Although I consider myself somewhat of an expert in all things E30-platform related, this 1992 BMW 318ic took me by surprise as it’s fitted with the desirable M-Technic package. I don’t recall seeing the lower-tier 318 with this package from the factory, and I’m still not convinced it ever did as this car has a few clues indicating it’s not original. Still, it’s a looker and a nicely preserved one at that. Find it here on eBay with a $7,500 Buy-It-Now.

The M-Technic cars are desirable among BMW classic fans today, even though the package amounted to mostly a dress-up kit with some a subtle bodykit and firmer suspension, along with 15″ basketweave-style alloy wheels. The interiors are quite desirable for its combination leather and cloth, the latter of which features a unique MTech striped pattern with corresponding inserts in the door panels. One of the first indications that this car had the kit swapped on is the bumpers: they should be color-coded to the car, with the black inserts painted to match.

On the inside, this is a standard E30 interior (although a desirable one). Perforated black vinyl sport seats are a nice upgrade, but a far cry from what was standard in the M-Technic package cars. Now, because of that, the interiors in an original M-Technic were often swiped for transferring into a lesser car, so there’s always a chance that this is yet another false positive on what could be a genuine M-Technic package vehicle. Certainly, the bumpers could have been replaced in an accident and the interior may have been swapped if the cloth/leather buckets were destroyed by the sun.

However, I don’t think I’m wrong: I ran the VIN through a decoder tool I use and it shows no mention of option code S771, which is the M-Technic package. In addition, that same application shows this car as originally being green with tan vinyl, so there’s a few questions as to this car’s provenance. Regardless, even if a full repaint has occurred, the installation of the M-Technic kit is a welcomed upgrade, and white over black is a sharp combination – but it will likely not command the same kind of value a genuine M-Technic car does.