01 · Overview
The first evolution stage with a face
One year after the invisible stage of 1987, BMW followed up — and this time it was meant to be seen. The Evolution II received its own aerodynamics for the first time: a lower front spoiler with brake cooling ducts in place of the fog lights, and a rear spoiler with an additional lip. Added to this were three exclusive colours and, inside, part-leather sports seats with Motorsport livery on the valve cover and airbox.
The engine’s output rose to 220 PS: compression 11.0:1, together with the longer final drive ratio of 3.15:1 for a top speed of 243 km/h. BMW worked on weight with thinner side and rear glass, a lighter boot lid, and a lighter flywheel.
A note on the naming confusion: BMW itself is inconsistent here. BMW Group Classic calls the car “Evolution II”, while the BMW press kit from 2015 simply calls it “M3 Evolution”. The same vehicle is meant — the 1987 stage does not appear in the press kit at all.
02 · History
Three months in spring 1988
- 1988 April to June: production of the 500 vehicles with numbered plaque. Wikipedia EN dates it March to May — BMW Group Classic to April to June.
- 1990 The Sport Evolution replaces the Evolution II as the sharpest road-going version.
03 · Model overview
Placement within the evolution series
Technische Daten anzeigen — komplette Modellmatrix
| Modell | Motor | Hubraum | Leistung | Bauzeit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| M3 with evolution engine | S14B23, revised | 2.302 cm³ | 200 PS (147 kW) | 02–05/1987 |
| M3 Evolution II | S14B23, 11,0:1 | 2.302 cm³ | 220 PS (162 kW) | 04–06/1988 |
| M3 Sport Evolution | S14B25 | 2.467 cm³ | 238 PS (175 kW) | 12/1989–03/1990 |
04 · In detail
In detail
Coupé
Only as a Coupé, only in Macao Blue, Misano Red or Nogaro Silver. Inside, part-leather sports seats, Motorsport livery on valve cover and airbox.
05 · Engines
The engine
S14B23 · 2.302 cm³ · 220 PS verified
The additional power over the standard M3 comes from the compression ratio raised to 11.0:1 and detail work on the intake and timing. Together with the longer final drive ratio of 3.15:1, this results in 243 km/h — 13 more than the 1987 stage.
Technische Daten anzeigen
| Hubraum | 2.302 cm³ |
| Leistung | 220 PS (162 kW) at 6,750/min |
| Verdichtung | 11,0:1 |
| Achsübersetzung | 3,15:1 |
| Höchstgeschwindigkeit | 243 km/h |
BMW Group Classic
06 · Engineering
Engineering
The dedicated aerodynamics
Lightweight construction in detail
The plaque decides
07 · Identifikation
Identifikation
The Evolution II is identified by aerodynamics, colour and plaque — black or white cars are excluded from the factory.
- Frontspoiler
- lower, with brake cooling ducts in place of the fog lightsverified
- Heckspoiler
- with additional spoiler lipverified
- Verglasung
- thinner side and rear glass, lighter boot lidverified
- Farben
- only Macao Blue, Misano Red or Nogaro Silververified
- Plakette
- numbered out of 500, Motorsport livery on valve cover and airboxverified
- Fahrgestellnummern
- not a contiguous block — service records from BMW M GmbH: 2191372–2191376, 2191409–2191473, 2191477–2191479, 2191481, 2191483, 2191485–2191487, 2191489–2191491, 2191493, 2191500–2191502, 2191504–2191506, 2191510–2191511, 2191513–2191515, 2191517–2191518, 2191520, 2191524, 2191526–2191528, 2191530–2191534, 2191536–2191541, 2191543–2191546, 2191548, 2191550–2191554, 2191556, 2191558–2191560, 2191562–2191564, 2191566–2191567, 2191569, 2191571–2191573, 2191576–2191592, 2191595–2191614, 2191616–2191805, 2191807, 2191809–2191832, 2191834–2191839, 2191841–2191848, 2191850–2191852, 2191854–2191856, 2191858–2191911, 2191913–2191953verified
08 · Motorsport
Motorsport
Like all evolution stages, the Evolution II served to homologate improvements for Group A. The racing successes are covered on the model line’s main page.
09 · Buying guide
What to look out for when buying
Plaque, colour, production window — the three checkpoints of a genuine Evolution II.
A colour other than Macao Blue, Misano Red and Nogaro Silver rules out an original vehicle.
10 · The competition
The competition
Mercedes-Benz 190 E 2.5-16 Evolution
The direct answer from Stuttgart, introduced in 1989 — likewise a homologation series of 500.
11 · Sources