Highlights

Under 19,000 documented miles from new
Collector-quality factory standard car
Two former registered keepers
Recommissioned since June 2024 including cambelt and service
Large history file including documents back to first registration
MOT valid to April 2026 with no advisories
Recently featured on YouTube by 'Number 27'

The Appeal

The E30 is where BMW’s current market hegemony began. Compact, well-built and agile in a way that was simply a mystery to any Sierra or Cavalier driver, the second-generation 3-Series tempted fleet buyers out of Fords and Vauxhalls and became a staple of suburban driveways.

No wonder that, with 80s cars in ascendancy, good examples are sought-after. And yet they’re surprisingly rare and few are as good as this remarkable example. It is a 320i with the 130bhp 2L straight engine, mated to a desirable 5spd manual box. The mileage is a documented 19,000 miles, amassed by just three keepers. Painted rare Atlantis Blue with a beige fabric interior, it is a really fantastic time warp example. No wonder it has featured on the Number 27 Youtube channel.

The vendor acquired the car in 2024 after a long search for the best E30 he could find. He tells us that the previous keeper had it for 31 years and covered just 13,000 miles. Since buying it, he has checked the car from front to back, attending to whatever he felt was needed. Notably, this has included a service and cambelt change at 16,000 miles in 2024.

If there’s a better E30 320i out there, we’d like to see it. With the added reassurance of advisory-free MOT to April 2026, this fine example is both a show car and a tempting daily driver.

The vendor says:

“This has to be the best E30 320i outside of a museum. It is a genuine 'time warp' car. It is completely original, and it really does feel like a 2-year-old car. You can totally feel the road through the steering wheel. Handling is lovely as a Rear Wheel Drive chassis should be. I love the looks and proportion of this car - it just looks right. There is no ABS, no Air-conditioning, no central locking or any other expensive thing to go wrong. Totally reliable. I would happily drive it any distance. The new owner need do nothing except enjoy the car. Note - this car was recently reviewed on YouTube by 'Number 27'.”

History and Paperwork

UK market RHD car
First registered 9th August 1990
Three registered keepers from new
Current keeper since May 2024
First keeper for 3 years, covering 3,500 miles we are told
Second keeper for 31 years with 13,000 miles covered, mostly in first few years
Second keeper stored car long-term in English garage whilst working in USA
Extensive recommissioning undertaken by current keeper
Part service history prior to current ownership
Full details of current keeper’s work in detailed spreadsheet of work and costs
Original sales brochures included
Various invoices and MOTs as shown
Service book shown in photos
Factory handbooks and wallet
V5C
Old tax discs
2 keys and fobs
First aid kit which appears to be unused
MOT valid to 22nd April 2026 with no advisories
Recently featured on YouTube by 'Number 27'
Service history and MOTs support low mileage but this is not verified

Recent service history:

05/25 - 18,706 miles - general checks by vendor
06.24 - 16,046 miles - cambelt and service by vendor

Notable recent maintenance advised by seller:

All belts, fluids and filters changed
Fuel injectors removed, cleaned and balanced with an inspection certificate
Cam belt changed in June 2024 at 16,000 miles
Front struts disassembled to replace crumbling bump stops

The vendor says:

“I bought the car at auction in May 2024 after looking for over 18 months for the right car to come along. The first owner used the car for 3 years and only did 3,500 miles. The second owner had it for 31 years and only did 13,000 miles; most of these during the first 10 years of his ownership. Apparently, he took up a job in the USA and kept the car long-term in his garage in England before it was sold to a dealer in 2024, who in turn put it up for auction. I then spent a good deal of time and money recommissioning the car. Cosmetically and mechanically, it was already superb, so no bodywork or major repairs were needed; however, because it had been standing for so long, I decided to do a full service and added some upgrades too. Every single belt, fluid or filter that could be changed has been changed. Even the fuel injectors were removed, cleaned, and balanced with an inspection paper to prove it. Cam belt changed in June 2024 @16,000 miles by myself. Front struts disassembled in order to replace the crumbling bump stops etc etc.”

