Anyone checking a BMW M3 of the E30 model line for originality eventually arrives at three numbers: the paint code, the upholstery number and the wheel part number. This page brings together what can be documented for the special editions — and notes where the sources contradict each other or remain silent.
It covers only paint, upholstery, wheels and engine bay. Performance data, body parts and everything else are found on the model pages, which each section links to.
The basis is the factory brochures of BMW Motorsport GmbH for the Evolution, Cecotto and Sport Evolution, the BMW parts catalogue, and a BMW brochure Colours/Upholstery from 1988. Where a detail comes from the brochure, it is noted as such — factory documents carry more weight than any secondary source, and some widely circulated claims online do not hold up under comparison.
The five paints
Solid · Evolution, Cecotto, Ravaglia
Solid · Sport Evolution
Solid · Sport Evolution
Metallic · Evolution, Europameister, Cecotto
Metallic · Evolution, Cecotto, Ravaglia
The colour swatches are approximations for orientation. A screen cannot reproduce a paint colour — only the code is authoritative.
Model by model
M3 Evolution II · 1988 · 500 units
The Evolution was limited to three paints: Misano Red 236, Nogaro Silver 243 and Macao Blue 250. The colour chart from Motorsport GmbH shows dots in the Evolution row only under these three; Alpine White and Diamond Black belonged to the Convertible.
For the interior there was no choice. The brochure states in a footnote: “M3 Evolution available only in fabric Silver in combination with leather Bison Silver.” A single configuration, key no. 0305. The fabric is named in the brochure Überkaro Silver; the door inserts are also covered in it, with the seat side bolsters in leather Bison Silver.
The Evolution introduced the 16-inch wheel in silver, part number 36112225621, 7½J×16 ET27 — before that the M3 ran on 7J×15 ET30 (36112225375).
All features of the Evolution II — performance data, body parts, suspension, identification and buying advice are on the model page.
M3 Europameister · Autumn 1988 · 148 units
The Europameister is the most monochrome special edition: exclusively Macao Blue. Inside, silver Walknappa leather, M badges in the seats, M footrest and numbered sill plates. We do not have a dedicated factory brochure; there is no reliable information on the wheel colour.
All features of the Europameister — performance data, body parts, suspension, identification and buying advice are on the model page.
M3 Cecotto · April to July 1989
The Cecotto was available in Misano Red, Macao Blue and Nogaro Silver — the two metallic finishes, according to the brochure, at no extra cost. Unlike the Evolution, here “all exterior colours and interior trims could be combined with one another”.
Its identifying feature is listed under Transmission/Suspension: “Wheel spider painted solid black.” This disproves the claim, widespread online, of “metallic black” — it is a solid paint. The parts catalogue lists the wheels individually: wheel 36112226702, black hub cap 36132226703, black wheel bolts 36136781150. The brochure does not give a colour code — more on this under wheels below.
As standard, the interior is a fabric-leather combination: seat centre panels as well as door and side trim inserts in fabric, seat side bolsters and headrests in leather. Valve cover and intake manifold are painted matte in body colour, the exhaust tailpipes polished.
| Type | Colour | Key no. |
|---|---|---|
| Fabric | Anthracite | 0344 |
| Fabric | Silver | 0345 |
| Part leather, Bison grain | Black | 0203 |
| Full leather, Walknappa | Black | 0318 |
| Full leather, Walknappa | Silver | 0319 |
A verification detail: With Silver interior trim, the brochure states that the headliner, dashboard, centre and tunnel console, A-, B- and C-pillars as well as the trim above the windscreen including sun visors are also executed in silver. A silver Cecotto with a black headliner is not original. The full leather trim additionally includes the rear trim panels, storage compartments, armrests and consoles — with subtle leather stripes in Motorsport colours on the seat backs.
All features of the Cecotto — performance data, body parts, suspension, identification and buying advice are on the model page.
M3 Ravaglia · 1989 · 25 units
The Ravaglia is not a separate model, but the British version of the Cecotto — BMW Group Classic lists both under a single entry. Technically identical, only a different name on the plaque. This is why the Ravaglia cars also carry numbers from the same series: “061/505”, “074/505”.
It thus shares all Cecotto features, including the wheel with the black spider. Unlike the Cecotto, however, it was available in only two colours, and the interior followed the paint finish:
| Quantity | Paint | Interior |
|---|---|---|
| 16 | Misano Red 236 | M-fabric Anthracite with Bison leather |
| 9 | Nogaro Silver 243 | M-fabric Silver with Bison leather |
Macao Blue was not available on the Ravaglia. The breakdown comes from Coys, who auctioned several of these cars, and adds up: 16 plus 9 makes 25. This also resolves the long-circulating contradiction — the claim of “23 Misano Red and two Nogaro Silver” cannot be reconciled with any other source.
A mix-up that occurs frequently: The Ravaglia has nothing to do with the Europameister. That one is half a year older, produces 200 rather than 215 PS, and was only available in Macao Blue with silver Walknappa leather. The similarity arises from the nine Nogaro Silver Ravaglia cars with a light-coloured interior.
All features of the Ravaglia — performance data, body parts, suspension, identification and buying advice are on the model page.
