1989 BMW 316i (E30)

Welcome to our auction for ‘G517 VDX’, which is a lovely BMW 316i with just over 87,000 miles covered since new. In an original condition bar the alloy wheels – and the originals come with it – we are told it has been MoT’d and serviced every year.

Finished in the very of-the-period colour of Zinnoberrot Red, it’s been in the seller’s hands for 14 years and given he’s only its second owner, you might start to understand why it’s as good as it is.

All of which means the seller has sufficient faith in you all to offer it with no reserve, trusting the market will value it accurately and fairly.

The boxy 316i presents well, doesn’t it? With very good panel alignment and consistent shutlines, it tells nothing but a good story. 

The of Zinnoberrot Red paintwork has a good shine to it too, and reminds us that red cars were very much the thing in the 1980s; greed was good and so you worked your way up from this to a Mars Red VW Golf GTI 16V and then the Guards Red Porsche 911 Turbo. Ah, happy days…

The split-rim, 16-inch alloy wheels are finished in black and silver. Unmarked and free of scrapes, scuffs and other damage, they’re fitted with a matching set of 215/45R16 Toyo Proxes tyres, all of which have good tread.

We will never get tired of telling you that experience shows that matching high-quality tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly. Their presence does not, of course, preclude the need for a thorough inspection - something the vendor would welcome, by the way – but it does perhaps give you a shortcut into their attitude towards maintenance.

As we mentioned, the OE 6.5Jx14 alloy wheels come with it. Carefully stored in proper boxes, they come with their centre caps but will need renovating as they’ve got some kerbing marks to the rims. 

The boot-mounted black rubber spoiler is in good shape with no damage but it is a little perished. The rear bumper is marked too, so the new owner will need to balance the competing demands of originality and condition when deciding whether to replace them.

Some of the badges have seen better days too, but the glazing and lamp lenses are all good. 

The tilt ‘n’ slide metal sunroof fits its aperture well and opens and closes as it should. These tend to rust but this one looks very good.

However, there is a little work to do because both rear wheelarches are rusty and a few areas of paintwork have aged, most notably along the top of the front wings. 

Red is notorious for fading and while your first thought might be a respray we’d be tempted to try a decent machine-polish on the weathering first.

The 316i’s interior might lack some of the goodies you’d find in cars further up the range but there’s no denying the quality, which shines through, even now; after nearly a quarter-of-a-century’s service the seats are still firm and comfortable, the instruments and controls are still bright and vibrant, the door cards are in great shape, and the headlining is clean and taut.

It’s a helluva survivor but then that’s what happens when German engineering meets careful curation and only a thousand miles a year. In fact, the seller tells us that everything works in there as it should including the heater and the electric windows and mirrors.The carpets look clean and in good order but the overmats are grubby and past their best. Still, they’ve done what they needed to do over the years so they can retire with dignity. 

A modern Sony Bluetooth headunit is currently fitted but the original Blaupunkt headunit comes with the car. Square period (?) Pioneer speakers are fitted in the parcel shelf. 

Speaking of originality, the toolkit in the boot lid seems to be complete and in very good order; we couldn’t swear to it but if we were told it hadn’t ever been used (bar the locking wheel nut key) we’d have no trouble believing it.

As for work you might like to consider, the driver’s seat has a rip in the base and a loose seam on the backrest. This is a shame but by way of compensation the passenger seat and backseat are all excellent, as are the plastic trims on the back of the two front seats.

The engine bay is workmanlike, so if you like your underbonnet area detailed then there’s plenty for you to get stuck into. Oh, and the sound insulation on the underneath of the bonnet is damaged and will need replacing – if, that is, this sort of thing bothers you.

At the time of writing the BMW’s MoT certificate is valid until the 10th of November but the seller says there will be a new one on before the auction ends.

Said to have a full and documented service history from a combination of BMW main dealers and independent garages, it even still has its original key fob from Cooper Ipswich, the supplying dealer.

The current speedometer reads 24,165 miles however the previous owner had the speedometer changed as it became faulty in about 2006. The current owner has the original speedometer which shows a reading of 62976 on it. Therefore the car has covered a total of circa 87,000 miles in 34 years since new. 

The recent Vehicle History Check is clear.

Given the BMW E30’s stratospheric rise in value recently, we think our estimate of between £8,000 and £12,000 means the 316i is still undervalued but given it is being offered with no reserve and will sell from the very first bid, this might be an opportunity to get in even more cheaply while prices are still reasonable …

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at the Bonhams|Cars Online HQ. Viewings are strictly by appointment. To make a booking, please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, and read our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.