The M-Technic Luxury Equipment option was offered on 1991 model year vehicles. It was a limited production option. One site suggests that about 100 were produced, while another website suggests that the number was between 140 and 250. Both website suggest that production began in April of 1991 (4/91); however, I personally have one built in early May of 1991 (5/91).
In 1991 there was an option, S771A, that was the "full" or "real" M-Technic. It was available only on the cabriolet (convertible in American speak). However, there was also an M-Technic "appearance" package or S770A.
The S771A option is "771 M Technic Luxusausstattung" (luxury equipment in english) or the 771 Luxury for short.
According to e30cabrio.se the M-Technic Luxury Equipment option package in the United States included the following (translated from Swedish):
Body
- Face Lifted Body
- M Technic II aerodynamics package without rear spoiler
Colors
- Brilliantrot [paint code: 308] and convertible top in Schwarz (Black)
- Macaoblau metallic [250] and convertible top in Dunkelblau (Dark Blue) or Schwarz (Black)
- Sterlingsilber metallic [244] and convertible top in Dunkelblau (Dark Blue) or Schwarz (Black)
Interior/Upholstery
- Anthrazit M Tex 0344 full leather upholstery (not clear if this is "full" or "extended")
Equipment/Options
- 288 Alloy Wheels Cross spoke 15x7 wheels (BBS euroweaves)
- 339 Shadow Line (trim)
- 350 Green Tinted windows with thermal power
- 375/377 Electro-mechanical convertible top (automatic top) in Black or Dark Blue
- 704 M Technic sports suspension
Included in option 771:
- M Technic II aerodynamics package without rear spoiler
- BMW M Technic door sill plates
- BMW M Technic badges on the grill and trunk lid
- Alloy Wheels Cross spoke 15x7
- Delayed dimming of interior lighting
- Lining the inside of the trunk lid
- Leather steering wheel with airbag
- Shifter knob and boot in leather (selector lever in leather on the automatic)
Background
I do not pretend to know everything about the M-Technic; however, what information has been published over recent years seems to be spotty at best. Since there are so few of these cars I thought it would be good to get an official thread pulled together to collect as much information as possible in a single place.
I know there has been talk of a registry, but it doesn't seem to have ever materialized, so maybe we could do that here as well.
I'll block off a few posts to capture data in the future and try to keep the original posts updated as people tack on more information (assuming that is allowed).
From e30ic.com:
[holding this space for other general info about this definitive thread]
M-Tech I vs M-Tech II
There was a previous E30 M-Tech car before the 1991 model. This thread is not about the "M-Tech I" as it is known on R3V. If/when a thread on the M-Tech I is found, I will link it from here:
[reserve for link to M-Tech I]
We know the 1991 M-Technic package as the M-Tech II or mtech II. In Germany it is the M-Technik.
M-Technic vs. "M-Technic appearance"
The S770A option is "770 M Technic weiss/schwarz" (white/black in english) or the 770 Appearance for short.
According to e30cabrio.se the M-Technic "appearance" option package in the United States included the following (translated from Swedish):
Body
- Face Lifted Body
- M Technic II aerodynamics package without rear spoiler
Colors
- Alpinweiss [paint code: 218] and convertible top in dark brown with Lotusweiss leather (White)
- Diamantschwarz metallic [181] and convertible top in Schwarz (Black)
Interior/Upholstery
- Nappa full leather interior in Schwarz (Black) 0318 or Lotus Weiss (White) 0462
Equipment/Options
- 280 Alloy Wheels Cross spoke 14x6.5 wheels (BBS basket weave) in Alpine Weiss (Alpine White) 218 or black rims with Diamond Black metallic 181
- 350 Green Tinted windows with thermal power
- 375/377 Electro-mechanical convertible top (automatic top) in Black or Dark Brown
Included in option 770:
- M Technic II aerodynamics package without rear spoiler
- BMW M Technic door sill plates
- Lining the inside of the trunk lid
- Leather steering wheel with airbag
- Shifter knob and boot in leather (selector lever in leather on the automatic)
The M-Technic appearance package was about $1,600.
[reserve for differences between the two versions]
Interior:
An M-Technic Luxury (S771A) will have leather wrapped interior, including leather door panels, leather center console, etc.
According to a member of the bmwe30ic user group, "JM" mike_mulholland, "If you pull the rear seat out and look at the back their will be the factory stamp for the seat part number, and because its a limited edition and put together by hand, the engineer will have written the number in the series.....mine is #5......its the 5th mtechnic made in the series in 4/91....I used to also own a red one and it was #176 made in 6/91."
bradnic chimes in to say, "This is the build order number for the car, and it's written on all the custom interior parts, either directly on the part by hand or with a sticker. On my former car the interior craftsman actually signed the console."
Suspension:
The following suspension parts are different from a stock 325iC
Front:
Strut Inserts - 31321133560 (also used on 318iC?)
Springs - 31331131333 (on some non-AC US E30s and lots of Euros)
Absorber (bumpstop) - 31331133513
Rear:
Shocks - 33521132123 (also used on 318iC?)
Stabilizer Bar (14.5mm) - 33551129194 (also used on E30 M3)
Stabilizer Bar Bushings - 33551130349 (also used on E30 M3)
Exterior:
Front Bumper and Valence:
(7) Front Valence to Bumper Clips - 51712239711 (#3)
Dealer Add-Ons:
I've now seen two red M-Technics that had a tri-color pinstripe or pinstripe with M logo on the rear quarter. Both were in Northern California, one originated at East Bay BMW in Pleasanton and the other was recently for sale in Sacramento. General consensus is that this was not a factory option, but rather a dealer add on, as was discussed here and can be seen in this for sale thread.
