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.
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A E30 M3 is valued at how much?
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.
A rare BMW E30 M3?
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.
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Are BMW E30 values rising?
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.
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How much was a brand-new E30 M3?
Keen M Series enthusiasts are aware that in 1986, the E30 M3 wasn’t yet offered in the US. Let’s be clear about one thing, though: according to NHTSA criteria, a Euro-spec E30 M3 can now be imported freely into the United States as a historic automobile. Examining the models we couldn’t have back then is even more significant in light of the increasing worth and growing appreciation for these models (more on that later).
At the Frankfurt Motor Show in 1985, BMW unveiled its DTM touring-car homologation special. This new M3 featured numerous exterior modifications to the coachwork of the E30 coupe, including wider fenders, deeper front and rear bumper valences, extended rocker panels, a massaged C-pillar (which enabled a re-angled rear glass), a bold rear-deck spoiler, and a distinctive, taller trunk. All all, these adjustments brought the coefficient of drag down from a respectable 0.38 to a much more sporty 0.33.
The M3’s excellent performance was backed up by the motorsport-focused engineers at BMW M, who began by adding more caster to the suspension, five-lug hubs, stronger antiroll bars and relocated endlinks, stiffer and lower springs, and a clutch-style limited-slip differential. The Bosch ABS system and four discs from the E28 5 Series were used to upgrade the brakes on the M3. With double overhead cams, four separate throttle bodies, machine-finished ports, solid lifters, an oil cooler, a powerful 197 horsepower (192 when equipped with a catalyst), and a powerband that begged the driver to rev the engine hard to its 7250-rpm redline, the BMW S14 inline-four served as the beast’s brains. An S14 was kept in its sweet spot with a Getrag five-speed manual with a dogleg first gear and close ratios.
Unique sport seats, an M-specific shift knob stitched into its leather boot, upgraded instrumentation (160-mph speedometer, 8000-rpm tach), an M-Technic steering wheel, and other interior features set the M3 apart from the herd of standard E30s. The air conditioning, power windows, sunroof, and leather that one might expect from a BMW were still available, but at an additional fee. Nevertheless, the E30 M3 had a starting price of 58,000 Deutschmarks (about $30,000 at the time), which was almost twice as much as a regular E30.
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.
How is the E30 M3?
The BMW E30 M3 is one of the most enjoyable and best handling cars I have ever driven. It offers astounding balance thanks to its 48/52 weight distribution, is telepathic in choosing the right line, and has an alive chassis that gives the car a personality, which is lacking in many of today’s uninspiring cars.
Is the BMW E30 quick?
This video of the world’s fastest automobile on ice is coming to you from?…rsunda, Sweden, and holy moly, this ride can FLY. The Buldre Racing Team set a world record while competing in Swedish Speed Week in March 2019 with a BMW E30 M3 that had been modified and installed with a Toyota 2JZ engine that produces an astonishing 1,300 horsepower.
It’s surprising that no ice was melted while recording this video considering that the BMW E30 reached a top speed of 215.5 mph and an average speed of 212 mph. In fact, the Buldre Racing Team smashed a record for ice speed that they had previously set, with the previous record being in an Audi B5 S4 Avant, averaging 202 MPH.
Now, doing this on a flat surface would be one thing, but the driver must have ice coursing through him to drive the BMW that quickly on merely ice. I doubt that I’ve ever exceeded 50 mph when driving on ice, let alone 200 mph, especially with specialized tires.
As you can expect, Buldre has accomplished some pretty amazing things over the years. This video shows them pushing the Audi past the 200-mile mark.
Oh, and you are aware that they have visited the Nurburgring a few times. See one of their drivers complete a circuit of the renowned German track in a 750-horsepower Audi RS2.
And here is some more video of them playing around in the snow, just for fun.
Wow. It doesn’t seem like that horrible of a gig, tricking out cars and then driving those cars very, really fast. The unknown
What makes the BMW E30 so well-liked?
By the time the E30 was introduced in the early 1980s, BMW had established itself as a premium brand, and the relative affordability of the 3-series appealed to the generation’s young professionals. For better or worse, this resulted in it turning into one of the most popular luxury vehicles ever. One benefit of this is that many vehicles were kept, and while some models have grown significantly in value, the E30 has mostly remained a usable classic that can be driven on a daily basis.
What exactly does BMW M3 mean?
The word “Motorsport” refers to the BMW M Series, which was initially developed to support BMW’s racing program. Over time, the BMW M program started to add customized vehicle models to its roster, which are now accessible to the general public.