It’s not the slowest E30 3-Series that BMW ever made – that would be the 84hp / 16.1sec to 100km/h (62mph) 324d diesel, but the 102hp 316i is a far cry from the 170hp 325i, let alone the highly desired M3 and 320is models.
To make matters worse, this 1991 316i Lux doesn’t come with the 5-speed manual, with which it would hit 100km/h in 12.1 seconds, but the outdated 4-speed automatic that makes the 1.6-liter four-cylinder engine’s work even harder.
However, it does have something that most of its siblings don’t: one owner for the last 26 years, and only 2,245 miles (3,613km) on the odo.
“We purchased the car new from BMW Rydale, as a family car, with the intention of my wife using it, as I had a company car at the time. We happened to have a couple of other cars at the time, and my wife just preferred driving another one of them”, said the owner.
This example has been awarded with 107 points out of 135 by ClassicCarAuctions, which have it listed for their auction on September 23, at The Warwickshire Exhibition Center, near Leamington, UK. This means that it’s in ‘almost pristine’ condition, both mechanically and cosmetically, and that it has been driven only occasionally, as its extensive history file that accompanies it points out.
Interested bidders should also know that it features a Diamond Black exterior, on top of an Anthracite interior.
Despite it’s performance shortcomings and the fact that it’s not one of the more desirable E30s, it’s believed to fetch anywhere between £12,000 and £15,000 ($15,780-$19,725), plus a buyer’s premium of 12 percent, tax included.
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