1975 and BMW introduced the E21, which followed on from the legendary 2002. The E21 was the first generation of what has become the hugely successful 3 Series. The car launched as a two-door saloon, with a convertible option converted by German manufacturer Karrosserie Baur shortly after. Powering the E21 was a choice of the M10 engine, available in either a 1.6 litre 316, 1.8 litre 318 and the 2.0 litre 320. Then there was the Bosch K-Jetronic mechanical fuel injected version of the 2.0 litre, the 320i. Gearbox choices came in the form of a Getrag 4-speed manual as standard, Getrag 5-speed manual as an option or a 3-speed automatic. In late 1977, the introduction of the M20 six-cylinder engine brought us the 323i.
This seller of this lovely BMW E21, purchased the car in 2016 and is the 5th keeper of the BMW. Originally, the car was purchased by a gentleman working in Germany from the local BMW dealer, Wolfgang Wurtle BMW located in Giessen Germany, who’s name is still on the back panel. It was ordered as a right hand drive, knowing it would eventually be going back to the UK, which it did a year later where it was sold to a buyer in London. It has spent most of its life in London in underground storage.
With such excellent condition and low mileage, the car has been featured as the lead car in the 40th anniversary celebrations of the 3 Series advertising campaign by BMW UK. It had a full page photograph, (with number plate), on the inside of the front cover of Autocar 13th May 2015, and a copy is included with the sale. The campaign saw the adverts on major billboards nationwide, and on BMW’s stand at the Goodwood Revival. If all that wasn’t enough, more recently it was in the June 2021 edition of Vouge magazine
The seller has enjoyed the car for 5 years, but now the use is getting less each year and storage is an issue, and so the decision has been made to part with the low mileage E21.
Well there's certainly no shortage of history with this wonderful 316. It has 22 previous MOT certificates, which coincide with the mileage and the current MOT expiring on 25th January 2022.
There is also an extensive service history, which shows the stamps in the service book, along with invoices for the majority of the services that have been carried out at BMW dealers or independent BMW specialists. There are also the original handbooks and, as mentioned, the Autocar magazine.
Inside the E21, the trim has suffered from age and some possible sun damage. The seats are the originals which are finished in Pacific blue material. This has worn on the seat base and also the top corner of the driver’s seat. The passenger seat is in better condition and with no obvious signs of wear.
The dashboard is free from any cracks and it is in excellent condition. The instruments are nice and clean with no real scratches to the clear panel. The odometer is showing a reading of 37,319 miles, and is all reported to be working as it should. Towards the center of the dash, the hearing controls show no signs of wear and fitted just below is a Blaupunkt Turin M 11 radio. The centre console houses the automatic gear lever that has no real signs of heavy use, as you would expect with 37,319 miles.The door cards are in excellent condition. The windows are mechanical and the mirrors are electric, which was an option, along with the heated rear window and rear seat belts.
Into the rear, and the seat has suffered the same as the front with some splits to the base and the top of the backrest. The head lining is still nice and tight with no damage. The carpets throughout the passenger compartment are in good order, with just a couple of small pulls in the material. There is a full set of rubber mats to protect it.
The boot area benefits from the tool kit which is missing just one item, (it is good for there to be any there). The floor has a carpet which is clean and tidy, and underneath is the spare wheel and jack.
Finished in Lapis Blue, the E21 certainly is in stunning condition. The 316 is reported to be 95% original paintwork, with just the passenger wing having a small repair in the mid 1980’s after it was scuffed.
Starting with the front, the first thing you notice is just how clean the car is, with very, very minimal, (if any), stone chips to the leading edge of the bonnet. The chrome bumper is free from any corrosion and the BMW kidney grille is nice and clean with no noticeable broken slats to either side. The headlights are free from any chips. The offside is slightly cloudy compared to the nearside, and there is a small chip on the offside indicator. The bonnet aligns as it should and opens and closes correctly. Moving up to the windscreen, this looks to be the original which is in good condition with no chips at the time of our visit. The window rubbers are free from perishing, with the chrome insert being relatively clean for the age. It does have some small amounts of water ingress, as you would expect.
Around to the sides of the German saloon and, as you would expect, the doors align just how BMW intended. The car is extremely straight with no dinks that we could see. Chrome trim is used around the windows and this is in excellent order, with just some age related very fine scratches. Just like the front, the windows are the genuine BMW stamped glass which have also been etched with the car’s registration number.
To the rear, again in lovely condition, the chrome bumper is nice and bright and the lights have no cracks to them. The boot lid retains the 316 and BMW badges, which are in excellent condition. The nearside back panel has the sticker that the dealer applied at the point of sale back in 1982, which was from W.Wurtele BMW.
The wheels are the original steels and were refurbished in 2011. The centre caps are all in good condition and the tyres have only covered miles in the high hundreds.
The E21 has a 1.8 litre engine fitted, coupled to a 3-speed automatic gearbox. The engine used in the 316 is the M10 variant which produces 98 bhp. This is fueled by a Solex carburettor, which at the flick of a key fires the 316 into life, with no untoward noises that shouldn't be there, and ticks over like a dream.
The car is reported to drive very well and pulls through the gears nice and smoothly, it will quite happily sit at 70mph traveling down the motorway. The suspension still feels nice and tight without any knocking or creaking to be heard.
In 2018, the car had a full service along with a complete exhaust system, and at the same time the rear shoes and brake cylinders were replaced. More recently, on 17th August 2021, a full service, including spark plugs, was carried out, and there was also a new alternator fitted.
What's not to love about this 1982 BMW 316 E21, with an amazingly low 37,319 miles under its belt? It’s had a recent service to ensure everything is right on the car, the garage mechanic is reported to have commented on how perfect the car is.
Finding such an original car is like all your christmases have come at once for any die hard BMW fan. It’s the perfect car to add to a collection, or replace a current classic, with one that, let's be honest, has probably got less miles on. This German classic needs a new home, what are you waiting for?
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1982 BMW 316 E21
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