Racing is an expensive game, especially if it’s a hobby. It ain’t like basketball, where you can get a $10 ball from Walmart and go play a pickup game somewhere. Cars are expensive to own and maintain, especially race cars with their higher-performance parts. So when you come across a genuine race car that seems like a relative bargain, it’s cool to see. This 2008 BMW M3 NASA racer that just sold on Bring a Trailer is one such car, as it sold for $45,000. That isn’t exactly cheap, but the buyer now has a full-blown race car that was maintained by Turner Motorsport.
This M3 racer started out life as a stock E92 M3 road car. It was then transformed into this race car by Automatic Racing of Orlando, Florida, so it could compete in the Grand-Am Road Racing Competition. Turner Motorsport then maintained it for a bit, which is why it wears Turner’s iconic livery. It exchanged hands once again in 2020, to the most recent seller, who raced it in National Auto Sport Association (NASA) events. So it’s a proper race car.
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Under the hood is still BMW’s 4.0-liter “S65″ V8 but it’s been modified for race duty with a Dailey Engineering dry-sump lubrication system, a Bosch Motorsport ECU, a MoTeC power distribution module, and a custom exhaust. What’s neat is that it still has a manual transmission, not a sequential automated manual or dual-clutch like so many racers have. The engine’s also recently been rebuilt and currently has 20 hours of race time. It rides on MCS adjustable shocks with 18” Forgeline multi-piece wheels, and has typical race car aero. The massive rear wing is fun, too.
It’s a proper race car inside, with a massive roll cage, a single Recaro racing seat, a removable steering wheel, and the complete lack of any sort of creature comfort.
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Whoever bought this E92 M3 race car is likely going to have a very special track experience on their hands. Whether they bought it to compete or just to bring to the track on Sundays for a laugh, they’re going to have a blast. Is that worth $45,000? Considering people pay more than quadruple that for a 911 GT3 RS for track days, I think this new buyer just got a steal.
