1989 BMW 318i Touring (E30) Manual

Highlights

• Lovely, unmodified E30

• Smart unrestored condition

• Desirable manual model

• Advisory-free MOT

• Decent history file

 Overview

As far as enduring designs go, the BMW E30 3-Series is certainly up there among the elite. Stylish and desirable no matter what the body style, the agonisingly pretty E30 is one of the Bavarian firm’s most recognisable icons, as well as an increasingly popular choice of ‘youngtimer’ classic.  

Introduced in 1983 as the replacement for the E21 3-Series, the new model was wider, squarer and perfectly proportioned. It was a triumph of simplicity over excess and a wonderful piece of automotive styling, which has widely (and deservedly) become regarded as one of BMW’s all-time classics. 

It was a success straight out of the blocks – bolstered by the boom in popularity for compact executive cars in the upwardly mobile eighties. But BMW wasn’t one for resting on its laurels – it had one more trick up its sleeve. 

In 1988, the Bavarian brand stole a march on its rivals with the launch of the E30 Touring – a car that began life as a pet project of BMW engineer Max Reisböck, who wanted an E30 that was more practical for his family’s needs. The scratch-built prototype found such favour in BMW’s HQ that it was greenlit for production soon afterwards – a relatively inexpensive way of expanding the E30 line-up and a compact executive wagon before such a thing existed, prompting Audi to develop its own 80 Avant. Mercedes, meanwhile, had to wait for the W203 C-Class to compete, some six years later. 

The difficulty today, though, is finding a good E30 that hasn’t been excessively modified or has suffered from corrosion, which can blight the model quite badly as they get older. Not this one, though – it’s a genuine, well-cared-for car that has lived a charmed life, backed up by lots of early service history, an MOT record that appears to back up its sub-84k mileage and invoices from 2022 documenting almost £2,000 worth of refurbishment work, to bring it to the standard it’s presented in today.  

History and documentation

• First registered in the UK on 17 November 1989 and supplied new by L&C BMW in Croydon

• UK V5C in the name of the vendor

• Only three previous owners prior to the vendor

• MOT until 6 July 2026 – No advisories 

• Two keys (one genuine, one spare)

• Recent invoices documenting comprehensive refurbishment to brakes, clutch, suspension, radiator and crankshaft seal

• Service history recorded as follows: PDI (1989 – main dealer); 2,377 miles (1990 – main dealer); 8,655 (1991 – main dealer); 15,655 (1992 – main dealer); 21,719 (1992 – main dealer); 38,865 (1994 – main dealer); 45,681 (1995 – main dealer); 45,905 (1995 – main dealer); 56,608 (1995 – main dealer); 59,042 (1996 – main dealer); 65,925 miles (1997 – main dealer)

• HPI clear

Interior

• Grey velour upholstery in very good overall condition; some very minor threads pulling away on passenger seat and small 3cm patch repair on rear seat

• Matching grey vinyl door cards, two front ones have tiny nicks from catching seatbelts

• Original Blaupunkt EQR38 radio-cassette player

• Electric front windows

• Electric sunroof (refurbished in 2022)

• Some minor cracks on dashboard – common for an E30

• Original BMW toolkit and first aid kit

• Correct roller load bay cover

Exterior

• Brilliant Red paint in good overall order

• The vendor believes the front wings have been replaced in the past and are in good order

• Original factory alloys with legal tyres – Uniroyals on the front and budgets on the rear

• Rear arches are good

• Small patch of corrosion at the bottom of the passenger side rear valance 

• There are signs of rustproofing wax in the engine bay, so it looks like the car has been previously treated against rust 

• The bonnet paintwork has small blisters that can be seen in the light at certain angles

• Presents well overall and looks sound underneath, with no MOT advisory notices

Mechanical

• 1,796c M10 OHC engine

• Five-speed manual gearbox

• Recent new radiator

• New drop links, springs and suspension arms in 2022

• Recent brake pipes and fuel pipes

• Replacement clutch master and slave cylinders in 2022

• Crankshaft and gearbox seals renewed

• Reported by the vendor to drive very well indeed, with no declared faults 

Summary

There’s something agelessly wonderful about an unmodified, original BMW E30 – and arguably even more so about one with a longer than normal roof, as the Touring was (and still is) unarguably one of the most elegant estate cars ever made. 

This one has been beautifully preserved – a real snapshot of its era, and clearly well-loved and cherished to have remained in such appealing, unspoilt condition throughout its life. If you buy it, you’ll probably just want to step outside from time-to-time just to look at it, as it’s a marvellous piece of car design, and one that has escaped the attentions of drifters and modifiers, who love the E30 for reasons of their own. Why not? It’s a car with universal appeal, but this one really needs to be loved by someone who appreciates it for just how lovely and genuine it is, and will hopefully remain.

To arrange a viewing, click the 'Book Viewing' button located under the 'Place Bid' button. Viewings can be booked up until the day before the auction ends, after which the option will change to 'Contact Seller' for further enquiries. This seller is located in Sheffield, South Yorkshire.