What: 1997 BMW 316ti Color: BMW Individual Santorini Blue(santorinblauii; non-metallic uni; 327; BMW) VIN: N/A Mileage: 229,000 km Price: €2,100 CarFax: N/A Window Sticker: N/A Location: Salzgitter, Germany Link: Mobile.de
Tailored Driver strives to be of the people and by the people. So while it’d be really easy to just post blank-check Porsche GT variants all day long, we’d rather dig in the proverbial crates for stuff you can actually attain. The latest example of that is this E36 316ti, finished in Santorini Blue and currently on offer for a scant €2,100. Is it rough? Depends on your definition, but we do spot some rust near the rear driver’s side wheel arch. Does it need some ‘help’? Yeah, save for an M3 front bumper, some wheels, and suspension. Will it be slow? If you have to ask… yes, painfully. But an iconic color at a budget price doesn’t come around every day.
What: 1997 BMW 316ti Compact Color: Fiji Green (fidschigrün; non-metallic; 413; Porsche) Interior: Black and Yellow VIN: N/A Mileage: 99,000 km / 61,515 miles Price at Time of this Writing: € 18,000 CarFax: N/A Window Sticker: N/A Location: Erkner, Germany Private Party Listing:Link
Why we love mention it:
This color combination isn’t for everybody, but we suspect anyone who fully embraces automotive trends of the 1990s, particularly the quirkier German side of those trends, then we think you’ll love this car.
The E36-generation BMW 3-Series “Compact” you see here is reportedly one-of-one. While exceptionally rare, the striking and more-saturated-than-mint-green Fiji Green paint doesn’t quite get it one-of-one status. However, that two-tone black and yellow interior likely does.
We’ll share the car’s listing (translated to English by Google) below, and in that you’ll note the mention of its presence at the Essen Motor Show. Given this car is far from a tuner special, we’re guessing it was displayed there in period as part of a BMW brand stand. In that time period, the German manufacturers would often show up with some entirely stock but still radically built cars by their internal tailoring departments. BMW Individual appears to have had at it with this one, though curiously built in a relatively tame drivetrain configuration.
For starters, there’s an automatic transmission. Next, the ad doesn’t confirm which motor it is by name, but the power figures suggest it’s a 316 (so drop us a note if we’re wrong on that one). Whatever, it’s still a very interesting car that’s been owned by the same owner since 2000. For the BMW collector who has everything, we’re guessing they don’t have one of these.
This is one of our Euro market finds, so the usual caveats apply for our primarily North American readership. For Europe and other markets, we focus on cars older than 25 years, meaning a relatively easy import into the USA. This is often done by working with firms such as our friends at Orchid Euro, you can have the car purchased, transported to port, shipped to America and cleared through customs for clients seeking this sort of service.
BEGIN TRANSLATED LISTING TEXT:
This vehicle has been in our possession since 11/2000, and there have been plenty of documents since then. As well as all keys
The vehicle is professionally polished and ceramic sealed. Original paint documented
The vehicle was last exhibited at the Essen Motor Show.
Connoisseurs know what this is. In very excellent condition.
Proven to have been parked in the garage since 11/2000.
In summer 2024, the original chassis was replaced by a Bilstein B6 with new standard springs, including strut mounts and coupling rods.
09/24 air conditioning service, ~150g filled, full at over 800g filling weight
Private sale, no emergency sale, happy to go to collectors or enthusiasts.
The vehicle was actually invited to the 50th anniversary of the BMW 3 Series event at Lake Como in 2025, but I cannot attend due to a private appointment.
