The BMW M3 might’ve just received a small facelift that introduced a new design for the taillights, but the Germans aren’t done with it just yet. As October creeps in, so is the traditional Bavarian holiday that goes by the name of ‘Oktoberfest’.
During this celebratory time that lasts from September 19 to October 4, Munichers and people in Bavaria, in general, will be drinking beer, eating sausage and just partying all the time. BMW has been part of these traditions for a long time and, for example, last year they brought out their whole DTM drivers out for some good time.
This year, they created a special, one-off M3 in ‘Muncher Wirte’ livery. The design was inspired by the BMW M1 Procar from 1981 and depicts Bavarian-style facade paintings and blue and white twisted cords.
Alongside those cues, you’ll also find pictures of Munich landmarks such as the Olympic Stadium, Siegestor, Frauenkirche church and, of course, BMW’s headquarters. The person responsible for all of this ‘madness’ is Walter Maurer, the man behind the original livery the M1 wore back in the 1980s. However, unlike back in the day, when everything was painted by hand, the current M3 was done with a more up to date technology.
Unfortunately, under the bonnet nothing changed and that means that the M car will still have to rely on its 3-liter biturbo inline 6-cylinder engine making 431 HP and 550 Nm (406 lb-ft) of torque. That should be plenty, though, especially since no reviewer ever complained about the car lacking punch.
The idea of making such a vehicle with such a distinctive livery came to Mr. Maurer back in 1981, as he admits:
“I hatched the plan to turn this very special artwork into reality in 1981, together with my good friends and long-established Munich restaurateurs Putzi Holenia and Karl Heckl, and the then head of the BMW press department, Dirk Henning Strassl.”
Well, thankfully, their small idea became reality and the M1 was the first one to wear this special livery, on the track. As for the M3, it will be on display at the BMW Welt Museum during the Oktoberfest (19 September - 4 October). Until we get to Germany, we'll just watch DTM Driver Martin Tomczyk drawing a bagel with the rear wheels on the asphalt using it.
Google News