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HI Jon thanks for all the information very Helpful . I need this to add to the History Section for the Story Board required for Survivor Class Entry at the Concours . Been Very Helpful thanks .

Yeah, apart from what I mentioned previously about the rust spots (which he treated when he got the car) and the engine needing more time turning over, it did seem like it was looked after well. He had some spare parts leftover to give with the car as well that wasn’t mentioned in the listing. Good bloke and seemed like an honest sale, whoever got it was lucky.

Hi E30 and BMW Members . I have been trying to find out more information about the New Zealand E30 M325i M Tech 1 . If Possible I would like to know how many of these model where sold in New Zealand . I have some information which I have from other Web Site which Read as follows . In New Zealand, where the M3 was never officially sold, the local importer created a sporting version of the sedan called M325i. About 100 such cars were imported beginning in late 1986 until at least 1990. Fitted with the standard non-catalyzed 171 PS (126 kW) 2.5 litre engine they benefitted from a Motorsport fettled suspension, the M-Technic body package, 15-inch BBS cross-spoke wheels with wide, low profile (225/50) tyres, and a limited-slip differential. The M325i is quite similar to the British market 325i Sport, also developed as a response to the absence of a right-hand-drive M3. Is this Accurate for the Total number including M Tech 2 . I have found other Information which says "I have been told that only 298 models of the 1987 right hand drive M-tech 1 were ever made before they switched to the M-tech 2 making it a seriously rare beast indeed, and after the M-tech 2 which sold a lot more was done the next M3 was produced in right hand drive too making it pointless carrying on the M-tech line " Is this Accurate for the Total number of M Tech 1 Made and if so how many M-Tech 1 are in New Zealand. Thanks in Advance

Superpro make good bushes, and being polybushes they will last forever and are an upgrade from stock rubber. The sellers on TM are probably from AUS, otherwise you can usually get Superpro from Autolign in NZ. I believe all the polybush options are easier to install than OE replacements which need to be pressed in. I used Powerflex on my R53, which i ordered direct from the UK https://www.powerflex.co.uk/product-details/Front+Wishbone+Rear+Bush/1836.html

If you can wait 1 week delivery time you can order from rockauto I might also be keen to split shipping costs since I’m gonna be placing another order soon. last two orders took 7 days and 6 days to arrive incl weekends so actually 5 and 4 working days. edit: FCP - 22usd each plus shipping for Lemforder ones https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/mini-front-control-arm-bushing-cooper-31126767530 Rockauto - 17nzd each plus shipping for Vaico ones https://www.rockauto.com/en/parts/vaico,V202705,control+arm+bushing,7532 Otherwise you can get the poly solid bushes from powerflex but cost a bit more.

@Ghost Chip I mean I never saw the car but assuming it was in reasonable order I think that’s a fair price (in the context of this market).

E30 M3 was sold in NZ, but was very expensive especially with the extra cost of having to convert to RHD to use legally on the road. The "M-Technic" package was developed at the factory as being an option for E30s, and it was widely used as the basis for a sporty 325i variant, the M325i as it was promoted in NZ, the 325i Sport in the UK and 325i M-Technic in Germany. The M-Technic package included a number of different "sporty" options bundled together - the body kit, alloys, black headliner, sport suspension, etc. I believe each option could also be added on its own, outside of the M-Technic package, but i've never seen the body kit only optioned onto a car. First offered around mid-86 as a factory option (with 14" weaves for first couple of months, then 15") on the pre-facelift E30s in both LHD and RHD. With the facelift of the E30 there was a gap of around a year before the similar package, M-Technic II Package, was made available from the factory with the new bodykit suited to the new bumpers on the facelift, same names were used such as M325i and 325i Sport This was then offered through to the end of the E30 production and extended through to sedans, tourings and convertibles. The total number of 100 units for NZ sounds in the right ball park - 25 a year over 4 years. Not sure where this guy gets his numbers from, a very good E30 reference book talks in detail about both the UK 325i Sport Tech I and Tech II, and also lists the sales figures for that model seperately, pure UK numbers are much higher than 298. At least 1,200 units in the UK alone, with possibly u to near 2,000 more (it doesn't break down Tech I / Tech II just by year, so there is some cross over. The Tech II numbers are slightly higher (again UK based figures) but not hugely more. The original "M-Technic" packages had a slight name change to "M-Sport" package later on and is the fore-runner of the M-Sport packages that are available for just about every BMW model nowadays, so it did carry on, but with a slightly different name. Possibly the first 4 Polaris Silver models that came in, which Leichtbau referred to as not having the M-Technic option from factory might have been fettled here in NZ, but all the models with the M-Techinc option code in the options list would have come from factory with the kits, etc fitted as the options list (from VIN Decode, etc) is how it left the factory - local options, either NZ or dealer fitted, would not be included. The radios and some other equipment was locally fitted (by Rapid Radio - not sure where they were based). The old heads in parts and technical are pretty sure the later ones were factory fitted, first few were possibly "mock up" examples of what the M325i could look like. The long and short of it is that whilst not incredibly rare by automotive standards, a genuine E30 325i with factory M-Technic kit, either I or II, is a relatively scarce animal and is definately desired by many owners, and now it seems collectors. A mint example like yours, maintained to it's current standard will certainly become more and more collectable.

