This 1982 BMW 320i is a U.S.-spec car that benefits from some very cool in-period modifications, including a Korman turbo kit and rear disc brake conversion courtesy of a Euro-spec 323i. The car retains a largely stock outside appearance aside from the Alpina-style wheels and larger front air dam, giving it a sleeper vibe of sorts. Korman Autoworks is a well-regarded name in BMW tuning and restoration, so seeing a car that’s been breathed on by their workshop is a very good thing, and the seller includes documentation that supports the history of modifications made to this E21-chassis 3-Series. Find it here on eBay with bids up to $8,100 and the reserve unmet.

The E21 3-Series has been enjoying a resurgence of late among enthusiasts after many years of being overlooked between the significant bookends of the 2002 and the E30 platform. The E21 is definitely a bridge between the two, feeling more refined than a 2002 but not nearly as polished as a later E30. The car has long been looked at as being unfairly impacted by U.S. safety and emissions requirements which impacted its looks and performance. However, turbocharging has been a long-time go to for performance shops looking to extract more go-go juice out of the standard powerplant, with Korman and Callaway among the household names of engine builders.

This example was apparently the only car Korman built with the turbo kit and Mikuni carburetors, and was said to be “brutal” back in the day. The E21 looks like a sport package car with the Recaro seats, deep front air dam, and three-spoke steering wheel, but those parts could have also easily been transplanted once the original owner realized this car was going to become a performance build. I’m not blown away by the outside appearance of the car – the wheels are undersized, the headlight guards out of place, and the “M” badge a careless add-on – but the cabin looks incredibly well preserved, and the seller notes the dash remains uncracked, a monumental achievement for any vintage BMW owner.

The seller includes a personal letter reflecting the work done by Korman at the time, likely addressed to the owner who oversaw the modifications. While there’s always an argument to be made that original, preserved cars are the most desirable, a car like this modified in-period and with parts that today remain near impossible to find will always command a fair amount of interest from enthusiasts. Bidding is strong at the moment, but I think landing north of $10K should be a reasonable place to clear the reserve, as this car could present even better with some slight cosmetic tweaks that would likely bring even more money down the road should the next owner decide to flip it.