This E30 BMW M3 just sold for $250,000. Wait, WHAT?

A US-based online auctioneer has just sold an original, road-going BMW E30 M3 for a quarter of a million dollars. Insert your own expletives here please while we attempt to fathom what on earth has just happened.

Yes, you really did read that correctly. Online auction site Bring a Trailer has just sold an original, road going E30 for $250,000. Plus, despite the Sport Evolution front splitter, rear spoiler and tow-hook cover, this is actually a bog-standard 1988 M3 with the original 2.3-litre four-pot engine sending 192bhp to the rear wheels via a Getrag five-speed manual gearbox.

It’s a pretty special example, though. This particular car has only 8,000 miles on the clock and was sold new in California, remaining with its first owner until their death in the mid-1990s. It was then garaged and driven on the odd occasion by that owner’s family, before they moved it on to the most recent seller in 2010. 

In April this year it had a major service with a huge amount of work done – which certainly paid off for the seller – and the listing included the original spoiler, front splitter and wheels. 

The Zinnoberrot paint is just glorious too, and check out that spotless Natural Tan leather interior. What a thing.

$250,000 though. Has the world gone completely mad, or are E30 M3s now worth that kind of outlay? Answers in the comments below please.

Images: Bring a Trailer