Feature
AUCTION FEVER! We’ve all noted, even cussed at times, as prices of BMW’s venerable E30 M3 have risen at a fair pace, sometimes dramatically, over the past ten years. A recent Bring-a-Trailer auction has sent the E30 M3 world into a frenzy after a ‘standard’ car crashed through the $250,000 barrier! Words - Jeff Heywood - Photographs – Bring-a-Trailer/Barret-Jackson
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recent Bring a Trailer online auction for a mega low mileage 1988 BMW M3 has shattered the previous record for an E30 M3. The Zinnoberrot example’s price had been slowly ticking steadily upwards, but in the final few days a twoperson bidding war erupted that saw the price rise from an already crazy $190,000 to the closing $250,000 (£191,000), as both made bids and counter bids in the final 20 minutes. Including commission, www.bmwcarclubgb.uk
the final sale price stood at $255,000 or £195,000 in sterling, nearly double the car’s current A1-condition (concours) value. That’s nearly £50,000 per flared arch! What is worth noting is that although the car had very low miles, it was a standard, North American spec E30 M3, not one of the Evo or Cecotto/Ravaglia limited edition models, unlike the car it knocked off the top spot. The previous record auction price for a roadgoing E30 M3 was achieved
This Jet Black, 1989 E30 M3 Sport Evo was the previous E30 M3 record holder, having sold for approximately $177,000 (£135,000) at the Silverstone Classic Sale in 2018
at the Silverstone Classic Sale in 2018 when a Jet Black E30 M3 Sport Evo sold for approximately $177,000 (£135,000), despite having an odometer reading of 79,000 miles, and in January 2020 at a Barrett-Jackson sale a standard Alpine White II 1988 model from Paul Walker’s collection made $165,000. This example, painted in Zinnoberrot (German for vermilion) with a tan leather interior, has covered just over 8,000 miles in its lifetime, which explains the megahigh price achieved. The condition of the rest of the car seems to support that low mileage. The interior is in excellent BMW Car Club Magazine September 2020
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