Review: 77263 BMW M3 (E30)
Posted by CapnRex101,
BMW has only appeared once before in Speed Champions, which is rather surprising given the brand's popularity. However, that scarcity makes 77263 BMW M3 (E30) even more compelling, as there is definite pressure to replicate the classic BMW M3 accurately.
The designer has done an excellent job in some regards, employing lots of creative building techniques and avoiding the need for stickers as much as possible, despite the car's complex livery. However, there are certain issues with the bodywork shape, which is not a surprise given the M3's subtle rounded features.
Summary
77263 BMW M3 (E30), 358 pieces.
£22.99 / $29.99 / €27.99 | 6.4p, 8.4c, 7.8c per piece.
Buy at LEGO.com »
This model struggles with the BMW M3's shape, but offers a unique building experience
- Clever building techniques
- Many details are brick-built
- Generous quantity of printed parts
- Issues with the M3's shape
- Inaccurate wheels
The set was provided for review by LEGO. All opinions expressed are those of the author.
Minifigure
The driver wears a shirt matching the car itself, displaying the same pattern and racing number on the back. According to BMW's press release for this model, a real version of the minifigure's shirt will be available to purchase in August, which is a good idea, though it looks awkward with long sleeves. Dual-moulded arms would have been nice.
Perhaps more interesting is the hair element, which has not appeared in a new set for a couple of years and is new in magenta. The smiling head is relatively common though and a wrench is included, as normal for Speed Champions sets, despite there being no wheel inserts to remove from the car.
Reference
Source - press.bmwgroup.com
The Completed Model
It is hard to define why the BMW E3 is quite so distinctive, which is not necessarily ideal for a LEGO iteration. The shape is reasonably accurate on the whole, but some of the car's gentler curves are almost impossible to recreate at this scale, like those above the front wheel arches. Similarly, while the shape of the front and rear windscreen is fairly close to the real car, that is not quite close enough.
The angular edges are particularly apparent from the sides, not helped by the patterns on the bodywork. However, much of the decoration is actually brick-built and there are lots of printed elements included too, with only fourteen stickers, many of which are quite small. The stickers applied on either side are the most notable, as the bonnet and roof are completely printed.
BMW is known for its use of distinctive kidney grilles on the front of each car, including the M3. While printed parts or stickers could have recreated their shape perfectly, using a pair of black forks is more interesting! Even so, it is a shame the silver trim around the grilles is missing and the trans-yellow headlights are slightly oversized.
Otherwise, all the details look superb. The anniversary livery consists entirely of printed pieces across the front of the car, with 1x2 jumper plates neatly arranged above the wheel arches and matching a printed 1x1 slope on the left side. In addition, I like how the bonnet is angled slightly, which goes some way to avoiding the car looking too blocky.
Unusually for Speed Champions, there is some detail found under the bonnet, which is strange because the engine bay is inaccessible without disassembling the car. A sticker represents part of the engine and looks accurate, but nice though the feature is, it seems a bit useless without a functioning bonnet.
The wheels are peculiar because they are new, presumably created for the M3, but they hardly resemble the wheels on the real car. The tyre sidewalls should be much thicker and the spokes are not accurate either. I wonder whether this element has been created for a future car, though that does not explain its use here. At least the BMW logo printed on the hub looks nice.
It surprises me that a brand new livery was selected for this model, rather than a more familiar and potentially nostalgic colour, or maybe a rally design. This pattern is distinctive though, with no other Speed Champions sets like it. The new dual-moulded windscreen part is used to good effect here, with pillars moulded in black and white.
The vast majority of Speed Champions sets are constructed around a versatile chassis piece introduced in 2023 and I assumed this model would be the same. That is not the case though, with a 6x8 trapdoor frame plate forming much of the chassis instead, which makes space for a unique trim design and 2x2 corner tiles as part of the pattern on the bodywork.
There is still enough room for two minifigures inside, seated in 2x2 slots with a tile underneath. Otherwise, the interior is not quite as detailed or refined as usual, as some colourful parts stay visible and look out of place, but I am not particularly worried about that on a fully enclosed car.
One disadvantage of printed parts is that the designs do not always line up as they should, but there are no such issues here. Perhaps changes have been made to improve how consistently printed parts match up, or maybe I was lucky. Either way, the decoration on the roof and across the back of the car looks perfect.
Even the narrow stripes at the front and rear, under the lights, are printed on 2x2 curved corner plates, which I find impressive. The rear lights are also effective, comprising stacked 1x1 plates laid sideways, while the twin exhausts are accurate as well, represented by binoculars.
Overall
77263 BMW M3 (E30) has plenty of positive qualities: its construction is interesting, the livery is faithful to that designed for the M3's fortieth anniversary and there are a huge number of printed elements included, with relatively few stickers. Moreover, I like how forks have been used for the distinctive grilles, despite the missing silver trim.
The trouble is, this model fundamentally fails to capture the shape of its subject. I am not at all surprised because of the subtle rounded edges necessary to recreate the M3, which are pretty much impossible to recreate, although I do not understand why the wheels are inaccurate. This set is fun to build, but as a recreation of the BMW M3 E30, the shape is just wrong.
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38 comments on this article
I have no attachment to this car whatsoever and quite like how the set looks livery and all, but it does seem a little odd to decide that because you can’t achieve the exact proportional degree of curves at the right scale, then it’s best to create almost no curves at all. I think it ends up looking less like the car than using too-big curves might have.
I wonder if they decided to make it have goofy livery because this car's shape just doesn't translate to Lego very well and it would look even goofier with one consistent color, and they though a wild paint job would hide that fact. Either way, it's confusing to look at, and as someone who has always appreciated those cars, it's a pass for me.
As ugly as sin but still a must have (and much more attractive than any overpriced Technic Supercar!). Looking forwards to picking up this plus 77264 in a week or so.
This should have been red. Clear lights with those hole bracket panels to make them look smaller. Spend the sticker budget on actual mesh wheels.
Typically I've really enjoyed a lot of the recent SC, but this is a major miss.
Edit: also, the front and rear bumpers stick out too far.
The one positive about this car is the number of prints. Which makes it even more of a shame that they are wasted on this set. And while it's nice that they seem to align well, the white gaps still kinda ruin it.
The problem with a car like the E30 is that it isn't so much iconic because of its basic shape, but it's all about the details. Details that are impossible te recreate in this scale. And when even the nose is completely off (I mean, the E30 was from an era when the nose of a BMW wasn't just headlights and kidneys....), it ends up being barely recognizable. Maybe some iconic livery could still have saved it somewhat, but instead we get this....
One of the worst SC sets of the 8 wide era.
I agree that the trans-yellow headlights are oversized, but way more than slightly. Their treatment in this model makes it look more Golf 1 than E30. Similar headlight treatment to 77237 Dodge Hellcat would have worked much better here. This one is a miss for me too.
I too am disappointed that BMW and Lego didn't choose to recreate a classic racing livery on the M3. I grew up watching these things race and love them to bits! Although one half of the public discourse that I have seen online probably stems from the fact that they ran liveries that are heavily associated with cigarette or alcohol brands so wouldn't be entirely suitable subject matter for a kid's toy in 2026.
The OTHER half of the problem in the public discourse (and more relevant here) is that Lego and BMW showed off pictures of prototype cars that Lego had made in plain white and red, and that's what got everyone talking about it. They look beautiful in those colours. I would love to have one in white... and thankfully Lego is a modular building system that allows me to order the parts to make a plain white one if I want to. That'll be a fun project for the future! For all the red M3 fans... cross your fingers and hope that the windscreen comes out in red at some point. Sorry.
To address the chosen livery for the car, BMW has handily provided various press releases and marketing materials that explain what it is doing with this collaboration with Lego. There's a link above in the body of the text for this review if you want to know more. It's about selling BMW as a brand with the goal of shifting more current-day M-cars and t-shirts for aspirational car owners, or in Lego's case getting BMW fans to take a look at Lego sets and maybe buy one... and another... and another... Simple as that.
And the wheel choice... well. As a road-going car they came out with 15 or 16" wheels from the factory. In race trim in the Group A touring car regulations they ran 18" wheels, which look much cooler and have those low-profile tyres. I think they suit the car really well. From BMW's perspective they might be a hint at the potential for customisation that an M3 owner might pursue. From Lego's perspective it's a new mould that matches a new tyre (from the 77254 Ferrari SF90) with the ability to be used across a range of cars in different colours, which a rendition of a 16" wheel and tyre for Speed Champions might not meet. As Lego experts we all understand what conditions have to be met before a new mould is approved, right?
