The BMW M3 (E30) is a legend in German performance car circles. Modifying one could be considered sacrilege, but tuners like Manhart Performance don't give much thought to things like that. The BMW specialist has turned its attention to the first-generation M3, giving it a new lease on life with an Alpina straight-six engine, cosmetic upgrades, and a retrimmed interior.
Dubbed the MH3 3.5 Turbo, Manhart has removed the 2.3-liter four-cylinder engine and replaced it with something more powerful. A turbocharged inline-six, sourced from an Alpina B7 S Turbo, has been shoehorned into the engine bay. With 325 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque, the motor would have done a perfectly adequate job.
But for Manhart, those figures aren't sufficient. With modifications to the intercooler and turbo, the 3.5-liter now produces a mighty 399 hp and 479 lb-ft - more than enough for a car that weighs 2,568 pounds.