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BMW M3 E30

The BMW M3 E30 reaches 60 mph in 7.20 s (100 km/h in 7.55 s) and covers a standing quarter mile in 15.60 s, tripping the lights at 94.2 mph. It clears the first 60 ft in 2.74 s and the eighth mile in 10.28 s.

Simulated, not measured — computed from published kerb mass, rated power, gearing and drivetrain, then fitted to this car’s own published acceleration figures. Dry asphalt, 20 °C, sea level, 1 ft rollout.

BMW M3 E30 Morgan Plus 4 4 seater 2.0l i4

Pick who it runs against, then watch it happen — and change the surface, the weather or the distance and run it again.

Down the strip

Standing start BMW M3 E30
0–60 mph7.20 s
0–100 km/h7.55 s
0–100 mph—
60 ft2.74 s
1/8 mile10.28 s
1/4 mile15.60 s
Trap speed94.2 mph

About the M3 E30

The 1986 BMW M3 E30 is a rear-drive naturally aspirated coupe of 1,300 kg with 197 bhp, which works out at 152 bhp per tonne. Rear drive and 152 bhp per tonne make the launch the hard part of the run: 60 ft takes 2.74 s. Against the 14,946 cars in the set it is the 5,022nd quickest to 60 mph, and the 742nd quickest of the 1324 BMWs here. It traps higher than its 0-60 suggests — 94.2 mph, the 3,894th highest here — so it is a car that keeps going rather than one that simply leaves well. The simulation is trimmed to 8 of 10 published acceleration figures for this car.

On paper

Specification BMW M3 E30
Year1986
Power197 hp (147 kW)
Kerb mass1,300 kg
Power to weight152 bhp/t
DrivetrainRear drive
Gears5
EngineNaturally aspirated
Top speed149 mph (240 km/h), quoted

Similar cars

CarYear 0–601/4 mileTrapPower
Morgan Plus 4 4 seater 2.0l i420067.24 s15.70 s87.7 mph142 bhp
Morgan 4/4 2 seater 1.6l i420087.27 s15.63 s89.8 mph110 bhp
Toyota MR2 1.8 VVT-i 13820027.27 s15.71 s89.5 mph137 bhp

Picked for a fair race, not just a matching 0-60: pace, power-to-weight and body shape all count, and at most one is from the same maker.

Head to head

BMW M3 G80 vs BMW M3 E30Full comparison

Where these times sit

0-60 under 8 seconds6,514 cars0-100 km/h under 8 seconds5,602 carsSlower in the wetevery car, re-runThe cost of altitudeevery car, re-runThe cost of a passengerevery car, re-run
BMW 0-60 timesevery modelFastest coupes911 carsFastest cars of the 1980s1,057 cars
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Questions

What is the BMW M3 E30 0-60 time?
The BMW M3 E30 reaches 60 mph in 7.20 s, simulated on dry asphalt at 20 °C with a 1 ft rollout. That makes it the 5,022nd quickest of the 14,946 cars in the set.
What is the BMW M3 E30 quarter mile time?
15.60 s at 94.2 mph. It reaches the eighth mile in 10.28 s and clears the first 60 ft in 2.74 s. These are theoretical times from a physics simulation, not measured runs.
How much power does the BMW M3 E30 have?
197 bhp and 1,300 kg, which is 152 bhp per tonne. It is rear-drive, naturally aspirated, with 5 gears and a quoted top speed of 240 km/h. These are theoretical times from a physics simulation, not measured runs.
What cars are comparable to the BMW M3 E30?
Closest here on pace: Morgan Plus 4 4 seater 2.0l i4 (7.24 s), Morgan 4/4 2 seater 1.6l i4 (7.27 s), Toyota MR2 1.8 VVT-i 138 (7.27 s). Each one can be raced against the BMW M3 E30 in the panel at the top of this page. These are theoretical times from a physics simulation, not measured runs.
Are these real measured times?
No. Every figure on this page is produced by a physics simulation, not by a stopwatch at a drag strip. The BMW M3 E30 is modelled from its published kerb mass, rated power, drivetrain and gearing, then trimmed until it reproduces 8 of its 10 published acceleration figures. Conditions are the same for every car in the set: dry asphalt, 20 °C, sea level, 1 ft rollout.

Figures regenerated 2026-10-16. Every number on this page is computed by the simulator at build time, so the page and the app can never disagree.