1991 BMW 325i M-Tech II Convertible

This 325i M-Tech sold on September 20, 2021 for $16,000.

Introduced towards the end of E30 production, the M Technic II package brought a lot of special revisions to the convertible version of the venerable benchmark. Option 771 included the M Technic body kit, special Sport Evo upholstery and M Technic badging, M Sport suspension, 15″ BBS wheels, and a few other treats. These were only available in Brilliant Red, Sterling Silver Metallic, or Macao Blue Metallic, and the claim is that perhaps less than 250 were made. A $4,700 option when new, it was a serious premium on top of your already quite dear E30.

As a result, there was a second M Technic II package – option code 770. This was the M Technic appearance package, and it offered most of the same look at a much more affordable $1,800. You got the M Technic body kit and painted 14″ BBS wheels, but you gave up the special suspension, special upholstery, and most of the special badging. These cars were available in either Alpine White with Lotus Nappa leather or Diamand Black Metallic with black Nappa leather, so if you see one of those two colors with the body kit, you’re looking at an appearance package car, as we are here today. However, as you can get the bulk of the special bits that made the full M Technic package super special, many of these cars have been modified to look like their more expensive siblings:

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1991 BMW 325i M-Tech II Convertible on eBay

Year: 1991
Model: 325i M-Tech II Convertible
VIN: WBABB231XMEC26705
Engine: 2.5 liter inline-6
Transmission: 5-speed manual
Mileage: 192,000 mi – TMU
Location: Enterprise, Alabama
Price: Reserve Auction

1991 BMW 325ic MANUAL M-TECHNIC II 5-SPEED
Chassis: WBABB231XMEC26705
192k Miles Shown, 198k estimated
2.5-Liter Inline-Six
Diamond Black Metallic Paint
Black Convertible Soft Top
Black Leather & M-Tech Cloth Upholstery
M-Technic II Appearance Package
Black-Finished 14″ Style 5 Wheels
H&R Lowering Springs
Front Sport Seats
AM/FM Cassette Stereo
Onboard Computer
Cruise Control
Accident-Free Carfax Report

I won this on a car auction site. It honestly is a beautiful, rare car that runs great, but I realized it’s not my style. I am more of a JDM car guy, so I want to devote my energy in that direction.

This 1991 BMW 325i convertible is equipped with the M-Technic II appearance package and is finished in Diamond Black Metallic over black leather and M-Tech cloth upholstery. Power is provided by a 2.5-liter inline-six paired with a five-speed manual transmission, and additional equipment includes a black soft top, an AM/FM cassette stereo, an onboard computer, cruise control, front sport seats, H&R lowering springs, and black-finished 14″ Style 5 wheels. The lower intake manifold gasket, exhaust manifold gaskets, ignition wires, and spark plugs were reportedly replaced in the last year. This E30 convertible is now offered with manufacturer’s literature, two keys, an accident-free Carfax report, and a clean Alabama title.

The car is finished in Diamantschwarz-Metallic (181/9) and the M-Technic aerodynamics package added M-Technic badging, body-color trim, fog lights, and unique front and rear bumpers. The seller reports that the front end has been repainted and notes fading and peeling clearcoat on the hood. The power-operated convertible top does not work, but can be manually opened and closed.

Black-finished 14″ Style 5 wheels wear polished lips along with BMW roundel center caps. The suspension is modified with Bilstein rear shocks along with H&R lowering springs.

The interior features sport seats trimmed in black leather with M-Tech cloth inserts that extend to the door panels and rear side panels. The seller reports that the interior was installed under previous ownership and that the car was originally equipped with a black leather interior. Additional features include an AM/FM cassette stereo, an onboard computer, cruise control, and power windows. The air conditioning system does work, but the AC is not as cold as it could be.

An M-Tech II steering wheel frames a 150-mph speedometer, a 7k-rpm tachometer, auxiliary gauges, and a six-digit odometer that shows 192k miles. The Carfax report lists a March 2019 mileage entry of 198k miles, and true mileage is unknown.

The 2.5-liter M20 inline-six was factory rated at 168 horsepower and 164 lb-ft of torque. Service in the last year is said to have included an oil change along with replacing the lower intake manifold gasket, exhaust manifold gaskets, spark plugs, and ignition wires. A transmission fluid change was reportedly performed in 2020.

All maintenance, service documents are with the car as well as old original books and manuals.

Well, if the prose sounds familiar that’s because sure enough – the “auction site” this car was won on was BaT in July 2021. With lowered suspension, M Technic badging everywhere, and the ‘M Rain’ cloth added in, it looks a whole lot more like the full M Technic package. Those sell for big bucks; one traded earlier this year for $44,000, while this car just sold for a much more reasonable amount of $18,500. It’s interesting that the seller is so quickly flipping it, and it’s doubtful it will trade for more than BaT’s sale price on eBay. These cars make the Audi Cabriolet I just wrote up look downright affordable!

-Carter