1989 BMW E30 318i

Highlights

  • Low mileage and tidy E30 
  • Three registered keepers
  • Solid and presentable light project 
  • Ideal modern classic or daily driver 

The Appeal 

This tidy E30 has recently been brought blinking into the light after 21 years of nearly continuous dry storage - since 2003 it only briefly emerged in 2017 for a family wedding. The result is a very solid and presentable car with remarkably low mileage and just three registered keepers.
As a virtual ‘barn find’ 318i it gives the buyer an interesting and light project with an entertaining and practical classic saloon to enjoy at the end of it. And that is certainly a prospect because the E30 was the ‘ultimate driving machine’ that set BMW on its journey to saloon car hegemony. Later 318s like this one got the more powerful version of the M40 engine, making them perfectly usable as daily drivers. This one’s auto box would make that task considerably more relaxing. 
The car is tidy and generally smart, only a few minor cosmetic marks to note inside and out, all likely easily remedied or lived with. It will need a fresh MOT but at 35 years old is fast approaching Historic Vehicle status. 

The History and Paperwork

  • First registered 2nd August 1989 
  • Three registered keepers
  • Acquired by the previous owner on 16th August 1993 
  • Being sold as part of the deceased keeper’s estate
  • Used as a family car to 2003 when it was put into dry storage
  • Briefly recovered from dry storage for a family wedding in September 2017 
  • Tax, MOT’d and insured for the wedding then returned to dry storage
  • Car was last serviced in June 2017 for the wedding, including attention to rear brakes 
  • Some old paperwork including old V5, DVLA correspondence, invoices and MOTs
  • Last MOT expired 1st June 2018 with 72,541 miles showing and no advisories 
  • Now showing 73,126 miles 

The Condition

  • Tidy white 318i with appealing factory specification 
  • Some age-related marks to bodywork visible in photographs 
  • These include shallow dents to three panels 
  • Front and rear bumpers are also lightly scuffed
  • Fitted with optional alloy wheels in fair condition and older tyres with good tread
  • Offside rear indicator lens is cracked but other lights appear intact
  • Underside presents well with no issues to note on last MOT and few miles since 
  • We are told that all of the electrics work correctly 
  • Blue fabric interior with matching carpets and door cards
  • Original and unmodified interior with period-correct Blaupunkt Verona stereo fitted
  • Some wear inside to seat bases and carpets, particularly driver area, but not unsightly
  • Fitted with front and rear seatbelts
  • Supplied with partial factory tool kit in boot 

The Mechanics 

  • 1,796 cc fuel injected M40 4cyl VBMW engine 
  • Benefits form post-1987 power increase to 113bhp 
  • 4spd automatic gearbox 
  • Vendor advises car has factory standard and unmodified mechanicals 
  • Rear brakes attended to in 2017
  • Last serviced in June 2017 
  • Car may benefit from a service, check over and tune up due to eight years dry storage
  • One headlamp dipped beam bulb requires replacement 
  • We are notified of no running or mechanical issues to report other than the advice above 

BEFORE YOU BUY
This sale is subject to the Car & Classic Terms and Conditions. By bidding and/or making an offer, you also agree to the following:
If the seller is registered as a private seller, consumer rights stemming from EU consumer protection law do not apply. Car & Classic’s return policy applies.
A non-refundable deposit will be payable if you are the winning bidder at auction or if your offer is accepted, refer to FAQs and T&Cs for details.
This vehicle is “Sold As Seen”, on an “As Is, Where Is’ basis and without warranty. A full inspection of the vehicle prior to purchase and bidding is highly recommended. Photos and descriptions are for guidance purposes only.
✓ VAT is included in the buyer's deposit. VAT may or may not be included in the final bid or offer price, as specified in the listing.
UK-registered cars and motorbikes on Car & Classic are run through an online HPI check, to verify that they show no insurance database markers for damage or theft, and have no finance owing.
Whilst ****Car & Classic check whether vehicles are recorded as being written off as part of an insurance total loss claim at the time an advert is placed and we provide write-off category labels (Cat C/D/S/N) for your assistance, the presence or absence of a label does not guarantee the vehicle’s status and so you are strongly advised to obtain a full vehicle history check before making an offer on a vehicle.
✓ Buyers are responsible for vehicle collection or delivery.

Please see our FAQs here and our Terms & Conditions here

Vehicle specification
  • Year 1989
  • Make BMW
  • Model 3 Series
  • Colour White
  • Odometer 73,126 Miles
  • Engine size 1796
Auction Details
  • Seller Type Private
  • Location London
  • Country United Kingdom
Bidding history
30 bids
  • ho•••• £3,325 23/04/24
  • ro•••• £3,300 23/04/24
  • ho•••• £3,200 23/04/24
  • ro•••• £3,100 23/04/24
  • ho•••• £3,000 23/04/24
  • ch•••• £2,900 23/04/24
  • ro•••• £2,800 23/04/24
  • ch•••• £2,750 23/04/24
  • ch•••• £2,650 23/04/24
  • ja•••• £2,550 23/04/24
Message C&C Auction Team

The Gallery

The safest way to buy a classic car online

Car & Classic's secure payment system protects buyers and sellers. At the end of the auction, the winning bidder transfers payment into a third-party escrow account. Once the transfer of the vehicle is complete, both parties confirm they are happy with the sale and the money is released to the seller. More about buying with us
Safe, secure payment process

About Max Bids

The max bid process allows you to bid without any hassle.

Enter your maximum bid and we will then bid on your behalf to ensure you're the highest bidder - just enough to keep you in the lead and only up until your maximum.

Anti-sniping

Car & Classic prevent auction snipers from bidding in the last seconds to win an auction.

Auctions are extended by 3 minutes if anyone bids within the last 2 minutes to allow other bidders to react and counter-bid.

Auto-bidding increments

  • If your maximum bid is equal to or below the reserve price, your maximum bid will be applied in full if you are the highest bidder.
  • If you are the highest bidder and place a maximum bid above the reserve, we will automatically put in the reserve as your first bid.
    • Once the reserve has been met, Car & Classic will make sure you are the highest bidder using only the bidding increments stated below.
    • We will keep you in the lead up until your maximum bid OR the increment closest to your maximum bid, providing your maximum bid is enough to cover the increment value.

Bid Amount Increment
£0 to £9,999 £100.00
£10,000 to £49,999 £250.00
£50,000 to £99,999 £500.00
£100,000 + £1,000.00

Automatically outbid immediately

When you place a max bid and are outbid immediately that means that another bidder has placed a max bid limit which is higher than yours.

You can bid again and we will use our automatic bid system to try and get you as the highest bidder.

Matching max bids

When there are two max bids of the same value, the one placed first remains the lead bidder.

Pre-authorisation

We may hold a pre-authorisation charge on your card until the end of the auction when the hold will be cancelled. If you win, we'll take a security deposit which counts towards the payment for the vehicle and isn't any extra cost to you.

What are pre-bids?

A pre-bid means you're able to place a bid before the official start of the auction.
You will be notified whether or not you are the highest bidder when the auction starts.

Problem with your bid

Bids are contractually binding. To help protect you, we have some rules in place if we think it's been mistyped. Please check and amend what you have entered.