Japanese-Market 1998 BMW M3 Coupe 6-Speed Track Car

This 1998 BMW M3 is a European-specification coupe that was modified for track use prior to being imported to the US via Japan in 2023. Repainted in Porsche Rubystone Red, the car features a front splitter as well as a carbon-fiber ventilated hood, front canards, rear wing, and rear diffuser. Power is supplied by a 3.2-liter S50B32 inline-six equipped with an aftermarket intake, headers, and titanium cat-back exhaust, while shifting is via a six-speed manual transmission linked with a KAAZ limited-slip differential. The coupe rides on 17″ ATS alloy wheels and is fitted with Zeal adjustable coilovers and a Z3-sourced steering rack as well as an AP Racing big-brake kit up front. Inside, a pair of OMP fixed-back bucket seats have been added along with a multi-point harness for the driver, a bolt-in roll cage, a quick-release steering wheel, a revised dashboard, and an AC Schnitzer shift knob. 

The car left the factory finished in Dakar Yellow II and was repainted in Rubystone Red—a Porsche color—prior to its arrival in the US, according to the seller. A carbon-fiber ventilated hood, decklid spoiler, rear wing, and rear diffuser have been added along with a sunroof delete panel and a revised front valance featuring a splitter and carbon-fiber canards. Chips in the finish are present on the front of the car.

A Z3-sourced steering rack has been installed and that the suspension has been modified with Zeal adjustable coilovers, Meyle HD front control arms, spherical rear trailing arm bushings, and adjustable rear toe control arms as well as an ARC pipe stabilizer bar, front sway bar, and adjustable sway bar links.

Black-finished 17×9″ ATS wheels are mounted with 255/40 Yokohama Advan A050 tires at all four corners. Stopping power is provided by AP Racing four-piston calipers over two-piece rotors up front coupled with M Performance two-piston yellow calipers over cross-drilled and ventilated rotors out back.

The cabin has been stripped and outfitted with a bolt-in roll cage as well as a pair of OMP fixed-back bucket seats trimmed in black cloth. A Schroth Racing multi-point harness is installed for the driver, and both seats are mounted atop Planted sliding brackets. The modified carbon-fiber center stack houses the power window switches along with a lap timer, a fuel controller, and USB outlets, while the factory automatic climate controls have been relocated to the right-side of the dash. An AC Schnitzer parking brake handle, shift knob, and pedal covers have also been installed along with metal floor board covers and lightweight door panels with cloth door pulls.

The MOMO steering wheel is wrapped in leather and mounted on a quick-release hub. The instrument cluster has a 280-km/h speedometer, an 8k-rpm tachometer, and auxiliary gauges, while GReddy gauges monitoring oil temperature, oil pressure, and water temperature have been mounted in the center stack. The digital odometer indicates 126k kilometers (~78k miles), approximately 400 of which were added under current ownership. 

The 3.2-liter S50B32 inline-six is equipped with individual throttle bodies and was factory rated at 321 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque. An ARC front strut bar spans the engine bay, and aftermarket headers empty into a modified exhaust system with a titanium cat-back setup. Additional equipment is said to include a GruppeM cold-air intake, SEV head balancers, dual auxiliary oil coolers, and an oil catch can.

Power is sent to the rear wheels through a six-speed manual transmission and a KAAZ 1.5-way limited-slip differential with 3.91:1 gearing. An OS Giken twin-disc clutch assembly and braided steel clutch line are said to be outfitted, and the Clutch Delay Valve (CDV) has been removed.