BMW E30 E46 [restyling] - Classic cars for sale

The BMW E30 3 Series is the car that transformed BMW from a respected German manufacturer into a global icon. Produced from 1982 to 1994, it arrived as the successor to the E21 and established a template - compact dimensions, rear-wheel drive, an inline-six engine option, and a chassis tuned for the driver rather than the passenger - that has defined the 3 Series ever since. For a generation of enthusiasts who grew up in the 1980s and 1990s, the E30 was the poster car. For many, it still is.

Over 2.3 million E30s were produced across sedan, coupe, Touring (estate), and convertible body styles. That production volume is a collector's advantage: the parts supply remains excellent, the specialist knowledge base is vast, and there is an E30 variant for virtually every budget and ambition.

Finding the right one

The 325i is the heart of the range. Its M20B25 2.5-litre inline-six produces 171 horsepower - enough to make the lightweight E30 genuinely quick - and delivers the kind of smooth, willing power that defines the BMW experience. Coupe or sedan, the 325i is the car most buyers should be targeting: plentiful, well-supported, and a complete driving experience.

The M3 occupies another world entirely. BMW Motorsport's homologation special - fitted with the four-cylinder S14 engine, box arches, and a chassis tuned for touring car racing - is one of the most celebrated sports cars of the 1980s. Values have climbed accordingly: a well-documented M3 now commands €60,000–100,000+, with Sport Evolution models significantly higher. The M3 is a collector's car first and a driving car second; for pure enjoyment, many experienced enthusiasts will tell you the 325i gives you 90% of the experience at 20% of the price.

Between those poles sit rewarding alternatives. The 325is (available primarily in US specification) has