The Condition

207 Atlantis Blue with one or two small paint chips and minor scratches
Small amounts of surface rust underneath, but nothing significant
BMW 'Bottletop' 14" alloy wheels fitted with matching spare
Factory tilt and slide sunroof
Mechanically solid with no rust in jacking points
Original cloth interior in colour 0273 Natural (light beige)
Interior is in very good order, typical of a low-mileage car
No holes or significant wear in seats, we are told
Carpet in very good condition
Dashboard has no cracks according to the seller, a common fault on these cars
Three small cuts in front door cards professionally repaired and are now almost invisible
Retro Blaupunkt stereo fitted with hands-free phone, DAB radio and streaming
Hydraulic headlight levelling system replaced with a reliable E34 electrical system using the original switch
Non-intrusive reverse parking sensor fitted without drilling holes
Rear screen replaced due to worn heater matrix lines
Glovebox torch refurbished using newer BMW internals
Original Laser Alarm with two remote fobs still functioning
Tyres were new at purchase and have covered approximately 3,000 miles
Original unused spare wheel, BMW toolkit, and original BMW locking wheel nuts all present
No ABS, air-conditioning, central locking or other complex systems
No structural advisories on MOT

The vendor says:

“Colour is 207 Atlantis Blue. One or two small paint chips and small scratches here and there. Hardly anything really. Small amounts of surface rust underneath but nothing to write home about. BMW 'Bottletop' 14" alloy wheel and factory tilt and slide sunroof. Mechanically solid and no sign of rust in the jacking points.

“Interior is superb and original. Cloth colour 0273 Natural (light Beige). No holes in the seats and hardly any wear. Carpet is also in superb condition. No cracks at all in the dashboard (common fault with these cars). Three small cuts in the front door cards caused by a trapped seat belt have been professionally repaired and are now almost invisible. Upgraded retro Blaupunkt stereo fitted - you can now take hands-free phone calls and listen to DAB radio or stream music, etc., but it looks like an old unit from the 80s. Hydraulic headlight levelling system replaced with a reliable electrical system from an E34 by myself (but it still uses the original switch, so it looks original. Note - this system fails on 99.9% of BMWs this old, and Hella do not make any new parts! Reverse parking sensor fitted (non-intrusive type, so no holes drilled anywhere to fit it). Rear screen replaced due to all lines of the heater matrix being worn away (over-zealous cleaning by someone in the past, maybe)? Everything works as it should. Even the glovebox torch, which I refurbished using internals from a newer BMW glovebox torch. It also has the original Laser Alarm with two remote fobs that still work. I have some original sales brochures too.”

The Mechanics

1,990cc inline six-cylinder engine
5spd manual transmission
New fuel tank fitted to resolve restriction in return line that caused high fuel pressure and hesitation
Vendor states that the engine starts first time every time
We are told the engine runs very well with no faults or leaks
New rear exhaust section fitted
Clutch master and slave cylinders replaced
The vendor describes a good road feel through the steering wheel
Recent service and cam belt change as detailed above
No advisories on MOT

The vendor says:

“Part service history until I bought it - then full comprehensive history detailing all the work I have done and the cost of doing so. The new owner shall have a copy of this spreadsheet to continue. The engine starts and runs superbly. No faults whatsoever. No leaks. I even changed the fuel tank for a new one because rust in the fuel tank return line was causing a restriction, and therefore the fuel pressure was too high, which in turn caused hesitation upon acceleration. Now it all runs as it should. The engine starts first time, every time and is 'silky smooth' like an inline 6 cylinder should be. New rear exhaust section fitted. Clutch master and slave cylinders replaced. Tyres were new when I bought them, so I have done around 3,000 miles. What looks like the original unused spare wheel is still in place. BMW toolkit present. Original BMW locking wheel nuts all present.”

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