Full details & bid : collectingcars.com
Collecting Cars, the renowned online auction platform, has launched “The M Collection,” a meticulously assembled group of more than 25 highly desirable and historically significant BMW M automobiles. This exceptional collection spans over four decades of BMW M Division’s engineering excellence, showcasing a diverse range of vehicles from the ultra-rare BMW M1, a product of collaboration with Lamborghini, to celebrated icons from the Eighties, Nineties, and Noughties, as well as notable contemporary models. With a combined value exceeding £1.5 million, “The M Collection” represents one of the most comprehensive and impressive selections of BMW M performance cars ever presented in a single online auction event.
Leading this exceptional assembly is the BMW M1, a true collector’s gem and the vehicle that initiated BMW’s legendary M car lineage. Born from a joint racing venture between BMW and Lamborghini, this rare mid-engined sports car was produced in limited numbers, with only 399 road-going examples believed to have been manufactured. The featured M1 is finished in striking Henna Red and boasts period-correct features such as 16-inch Campagnolo wheels, distinctive flip-up headlights, and a Becker Mexico radio. Inside, the black leather upholstery contrasts beautifully with the classic chequered cloth trim. Being a rear-wheel-drive machine, its 3.5-litre naturally aspirated M88 straight-six engine delivers 273 bhp, paired with a ZF ‘dog-leg’ five-speed manual gearbox and a limited-slip differential. Showing 83,784 kilometers and reportedly having had only three owners from new, this M1 represents a usable piece of M car history with significant character and charm.
Looking back at the M Division’s golden era, two Noughties icons immediately come to mind for many enthusiasts. The first is the BMW Z3 M Coupé, affectionately known as the ‘clown shoe’ due to its unique and polarizing silhouette. Collecting Cars has consigned an impressive four examples of this cult favorite, including a particularly desirable final-year 2002 model equipped with the highly sought-after S54 engine derived from the E46 M3. Only 168 of these S54-powered Z3 M Coupés were sold in the UK, and the featured 57,500-mile example is finished in the iconic Estoril Blue.
The other hero of this era is the legendary BMW E46 M3 CSL, a vehicle so revered that even BMW itself has referred to it as the “holy grail.” “The M Collection” features four examples of this exceptional machine. With only 1,383 units ever produced, the E46 M3 CSL combined the pinnacle of BMW’s motorsport engineering with refined road car characteristics. Its lightweight construction, including a pioneering carbon fibre roof (a world first for a production car in 2003), and a revised S54B32 straight-six engine established it as a benchmark driver’s car. The collection includes examples ranging from a pristine 39,000-kilometer car located in Germany to a rare variant originally registered in Hong Kong, offering a CSL to suit various collector preferences.
However, the 3 Series wasn’t the sole focus of the M Division’s attention during this period. Simultaneously, BMW M transformed the E39-generation 5 Series into the now-iconic E39 M5, celebrated for its potent V8 engine and engaging six-speed manual gearbox. Collecting Cars has secured an excellent example with just under 60,000 miles, finished in the sophisticated Le Mans Blue Metallic with a matching two-tone blue and black leather interior, adding it to this stellar lineup. With an impressive Nürburgring lap time of 8 minutes and 20 seconds, the E39 M5 was among the fastest saloon cars of its time, and decades later, it remains one of the most revered performance saloons ever created.
Other notable highlights within “The M Collection” include a 1988 BMW E30 M3 Convertible finished in Macau Blue over a luxurious BMW Individual Lotus White leather interior, and a meticulously freshly resprayed 1988 BMW E28 M5 presented in classic black over black leather trim. For enthusiasts of more modern M Division creations, the collection also features a 2011 BMW 1M Coupé finished in black over black, alongside a 2020 BMW M2 CS presented in superb condition with only 5,242 miles from new.
Edward Lovett, Founder of Collecting Cars, commented on this special auction event, stating: “The M Collection is one of the most exciting single-marque offerings we’ve ever presented. It captures the spirit, innovation, and driving purity that have defined BMW M over the last four decades – from the legendary M1 to modern classics like the E46 CSL. For collectors and keen drivers alike, this is a rare opportunity to acquire some of the most significant M cars ever built, all in one place.”
“The M Collection,” curated by the globally recognized auction platform Collecting Cars, follows the success of other single-marque collections hosted by the site, such as “The Land Rover Collection” and “The Turbo Collection” (featuring iconic Porsche 911 models). The bidding for “The M Collection” will conclude on Sunday, April 27th. In recent news, The Collecting Group has streamlined its user experience by implementing a single-login process that encompasses both Collecting Cars and its sister site, Watch Collecting.
Power and Performance Highlights: The BMW M1 features a 3.5-litre naturally aspirated M88 straight-six engine producing 273 bhp, paired with a ZF ‘dog-leg’ five-speed manual gearbox and a limited-slip differential. The BMW Z3 M Coupé (2002 example) is equipped with the S54 3.2-litre straight-six engine from the E46 M3, producing 321 bhp. The BMW E46 M3 CSL features a revised S54B32 3.2-litre straight-six engine with 360 bhp. The BMW E39 M5 is powered by a 4.9-litre S62 V8 engine producing 400 bhp, coupled with a six-speed manual gearbox. The 2011 BMW 1M Coupé features a 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged N54 straight-six engine producing 335 bhp. The 2020 BMW M2 CS is equipped with a 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged S55 straight-six engine producing 444 bhp.
Summary:
- Collecting Cars presents “The M Collection” online auction.
- Over 25 BMW M cars with a combined value exceeding £1.5 million.
- Headlined by a rare 1980 BMW M1 with three owners from new.
- Features multiple examples of the BMW E46 M3 CSL.
- Includes a low-mileage 2002 BMW E39 M5.
- Also features a 2002 BMW Z3 M Coupé with the S54 engine.
- Showcases a 1988 BMW E30 M3 Convertible and a 1988 BMW E28 M5.
- Modern M cars like a 2011 BMW 1M Coupé and a 2020 BMW M2 CS are included.
- Bidding for “The M Collection” concludes on Sunday, April 27th.
Disclaimer: Information regarding the vehicles and their specifications is based on details provided in the press release from Collecting Cars. Potential buyers are advised to conduct their own thorough inspection and verification on the Collecting Cars website.
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