It’s Alive

Words Jeff Heywood – Photos Redux No, not Frankenstein’s monster, but this amazing restomod of BMW’s E30 M3, which has been enhanced and evolved by UK-based Redux. Only 30 of these cars will be built in total, and each one costs £330,000…plus a donor E30 M3, which is a fair lump of the folding stuff to begin with. So is it worth it? Well here are some of the big numbers that go some way in explaining the price…

Redux founder Simon Lord, started with a simple question: if BMW had built an enhanced version of the E30 M3 after the Sport Evo model, how would that model have panned out? His immediate answer was an E30 M3 CSL, Coupé Sport Leichtbau (lightweight). Therefore, he started compiling a list of the components for his dream specification, a lightweight E30 M3. And it’s been a long and, at times, torturous journey. Redux partnered with restoration and modification specialists Retropower, which ensured the build quality was of the highest order. Renowned for creating Gordon Murray’s bespoke Escort Mk1, Retropower’s obsessive attention to detail is evident in every aspect of this M3. Over 4000 hours are needed to complete the strip down of the donor M3 before a bare shell restoration and the extensive upgrades are carried out to both Redux and the customer’s exacting standards; therefore, one can expect an 18-month build time. It takes over 550 hours to prep the parts, apply the paint and, most importantly, hand-flat with fine sandpaper the panels to produce a flawless, glass-like Midnight Emerald Green finish. 002 is the first road car Redux has built; 001 lives out at the Thermal Club, California, where the owner enjoys the car on the 5.1 miles of track. The paintwork is show quality, the interior is upholstered in the softest of Nappa

leathers and the rest of interior is trimmed in Alcantara, giving a quality feel. Also enhancing the interior are a plethora of billet aluminium parts which all help to lift the interior quality over that of a standard M3.

The engine is special, too. This is how it’s created: take the original 2.3 S14 lump, take it out to 2.5-litres, sprinkle on the fairy dust to increase power to 300hp and 278Nm of torque. The engine is mated to a Getrag 265/5 dogleg pattern gearbox, while braking is taken care of by huge AP Racing brakes, sized at 362mm at the front, with six-piston callipers, while at the rear, 315mm discs have four-piston callipers acting upon them. To make 002 handle on-road, Bilstein Group A spec adjustable coil-over dampers are fitted, and 18” Cinel DTM forged aluminium monoblocks, which are exclusive to Redux, are shod with Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tyres.

So yes, the car is quite special, and I haven’t covered all the modifications in detail, like the carbon fibre (pre-preg) panels and trim parts, which took up a huge amount of money in R&D, or how the car drives, but I’m sure plenty of you will have already seen the videos on YouTube from Carfection’s Henry Catchpole and Ollie Marriage from Top Gear, but we’ll be bringing you a full MLife review on the 002 car in February’s Straight Six!

Car Storage Locations

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1. Carvault Co.

A full-service turnkey storage and car care solution.

Located 40 miles from London, covers Henley-On-Thames, Reading and Oxford

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2. The Classic Motor Hub

Bespoke car storage and care facility

Located in the Cotswolds, covers Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire car storage map? www.classicmotorhub.com/storage/ info@classicmotorhub.com 01242 384 092

3. JLF Car Nest

Exceptional storage solutions.

Fully insured, secure car storage with the latest car care and maintenance. Special Offer £5 off all package prices for BMW Car Club GB Members Located in Norfolk, covers the South East & East Anglia Regions and all of the UK.

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info@jlfcarnest.co.uk Olly: 07521 568 881 Josh: 07856 952 383

4. Store My Car

Secure car storage, maintenance, servicing, valet and detailing, car transportation

Located in Sutton Coldfield, covers Little Aston, Birmingham, Litchfield, Solihull and the West Midlands

www.store-my-car.co.uk

info@store-my-car.co.uk Miles Redman: 07863 540 064

5. Weaver Car Storage Limited

Professional, discreet, secure car storage.

Located in the South Liverpool area, covers the North West Region. Weaver Car Storage Limited. Weaver Industrial Estate. Blackburne Street Garston Liverpool L19 8JA

www.weavercarstorage.co.uk

info@weavercarstorage.co.uk 0151 329 3390 Anthony Weaver: 07534 101 504