Description
For sale is my 1982 BMW E21 316 automatic, finished in Basalt blue with a matching blue cloth interior with 70, 352 miles on the clock
This is an honest, well-looked-after survivor rather than a restored or concours example. It retains a very original appearance, including its period steel wheels, tool kit, BMW steering wheel, manual windows and period-style radio. It is also fitted with a factory open and tilt Webasto sunroof.
The interior is particularly nice. The blue cloth seats, door cards, carpets, dashboard and controls are all remarkably well preserved for the age and give the car a lovely original feel. There are one or two cracks in the dash but It is increasingly difficult to find an older car with an interior that has survived this well.
Externally, the car presents well and looks very smart overall, but the paint is not perfect. There are age-related marks, imperfections, and anyone seeking a show-quality finish should allow for paint. I would rather describe it as an attractive classic than overstate its condition.
Much of the historical paperwork has unfortunately been lost in my last house move but I will find as much as I can. I bought the car from a collector about 15 years ago and used it as my daily car for a few years. When I moved out of London, my commute was too long to use it and it became a pleasure vehicle, which you can see in the MOT history. I love the car and always intended to keep it for life, but I just don't have the time to enjoy it and it is so much happier when it's in regular use. The odometer currently shows 70, 352 miles, which I believe to be correct, but the mileage is not warranted due to the incomplete history. The car started life as a company car to the boss of a company, then sold to himself, then his wife, then it gets unclear, but it condition fitted with the story when I bought it. It didn't ever come with lots of history, but when I bought it, these were cheap and I wanted a classic just drive around rather than something to collect.
I have kept it mechanically sound with lots of work over the years. It might be better to go through it on a call if you are interested because there's a lot. In 2018, I had lots of panel work done and a quick paint job with the view of having a full respray the next summer but it just never happened. All the badges are the original ones because I personally like the fact they show some life. It currently needs front anti-roll bar bushes, but otherwise works well. However, I wouldn't neccesarily plan on driving it a long way if collecting.
I'm selling as is for now with the issues accounted for in the price. It is a perfect rolling resto potentially and gets lots of love wherever I take it. It's gone to Le Mans classic with me and loads of shows and it's seriously comfortable and cool to drive.
Overall, this is a very appealing and characterful E21 with a particularly well-preserved interior. It would suit someone looking for an original-feeling classic to enjoy and improve gradually, rather than a newly restored show car.
It's gone to Le Mans classic with me and loads of shows and it's seriously comfortable and cool to drive. It's a practical car and I've loved owning it. It has something special about it that I can't quite put my finger on but out of the dozen or so classic and modern classics I've had over the past decade, this is the one that has stuck with me. It's at a point now where it needs to be given more time than I have now and I don't want it to just sit there, it's better than that! It's an unusual spec, the sunroof is ace and you won't see many original 316 e21's about with probably only 30 autos about on the road.
