Having not really checked in on E30 M3 pricing lately, I decided to take a gander this week. The situation has not improved. Pristine examples are still asking north of $80,000. If you want one on a budget that’s no reserve, there’s a rusty example with little documentation and 200,000 miles with a wrecked interior for…$20,000 so far. That’s pretty insane for a car that needs a full mechanical and cosmetic restoration, because that money gets you into a pristine E36 or E46 and you’re knocking on the door of the E92s, too.
So I’m taking a different path today. Let’s say you want a collector-grade car but don’t want something old. Well, as I’ve mentioned previously there are a lot of special edition M3s out there. One that quietly slipped through in 2017 was the 30 Jahre Edition of the M3 Sedan. Built on a Competition Package base, the 30 Jahre added Macao Blue Metallic over full Merino leather in Black/Fjord Blue from BMW Individual. The exterior trim was treated to BMW’s high gloss Shadowline treatment and there were plenty of special badges to go around both inside and out. For the 150 out of 500 produced sent to the U.S. market, these cars came equipped with the Driver Assistance Plus Package and LED lights. With the boost turned up on the S55 and hooked to the dual clutch, the 444 horsepower was good for 3.8 second sprints to 60. Check that box for the DCT, and you were $86,150 lighter in the wallet – about the same ask as that E30 I posted earlier. So what does one of these limited models set you back today?
CLICK FOR DETAILS: 2017 BMW M3 30 Jahre Edition on eBay
Year: 2017
Model: M3 30 Jahre
VIN: WBS8M9C5XH5G83905
Engine: 3.0 liter twin turbocharged inline-6
Transmission: 7-speed M-DCT dual-clutch semi-automatic
Mileage: 7,300 mi
Price: $71,500 Buy It Now
Location: Orlando, FL
Here is your chance to own a 2017 BMW M3 JAHRE 30th Anniversary Edition. Only 1/500 in the world and 1/250 are in the United States. I am the original owner. Currently 7300 original miles on the car and only serviced at the BMW dealership. Clean title, Never been in an accident or been repainted. There are no dents or scratches, never been smoked in, never any pets inside. Always been under covers. Car is in excellent shape and excellent running condition. Still under manufactures factory warranty. Please feel free to ask any questions.
The F80 M3 has really grown on me. It’s very aggressive looking and sounds great. While the M4 will always grab attention and headlines, I like too that the more practical M3 is somehow a bit less ostentatious. Yet this car still feels very special, with plenty of performance and a beautiful color combination. On top of the normal 30 Jahre options, this one also had the Executive Package which gave you headlight washers, heads-up display, rear camera, heated steering wheel, park distance control and wireless charging. Mileage is fine and condition appears to be near-new, though frankly it probably should be. I wish the photos were more representative, but otherwise there’s little to complain about. Price? $71,500 will get you into most F80 M3s these days, and the G20 hasn’t been released yet. You could spec your own M4 with a manual for about the same price, but not with many options. Perhaps that’s more appealing, and as a long-term collector I think a manual might hold more value in the immediate future. But there will always be a spot for special M3s as far as the market is currently trending, and this one is pretty special. You get a turn-key rocketship that’s still under warranty, still currently technology and is a very limited model for a price that’s $16,000 less than it sold for just two years ago. That seems like a win if you’ve got the budget.
-Carter
