1990 BMW (E30) 325i Sport

Compact rear-wheel drive saloons were in short supply in the 1980s and consequently, BMW's E30 3-Series quickly stood out as something special, being lightweight, refined, and offering unparalleled driving pleasure. The range-topping M3 is now rightly one of the most sought-after sports cars of the last 30 years and can command in excess of £100,000.

With the success of the M3, BMW capitalised on the demand for additional sporting E30s and in 1986 introduced the '325i Sport', a two-door only model with numerous 'M-Tech' upgrades from BMW's Motorsport Division. These included an M-Technic body-kit and boot spoiler, Anthracite headlining (unique to the 325i Sport), a limited-slip differential, M-Technic suspension (15mm lower springs and Boge M-Technic shock absorbers) and a 5-speed ZF close-ratio gearbox. The car is powered by the legendary M20 2,494cc straight-six generating 171bhp and 164lb/ft of torque, good for 132mph and a 0-62mph time of 9.9 seconds, decently quick certainly, but it is really the whole driving experience that impresses so much.

This smart example is a 1990 BMW E30 325i Sport, UK, right-hand drive car supplied by Williams BMW of Manchester in Diamond Black metallic with a black leather interior and was first registered on 1st January 1990. It was purchased just over 13 years ago by our vendor and was treated to a light paint refresh at that time. The car has been enjoyed by two former registered keepers, however, the current UK V5C shows 'no former registered keepers' and 'previously registered overseas'. Our vendor lives in Northern Ireland and an anomaly in the DVLA system chooses to regard Northern Ireland as a foreign country even though cars from that region are registered and taxed by Swansea just like any UK-registered car. For clarity, this super low-mileage 325i is a full UK-car with three keepers in total.

The odometer currently indicates 44,115 miles, supported by the stamped service booklet, and the MOT is valid until November 2023. Notes from our vendor mention the fact that there is only one key. Additionally there are two tiny holes in the interior where a phone used to be, but is otherwise excellent, and the only difference from standard is a the addition of a Powerflow stainless-steel rear silencer. In addition to the service booklet, it's supplied with the Owners Manual in the original BMW wallet as well as its original number plates. This is a lovely example of a model that just seems to go from strength to strength in the market and, in this case, seems very sensibly guided.