What’s the price for perfection? Well, it can vary a lot – just like the definition of perfection. Is the 135i the perfect car? Far from it; it has some funky angles, old tech, and is surprisingly heavy for how diminutive it looks. That said, it also packs a lot of punch; in either N54 or N55 guise, it’s got 300 horsepower, Brembo brakes, and is a hoot to drive on the road. These cars were priced in the high 30s when new, and really good examples have never gotten very cheap. Today’s car is a great example of that – probably one of the best-condition and original E82s in the US, with a scant 15,000 miles on the odometer. It was also ordered with the M Sport package. Is it perfection?
Category: BMW
Gosh, this is like déjà vu all over again. If yesterday’s Sprint Blue RS6 wasn’t enough to tempt you, I’m back with an even more blue M3. Today’s E46 is Topaz Blue Metallic outside, which is nice – but that’s not the whole story. Inside is the very blue Laguna Seca Blue leather upholstery. The seller of this one believes that you’ll be hard-pressed to find another like it, and I’d have to agree. Laguna Seca Blue leather was available from the factory as a special-order but regular production color, meaning the car didn’t have to go through BMW Individual. But why choose this color? Well, the story goes that this is was a press car model, and indeed it carries code 916 – Development Vehicle. I previously looked at a double-Imola E46 M3 press vehicle, and it’s neat to see another come up for sale:
CLICK FOR DETAILS: 2003 BMW M3 Convertible on eBay
1 CommentAh….the infamous “ZHP” Performance Package. Available in sedan, coupe, and convertible format, it infused the US-specification 330i with some M DNA and has since become a fan favorite. Clean examples even trade for more than some M3s. But one thing was lacking; a wagon. Worse, BMW never offered the top-spec motor in the E46 long roof here. But that doesn’t hold people back.
Today’s car started life as an Orient Blue Metallic automatic 325i Sport Wagon with heated seats, beige leather upholstery, and wood trim – that’s about it. Since that time, it’s run into some things and become a whole lot more desirable with a full ZHP treatment including bodywork, wheels, interior, and the 3.0L motor and 5-speed manual transmission. Then there are also some upgrades to the suspension and some maintenance to boot. Does it make it worth overlooking the rebuilt title?
CLICK FOR DETAILS: 2004 BMW 325i Sport Wagon on eBay
5 CommentsOf all the cars to spend the extra money on for a BMW Individual color, this was not one I would have guessed. This is a 1999 BMW 316i, better know as the ti to us Americans. It was the compact hatchback body of the E36 and generally known as the “cheap” version. For the rest of the world, not so much, as little hatchback versions of luxury brands are the norm and not looked down on in any way. They just exist. That probably explains how this car ended up finished in the very cool Fiji Green and how it seems so inexpensive today. Too bad this one needs another two years before it is welcomed to the US because it has some great equipment on it.