The top 40 Price Guide Movers On The Up list includes them twice.
The 325i saloon is the fastest seller, with prices ranging from PS1.1k for a project that only a real optimist would attempt to PS8.5k for a flawless time-traveling Tardis that will take you back to the roaring 1980s. White high-top sneakers and geometric jumpers are optional.
When the range was PS 1k to PS 6.75k, that is a 25% increase in a year. In our growth chart, the four-cylinder automobiles are right next to the Bugatti Veyron, Bugatti EB110, and Ferrari Enzo thanks to an 8.3% increase in price for a price range between PS0.9k and PS6.5k.
As usual, the movements are propelled by the force created when increasing nostalgia and the dearth of decent survivors intersect, and it’s forcing some extensive repairs when purchasers can’t find the cars they want in the condition they desire.
Just so you know, even though we might get paid through the links on this page, we never let that affect our recommendations for anything. Find out why you can trust us.
In This Article...
What is the cost of a BMW E30 right now?
The average price of a BMW E30 is $9,791, however that figure includes all variants, including the 318i, M3, and grey-market Touring versions. The real query is how much do the 318s, 325s, and M3s cost.
- The typical price of a BMW E30 M3 is $50,249
- A BMW E30 4-cylinder 318i typically costs around $4,900.
- A BMW E30 6-cylinder 325i typically costs around $6,500.
BMW E30 (1983-1991)
The E30 was destined to become a popular classic because it is so reminiscent of BMW’s glory days. The ingenious diversity of models greatly increased attractiveness, especially the Sport spec, the 16-valve 318is, and of course the renowned 325i (even if the 323i initially carried over). There were also variants like the estate and convertible that are very popular right now.
Even by the late 1990s, E30 residuals had proven to be reliable, and a late 325i Sport could still be purchased for less than PS10,000. Funny enough, for that amount of money you could have also purchased an M3 — even a convertible for not much more. Of course not at this time. The rest of the E30 line has had to catch up more gradually while the price of M3s, which are currently trading at PS50,000+, has substantially increased in the 2010s.
The majority of the E30 series joined the early 1980s instances below the PS3000 threshold around the middle of the 2000s. A nice six-cylinder has always been in demand, while four-cylinder cars may be as cheap as PS500. It’s important to note that four-cylinder vehicles are now on the rise as well, moving toward the PS7000–PS10,000 range, following a similar trajectory to the 325i, 323i, and 320i models. A particularly clean 318i can now accept PS4000, which is more than twice what it would have cost in 2015.
Of course, the 325i Sport versions have been the current big news. You might have thought the PS7920 that Brightwells earned for one in 2017 was a good deal, but three years later, they’re going for significantly more than PS20,000. There are the 318is to come, but we are unsure of how much this truly implies for the remainder of the range. With so many people still around, the market isn’t exactly one in which buyers dominate.
What Is The Value Of A Vintage BMW E30 M3 Today?
It all comes down to the kind of bargain you get. Who knows, if you’re lucky, you might get a good E30 M3 for less than $40,000. Here is a 1988 BMW E30 M3 that is now being auctioned off by RM Sotheby’s. The auction is scheduled for March 24; the listing was posted not long ago.
8-Series BMW
The BMW model that everyone forgot about was the E31 8-Series, and since it was never a commercial success, BMW was content for people to forget about it. The E31 is more well-liked now than it has ever been, which suggests that something must have happened after BMW revealed a new 8-Series a few years ago.
The flagship model of the fashionable 1990s coupe has pop-up headlights and a V12 engine. Everything inside the cabin is extremely orderly and functional in true BMW way.
Find a good example while they are still reasonable because costs are about to rise, and then just watch your investment grow in value.
Are E30 prices increasing?
All E30 prices have been climbing rapidly in recent years. For a 318i or 325e in good condition, budget between $3,000 and $4,000, and between $5,000 and $6,000 for a 325i. If you want a car in exceptionally good condition, double these prices.
Why is the BMW E30 M3 so costly?
The E46 has a hip combination of curves and athletic style. This M3 is a pleasure to drive, much like the other M3s mentioned before. Its acceleration not only sounds terrific, but it also feels great.
Five years ago, you might have been able to get one for around $10,000 to $15,000, but today, these vehicles can sell for anywhere from $20,000 to $40,000.
The short answer is that they are extremely fun to drive, have excellent build quality, are becoming more and more rare, and look beautiful.
They also have a sizable following among both young and senior people. They are also selling like hotcakes because nostalgia-related things appear to be at the top of people’s purchasing lists at the moment.
However, regardless of how the market for used vehicles develops in the future or how much these great cars cost, regardless of how much they are worth, they will provide their owners a degree of thrill that money simply cannot buy! And that is, quite simply, priceless.
The BMW E30 is it rare?