M3 Sport Evolution · 1990 · 600 units
On the Sport Evolution the restriction is stated explicitly: “Available only in the exterior colours Brilliant Red and Gloss Black”, plus bumpers with contrast stripes. Both solid paints — 308 and 668.
And the wheel, likewise listed in the brochure under Transmission/Suspension: “Wheel spider painted Nogaro Silver.” Plus front lowering and a reinforced brake system. Part number 36112226804, 7½J×16 ET27 on 225/45 ZR 16.
| Type | Colour | Key no. |
|---|---|---|
| Fabric (standard) | Anthracite | 0316 |
| Nappa leather with natural grain (optional equipment) | Black | 0353 |
The Sport Evolution has extremely contoured sport seats with height and tilt adjustment — not the Recaro of the Cecotto. Fabric upholstery also on door mirrors and side trim panels, seat belts in Red, sill plates with coloured M3 emblem, M-Technic sport leather steering wheel II with suede in the grip area, likewise the gear knob and handbrake lever grip. Evolution plaque on the centre console.
All features of the Sport Evolution — performance data, body parts, suspension, identification and buying advice are on the model page.
The engine bay as a verification feature
The special editions differ significantly from one another under the bonnet — for the Evolution and Cecotto, the factory brochure describes it in a single sentence. Anyone checking whether a car is correct will find here a feature that cannot easily be faked.
Conversely: some things that look like special-edition features distinguish nothing at all. The M-Technic driver’s footrest , for instance, was standard equipment equally on the Evolution, Cecotto and Sport Evolution, and was also fitted on the Europameister. Anyone who sees it in the footwell only knows that it is not a standard-production M3.
| Model | Engine bay |
|---|---|
| Evolution | Timing case cover and air collector painted white with diagonal Motorsport stripes. Twin-silencer exhaust system with chromed tailpipes. Available only without catalytic converter. |
| Cecotto | Valve cover and intake manifold painted matte in body colour. Polished exhaust tailpipes. |
| Sport Evolution | No coloured engine bay: valve cover and air collector carry the standard black wrinkle finish. Instead, red spark plug connectors — together with the red seat belts, the most conspicuous colour feature of the Sport Evolution. |
The wheels at a glance
| Version | Size | Part number | Wheel spider |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard, cross-spoke | 7J×15 ET30 | 36112225375 | silver |
| Silver, from Evolution onward | 7½J×16 ET27 | 36112225621 | silver |
| Cecotto and Ravaglia | 7½J×16 ET27 | 36112226702 | solid black, glossy · code not stated |
| Sport Evolution | 7½J×16 ET27 | 36112226804 | Nogaro Silver 243 |
On Nogaro Silver: On the Sport Evolution, BMW writes the colour into the part designation — alloy wheel Nogaro Silver — and the brochure confirms it under Transmission/Suspension. It is the same shade as the body colour 243, a metallic.
On the black: Here BMW gives no code. The Cecotto brochure only says “wheel spider painted solid black” — i.e. solid finish, not metallic. A precise shade cannot be derived from this, but it can be narrowed down: the solid black Gloss Black 668 does not yet appear in the E30 colour programme of 1988, which lists instead Black 086. Restorers therefore work with 086. This is a reasoned assignment, not a factory specification — anyone wanting certainty needs an unpainted original wheel.
Upholstery of the standard-production M3
For comparison, the coverings of the standard-production model from the parts catalogue. The switch to 0379 in September 1989 coincides with the change to the 215 PS engine.
| Period | Covering | Upholstery no. |
|---|---|---|
| 09/1985 – 09/1987 | Fabric Anthracite | 0211 |
| from 03/1986 | Leather Black | 0203 |
| 09/1987 – 09/1989 | Fabric Anthracite | 0304 |
| from 09/1989 | Fabric Anthracite | 0379 |
The BMW brochure Colours/Upholstery from 1988 additionally lists for the standard-production M3 fabric Silver 0305 as well as leather in Silver 0292, Natural 0295 and Cardinal Red 0296.
What remains open
- The gloss level of the black wheel spider. That it is a solid paint is stated by the brochure. Whether glossy or matte, it does not say — matte BMW explicitly writes in the same text for the valve cover, but not for the wheel spider. Photos of two cars with 34,621 km and from first ownership show a glossy surface. No colour code is given anywhere; Black II 668 is a body colour code and cannot simply be transferred.
- The Swiss Cecotto. Whether the 50 cars are included within the 505 or were built additionally is stated inconsistently across sources.
- The Europameister. Without a factory brochure, wheel colour and upholstery number remain undocumented — unlike the Evolution, Cecotto and Sport Evolution, for which we have the factory documentation.
Anyone with verifiable information on any of these points — a brochure, a factory extract, an unpainted original wheel — can send it to us via the form below. We will add it and cite the source.
All pages on the model line
- BMW M3 E30 — the model line
- M3 Evolution II
- M3 Europameister
- M3 Cecotto
- M3 Ravaglia
- M3 Sport Evolution
- BMW E30 · 320is · 325i · 318is
Bildnachweise
- Own photograph · MOTORSPORT24