Sometimes, you have to be a nerd with a passion for a certain model to understand why it would draw a higher sale price. The BMW E30 3-Series convertible is not a particularly notable car on its own, as they were produced in large quantities and to this day remain a go-to choice for anyone seeking an easy-to-live-with enthusiast car with a drop top. However, the MTech 2 cabriolet is a different beast altogether, produced in limited quantities with a unique bodykit and suspension upgrades, not to mention an all-white exterior and interior. Find this MTech 2 325i convertible here on eBay with bids to $17,250 and the reserve unmet.

The model itself sort of slipped through the cracks at first, as most enthusiasts didn’t care much for convertibles and many of these cars had automatic transmissions. It seemed like BMW was simply looking to sell an expensive version of a model with no real performance enhancements to people who didn’t want to row their own gears. However, as time went on, E30 fans began to wake up to the fact that the MTech 2 appearance kit really did transform the car, with revised front and rear bumpers, air dam, and rocker panel extensions. I’m sure many genuine MTech 2 convertibles were hacked up to pillage the body kit from a tired convertible back in the day.

Now, this MTech 2 is a standout not only for its clean condition but also because it is a manual transmission example, and with no mention of a transmission swap, I have to believe this car came this way from the factory. The white leather seats are in excellent condition as are the corresponding door panels. The one way to make an MTech more desirable is to find one optioned with the cloth interior, as that option code unlocked one of the most desirable interiors ever offered by BMW with a unique Motorsport-themed color scheme on the door panels and factory sport seats. If this car had that interior with the manual transmission and MTech kit, you’d be a looking at a total unicorn.

At the end of the day, it’s still an E30, which means it comes with the reliable M20 inline-six cylinder engine. The MTech 2 cars also benefited from stiffer shocks and springs and a larger rear sway bar; the seller has added a Dinan strut bar under the hood. It’s not surprising to see bids approaching $20,000 with the reserve unmet, as this appears to be a clean example with no major modifications and the ultra-rare 5-speed transmission. While you’d have to be a BMW nerd to fully appreciate why this car is so special, it’s not surprising to see it attracting solid bids as it approaches the end of the auction.