2006 BMW 320si (E90)

Highlights

• WTCC Homologation special
• Just 500 examples built for the UK (2,600 worldwide)
• Just 72,186 miles on the clock
• Superb and comprehensive service history
• New engine fitted by Stratstone BMW in 2016 at 59,345 miles

Overview

If you’re going to echo the all-conquering E30 M3 – one of the most successful race cars and homologation specials ever made – you really have to make sure you get it right. Of course, if anyone can get “race car, but for the road” right, then it’s BMW.

Thankfully, when they decided to take their E90 3-series racing in the World Touring Car Championship, they properly nailed the brief. With a hand-built, free-revving naturally aspirated four-cylinder mated to a classic 6-speed manual transmission and driving the rear wheels only, all the ingredients are there for a proper B-road hero. And that’s exactly what the 320Si is.

Based on the 320i M Sport, but with that wonderfully unique drivetrain, the 320Si channels the spirit and purity of the E30 M3, but marries it to the subtle styling, grace, comfort and fine handling of a mid-noughties BMW. While it had a reputation in some corners for being a bit highly strung, in reality it can happily take care of daily-driving duties while providing plenty of thrills when the black stuff gets twisty. It really does offer the best of both worlds.

This particular example benefits from a lovely specification, low mileage, an excellent service history and, best of all, a replacement engine fitted by BMW just over 12,000 miles ago. Which means it’s now nicely run in and should give the new owner many years of motoring bliss.

The 320Si is now a very rare machine too. Only 500 were ever made for the UK market (2,600 were made in total worldwide), of which just about 120 appear to still be on the road. So this is as unusual, interesting and collectible as it is adrenaline pumping. It’s one of those classic “if you know, you know” cars, and this pleases us immensely.

History and documentation

• First registered 4 September 2006
• Current owner since August 2016
• 6 previous owners
• 72,186 miles on the clock, verified by the MOT and service record
• New engine fitted by Stratstone BMW (invoice included) in June 2016 at 59,345 miles
• Purchased as an “Approved Used BMW” from Stratstone BMW
• Stamped service book with services as follows: June 2008 @ 12,031 miles, July 2010 @ 25,247 miles, July 2012 @ 35,878 miles, July 2014 @ 45,866 miles, June 2016 @ 59,350 miles, September 2016 @ 59,737 miles, December 2016 @ 60,976 miles, July 2018 @ 64,386 miles, July 2019 @ 66,117 miles, November 2020 @ 67,604 miles, no date @ 68,610 miles, May 2023 @ 70,283 miles, October 2024 @ 72,140 miles
• The vendor tells us that, since purchase in 2016, the car has only been run on Shell V-Power
• Full document pack
• Extensive collection of invoices for servicing and maintenance
• Two keys
• Current MOT expires in January 2025
• V5 present in owner’s name
• HPI clear (checked in October 2024)
• London ULEZ compliant

Interior

• Grey Alcantara upholstery, with mesh panels to the seat centres and door cards
• Overall the upholstery is in very good condition, with some wear present to the outer bolster of the driver’s seat
• All of the seats appear to be firm and free from sagging or notable wear
• Black carpets are fitted throughout the cabin, and are presented in great condition with just a very small tear in the driver’s footwell
• Dark headlining, which looks to be in good order, with no sagging or damage we could see
• Electrically operated windows and side mirrors
• Remote central locking
• Air conditioning, which the vendor reports works just as it should
• Rear parking sensors
• Factory fitted CD/radio system, with Parrot phone / Bluetooth connectivity
• Multifunction steering wheel, trimmed in black leather, is showing some peeling to the black plastic centre
• All of the interior trim, switchgear and instrumentation looks to be in fine fettle, with just a little wear commensurate with the car’s age
• Handsome patterned aluminium trim to the dash fascia and centre console, with just a couple of very light marks
• The vendor tells us that all of the cabin features work as they should, with no issues or problems to report
• There’s a little peeling on the branded sill guards
• The boot is generous and finished with smart dark grey carpet
• A full BMW toolkit is present and correct

Exterior

• Metallic Titan Silver (code 354) paintwork looks to be in excellent condition for its age, with just a few stone chips and minor blemishes, mostly to the bonnet
• Gloss black door mirror casings
• Factory fitted rear lip spoiler
• The front splitter has had a cosmetic respray
• The bodywork presents in excellent overall condition, with no corrosion or damage to be seen, crisp swage lines and neat, even panel gaps
• There is a small stone chip to the top centre of the windscreen (noted on the latest MOT, but outside the driver’s field of vision)
• Tinted window film fitted to the rear windows, with the rear windscreen showing a little bubbling
• All of the external trim and badging appears to be in very good condition, with just a few minor blemishes
• The light clusters are all clean and appear to be undamaged, with just a little misting to the near-side front main lens and fog light
• Underneath, everything looks very clean and tidy, with undamaged undertrays, straight sills and no notable corrosion we could discern
• The car sits on a set of genuine 19-inch Alpina Dynamic D01 alloy wheels, refurbished in July 2024 and finished in gunmetal grey
• All of the wheels are in superb condition, with no signs of lacquer peel or kerb damage
• The wheels are shod in a matched set of Michelin Pilot Sport 4 tyres, which look to be in fine condition, and the vendor tells us have covered about 2,700 miles

Mechanical

• 1,997cc naturally aspirated four-cylinder
• Unique hand-built engine includes: 7,300rpm limiter, lower stroke (88mm) and bigger bore (85mm), free-flowing induction system and exhaust valves, compression raised to 11.0:1, carbon fibre cam cover (10Kg lighter than standard), conventional DOHC (no Valvetronic system), aluminium cylinder liners, unique head cast at the period BMW Formula 1 engine facility
• 6-speed manual transmission with a shorter final drive
• Rear-wheel drive
• Factory fitted 300mm Brembo brakes all round
• New engine fitted by Stratstone BMW at 59,345 miles in June 2016
• Factory rated at 173bhp / 147 lb-ft
• 0-62mph in 8.1 seconds, with a top speed of 140mph
• Clean and tidy engine bay, with no signs of leaks or other issues
• New battery fitted in May 2020
• Cruise control, traction control, ABS, power assisted steering
• We’re assured that the car starts, runs and performs just as it should, with a precise gear change, great handling and a raucous engine note from 4,000rpm up to the 7,300rpm limit
• The vendor tells us that there are no mechanical issues or problems they are aware of

Summary

Exactly the kind of car that manufacturers no longer make, and exactly the kind of car that we wish they would – the 320Si is like a greatest hits collection for petrolheads. A balanced, honed rear-drive chassis, snappy and slick six-speed manual transmission, and a high-revving, race-derived howler of a naturally aspirated engine. If that little lot doesn’t stir your soul, then we can’t help feeling there may not be any petrol in your blood.

For the rest of us, this is the perfect daily driver – subtly styled, clever, beautifully engineered and very rare. Add to that the low mileage, new engine, great history and overall lovely condition of this example, and you’re looking at the kind of car that’s sure to garner knowing nods and appreciative thumbs up from fellow enthusiasts. We think it’s an absolute gem.

To arrange a viewing, please request this in the Q&A section. You can click through to the seller's profile and use the 'Email Me' function to arrange a viewing privately. This seller is located in Chesterfield, Derbyshire.