BMW M8 (E31) '1990

'Ultimate M-car'

Headlights are missing! Source: bimmertoday.de

BMW should have done this! In the late 80's the M-division was concepting to have this lightweight killa beast to leave all the Ferrari's standing. They bored the M70 V-12 engine to 6 liters and added experimental multi-valve cylinder head, stripped down the interior, added some neat M-style bodywork tweaks, and removed the headlights. Well, this was the case of functionality as lights were sacrificed for intakes and do you really need the headlights if other road users are usually checking your tail lights?

Unfortunately this V-12 powered M-car never made it to the production and only one was ever produced and kept in secret for many years and unveiled for the first time in 2010 at the BMW Museum. Luckily the developed engine was transplanted to 850 CSi and later to McLaren F1! The version used in 850CSi was mild but in Mac it produced first 627hp and later 635hp.

Check out the race style window opening. Source: bmwregistry.com

In details (not much):

Engine  
  - V12, 6000cc, 48-valve (s70)
Numbers
- 558hp/  
Transmission
- 6 manual, RWD (limited slip diff)    
Chassis  
-   
Exterior
- Removed front lights
- Hood with air intakes
- New front pumber
- DTM-style mirrors
- Race style tiny window openings and perhaps Plexiglas side windows then?
- Flared rear fenders with intakes
Interior
- Kevlar bucket seats
- 4-point harnesses  
Other  
- Only one ever made

Now that's a savage sight! Source: bmwpower-pg.net

BMW 320si (E90) '2006

'Hidded Pearl'

Some race heritage here. Source: bmwblog.com.

Bimmer's 3-series has been always great. From the very beginning journalists has been praising the excellent balance between performance and practicality, as well as the styling. Styling is very very Bimmer: outstanding stance, notable character line, short front crossing, and engine placed behind the front wheels. But, 3-series is also the most selling model line, so BMW is very gentle with the styling of new models and 3-series never gets the coolest lines. Same happened with the E90 in 2005 when it was announced, even it was the great era of Bangle, design is kind of BMW boring. I mean Bimmer's are never boring, but if you compare E90 to difference that E36 made to E30, there's nothing so spectacular, and E90 lacks the greatness of E60, E63, or E85.

Source: bmwheaven.com

Source: netcarshow.com

Anyway, BMW uses 3-series in WTCC/BTCC and they made a road going special model to compete with the E90. The heart of this unfamiliar special model is hand built 2 liter, 4 cylinder engine, producing 175hp (in race spec 100hp more!) at 7000rpm! Basically BMW motorsport engineers (then building Sauber F1-engines) have taken everything out of bi-Vanos and greated fast-high revving master piece, covered with carbonfibre cylinder head. Power upgrades are not massive, but check the specs to find out how race spec this beauty is. Other tweaks this road racer has are limited to new gearing, better brakes, extra-large wheel mounts, and M-bodykit. By the way, it blasts the Ring under 9-minutes -not bad for naturally aspirated 2 liter middle sized saloon!

In details:

Engine
- R4, ca. 2000cc, 24-valve, Valvetronic, bi-Vanos
- Compression ratio: 11.0:1
- Larger bore by 1mm to 85mm (to regular 2L engine)
- Stroke reduced with 2mm to 88mm
- Special aluminum-alloy liners
- Stiffer crank and connecting rods
- Larger valves
- Special spark blugs
- Valvetronic removed to reduce moving parts
- Radiator from 6-cylinder model
- Carbonfibre cylinder cover (-10kg)

Numbers
- 175hp/7000rpm (limiter in 7300rpm)
- 210Nm
- 0-100Km/h: 8,1s
- 80-120Km/h: 7.7s (4th gear)
- Top speed limited to 225Km/h
- 1350kg

Transmission
- 6 speed manual, RWD
- Shorter final drive (4.10)
 
Chassis
- M-sport suspension
- Ventilated disks front and rear (16 inch)

Exterior
- M-sport aerodynamic package with slightly modified bumpers and side skirts
- '216' alloys with BMW motorsport logo in 18x8/8.5" and 225/40ZR18, 255/35ZR18 tires

Interior
- M-sport seats, steering wheel, and foot rest
- Special rev counter, red zone from 7300rpm up to 8000rpm

Other
- Limited 2600 unit production
- All sport sedans in exclusive Carbon Black Metallic -color

Bad ass! Race model is just little wider and meaner. Andy Priaulx won two WTCC championships with E90. Source: bmwarchiv.de