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Dry Stored Survivor: 1983 BMW 316

This listing for a recently unearthed BMW 316 caused some momentary deja vu, as it’s a dead-ringer for my exact car – even down to being right-hand drive. It remains close to factory with the original steel wheels and factory optioned mudflaps still attached. While the 323i is the model everyone croons for, a stock E21 in any form is hard to come by. Find the 316 here on eBay with an opening bid of £1,800.

As a Euro-spec model, this example retains the slim chrome bumpers that were removed in favor of the “park bench” variety on U.S. models. You also don’t see the steel wheels with the chrome trim rings much anymore, as many enthusiast ditch them for larger wheels. All glass looks quite nice and the body shows straight panels and tight gaps down the sides. Paint is faded, but it should bounce back nicely with a buff. One of the mudflaps is missing on the right rear corner.

This stock motor is one of the lowest spec engines offered, so speed is not its strong-suit. Under hood at least looks factory correct, and it gives the next owner a solid baseline to build a fun motor with a more lively setup, such as sidedrafts or at least a Weber upgrade. I didn’t love the motor with the two-barrell Weber 38 I originally had installed; the sidedrafts woke the car up nicely and didn’t cost me anything in terms of drivability.

Cockpits were simple affairs, and this being a non A/C car, it has the preferred console design with lots of useful storage space. The dash doesn’t appear to be cracked, a long-time fault of BMWs from this era. The steering wheel, shift knob and seats are all factory correct as well, so there’s little to fault here in terms of a car that’s been parked for a few years but also hasn’t been messed with. It will need to be towed, however, due to weak brakes.

Comments

  1. Avatar Dbauer

    Too bad I’m in the States right know or is jump I thins one! Really great BM with potential

    Like 1
  2. Avatar rodent

    That isn’t a 320/6 and that isn’t an M20.

    Like 1
  3. Avatar Redwagon

    @rodent what is it and how do you know?

    Like 0
    • Avatar rodent

      Jeff actually read the ad and edited the post to say that it is a 316. M20 is a 6 cylinder, and this clearly is not.

      Like 0
  4. Avatar Chinga-Trailer

    And it isn’t a “Euro spec” car either – it’s a UK spec car, hence the RHD. Europe is like us, they drive on the left side of the car on the right side of the road! If I had a nickel for every time an uneducated rube said “Wow, european, huh!” every time one sees my RHD Cobra!

    Like 1

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