1990 BMW 318is

Firstly, this old 3-Series is MOT’d until January 2023, something it achieved with no advisories. That’s not bad, especially when you factor in that it’s covered a quarter of a million miles…

Mind you, given it was stripped down to a bare shell six years ago when the seller first bought it before being carefully rebuilt by a succession of specialists, each chosen for their expertise in their respective fields, the odometer might as well read zero. A man who derives his classic car pleasure from doing rather than owning, he’s keen to move onto his next project, which means this one has to go.

And, because it’s the mythical 318iS (the seller fell in love with the model back when he was 16 and vowed he’d own one one day…) this is the closest you’re ever going to get to be able to buy a brand-new example for sensible money. How much? Well, shall we say about a quarter of what a similar M3 would cost?

The bodywork is sublime. BMW might have let things slide a bit lately but back in the day they really did produce The Ultimate Driving Machine – and they built ‘em properly, too.

This one’s mm-perfect panel gaps are entirely consistent with the factory’s Q.C. back then, and it’s great to be able to see the care and attention to detail that’s been lavished on it over the years as well as more recently.

The Diamand Schwarz Metallic paintwork is similarly good with an amazing shine to it. Sure, there is a little bit of orange peel and the odd micro-blister here and there but that’s very common and in no way detracts from the way the car presents, even up close.

For the younger generation, no wheel was more desirable in the eighties than the BBS cross-spoke, which means this set brought a whole host of memories flooding back.

This is because the 15-inch wheels were refurbished before being fitted with new centre caps and a set of matching Uniroyal RainSport 3 tyres.

We will never get tired of telling you that experience shows that matching high-quality tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly. Their presence does not, of course, preclude the need for a thorough inspection - something the vendor would welcome, by the way – but it does perhaps give you a shortcut into their attitude towards maintenance.

Finally, good as the rest is, it’s the details that really make this car. Details like the sticker inside the fuel filler cap, the badge on the underneath of the rear spoiler, and the way the Webasto sunroof seals so tightly.

These things don’t happen by accident and the fact they are there speaks volumes as to the obsessive nature of this rebuild.

The interior is every bit as good as the coachwork. Very Germanic, it’s like an upmarket Golf GTI, which is pretty much where it stood in a yuppie’s automotive hierarchy back then.

The seats are still firm and comfortable and as supportive as Dear Diedre. None of your multi-way, memory nonsense here; just a pair of heavily bolstered, supremely comfortable seats that adjust manually with proper levers, like god intended.

The dashboard is the usual E30 paragon of virtue. Ergonomic and a model of clarity, it serves to remind you that a luxury car doesn’t have to be dotted with touchscreens and bits of fake wood to be appealing.

It has goodies, of course. Electric windows, to be precise. But to worry about the lack of the sort of stuff modern marketing departments assure us are essential is to miss the point of the 318iS. This is a driver’s car through and through and is all the better for being stripped of all that is unnecessary.

The boot is solid and rust-free. Beautifully presented, it’s home to the tool kit and spare wheel.

Flaws? Well, the steering wheel is lightly patinated (#207), there’s a blemish in the rear seat (#83), the driver’s seat belt buckle has some tape around it, though the vendor reports this was just to stop a squeak from the buckle rubbing against the side the of the bolster (#229), and the dashboard has faded in the sun a little (#116) but none are obvious or make the cockpit feel any less special.

NB: You’ve gotta love his sense of humour in leaving the odometer reading its true mileage, haven’t you? If that sort of thing bothers you then resetting it to zero would be as easy to do as it would be to justified but if it were ours then we’d leave it as it is and enjoy the look on people’s faces when they notice it.

Recently fettled by his local independent BMW specialist in January 2022, the list of work completed and new parts fitted is too long to list here. Best to settle yourself down with a cuppa and read through them yourselves. Or, better still, why not make an appointment to pop along to see it yourself?

As you’d expect of a newly rebuilt engine, it bursts into life at the turn of a switch and revs and ticks over perfectly.

We’ve driven it and found it does exactly what it should. It’s got a lovely, free-revving engine and a wonderful gearchange; analogue in feel, it’s an old school driver’s car that’ll encourage you to get up early in order to enjoy it on deserted roads.

The engine bay is very clean, as is the underside. Sorry there’s not more to say but with a classic car, less is always better, isn’t it?

As meticulous with his paperwork as he is with his spannering, the BMW comes with a thick wad of paperwork and dozens of photos documenting its recent restoration.

The recent Vehicle History Check shows nothing of note.

Built only in 1991, the BMW 318iS is an ultra-rare and highly affordable cult alternative to the iconic – and hugely expensive – M3. Reliable and dependable, it is one of the most usable modern classics you can buy today.

This example had a retail price of £17,509 back in 1990, which is equivalent to around £35,000 today. This makes our guide price of £13,000 to £18,000 something of a bargain.

Yes, it’s a bit leggy but given all the work that’s been carried out recently – work that set the seller back way more than even the upper estimate – it’s essentially a new car & one which can be used as intended without a care in the world regarding mileage.

Best of all, it’s being offered with no reserve, so will sell from the very first bid…

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; we are open weekdays 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.’