Best classic BMWs
BMW’s rise in the UK from niche player to mainstream megastar has been fascinating to witness over the years.
And, of course, it means there’s now no shortage of modern-classic BMWs from which to choose – many of them available at temptingly low prices.
With a budget of no more than £5000 (or as little as £500 in some cases), you can become the proud owner of a BMW with an impressive spec... but which ones make the best buys?
BMW 3 Series E30
For fans of ’80s cars, the second-generation BMW 3 Series remains seriously desirable and although prices of the best are on the up, it’s still possible to pick up a standard version (in good to excellent condition) without breaking the bank. Launched in 1982, the BMW 3 Series caught the mood of the decade, with ever-increasing numbers of company car drivers appreciating its quality, image and its smooth driving style. After all, why opt for a Vauxhall or Ford when you could have a BMW? The BMW 3 Series might have been more basic in spec, but it oozed desirability – and still does today.
Read our Honest John Classics BMW 3 Series E30 (1982-1990) review
BMW 5 Series E34
If you fancy an executive car with an upmarket badge and timeless looks, you’ll struggle to beat the third-generation BMW 5 series, launched by BMW in 1988 and produced for the next seven years. Codenamed the E34, it was a handsome beast, as well as being extremely well-built and a joy to drive. It also led to the launch of the BMW E34 Touring, one of the best looking estate cars of its era – and now sought after as a load-lugging modern classic.
Read our Honest John Classics BMW 5 Series E34 (1988-1996) review
BMW Z3 Roadster E36
Fancy a cheap two-seater convertible? You’ll struggle to find better value than the BMW Z3 Roadster, a model that’s still grossly underrated on the modern-classic market. It’s one of the most controversial BMWs thanks to what some see as a ‘hairdresser’ image. But we think that’s unfair, as even a base-model 1.9-litre BMW Z3 pushes out 118bhp-138bhp depending on age and spec. The latter output was enough for a top speed of 123mph, with 0-60 in 8.4 seconds.
BMW 7 Series E38
Launched in 1994, the BMW 7 Series E38 remained on sale for six years and was justifiably one of the best-selling cars in its sector. These were seriously expensive models in their day, yet it’s now perfectly possible to pick up a high-mileage example for as little as £1500 – with excellent cars starting from around twice that figure. Most will be of the 728i or 735i variety, though you might find the odd 740i or 750i also lurking within the classifieds. If you demand technical excellence in an upmarket saloon, you’ll struggle to find a better-value choice than the E38.
Read our Honest John Classics BMW 7 Series E38 (1994-2001) review
BMW 8 Series E31
Looking for an upmarket coupe with some terrific performance on tap? Allow us to introduce the BMW 8 series, launched in 1989 and available over the years with engines ranging from a 4.0-litre V8 to a 5.4-litre V12. Surely, though, the BMW 8 Series is expensive? Well it’s certainly true that the very best flagship versions can still command £20,000-plus. But it’s just about possible to pick up a high-mileage 840Ci from the mid-1990s from as little as the £5k mark. It won’t be perfect (far from it) but it will still turn heads.
Read our Honest John Classics BMW 8 Series E31 (1989-1999) review
BMW Z4 Roadster E85
Replacing the BMW Z3 in 2003 was the first-generation BMW Z4, a model that achieved major success during its five-year career – aided by a wide choice of models, the allure of its BMW badge, excellent build quality and, of course, handsome styling. Depending on budget and personal preferences, buyers could opt for 2.0-, 2.2-litre, 2.5-litre or 3.0-litre power (ranging from 167bhp to 231bhp) plus a choice of SE or Sport specification levels. It’s not the most charismatic modern-day roadster, but the BMW Z4 makes a sensible buy.
BMW 3 Series E36
Looking for the ultimate in bargain-basement BMWs? Check out the third-generation BMW 3 Series - known as the E36 - the first of which (the four-door Saloon) hit the streets in 1990, followed by the Coupe in ’91, the Convertible in ’93 and the Touring (estate) in ’94. This was also the first BMW 3 Series to spawn the Compact, a shorter-wheelbase three-door hatch that took the BMW battle to the heart of the Golf sector. Nowadays any E36 offers spectacular value, though the cheapest are inevitably the Saloon and Compact models – with prices starting from less than £500 for a well-used example. BMW motoring doesn’t get any cheaper.
Read our Honest John Classics BMW 3 Series E36 (1991-1998) review
BMW 5 Series E28
The second-generation BMW 5 Series was launched by BMW in late 1981 and remained in production through to 1988, achieving worldwide sales of more than 722,000 during that time. In the UK it built on the success of the smaller 3 Series, appealing to middle management company car drivers who appreciated its style, image and driver appeal. Most examples might have been sold in fairly lowly 520i spec, but that wasn’t the point - any E28 was a model to aspire to.
Read our Honest John Classics BMW 5 Series E28 (1981-1988) review
BMW 7 Series E32
The model that first brought V12 power to the BMW 7 Series was the flagship BMW 750iL version of the 1986-on BMW 7 Series E32, boasting a mighty 300bhp from its all-new 4988cc engine. Sold here from 1988 (two years after the rest of the E32 range), the new V12 cost a cool £53,750 upon its debut – making it just £6000 cheaper than a Bentley Eight. The hugely complex spec might deter some buyers with smaller budgets now, but the rest of the BMW E32 line-up (from the six-cylinder 730i to the 740i V8) makes sense.
Read our Honest John Classics BMW 7 Series E32 (1986-1994) review
BMW 3 Series E30 Convertible
The second BMW 3 Series E30 to feature here is the Convertible version that appeared in 1986 (three years after the Saloon) and which nowadays makes a tempting choice. This BMW 3 Series Convertible was one of the best-looking soft-tops of the ’80s, as well as one of the best-built. Sleek, stylish and with a choice of 2.0- or 2.5-litre power, each BMW 3 Series Convertible offered six-cylinder smoothness. Outliving the regular E30 range, the drop-top version remained on sale through to 1993.
Read our Honest John Classics BMW 3 Series E30 (1982-1990) review
