Located in Britain, the BMW E30 has only 2,400 miles on the clock, and is up for auction
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by Sam D. Smith
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Whether it be parodies in popular culture or a pointed meme here or there, it’s hard to argue against the fact that BMW ownership comes with a bit of a stigma. But we’d argue that the BMW E30 3-Series is a car that somehow doesn’t come with that usually associated image. It’s a car that transcends the stereotypes and ends up being just as good as delivering smiles behind the wheel.
In an era where BMW seems to be pushing the design envelope even further, the E30 is the literal definition of a simple “three-box” design. It represents a key pillar of the Bavarian brand. But, of course, being three decades old, finding a decent example is a challenge coupled with years of wear and tear and parts becoming increasingly harder to source.
See Also: Here’s What The BMW E30 Can Still Teach Modern Cars
Sold through Historics Auctioneers, this 1991 BMW 316i Lux was offered with just 2,404 miles (3,869 km) on the odometer. That works out to an average of just 75 miles (120 km) traveled per year!
As you’d expect for a car with so little mileage, the interior and exterior look immaculate in pictures and video. The car was with one owner until 2021, has reportedly spent all its life in a warm garage, and has never seen the sight of rain. There are supposedly even remains of the factory-applied protective wax under the bonnet.
Related: Virtually Brand New 1985 BMW 323i E30 With 162 Miles Has An Astronomical Price Tag
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However, while that’s all well and good, if we’re being honest, it’s probably not the most desirable spec. The 316i, despite sporting the much-lauded fuel-injected motor that was introduced later in the E30’s lifecycle, it still has to make do with a rather old-school 1.6-liter lump under the engine, outputting just 98 hp (73 kW) and 104 lb-ft of torque (141 Nm). That’s also dulled by a four-speed automatic transmission.
But that’s not to say it’s a complete “poverty-spec” E30. It features alloy wheels, electric front windows, power door mirrors, and a cassette deck with four speakers. There’s a dealer-fitted alarm system (which may or may not be suspect after three decades) and dealer-fitted mudflaps too.
