Enthusiasts Blogging Our Favorite Classifieds
Another week, another S54 powered BMW M Coupe. As a follow on to the 2001 M Coupe that Rob featured two weeks ago, here we have a similar vintage M Coupe with less miles wearing the it’s original equipment alloy wheels. Just over 1,000 S54 engined M Coupes were produced, with 678 making their way stateside between 2001 and 2002. Fewer modern cars have had the collectability factor that these Bimmers had out of the box. How high will values go? That remains to be seen.
In an age of technology which has distanced the driver from involvement in the driving experience, it’s nice to know you can still turn to a few manufacturers to get your kicks. The 3 series sedan is one of the few BMWs left which you can spec with a manual gearbox, and this 335i with a 6-speed manual represents the top of the lineup with the 3.0 liter twin-turbocharged inline-6 producing just over 300 horsepower. This example comes equipped with the Sports Package, which included tighter suspension, sport seats, staggered size wheels and an oil cooler. While the 340i is now the top dog in the 3 series lineup, this 335i represents about just as much car at a sizable discount.
Almost 14 years after the re-introduction of the MINI brand in the US, BMW seems to have made a rather shrewd move in keeping this marque in their fold. It seems a distant memory, then, when BMW tried its hand at a small hatchback in the form of a shortened E36 3 series. The Compact, as it became known, would be the entry point for those seeking that BMW badge in the 1990s. The US market would only receive the 318ti, powered by the 1.9 liter inline-4 that also found a home in such cars as the 318i sedan and Z3 roadster. This 318ti for sale in Missouri is in fantastic shape, equipped with a 5-speed manual and the M Sport package and looks rather sharp in Alpine White.
A fan favorite symbol of the 1980s with a perfectly balanced chassis, great aftermarket support, capable of massive upgrades in power, brakes and suspension, and avid race series still today; both the BMW E30 and Porsche 944 fit this mold. Since new, many have been hitting race circuits and autocrosses and now going on 30 years later they remain staples of their respective marque racing club events as well as amateur race series. Today I have a showdown between two modded examples; who will outbrake the other into turn one?
Seller boisterousness and bravado is always a thing which interests me, and its something which comes out in droves when we’re talking about rare cars. In the U.S. market, many people consider the M3 to be rare, though it’s very far from being the most rare M product from the 1980s and it’s not hard to find multiple good examples for sale any day of the week. But rare does describe the limited edition models of the E30 M3. In total, 7 different limited edition models were produced. The best known are the Evolution series, but there were others that did not get the performance boost of the Evo models. One such example was the Europameister model shown here. They were built to celebrate Roberto Ravaglia’s successful seasons in both the European Touring Car Championship. Painted only Macao Blue Metallic with Silver Nappa leather, they were effectively loaded luxury versions of the normal M3. With only 148 produced, they’re indeed quite rare to see – especially stateside:
