The BMW M3 turns 40 this year, and LEGO has marked the occasion with 77263, a 358-piece Speed Champions model of the original E30. Its squared-off shape has always looked as if it was made for bricks, so I was keen to see how well the design team captured it.

I picked mine up from Kmart while it was on special for $29. That is a great price for a Speed Champions car, and well under what it normally sells for.

The build

Like most Speed Champions cars, the M3 builds up from the chassis, with the cabin, bodywork and finer details layered on as you go. It is a relaxed, satisfying build that comes together comfortably in one sitting.

I was not building alone, either. A crew of koala minifigures joined me at the table and helped out at every stage, from sorting parts to supervising the final checks. You will spot them throughout the build photos below.

Fewer stickers, more prints

The highlight for me is how few stickers there are. Speed Champions sets usually come with a large sticker sheet, and lining those up on small curved parts can be fiddly. Much more of this car's detail is printed, right down to the wheels, which carry the BMW logo. It makes for a cleaner build and a model that should hold up better on the shelf over time.

Livery and details

The black, white and blue livery was developed jointly by LEGO and BMW for the anniversary, and it looks sharp in brick form. Other touches include gold wheels, four yellow front lights, a large rear spoiler, twin exhausts and number 40 graphics marking the milestone.

The set also includes a driver minifigure with an exclusive torso print, ready to take the wheel once the koalas hand back the keys.

Final thoughts

77263 is a fun, satisfying build and one of the more distinctive cars in this year's Speed Champions range.

The move away from stickers is a real improvement, and at $29 from Kmart it was excellent value. If you are a fan of classic cars or touring car racing, it is well worth adding to your collection.