'89 BMW 325i AC SCHNITZER ACS3Kat (to my knowledge it is the only '89 Schnitzer 325i in the USA)
Although this e30 is an automatic right now, it is in the shop getting a 2.9 stroker Ireland Engineering kit, and I am having them replace the automatic with a 5 speed. With the 4.10 LSD it should be a rocket with an estimated 275hp.
Pictures of my car have been used by Bavarian Autoworks in their catelogs and it has been a featured car in at least two car shows.
I started 5 years ago with a nice 1989 BMW 325i found in the heart of "Truck Country" Idaho Falls, Idaho, where I do not think they knew what this car was. With a little negotiation and cash, I was off to Spokane with my car. After a little research, I was intreged by the ACS3 for this project. My car was the exact model taken by Schnitzer in the developement of one of their most successful Autobahn cars.
As seen below in their artist's rendition; it was all black gold metalic with great ground affects, and had premium race suspension and significant motor improvements. This was the drawing/picture Schnitzer used on their products and car sales brochure; I used it to pattern my car, contacting many sources in Germany to find every Schnitzer part I could. Some parts were bought and shipped at a premium, but with Schnitzer no longer making e30 parts, they were a must have. It has every concievable ACS option, including some m3 parts.
The "AC" in Schnitzer comes from the fact that when a car is licensed in Germany they, like some of our states, put initials for the town that they are licensed. Since their parts and shop were in Aachen, Germany, they used the local designation for their town, or AC.
Aachen is the most western "city" in Germany. Note the location of Aachen on the left side of the map, in the middle.
I had this flag imported from Herdecke, Germany for showing my car.
These are pictures of AC Schnitzer's showroom in Aachen, Germany
Herbert Schnitzer co-founder and developer of the most successful BMW racing team in their history campaigned BMW's new e30 m3 to over 280 titles, and as a result BMW contracted with he and his team to translate his work to the public, thus creating AC Schnitzer company and their models. AC Schnitzer is to BMW what Saleen is to Mustangs or AMG is to Mercedes.
Each Schnitzer is tested on the track, here the 325i ACS3 is going around their track at speed. They even developed and tested 4 door sedan models with their products.
They eventually settled on three models; a convertible, a coupe and a station wagon.
This is the latest version of the ACS3, note the Schnitzer wheels, carbon, and logo, they are the key to recognizing one of their cars. A set of Schnitzer wheels can cost as much as $6,000 a set. This is a 2008 ACS3 and runs about $30,000 more than the standard 325 or 330.
The Schnitzer shop put out a catelog for each car with a menu of items to buy for the aftermarket shopper, including complete motors, but was mostly sought for their ground affects and cosmetic items. This is a sample of one of their pages.
The end result was a car that was similar to an AMG Mercedes or Saleen Mustang. Popular in Europe, however, no e30 ACS3's made it to the USA. This was likely due to the cost as well as the smog control laws.
My car is a full ACS3 restoration with a US motor, and Euro performance parts (see next pages). Many in my local BMW car call it a Schnitzer "tribute car". I simply call it my wife's car. She now shows it at shows with me, while I show my e30 m3.
