BMW 316i Compact Manual

Highlights

• Amazing low-mileage, time-warp E36 Compact
• 1.6 litre 4-cylinder engine and manual gearbox
• Only one owner until 2024 and just 28,764 miles from new
• Recommissioned by vendor this year after long lay-up
• Original bill of sale and paperwork

Overview

When it debuted in 1994, the BMW E36 Compact was in many ways the precursor to a whole generation of compact premium hatchbacks.

It marked a move into new territory for BMW, which was looking to coin-in on the premium image of rival Volkswagen’s Golf – a car that was seen as a cut above its mainstream rivals. It was so successful that Audi and Mercedes followed suit, with the A3 and C-Class Coupé – cars that were marketed in a similar vein.

It was based on the E36 3-Series saloon and shared its wheelbase, the hatchback Compact being a whole 30cm shorter, with a stylish chopped off tail and functional tailgate – though BMW did have to move the fuel filler inboard of the right-hand rear wheelarch to accommodate the truncated body.

Unlike most cars of its size, it was rear-wheel-drive and hugely engaging to drive, offered with a range of four and six-cylinder engines that were carried over from the rest of the 3-Series range.

This one is the purest of the lot – an entry-level 316i, which typified the core target market that BMW was aiming for. Those who couldn’t stretch to a ‘big’ 3-Series, but wanted to enjoy the accoutrements and fine handling prowess that made the model special.

The car’s original owner, a mature lady from Bath, acquired the car brand-new in August 1995 and it was certainly a step-up for her, as the original bill of sale is still with the car, showing that she traded in a J-registered Vauxhall Nova 1.2 Luxe for her new BMW, specifying optional floor mats and a Sony radio-cassette player, both of which are still with the car, along with the SE Pack, which rewarded the owner with such joys as a sunroof, central locking and electric front windows.

Finding one like this, then, is a rare event – and it’s a real peach. A two-owner car, it was acquired by the vendor earlier this year after being stood up in 2018 when the elderly previous owner stopped driving. The vendor recommissioned it during the summer, with new front tyres and front brakes, a service as outlined in the invoice in the gallery in October 2024, as well as a deep clean. It passed its first MOT since 2018 in June, with no advisory notices. MOT records show it saw very little use in its final years with its previous owner, and had just 27,020 miles on the clock when the vendor had it MOT’d.

He has since been using the car for local commuting to test its general reliability and the car has proved to be more than capable of being used daily for any journey long or short. However, with too many other cars in the family's fleet (classic and modern), he doesn’t want to subject this special E36 to a winter of being outside and getting used on salted roads, so he’s looking for an E36 enthusiast to become the new owner who can cherish the car for the ultra-rare time-warp that it is.

You’ll struggle to find another Compact like it. It’s not perfect – there are a couple of minor cosmetic faults on the snag list which should be easy enough to sort out – but the bodywork is seemingly rot-free and the Anthracite interior in fine order, while it drives very well. It’s one to cherish for the future.

History and documentation

• UK V5C
• MOT to June 2025, no advisories
• Genuine 28k miles
• Two keys, plus dealer key and plastic ‘emergency key’
• Original book pack and BMW wallet
• Service book stamped as follows: July 1995 @ PDI (main dealer), January 1996 @ 669 miles (main dealer), April 2001 @ 13,318 miles (main dealer), June 2017 @ 26,963 miles (independent)
• Subsequent invoices from an independent garage showing regular maintenance until the car was taken off the road
• Invoices for recommissioning work carried out by the new owner plus a written document highlighting all of the jobs carried out to return it to the road
• Original dealer tax disc holder, number plates, key rings, touch-up paint and price list, with details of proposed package handwritten by sales manager
• Original order form, bill of sale and thank you letter to the owner from BMW
• Two old blue V5s showing previous owner details

Interior

• Anthracite cloth upholstery
• No notable marks or wear
• Original dealer floor mats
• Original Sony radio-cassette player
• Sunroof
• Electric windows and mirrors
• ​​Original tools in load bay, seemingly unused
• BMW first aid kit, still in wrapper
• Spotless luggage bay
• Some very slight dropping on headlining, and sunroof trim has been replaced with red fabric

Exterior

• BMW ‘Bright Red’ paint – all original with no obvious signs of corrosion
• Underside, including the jacking point, which are a common problem with E36s, appears superb with no evidence of any structural corrosion
• Immaculate original plastic wheel trims – a very rare find today
• Some minor car park dings, the worst of which is on the right rear quarter, but no evidence of past accident damage
• There are a couple of very small areas where the paintwork has deteriorated – some fading on the rear panel, a small amount of lacquer peel on the upper right hand corner and two smaller areas of lacquer peel on one front wing and one rear arch/ rear panel
• Slightly faded paint on nearside front wing
• In all, it’s in great condition for its age but with a few minor opportunities for improvement

Mechanical

• 1.6-litre 8v 4cyl naturally aspirated
• Five-speed manual
• Recent new front brakes
• New front tyres
• Serviced June 2024 as per the invoice in the gallery
• Starts and runs beautifully with no reported mechanical issues, clutch works well and gearbox is lovely and smooth

Summary

The E36 compact is a car with a strong following these days, albeit not necessarily from the kind of owners who might be best-suited to this example. Indeed, much as we love messing around on a track as much as the next like-minded loony, we’re glad this one has avoided the attentions of the drifters – and by that, we don’t mean the band, who the previous owner may well have enjoyed listening to through her prized Sony radio-cassette.

In its current form, this is a special car, of the type that has already become very rare – as base-model BMWs are prone to do as once they become affordable, they often get modified. The beauty of this one is its pure, unspoilt originality and part of us really hope it stays that way as it’s a gorgeous old thing with a lovely story behind it. That said, the devil on our shoulder also sees it as a great starting point for a drift, road rally or targa car build. But either way it reminds you how the E36, even in its most basic form, was such a satisfying car to own and drive when new. It’s still fabulous to drive, even today.

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 King Lynn, Norfolk.