1991 BMW 320i Touring

First registered in June 1991, this post-facelift E30 Touring is finished in a strong colour combination of white over a charcoal cloth interior, and has evidently been cherished and well-kept throughout its lifetime, with a low indicated mileage of just over 40,000 miles.

Boasting a panel sunroof, OBC, automatic transmission and power front windows, this E30 would make for an excellent retro-cool cruiser, whilst remaining practical and useable year-round.

Despite it being first registered in Jersey in 1991, it was brought to the UK in 2015, with the registration document from DVLA confirming that all duties and taxes have been paid included in the history section below.

Finally, other than the upgraded, but OE and period-correct, wheels, this E30 Touring remains in factory condition throughout, and has been spared attention from serious car modifiers, something that not all E30s of this era can say with confidence…

Finished in BMW Alpine White, the lines of the E30 are a true 80’s design piece, and have aged like fine wine, especially in the brighter shades offered from the specification sheet when they were new.

Looking along the flanks of this 320i, there are no signs of any accident damage that we can see, no majorly mis-aligned panels along the side of the vehicle, and no unsightly dents or impacts.

Being super picky, there are a couple of small dents in the driver’s door (one below the window, and two on the black B-pillar trim piece) though these are what we’d call ‘car park’ dents, simply picked up through years of use, rather than as the result of any impact.

Elsewhere, it would appear that the bonnet sits slightly tighter on the offside than on the nearside edge, though this should be an easy adjustment to remedy.

In terms of the Alpine White paintwork, on the whole it remains in excellent shape, barring one or two light usage marks and commensurate wear such as stone chips and small imperfections. There is also a more noticeable scuff on the offside rear bumper corner, along with a larger imperfection noted on the offside rear quarter.

All four of the wheels are in very good condition, wrapped in matching Michelin rubber. We here at The Market often say that matching rubber is a good sign of fastidious ownership, and that would certainly appear to be the case for this 320i Touring.

As per the exterior, the cabin of this humble 320i Touring has remained in remarkable condition in spite of its age, and has evidently led a charmed, cosseted life judging by its overall aesthetic.

The Charcoal cloth seats, for example, are largely devoid of any major wear-and-tear signs, whilst the carpets, door cards and headliner all remain in excellent shape, with no sagging or major staining noted on the latter.

Even the high-traffic areas such as the door pulls, inner sill covers, shifter and steering wheel wear only a light commensurate usage patina, and perhaps the most obvious issue with the steering wheel is that the badge is not quite on straight - we’re really picking here!

In the rear, the story is much the same, whilst the capacious boot is also in great shape. Whilst the retractable load cover is present-and-correct, it does not latch into its mounts correctly, and therefore as soon as it is extended and latched into the covered position, the tension on the mechanism pulls it up out of its cradle and shoots it towards the rear window, so this will require addressing.

Looking around, everything looks to be in its right-and-proper place, whilst all systems - including the notoriously fickle OBC - are working as they should be, though the display on the OBC is missing some LCD elements.

Underneath the front-hinged bonnet, the M20 six-cylinder engine looks remarkably compact, and the engine bays gives plenty of space for home mechanics and enthusiasts to tinker and maintain the car themselves, should they wish to do so.

In the bay, everything looks to be in its right and proper place, and there are no signs of any concerning leaks or other issues that we could see.

During our test drive and shoot, the engine behaved admirably, with no issues starting, re-starting, driving or idling, with no smoke or steam noticed once warm, and no untoward behaviours in our experience. Interestingly, there appeared to be an intermittent issue with the transmission, in that it wouldn’t shift up in ‘E’ mode on occasion, but was happy to shift up/down in either ’S’ or ‘3.2.1’ modes.

Looking underneath, the chassis, suspension components and underside of this E30 are in very good shape, with only some light bloom noted on the typical exposed areas such as the exhaust and suspension components, but nothing untoward or concerning.

The most recent MoT exam - 17 March 2022 - shows a clean first-time pass with no advisory items.

As ever, we’ve photographed all of the included documentation, and this is available to view at the end of the gallery below.

However, for ease of use, please find a few highlights from the paperwork section below:

- The V5, showing 2 former UK keepers

- Numerous MoT certificates

- Post-import documentation from HMRC, showing the VAT and duties paid

- Laserline immobiliser/alarm installation certificates

- Miscellaneous invoices

- Two sets of keys

With the E30-generation 3-Series firmly in ‘modern classic’ territory, yet remaining useable and enjoyable on a day-to-day basis, it’s no wonder that the E30 is an excellent ‘starter classic’ for those looking to step into the world of collecting or owning classics, whilst also being attractive for existing collectors or BMW enthusiasts.

Presented in excellent condition throughout and ready to drive every day, this 1991 BMW 320i Touring is a prime example of an accessible and useable modern classic, benefitting from extensive enthusiast and aftermarket support.

Offered with an estimate of £10,000 to £14,000, could this 320i be the ultimate retro daily driver?

Viewing is always encouraged. This particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; we are open weekdays between 9am-5pm, to arrange an appointment please use the Contact Seller button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.