In the 1970s, BMW dominated the important European Touring Car Championship (ETCC) with its 3.0 CSL “Batmobile,” which won six drivers' and six manufacturers' titles in just seven years. However, the transition to Group A regulations in 1982 led to a switch to the new 3.5-litre 635 CSi model, which BMW Motorsport homologated between 1983 and 1985 for the production of around 50 racing cars.

The E24 RA1-30 chassis was a “late” first-series car, originally delivered to Austrian gentleman driver Karl Oppitzhauser before the 1984 ETCC season. Carefully prepared by its owner's team of the same name and sponsored by German DIY store chain Bauhaus, the race car made its racing debut in 1984 at the 500 km race in Monza.

Over the following three seasons, the car competed in ten more ETCC races, with Oppitzhauser mainly sharing the driving with his Austrian amateur colleague Georg Pacher.

Their performances against factory rivals such as the TWR-Jaguar, TWR-Rover, and Eggenberger Volvo teams were remarquable. Particularly noteworthy is their 8th place in the overall standings at the 500 km race in Monza in 1985.

Also in 1985, former Hesketh Formula 1 driver Divina Galica competed in the 500 km race at the Österreichring with E24-RA1-30.

The car was sold to the team «Bavaria Automobiles» in 1986 and entered in the 24 Hours of Spa that year.

In 2014 the car was acquired by renowned German race car specialist «Brunn Racing» and subsequently completely overhauled, with great emphasis placed on preserving all important original components. The vehicle still has all its original components that were required in Group A at the time, such as electric windows, heating, fenders, etc.

In 2017, it was sold to a French collector who only used it once in 2019.

At the beginning of 2023, the current owner purchased the car and had it extensively refurbished by the renowned Swiss workshop «Graber Sportgarage AG» (all invoices, details of work and pictures are available).

In 2023 and 2024, the 635 CSi was successfully entered in Peter Auto's “Heritage Touring Cup” series and won the overall Group A classification in 2024.