In 1991 there was an option, S771A, that was the "full" or "real" M-Technic. It was available only on the cabriolet (convertible in American speak). However, there was also an M-Technic "appearance" package or S770A.
The S771A option is "771 M Technic Luxusausstattung" (luxury equipment in english) or the 771 Luxury for short.
According to e30cabrio.se the M-Technic Luxury Equipment option package in the United States included the following (translated from Swedish):
Body
- Face Lifted Body
- M Technic II aerodynamics package without rear spoiler
Colors
- Brilliantrot [paint code: 308] and convertible top in Schwarz (Black)
- Macaoblau metallic [250] and convertible top in Dunkelblau (Dark Blue) or Schwarz (Black)
- Sterlingsilber metallic [244] and convertible top in Dunkelblau (Dark Blue) or Schwarz (Black)
Interior/Upholstery
- Anthrazit M Tex 0344 full leather upholstery (not clear if this is "full" or "extended")
Equipment/Options
- 288 Alloy Wheels Cross spoke 15x7 wheels (BBS euroweaves)
- 339 Shadow Line (trim)
- 350 Green Tinted windows with thermal power
- 375/377 Electro-mechanical convertible top (automatic top) in Black or Dark Blue
- 704 M Technic sports suspension
Included in option 771:
- M Technic II aerodynamics package without rear spoiler
- BMW M Technic door sill plates
- BMW M Technic badges on the grill and trunk lid
- Alloy Wheels Cross spoke 15x7
- Delayed dimming of interior lighting
- Lining the inside of the trunk lid
- Leather steering wheel with airbag
- Shifter knob and boot in leather (selector lever in leather on the automatic)
Background
I do not pretend to know everything about the M-Technic; however, what information has been published over recent years seems to be spotty at best. Since there are so few of these cars I thought it would be good to get an official thread pulled together to collect as much information as possible in a single place.
I know there has been talk of a registry, but it doesn't seem to have ever materialized, so maybe we could do that here as well.
I'll block off a few posts to capture data in the future and try to keep the original posts updated as people tack on more information (assuming that is allowed).
From e30ic.com:
In '91, the full M-Technic option added about $4,700 to the normal price. Available in Sterling silver, Brilliant red and Macau blue. Changes included: lowered suspension, full body kit, special leather/cloth interior, 15" wheels, M-Technic badges, M-Technic door sills, leather console, e-brake boot.
M-Tech I vs M-Tech II
There was a previous E30 M-Tech car before the 1991 model. This thread is not about the "M-Tech I" as it is known on R3V. If/when a thread on the M-Tech I is found, I will link it from here:
[reserve for link to M-Tech I]
We know the 1991 M-Technic package as the M-Tech II or mtech II. In Germany it is the M-Technik.
M-Technic vs. "M-Technic appearance"
The S770A option is "770 M Technic weiss/schwarz" (white/black in english) or the 770 Appearance for short.
According to e30cabrio.se the M-Technic "appearance" option package in the United States included the following (translated from Swedish):
Body
- Face Lifted Body
- M Technic II aerodynamics package without rear spoiler
Colors
- Alpinweiss [paint code: 218] and convertible top in dark brown with Lotusweiss leather (White)
- Diamantschwarz metallic [181] and convertible top in Schwarz (Black)
Interior/Upholstery
- Nappa full leather interior in Schwarz (Black) 0318 or Lotus Weiss (White) 0462
Equipment/Options
- 280 Alloy Wheels Cross spoke 14x6.5 wheels (BBS basket weave) in Alpine Weiss (Alpine White) 218 or black rims with Diamond Black metallic 181
- 350 Green Tinted windows with thermal power
- 375/377 Electro-mechanical convertible top (automatic top) in Black or Dark Brown
Included in option 770:
- M Technic II aerodynamics package without rear spoiler
- BMW M Technic door sill plates
- Lining the inside of the trunk lid
- Leather steering wheel with airbag
- Shifter knob and boot in leather (selector lever in leather on the automatic)
The M-Technic appearance package was about $1,600.
[reserve for differences between the two versions]
Interior:
An M-Technic Luxury (S771A) will have leather wrapped interior, including leather door panels, leather center console, etc.
According to a member of the bmwe30ic user group, "JM" mike_mulholland, "If you pull the rear seat out and look at the back their will be the factory stamp for the seat part number, and because its a limited edition and put together by hand, the engineer will have written the number in the series.....mine is #5......its the 5th mtechnic made in the series in 4/91....I used to also own a red one and it was #176 made in 6/91."
bradnic chimes in to say, "This is the build order number for the car, and it's written on all the custom interior parts, either directly on the part by hand or with a sticker. On my former car the interior craftsman actually signed the console."
Suspension:
The following suspension parts are different from a stock 325iC
Front:
Strut Inserts - 31321133560 (also used on 318iC?)
Springs - 31331131333 (on some non-AC US E30s and lots of Euros)
Absorber (bumpstop) - 31331133513
Rear:
Shocks - 33521132123 (also used on 318iC?)
Stabilizer Bar (14.5mm) - 33551129194 (also used on E30 M3)
Stabilizer Bar Bushings - 33551130349 (also used on E30 M3)
Exterior:
Front Bumper and Valence:
(7) Front Valence to Bumper Clips - 51712239711 (#3)
Dealer Add-Ons:
I've now seen two red M-Technics that had a tri-color pinstripe or pinstripe with M logo on the rear quarter. Both were in Northern California, one originated at East Bay BMW in Pleasanton and the other was recently for sale in Sacramento. General consensus is that this was not a factory option, but rather a dealer add on, as was discussed here and can be seen in this for sale thread.
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