GT, not the other way roundgeprüft
- Motor
- M42B18 unchanged at 140 PS — no power increasegeprüft
- Schreibweise
- BMW writes "Class II" with a Roman numeralgeprüft
08 · Motorsport
Motorsport
The Class II is the road-going side of BMW’s Class 2 programme. The racing record: BTCC drivers’ title in 1992 (Tim Harvey) and 1993 (Joachim Winkelhock, plus the manufacturers’ title for BMW), STW Cup title in 1994 (Johnny Cecotto) and 1995 (Winkelhock). The race car ran with the two-litre S42, which produced around 280 PS in 1994.
09 · Kaufberatung
What to look out for when buying
Appearance can be retrofitted — the papers cannot.
SA 777 in the options list, build date April to June 1994, four doors, M42 with 1.8 litres. How many of the 2,500 cars remained in Germany is unclear — sources cite 1,000 and 1,500.
10 · Die Konkurrenz
Die Konkurrenz
Alfa Romeo 155 Silverstone
The trigger of the breed: also exactly 2,500 units, also only for homologation of an aero package.
Renault Laguna Airflow
The third answer in the same game — Renault followed BMW and Alfa.
11 · Galerie
Galerie
Alongside the road model, the images show the 1994 Super Touring car and the standard 318is for comparison.
12 · Quellen