The main appeal of this set, I think, is the slightly early Futuron 40th Anniversary minifig.
I love the BMW M3. I owned the E46 for several years and it still remains the best car I have ever driven.
However, this looks really poor. I think the wheels are the ultimate let down. You just cannot unsee how awful they look.
I do like the Speed Champions range. Well(ish) priced, fun builds that don't take up too much shelf space and usually do a pretty good job of reflecting the source material.
Think I'll be giving this one a miss though - if it wasn't for the badging and livery, I'd not even be sure it was a BMW, let alone an M3.
Still - they can't get it right all the time. First world problems, etc etc
Other than the shaping, the livery, and the interior, it looks great. I’m not a car guy but I kept thinking everyone was saying it was £30 which seemed too high. The rims seemed an odd choice until I googled and saw similar a number of times. At first glance, my caption for this set would have been, “And this is why we ask Dada to do our stickers.”
In my opinion, I would've loved this as a clean version, and maybe have some M stripes on it too
LEGO REALLY should have made a new mudguard for this, I believe that would have made it look a LOT more like an M3, because the ones they used are 100% wrong.
We need to stop whoever is currently advising corporations on colors and designs.
It would be better if they made a classic street version, in white or red color (as prototype models), and the original wheels are more similar to Aston Martin DB5 76911
For headlights, they should use round plates or plates with clips, as 77237 did
https://www.bmw-m.com/content/dam/bmw/marketBMW_M/www_bmw-m_com/topics/magazine-article-pool/2026/speed-champions-behind-the-scenes/bmw-m3-e30-lego-speedchampions-bts-17-3x4.jpg?imwidth=1440
minority report: I like stickers because they can be left off.
I'll still get it though.
Don't know why, but I like these clever, compact little sets.
It looks great for a car but why the unecessary BMW license because it looks nothing like the original besides the colourscheme..
And again, 8 studs wide but no functions at all! Nothing, nada, niente, nichts..
Lame theme by now, i am certainly over it.
I'm not normally one to complain about how accurate Speed Champions cars are as they are Lego versions not replica kits - try Tamiya* if you want that - but this one is just a bit too 'off'.
I do quite like how this has got the reaction that 'we want prints not stickers' but 'not on a set we want to leave the stickers off'!
*I might be dating myself a bit there.
To me, as a supposed representation of an E30 M3 this thing looks like sh*t. Totally.
The livery is ugly as f*** imho. And not choosing either a classic colour like red or black, or the iconic (for once that term would have been appropriate) DTM livery is a crime!
I love the M3 and already have several scale models of various sizes including the Scalextric DTM version, and never will I buy this absolute POS set!
The designer deserves to be sacked for this abomination which looks NOTHING like an E30 M3!
I consider this set an insult to every BMW M3 fan. Seriously, when I heard they would be doing a Speed Champions M3 I was so excited, but when I saw the actual set I was aghast at what they did.
Rarely did I feel so annoyed and let down by an official set design.
The overall proportions, the wheel arches, the entire front, the greenhouse. Awful. And the only half decent view, the rear, is ruined by the livery which leaves it looking a total mess.
I do like the minifig a lot. She’s cute. I like her hair and her fun shirt.
Ok LEGO, you had your fun with the BS anniversary livery, now bring out the OG E30 M3 we all wanted in plain white, red or black. Thanks.
I would say that’s pretty ugly. Unfortunately there’s no pretty about it. At least it doesn’t come with a terrible price tag.
I’m also in minority:
I don’t like these printed parts- they can’t be used in other projects. I would have preferred stickers.. and not put them.
Or better: choose cars that can be built without stickers and printed parts.
@AustinPowers said:
"To me, as a supposed representation of an E30 M3 this thing looks like sh*t. Totally.
The livery is ugly as f*** imho. And not choosing either a classic colour like red or black, or the iconic (for once that term would have been appropriate) DTM livery is a crime!
I love the M3 and already have several scale models of various sizes including the Scalextric DTM version, and never will I buy this absolute POS set!
The designer deserves to be sacked for this abomination which looks NOTHING like an E30 M3!