Reserve was 15k. Was really keen on that car, really gutted that I missed out, apparently someone called him shortly after and they worked out a deal so have changed hands now. I thought it was too late in the night to hassle someone to negotiate so left it til this morning, guess I was wrong. Be curious to see if it was someone from here that got it?

If you think about it, it makes sense. It’s not a collector level car so no one who’s stacked would drive the price up.

My one I offered you ticks all those boxes but with what you want to spend, you'd need to be looking at 4 door sedans only. Does it have to be a coupe?

Hi All . I have invested in cars and spent lots of time looking at markets an looking for trends . At the moment E30 have been moving the rarer the model the higher the price . E30 M3 have always been sought after but also have considerable range in prices as well. But fully documented low mileage couple of owner car unrestored in good condition will always be king With collectors. Even though these cars have moved in price . They Will become a investment grade Car once they pass there original purchase price in today’s money . E30 still have a bit to go but are still well price get them while you can at these prices as collector have not really moved into E30 yet . Most of the price will have been driven by brand enthusiasm by current BMW owners. The rarer the car the more sought after the current sales reflect how well sought after these cars are and also how well they drive . I would only expect these M Tech 1 and 2 to catchup with lower grade E30 M3 they made a lot more M3 than RHD M Tech 1 cars for example . You might have been able to buy one 10 years ago for 10k and think they are not a 50k cars but the market is telling you something else .

I just cried at the beauty of this car

I'm all for e30's - but there is no way that mtech II is a $50k driving experience. I guess that's not what people are paying for, (but they are so...)

Hi Harm, does that mean the smiley headlights were fitted at some later date? Your knowledge is encyclopaedic:)

Another NZ M325i Tech Wan spotted in a dealership, black, very, very tidy condition. In for WoF and service as it’s in the process of being sold (has deposit taken).

Better looking IMO. Steel bumpers. Less bulky plastic looking. Better spoiler. Looks far different than the non M models. Does the Tech 2 come with Houndstooth interior? If not then that too.

what makes the Tech 1 better than the Tech 2, to earn the mantle of 'BEST', @Driftit Dan?

The best version. To think you could have purchased my one for $10K in 2016? I really wish I still had it. Not because it was a great car. But so i could sell it and buy something much nicer.

Welcome @E28E30 Your right, I didn’t even pick up on that red one missing the sunroof. There must be a few different combos around as my NZ New has a sunroof but doesn’t have headrests or high stop lamp.

Hello forum, newly joined. It appears there’s a batch of NZ new ones without them and without rear head rests. I bid up to $43k on the red one that sold yesterday for over $60k and drove it, was nice, some work to do on it but nice. It had no sunroof or rear headrests either. Interesting also that the M Tech II M325i models new in NZ seem to have dealer fitted rear high stop brake lights as the rear spoiler would hide the usual LCI factory one. I thought it was odd on the red one but this charcoal one seems the same?

What a laugh. Good luck to all the sellers. May you find a cashed up cars and coffee regular.

Madness.... I built mine for less than $2k but some people just gotta have them now and pay for the privilege

Who wants an E30 when you could have this? https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors/cars/bmw/listing/3060937618

Blimey, now you’re asking. That was a long time ago that we were weighing E30s all week-end. It was somewhere around the 1100kgs mark for the six-cylinder cars, it changed a bit over the years for parity across the models. Good work getting the 535 down to 1200kg, as you say not miles away from E30 weights.

E34s are looking like good value to scratch the quad headlight boxy BMW itch too. Can’t imagine they are as fun to throw around a few twisties though.

I do like the E30. I'd like a 4-cylinder one. But a 6-pot E28 would also provide a very interesting platform.

I think an E28 is a great buy in comparison to an E30 especially considering the prices are very reasonable for them.

You’d hope the e46 was an improvement on the previous generation. The e46 is considered by most the sweet spot of 3 series and they’re great value. That being said, driving both an e46 (330ci) and e30 (325i) back to back recently, the e30 is just👌... It probably is sentimental and I quite like that it’s not particularly fast by today’s standards however BMW and financial sense. Not sure those two things go together.

@Driftit Mate, don’t worry, you’re not the only one struggling with the pricing 😅. I wish I had a change of heart 5 years ago rather than now. But it is what it is.

Is it a case of supply versus demand? More and more E30s have got to the point where they are beyond keeping road-worthy, either in accidents or rust / wearing out and gone to the great wreckers in the sky. And there’s no new ones being made. At the same time, the interest has spread from the core group of E30 fans out to a far wider group, to drifters, boy racers even hipsters looking to get some old school cool. Yes, prices seem to have rocketed recently, but they have been climbing noticeably for a long time. Now there is a very, very small pool of good examples of desirable models, being chased by larger numbers of eager buyers. Existing Fans who had a 320i before are now maybe looking to “move up” to an M325i or M3. The knock on effect is that then even poor examples of desirable models (US$20k for a rusted out M3 roller..) and trickle down to other models as buyers can’t find / afford what they really want and settle for something a little lower down the pecking order. All of which then fuels the feeding frenzy.. sounds familiar? Would I pay big money for an E30? yes, if the right M325i or M3 came along. As an investment? No, to drive, and fix, and polish and look at.