HEADLINER
BELT AND BRACES
BECAUSE THEY DON ’T MAKE’ EMLIKE THEY USED TO
BMW’s standout E30 M3 has been enhanced and evolved by Redux – see, miracles do happen
WORDS OLLIE MARRIAGE
PHOTOGRAPHY MARK RICCIONI
Either the wheel’s on wonky, or it’s probably time to turn left for that next corner
I’d like to talk about the bootlid. Because your response to it is indicative of your overall feelings towards this BMW E30 M3 Enhanced and Evolved by Redux. Wordy name, because otherwise potential legal action. It is and remains a BMW E30 M3. First of all have a look at the rear deck of the original Evo 2 here. See how it just appears to have been plonked directly on top of another panel underneath? Look at the inconsistent panel gaps, the awkward angles, how it doesn’t sit neatly.
Now look at the Redux. It’s been honed to perfection: the proportions and angles, the whole rear area cleaned and tidied. It looks much smarter and more cohesive. But know this. The E30 M3, the first ever M3, was born in the fires of competition. To this day it remains the most successful touring car ever made. The reason the bootlid didn’t fit properly is that it didn’t need to. The motorsport dictats just required the fibreglass part to sit 40mm higher than the existing steel bootlid as that meant the permitted spoiler worked more effectively.