I consider this set an insult to every BMW M3 fan. Seriously, when I heard they would be doing a Speed Champions M3 I was so excited, but when I saw the actual set I was aghast at what they did.
Rarely did I feel so annoyed and let down by an official set design.
The overall proportions, the wheel arches, the entire front, the greenhouse. Awful. And the only half decent view, the rear, is ruined by the livery which leaves it looking a total mess. "
Boomer with an anger management problem getting pissed off by a toy company producing inaccurately shaped toy. If it weren't so sad and pathetically irrelevant, I would make a meme out of it.
@MrBedhead : no more sad than a constant apologist who cannot stand criticism of the company he apparently worships no matter what.
And just as an FYI, from what I gathered a Boomer is someone born between 1946 and 1964. Nowhere near my age group, but nevermind.
@AustinPowers said:
" @MrBedhead : no more sad than a constant apologist who cannot stand criticism of the company he apparently worships no matter what.
And just as an FYI, from what I gathered a Boomer is someone born between 1946 and 1964. Nowhere near my age group, but nevermind. "
Perhaps wanting someone sacked for their design efforts within the considerable restraints of Lego could be considered a tad over the top.
The only thing your diatribe was missing was the usual claim that another brand had produced a perfect version with all prints and costing a quarter as much.
The car is too large overall to faithfully represent the actual E30 M3 and I think its proportions are off.
There are some details that are close to the source material, however the rear wheels are set too far back and the boot itself is far too long, a similar thing the yellow Supra suffered from (that model having an overly exaggerated bonnet).
I also noticed that the prototype models had somewhat curved front rather than the flat one in production model, this seems to give it a look that more accurately represents the M3. Why they have gone for this final model is beyond me
If anything is perfectly clear, it’s that this is the version that BMW wanted Lego to sell, shape and livery included. It’s odd that they don’t seem to be getting any of the credit/blame.
@HundoCetoddle said:
" @AustinPowers said:
" @MrBedhead : no more sad than a constant apologist who cannot stand criticism of the company he apparently worships no matter what.
And just as an FYI, from what I gathered a Boomer is someone born between 1946 and 1964. Nowhere near my age group, but nevermind. "
Perhaps wanting someone sacked for their design efforts within the considerable restraints of Lego could be considered a tad over the top."
Granted, that might have been a bit harsh, but otoh, if you can't design a set properly within the given constraints then maybe just admit it and do a different prototype. After all, an E30 M3 doesn't lend itself to a LEGO rendition, at least not at this scale and with the parts available.
Whether other manufacturers offer a model of this car is of no relevance in this case, since it's the LEGO version we are discussing.
If at least they'd have done a proper colour or colour scheme, maybe that could have saved it a bit. Or maybe they chose this scheme in order to hide the bad shaping by the muddled and almost camo-like colours and shapes that look so unelegant and unbefitting such an iconic vehicle. And yes, it's on the original car as well, as seen in the picture, but it looks just as bad on that one. It hides all the elegance and sportiness and leaves just a muddled mess.
If they didn't want a unicolour, why not go for this classic livery?:
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d8/BMW_E30_M3_1.JPG
Then you could even have a 2-in-1 set by making a white version by not putting on the stickers.
@Hiratha said:
"If anything is perfectly clear, it’s that this is the version that BMW wanted Lego to sell, shape and livery included. It’s odd that they don’t seem to be getting any of the credit/blame."
Is it all that clear?
And even if that's the case, Lego could just say no. They have no obligation to release a bad product, and then even pay BMW a license fee for it...
I also wonder how other companies, that have made models of the E30 M3 in about every shape, form or livery there has ever been, got around this.
@WizardOfOss said:
" @Hiratha said:
"If anything is perfectly clear, it’s that this is the version that BMW wanted Lego to sell, shape and livery included. It’s odd that they don’t seem to be getting any of the credit/blame."
Is it all that clear?
And even if that's the case, Lego could just say no. They have no obligation to release a bad product, and then even pay BMW a license fee for it...
I also wonder how other companies, that have made models of the E30 M3 in about every shape, form or livery there has ever been, got around this."
I would say that it's more up to Lego which color will be produced, eventually they are giving options. Because usually we see connections between parts in certain color produced in one time. So it often goes like: what color were last sets in line + what color we will produce this year for other sets.
