WHAT IS IT?
We know we’re just a little heavy on E30 BMWs at the moment, but we just couldn’t resist this one. Even though it’s a four-cylinder car with no A/C, the difference in appearance between this first-year Euro E30, and the 318i that we got in the U.S. is pretty striking. Without the hideous diving-board bumpers, and in the lovely shade of Henna Red, this car is utterly captivating and makes one question whether this represents more fun, and a better value than a fairly mediocre square tail light 2002 would at about the same money.
WHY THIS CAR HAS BEST ONE ON THE PLANET CHOPS
Because it does. FFS, it hasn’t even clocked 10,000 miles, everything gleams, including the trunk complete with an unmarked bottle cap spare wheel. Only the Chinese-made “Goodride” tire on the spare gives one any pause. It is just the spare, and 185 70 14 tires don’t exactly grow on trees, but still. In any event, the engine compartment is both lovely, and simple, free of the emission equipment found in U.S. spec cars, with nearly pristine hood insulation pads. The BMW Skai leatherette upholstery is unmarked and the Henna Red paint shows zero sign of chalking, pinking, or any other type of fading. At around $20,000 or let’s say $23,000 landed at the East Coast port of your choice, you’d likely never see a better one.
the difference in appearance between this first-year Euro E30, and the 318i that we got in the U.S. is pretty striking.
THE VERDICT
(Delivered by Chief Judge Dave Kinney)
“Not much to be said here, this is one spectacular E30 BMW. Its very basic spec is a good deal of the charm here—the spartan black leatherette interior looks like it did the day it left Munich, the dash (with clock in place of a tach) is spotless, the paint gleams and the trunk looks like it’s never held so much as someone’s dry cleaning. Even the hood insulation pads look perfect. This is certainly the best Euro-spec, Henna Red 1983 BMW 318i on the planet.”
Best on the Planet March 4, 2025 – Present
I’m just in awe of this perfect, poverty-spec E30. I’d love to know the back story here.
Jealous of those small Euro bumpers!
This is such a kooky spec for a BMW. No tach but instead a clock, and in a manual gearbox car? It is so in the wrapper as to be unbelievable. This one definitely gets my vote.