1989 BMW M3 Base

The E30 M3 is one of the most celebrated homologation specials ever produced, but among enthusiasts, a handful of factory special editions sit above the rest. Introduced in 1989 to commemorate BMW Motorsport driver Johnny Cecotto, the Cecotto Edition combined the race-bred engineering of the standard E30 M3 with an elevated level of equipment and exclusivity. Built in limited numbers for the European market, these cars featured desirable options that were unavailable on many standard M3s while preserving everything that made the E30 M3 a dominant force in touring car racing. This 1989 BMW M3 Johnny Cecotto Edition is finished in Misano Red over the distinctive Silver M-Technic cloth interior and shows 135,372 kilometers (84,117 miles). According to BMW production records, the car was completed on June 13, 1989 at BMW's Munich facility and delivered on June 29, 1989 as a European-market example. Factory equipment includes Electronic Damper Control (EDC), an electric sunroof, On-Board Computer II, BMW Professional radio with factory sound system, headlight washers, green-tinted glass, and additional Johnny Cecotto-specific equipment that distinguished these limited-production cars from the standard M3. Unlike many European-market M3s that have lost their originality over the years, this example retains the character and specification that made the Cecotto Edition so desirable. The silver M-Technic interior remains one of the defining features of the car, pairing perfectly with the rich Misano Red exterior and creating one of the most recognizable combinations ever offered on the E30 platform. Power comes from BMW Motorsport's legendary S14 2.3-liter dual overhead cam inline-four, producing approximately 215 horsepower in European specification. Individual throttle bodies, a close-ratio Getrag 5-speed transmission, and perfectly balanced rear-wheel-drive chassis dynamics continue to define the E30 M3 driving experience more than three decades after production ended. The addition of factory Electronic Damper Control further separates the Johnny Cecotto Edition from standard production M3s, providing adjustable suspension technology that was remarkably advanced for its era. This particular car carries a history that is just as compelling as its specification. It remained in Europe before being imported into the United States in 2014 by its first American owner, with accompanying importation documentation and registration records included with the vehicle. The file accompanying the car also contains its original German registration documents, BMW Mobile Tradition Certificate, factory option information, and extensive ownership records that help document its life before and after arriving in the United States. In preparation for presentation and sale, this Johnny Cecotto Edition will receive Enthusiast Auto Group's standard intake evaluation and preservation process, a detailed multi-point inspection, verification of fluids, systems, and components, and light recommissioning consistent with EAG's delivery standards for investment-grade vehicles. All work will be carried out to preserve the car's originality while ensuring it is ready for its next enthusiast caretaker.‍