Set looks awful and I do agree that it's weakest SC in last years.
Minifig here is like a wormy cherry on the top of bitter potatoes cake - doesn't suit and taste bad.
Pros: if someone wants rims or windscreen this set will be 50% off often
@CapnRex101
Please include sticker sheet photos in reviews! :)
@WizardOfOss said:
" @Hiratha said:
"If anything is perfectly clear, it’s that this is the version that BMW wanted Lego to sell, shape and livery included. It’s odd that they don’t seem to be getting any of the credit/blame."
Is it all that clear?
And even if that's the case, Lego could just say no. They have no obligation to release a bad product, and then even pay BMW a license fee for it...
I also wonder how other companies, that have made models of the E30 M3 in about every shape, form or livery there has ever been, got around this."
Yes, it is clear. I read the full press release. This was a collaboration between the two companies to come up with on a fancy anniversary livery that could also be produced in Lego form and BMW had both input and veto on the sculpting. If the front of the final kit is less curved than the prototype, then that’s something BMW approved.
You’ll note I didn’t say “and therefore Lego is perfectly innocent and nearly irrelevant”, however, and it’s a little odd you seem to be responding as if I had.
@Hiratha said:
"Yes, it is clear. I read the full press release. This was a collaboration between the two companies to come up with on a fancy anniversary livery that could also be produced in Lego form and BMW had both input and veto on the sculpting. If the front of the final kit is less curved than the prototype, then that’s something BMW approved.
You’ll note I didn’t say “and therefore Lego is perfectly innocent and nearly irrelevant”, however, and it’s a little odd you seem to be responding as if I had."
I tend to take press releases with more than just a grain of salt. But sure, if that's actually how it went then both are to blame. Seems like a case of just thinking if they could, not if they should. And as a result both lost track on what should have been the goal: Making a good model of an iconic car. Which the final result is clearly not, neither good nor iconic. I think we can all agree on that?
In the end, some people that are not in the design team will have had the final word on if this is a product that's going to be on shelves or not. And even if BMW was totally happy with this design (and considering how actual BMW's from recent years look, they probably don't even care), higher-ups at Lego could have stopped it and send the design team back to the drawing board. In the end it is a Lego product, not a BMW product.
As for the last part....I don't see how you read that in my initial reply?
@WizardOfOss said:
" @Hiratha said:
"Yes, it is clear. I read the full press release. This was a collaboration between the two companies to come up with on a fancy anniversary livery that could also be produced in Lego form and BMW had both input and veto on the sculpting. If the front of the final kit is less curved than the prototype, then that’s something BMW approved.
You’ll note I didn’t say “and therefore Lego is perfectly innocent and nearly irrelevant”, however, and it’s a little odd you seem to be responding as if I had."
I tend to take press releases with more than just a grain of salt. But sure, if that's actually how it went then both are to blame. Seems like a case of just thinking if they could, not if they should. And as a result both lost track on what should have been the goal: Making a good model of an iconic car. Which the final result is clearly not, neither good nor iconic. I think we can all agree on that?
In the end, some people that are not in the design team will have had the final word on if this is a product that's going to be on shelves or not. And even if BMW was totally happy with this design (and considering how actual BMW's from recent years look, they probably don't even care), higher-ups at Lego could have stopped it and send the design team back to the drawing board. In the end it is a Lego product, not a BMW product.
As for the last part....I don't see how you read that in my initial reply?"
Grain of salt is one thing, ignoring it entirely seems a bit much.
It’s the bit where you keep spending a lot of time making the point that Lego still has responsibility, which it seemed to me implied and implies that you thought I was saying they don’t.
@Hiratha said:
"It’s the bit where you keep spending a lot of time making the point that Lego still has responsibility, which it seemed to me implied and implies that you thought I was saying they don’t."
Ah okay, wasn't meant like that. Just saying that Lego has the final say in the matter. Though if BMW actually cared, they too should have pulled the plug on this one.
@WizardOfOss said:
" @Hiratha said:
"It’s the bit where you keep spending a lot of time making the point that Lego still has responsibility, which it seemed to me implied and implies that you thought I was saying they don’t."
Ah okay, wasn't meant like that. Just saying that Lego has the final say in the matter. Though if BMW actually cared, they too should have pulled the plug on this one."
Fair enough.