Silver Market: 1994 BMW 316i Wagon
Okay, I’ll admit it. I’ve been a closet E30 fanboy for years. It isn’t something I’m proud of, but the only reason I haven’t owned one is because I have such automotive ADD that I’m always moving on to the next car and watching E30 prices drop…it’s always “well, they’ll be cheaper next year”…but that isn’t the case anymore. I think even basic E30s have hit rock bottom and they are now becoming collectable, so something like a grey-market European 316i wagon for less than $10k gets me right in the gut. Unfortunately (or fortunately for my wallet) the 316i engine likely won’t be allowed into the electrified State of California (it would probably cause wildfires or murder baby seals) and I’ll have to let one of you buy this. Find this 1994 BMW 316i Wagon offered for $9,750 in Naples, FL via craigslist. Tip from 4rim.
From the seller:
1994 BMW 316i
VIN: WBAAJ12070CL58714
condition: excellent
cylinders: 4 cylinders
delivery available
drive: rwd
fuel: gas
odometer: 143600
paint color: silver
size: mid-size
title status: clean
transmission: manual
type: hatchback
more ads by this user
1994 RHD E30 BMW 316i Wagon 143k miles, 5 speed Manual, very clean, Florida Title, Finished in Sterling Silver Metallic paint, Excellent Black cloth Seats, 3 spoke Leather Steering wheel,15″ Euro basket weave alloy wheels with excellent 205/55/15 tires,
Inside the car is in excellent condition, the cloth seats are very good, with only some wear to drivers seat, door panels are all great shape, carpets are very clean, Just had a new headliner, Still has its original BMW RDS Radio with instruction manual, switch gear is nice and works as it should, there is even the original BMW cargo cover, still has 1st aid & tool kit., hard to believe this car is almost 27 years old.
The M40 1.6i Engine pulls & idles smooth, gear change is faultless, the suspension is composed, soaks up the road with no knocks or rattles, Engine has just been serviced, car runs like a champ, any inspection welcome,
Car has some service history up to 116K miles and UK MOT certificates (similar to US smog tests) with recorded mileage being a European car it is not fitted with air bags or air con, although it is possible to retro fit a/c from a US spec car.
The E30 3 series is a great classic daily driver or weekend cruiser, prices are now only heading north, So they make a good investment, buy now while prices are affordable.
See a better way to drive something on the wrong side of the road? tips@dailyturismo.com
Never have understood why you’d import a RHD E30 with the sheer number of these things floating around France, Germany, and probably Spain too. It’s a nice enough example, but I always assume there’s rust lurking somewhere in these and at the very least the undercarriage will have an uncomfortable quantity of surface rust.
I’m also a bit puzzled that they’d pick one with the least powerful engine. Perhaps the plan was to swap in an S50.
Got to love BMW’s weird chassis update schedule, keeping the wagon on the old chassis when the new design had been on the coupe and sedan for three years already.
As a car person, is it possible to have had a license in the 90s (or even after) and not been an E30 fan? Sidenote, the Europeans just get it right with wagons. While we plunder down the road in SUVs, they get all the practicality and give up none of the joie de vivre. I have to admit, the RHD is puzzling. If it were a kei car or a Griffith, fine…but a German car? There’s a story there.
A lovely example. Wheel is on the wrong side. Somebody bring one back from the continent and drop it off on the Left Coast. Something about cars in Florida. Its like a black hole of questionable vehicle transactions.