Highlights

Smart E30-generation BMW 316i in Lux specification
Acquired by the seller in 1990 and reportedly kept garaged
Gearbox repaired in 2019
Supplied with extensive history
Clean MOT valid until September 2026

The Appeal

The E30-generation BMW 3 Series has long occupied a special place among enthusiasts, admired for its clean proportions, compact dimensions and engaging rear-wheel-drive character. Simple, well-engineered and notably uncluttered by modern standards, it remains one of the clearest expressions of BMW’s traditional small-saloon formula.

By 1990, the E30 was a mature and well-developed model, with the 316i offering an accessible and easy-going route into ownership. In Lux specification, it brought a useful degree of additional comfort and equipment, while the automatic transmission suits the car’s relaxed character and modest four-cylinder engine particularly well.

This example is especially appealing for its unmodified presentation and long-term single ownership, having remained with its first keeper since 1990. Finished in a handsome colour that suits the E30’s crisp, understated shape, it has the look of a car that has avoided the usual cycle of heavy use, modification or reinvention.

There is scope for cosmetic enhancement in due course, but this remains a charming and pleasingly original 316i Lux Auto with an increasingly uncommon ownership history. Usable, approachable and quietly characterful, it offers a rare opportunity to become only its second owner.

Key Information

Mileage: 100,857 miles (warranted – service history)
Country of registration: United Kingdom
Technical inspection status: MOT valid until 10 September 2026, clean pass
Technical specs: 1.6-litre inline-four, four-speed automatic transmission
Paperwork: Owner’s book pack, service book, MOT certificate, V5C registration document

Service History

09/24 – 100,268 miles – Bosch Service Ross Motors
09/22 – unrecorded – Bosch Service Ross Motors
Unreadable – 98,755 miles – Enfield Garages
08/19 – 97,840 miles – Enfield Garages
08/18 – 96,231 miles – Enfield Garages
09/17 – 94,442 miles – Enfield Garages
08/16 – 89,933 miles – Enfield Garages
08/14 – 87,320 miles – Enfield Garages
Unrecorded – 82,013 miles – Enfield Garages
Unreadable – 79,642 miles – Enfield Garages
08/10 – 77,220 miles – Enfield Garages
09/09 – 76,715 miles – Enfield Garages
09/08 – 75,865 miles – Enfield Garages
09/07 – 72,466 miles – Stephen James BMW
09/06 – 69,107 miles – Stephen James BMW
09/05 – 65,011 miles – Stephen James BMW
09/04 – unreadable – Hexagon BMW
09/03 – 57,729 miles – Hexagon BMW
09/02 – 53,005 miles – Hexagon BMW
09/01 – 48,718 miles – Hexagon BMW
09/00 – 44,396 miles – Hexagon BMW
09/99 – 37,606 miles – Hexagon BMW
09/98 – unreadable – Hexagon BMW
03/97 – 33,384 miles – Hexagon BMW
08/96 – 32,354 miles – Hexagon BMW
09/95 – 30,905 miles – Hexagon BMW
09/94 – 26,662 miles – Hexagon BMW
09/93 – 21,017 miles – Hexagon BMW
09/92 – unreadable – Hexagon BMW
09/91 – 7,072 miles – Stephen James BMW
11/90 – 1,300 miles – Stephen James BMW
09/90 – PDI – Stephen James BMW

The Detail

Finished in Calypso Red Metallic over a grey cloth-trimmed interior
14-inch alloy wheels
Equipment includes electric windows and mirrors, and a Panasonic radio-cassette player
Paintwork imperfections noted, including damage around the nearside wheel arches and scuffing on the bumpers
Indentations visible on the driver’s door, offside rear quarter panel and boot lid
Scuffing on the door mirror casing
Some wear visible on the wheel centre caps
Hole worn in the upper section of the driver’s seat
Wear on the carpet mat adjacent to the pedals
Gearbox repaired in 2019
Water pump replaced in 2021
Battery renewed in 2026
Interior lights currently non-functional
Replacement keys supplied, though the seller reports an issue with the central locking
Health check completed in May 2026 after the car had not been driven for several months
Spare wheel and jack stored beneath the boot floor

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:

✓ The seller is registered as a private seller which means consumer rights stemming from EU consumer protection law do not come into effect. However, you are still covered by Car & Classic’s own Terms and Conditions..

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