IN THE 1980S

The M1 was dead by 1980, and the 6-series coupé was be the first full-scale production car to take advantage of its race-derived M88 engine. With 286bhp, the M635CSi was intended as a Porsche-beater, with suspension, brakes, wheels and aerodynamics tweaked, and it formed the basis of a successful Touring Car.

If the M535i had been an appetiser, 1984’s full-fat M5 was the main course. It shared the M635 CSi’s engine and similar hardware tweaks, but somehow the saloon packaging made it seem even more outrageous. This was arguably the world’s first super-saloon, and undoubtedly the car that set the template for BMW ’s range-toppers.

Yet an even bigger hero was on its way. By this point M had its own dedicated engine and chassis development centres, and motorsport played a vital role in the development of a new model: the E30 M3. Group A homologation was the goal, opening up BMW M to both circuit racing and rallying. A high-revving 2.3-litre four-cylinder was the star of the show, with 200bhp in production form, although output was pushed much harder in the race cars. The M3’s excellent chassis gave it the edge on the track, as did its radical aerodynamics: M had widened the whole car and changed the rake of the rear window. Evo versions brought in a 2.5-litre engine, bigger wheels, brakes and more to keep the M3 at the top of the podium. Accolades included two DTM Championships and two European Touring Car Championships before it was decommissioned in 1991.

Up next was possibly the best-looking M5, Ercole Spada’s 1988 E34. Starting out with a 311bhp 3.6-litre straight-six, this new evolution refined the recipe to keep BMW at the top of its super-saloon game, with the poise, balance and performance to shame most supercars of the era, and even improved practicality with the option of a Touring estate in 1992.

From 1993, M5s were given a 335bhp 3.8-litre engine and, in the last year of production in 1995, a six-speed manual transmission. The E34 Touring was the last to be hand-assembled by BMW M, with future models built on the main production lines.

Left, from top E30 M3 was instant success in racing, and became a road-car legend too; E34 M5 arguably the best-looking generation; M635 CSi was a luxe coupé that could do this.