BMW 316

316 i

Note: The photos are with 15-inch wheels, which have since been replaced with 14-inch wheels (the same rims, including the precious original center caps).

This completely original BMW e30 316i Touring Design Edition, imported from Germany by me in 2021, is a beautiful, original example of BMW's first 3 Series Touring. With only 166,000 original kilometers (it's slowly increasing, as I still use it) and only three owners since new, almost entirely in its original paint, this E30 has become a rarity.

The previous (German) owner, a true BMW enthusiast with a handful of beautiful examples, completely overhauled this Touring after a long period in storage, replaced many parts, and only drove a few thousand kilometers himself.

For the past three years, I've used it as a second car with great pleasure, covering approximately 30,000 kilometers. Of course, I've always had all the necessary maintenance done at specialist Van den Hengel in Amsterdam. Service history and invoices are available.

Everything in and on the car works perfectly, the maintenance is up-to-date, and the car needs nothing. The engine runs perfectly, with no typical M40 knocks and no oil consumption or leaks. The transmission shifts smoothly, with no noise or anything like that. The brakes are good, as are the tires.

Inside, the car, with its special Design Edition fabric in gray with blue print and piping, is not only beautiful to look at but also shows no significant signs of wear, even though this Edition fabric is known to wear out quickly. No entry damage, no worn spots, no stains, or odors. The original black headliner is still in good condition, and the familiar sagging at the rear has been repaired. The radio is an original Becker Traffic Pro with built-in navigation, the steering wheel is leather-wrapped and has an airbag. Other options include sport seats, height-adjustable headlights, power windows at the front (retrofitted with OEM BMW parts), a trip computer, power mirrors, and an original and perfectly functional (and leak-free) sliding/tilting sunroof.

Exteriorly, the largely original Sterling Silver paint is still in beautiful condition, and the low mileage is clearly visible here. The car is perfectly straight (no damage history) and the sought-after original 14" wheels are still very nice. Unfortunately, there's a small dent on the right front wing (see photo). Rust is almost nonexistent, except for a small spot on the cowling and under the rear window. However, the main weak points of E30s are all rust-free: the underbody, sills, fender flares, and all four doors are clean.

In short, this is a completely original, unrestored, rock-solid, and honest BMW E30 Touring, the likes of which you don't see very often anymore. Perfect for—as I did—daily use as a first or second car, but also to serve as the basis for a high-end engine swap, or even to put the finishing touches on and carefully preserve for the long term; a beautiful survivor that would enrich any BMW collection.