BMW M3 Is A Ratu Garaj

Editor’s note: This article originally appeared on January 21, 2014, every weekend we’ll be diving into our archives to bring you some of the gold you might have missed from our early days.

“Ratu Garaj” is Malay for “Garage Queen,” but this is not meant as an insult. Allow us to explain, Mr. Yan Wei Phin has been a fan of BMWs since childhood. As he matured he promised himself that he’d always work hard and would one day reward himself with one of Munich’s finest. A motorcycle accident with a BMW didn’t even deter him, even though he wound up in the hospital with a broken leg.

Well, Wei Phin must be a very hard worker because he’s only thirty and is on his second BMW. He initially had an E36 318i but managed to sell it and buy this E30 M3. He turned his attention to the E30 M3 due to its developing iconic status and motorsport history (Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters and European Touring Car Championship champion). He also loved moving into an ‘M’-badged Bimmer because of the functional engineering changes that M-cars include.

On the E30 M3, the box-flared wheel arches allow for wider and taller wheels and tires along with a wider track. Different body panels (from the standard E30) also improve aerodynamics. Obviously, more power and improved handling don’t hurt either.

The car was far from perfect when Wei Phin bought it however and it underwent an extensive restoration to achieve its current look. Sadly, he doesn’t get it out very often, calling the M3 a “garage queen.” But he still appreciates owning it and is happy that it’s his garage queen. If you think Wei Phin should turn the M3 into a “pemandu harian” (daily driver), let him know in the comments below!

Owner: Yan Wei Phin
Location: Penang, Malaysia
Year, Make, and Model: 1987 BMW M3
Photographer: Sukun Wong