1988 BMW M3 Sells For $250,000

• The E30 BMW 3 Series, especially the M3, are highly coveted.

• This example had only 8,100 miles on the clock.

• This car is incredibly clean and a worthy collectible.

Classic car values are exploding the world over. While some cars clearly have more cachet than others, the E30 BMW M3 certainly has a lot going for it but we never imagined one would sell for $250,000.

In order to participate in the very popular Deutsche Tourenwagen Meisterschaf (DTM) racing series in the 1980s, BMW had to build and sell 5,000 homologation specials. In the end, upwards of 16,000 were assembled between 1986 and 1991. This immediately makes it a rare sight.

And it is quite the sight to behold. Flared and “spoilered”, the E30 BMW M3 went on to become of the greatest driving cars of all time. Roughly 15 years ago, examples of the E30 M3 could be found for $30,000 to $40,000 depending on condition but now, a high-mileage example will easily fetch $60,000+, with many easily dipping into six figures.

This specific 1988 E30 BMW M3, offered for sale on Bring A Trailer, was probably the cleanest outside of the BMW Museum’s collection. The cabin looks as though it’s never been touched. With only 8,100 miles on the clock and looking newer than the day it left the assembly, it sold for a staggering $250,000 US. The seller painstakingly went over the car, shot a few videos, and even went so far as to measure body panels for paint thickness. The hard work clearly paid off.

What’s always tragic with such pieces is that they’re likely never going to be driven again. We get it, but it’s sad.

1988 E30 BMW M3

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