There are rare classic automobiles and then there are the really rare ones. With only 25 examples produced solely for the UK market, the Roberto Ravaglia edition E30 M3 is the most rare of all E30 M3s (BMW classifies the 480 Cecotto editions and 25 Ravaglia editions together, therefore the plaque reading 74/505). Only 16 of the 25 were made in Misano red, which is considered the model’s defining color. By winning nearly all of the races they contested, Johnny Cecotto and Roberto Ravaglia established the E30 M3 the most successful touring vehicle of all time and ensured the M3’s unquestionable legendary position. BMW created the M3 Cecotto and M3 Ravaglia as two limited edition versions as a tribute to their idols. The only E30 M3 made expressly for the UK, the Ravaglia is distinguishable by its limited paint colors (either Misano red or Nogaro silver), unusual wheels, body color painted rocker cover and plenum, and, of course, special edition plaque. It is unclear how many of the original 25 are still in existence, and even more critically, how many have the kind of provenance and history that today’s prices make crucial for any potential owner. This gorgeous M3 Ravaglia is one of them. The homologation special EVO II created towards the end of the chassis run is essentially a rarer variant of the Ravaglia and Cecotto cars.
Due to its near-perfect provenance, this excellent E30 M3 Ravaglia was delivered as a brand-new vehicle to Bolton BMW in September 1989. In its 28 years, the automobile has only traveled 53,500 miles with 4 keepers; the most recent owner, our customer, has had the vehicle since 1994 after purchasing it as an authorized used BMW from Vines in Horsham (which no longer exists as a branch). In his 23 years of ownership, this man has only driven 14,500 miles; he keeps the car in a heated garage and only uses it sometimes on dry days.
Munich Legends has had the good fortune to care for E30 M3s for well over 20 years, and we are renowned across the automotive industry for our knowledge of these incredible vehicles. Our technical team thoroughly and meticulously examined this exquisite Ravaglia, and they are really pleased with what they found. The Misano red paintwork is in exceptional shape, has a deep, lustrous shine, and is quite original. It is also corrosion free, sturdy, and mechanically perfect. With a beautiful patina on the leather and barely any evidence that the car has traveled 53,000 kilometers in its 28 years, the interior is pristine. It’s all precisely how it should be.
With a fresh inspection, two services, a MOT, a pre-delivery check, and four new tires, this exceptional M3 Ravaglia will be handed over to its new owner.
Spam bots cannot access this email address because it is secured. To view it, you must have JavaScript enabled.
What is so unique about the BMW E30?
The car had everything, despite being considerably smaller than most of its luxury competitors. One of the few things that many people think is ageless is its boxy wedge form, which was a recurring motif throughout the automotive industry in the 1980s. It had the typical explosion of buttons, as is typical of most cars from this era, but aside from that, the interior was pure class, with only quality materials being used.
How many BMW E30s were made?
In the 1980s, small rear-wheel drive saloons were hard to come by. The Alfa Giulia, Triumph Vitesse, and other sporting vehicles of the 1960s and earlier were all reminiscent of the E30.
There were several different variants of the well-over two million E30s produced, with engines ranging from the 86 bhp diesel to the 238 horsepower M3.
Despite having more features than earlier models, the weight of the construction was kept to a minimum thanks to stress analysis, and a five-door Touring joined the two- and four-door saloons, with two-door dropheads, which were originally built by Baur and then produced as a factory convertible.
BMW resisted the urge to alter a successful formula, instead improving nearly every aspect of the E21 for the E30. Electronics were utilized in fuel-injected vehicles, a lovely new five-speed transmission was available, the E21’s tail-happy handling had been dialed back in favor of a nice ride/handling compromise, and the heating and ventilation had been greatly enhanced.
In 1987, the five-door Touring was added to the lineup (left); the 325iX gave the 3 Series all-wheel drive.
The 323i offers a close-ratio ZF ‘box as an option for performance fans, but when the E30 was tested, sophistication really stood out. The 323i’s “excellent blend of elegance, smoothness, and reactivity” and its “high quality feel” were praised by Motor.
Although the back seat space was limited, the boot was enormous. The driving position “fits like a glove” and the “teutonically hard” seats were unexpectedly pleasant.
One of the few unique elements was a warning-light panel on the roof above the rearview mirror. Remember that the block from the four-cylinder engine served as the foundation for the turbo F1 engine in the 1980s, in case you thought it was the poor relation!
In order to set it apart from Baur’s Top Cabrio, BMW’s soft-top, which was gorgeous with its top disappearing out of sight, was unusual for the 1980s by having an open cockpit. The only issue the testers had was loud wind noise when standing. It was heavier due to additional bracing, and considerable scuttle shaking was unavoidable with the Sport setup typically used on the 325i, but in 1986 it was dubbed “the fastest production four-seater convertible you can buy.”
With 150 imports in 1986 and 250 in 1987, it was only available in the UK. The Touring, a true performance estate with a modest but useful load capacity that was slightly lighter than the convertible, debuted in 1988.
The M3 is not listed here because it will soon be discussed in its own buying guide. The same is true for other versions that were only available in specific markets, like 2.4 diesels and the 320iS.