Just under 5,300 E30 M3s were sold in the United States during the car’s production run from 1988 – 1991. There was a convertible version in Europe, with 786 sold.

I personally would not consider the car rare due to the fact that many are readily available on auction sites, and the car is free to be imported from abroad. BMW sold over 17,000 E30 M3s in Europe, so the car is easy enough to obtain.

Absolutely. While the BMW M1 launched the M division, and the M5 was the first M sedan, the E30 M3 was the car that helped propel BMW M into the mainstream. The M3’s 40-year legacy started with this car, and that makes it a classic now.

Though the car wasn’t a sales success here in the States, it was in many other parts of the world.

Prices are still very high. The average sale price in 2025 is $73,136, with many examples going well over $100,000.

Modified, high-mileage or non-running examples can go for far less – here’s one that sold for “just” $39,750 because it has 307,000 miles on it. I don’t believe there is such a thing as a cheap E30 – even rolling chassis sell for for nearly $20,000.