How much did the 320 cost brand new?

[sti101]

I have been trying to find the original price of these cars. Does anyone have a list of prices for all the years and packages, that would be awesome.

no one knows?

[2000mkoop]

need more pics of your sig car, yours?

[sti101]

need more pics of your sig car, yours?

Lol I wish. This is mine sorry for the shitty cell phone pics

[Layne]

In 1983, $16,500. Much cheaper in the early yeas, maybe 11k in 78-79, but don't quote me on that one.

[dblsprt68]

My father-in-law bought mine brand new. He said he paid about $16,000. for it. Not an "is" but had a/c and the aluminum wheels. I think he paid $400 for the wheels!!!!!!! I'll try and find some paperwork over the weekend.

[bflan2001]

i believe the PO of my car said he paid 12k for it in 78

[dhlthr]

$16,500 in 1983 would have same buying power as $35,540.93 does today. $11,500 in 1978 would be $38,931.48 today.

[Layne]

Note that a "comparable" ford was less than $5k back then. $16k was a lot to pay for a small car. Then again, the 6 series was $40k-$60k

[kdanielson]

Really? Early '80s 6 series were that much? My '88 M5 was sold new for $47,000, that seems like a pretty darn good deal compared to a 635i for nearly the same $$.

I remember a couple years ago when the Tom Cruise e21 came up for sale it was originally $14XXX or so.

ken

[rubberpenguin]

mine is TECHNICALLY a 2 owner car. i have the original purchase agreement in my records... my 1983 320iS sold in florida for $17,250. the PO said he actually went to buy a corvette of the day and could not get any service so he walked across the street and bought the iS, they were very comparable (in class) in the day.

[EricDJ]

[DHoang]

PAID IN FULL!

Yep, that's how we paid for cars back in the good ol' days...none of this financing nonsense.

[bmw0009]

sti 101 where u get dat body kit from? I need one

[superj]

that kit is on an e30 and its not his, just his sig picture

[AlaskaBimmer]

I think mine was around 28,000 DM I have a photo of a baur sticker (not mine) but I can't find it.....

[AT320]

I paid $15500 for a new 1980 320i,options were, graphite paint,alloy wheels, a/c, fog lights, and a blauplunk stereo. base price was around $12000.

[Clio320i]

Note that a "comparable" ford was less than $5k back then. $16k was a lot to pay for a small car. Then again, the 6 series was $40k-$60k

Consider, though, that the BMW 3-series basically pioneered the "compact executive car" class. Which might be also called compact sport sedan (?). So I'm thinking that comparing the E21 to anything Ford had available at the time would be like comparing apples and oranges. Or like apples and monkeys.

Appears a Volvo 262c coupe by Bertone went for upwards of $30K. What did the E21 Baur versions go for? Anyone know?

I would think the closest thing anyone had to the E21 would have been the Benz 190E with the Cosworth motor (yay K-Jet!). I have no idea what those went for new.

More info (sorry for the Volvo fixation):

Volvo 240 series went for about $16K in 1986; which translates to $12K in 1980 dollars. Roughly equivalent to our cars, seems to me.

[MattE21]

I was always under the impression the 2002/E21's competed with the Alfa Romeo spider and MGB's.

[Layne]

I would think the closest thing anyone had to the E21 would have been the Benz 190E with the Cosworth motor (yay K-Jet!). I have no idea what those went for new.

Are you talking about the 190E 16V 2.5l Cosworth, or is there another one I don't know about? It doesn't have K-jet and was from a later time. It was a direct competitor of the E30 M3.

I was always under the impression the 2002/E21's competed with the Alfa Romeo spider and MGB's.

I don't really think so. Those were much cheaper toy weekend cars, never intended to be driven everyday. Just look at the average mileage on one today vs. E21's. They lacked anything resembling comfort or handling.

[Clio320i]

Are you talking about the 190E 16V 2.5l Cosworth, or is there another one I don't know about? It doesn't have K-jet and was from a later time. It was a direct competitor of the E30 M3.

Yeah, and yeah, you're right. Totally.

I don't really think so. Those were much cheaper toy weekend cars, never intended to be driven everyday. Just look at the average mileage on one today vs. E21's. They lacked anything resembling comfort or handling.

I'm pretty much thinking the E21 really was a thing unto itself. No comparison! Best car ever!

[blitzed310]

In 1983, $16,500. Much cheaper in the early yeas, maybe 11k in 78-79, but don't quote me on that one.

$13,500 purchased in December of 1978, loaded with "sport package"

[DHoang]

I don't really think so. Those [insert: Alfa Spyder] were much cheaper toy weekend cars, never intended to be driven everyday. Just look at the average mileage on one today vs. E21's. They lacked anything resembling comfort or handling.

+1
If anything the Alfa GTV 2.0 was more of an equal to the 320i, imo.
IIRC, Alfa even came out w/ a turbo 4.
And the Alfa GTV 6 would be comparable to the 323i

She's a beauty!

[Clio320i]

Wow, I never realized how much the sedan version looks like an e30.

[ThatKasper]

Old thread but my 2 cents. My stepfather bought my mom a 1982 320is with all the bells & whistles on it for a bit over $20,000. Pretty sure that was the sticker price (special order in 1981 & shipped over) I think all-in it was close to $22k.