When BMW conceived the E30 3-Series, a wagon wasn't originally part of the model lineup. At the time, BMW did not have a history of producing wagons and didn't see much of a market for adding one on their small 3-series chassis. But BMW engineer Max Reisböck and his friends didn't let that stop them from building an E30 wagon in their home garage in 1984. This pioneering effort culminated in the “long roof” going into production in 1987. While the E30 coupe, sedan, and convertible enjoyed robust sales in the United States, BMW deliberately decided not to introduce the E30 wagon, also known as the Touring, to the American market. This choice was predicated on the belief that there was insufficient demand and the effort required for homologation wasn't justified. Fast forward to the present day, and these E30 wagons have now reached the age of 25 years or more, rendering them eligible for importation into the United States. Yet, due to how tremendously practical they are, most have been used up, and sourcing an exceptional specimen is no small feat.

This 1993 BMW E30 316i Touring holds a distinct place in the E30 lineage as it was part of the exclusive "Design Edition" series. These limited-production vehicles were notable for introducing a range of unique colors previously unavailable on the E30. Moreover, the Design Edition models received a striking interior upgrade featuring vibrant, intricately patterned cloth upholstery on the seats, meticulously color-coordinated with the exterior paint.
This car is finished in the famous BMW shade known as Daytona Violet, which BMW crafted as a metallic interpretation of the central color in the original M logo. The keen-eyed may note that this car is also sitting a bit lower than a standard E30 Touring, thanks to a set of BC Racing coilovers, offering an impressive level of adjustability with both the height and shock tuning.

Inside the cabin, the black cloth upholstery is accentuated by the vivid “Design Edition” fabric that features shades of purple, pink, and white on a black background. Notably, the front sport seats are enhanced with deep purple piping adorning the bolsters, seatback, and headrest, adding a unique touch not seen on other E30s. In front of the driver, a chunky BMW M-Tech II steering wheel graces the cockpit, and the dashboard hosts BMW's iconic white-on-black gauges, complete with an MPH speedometer. Adding a contemporary touch, an aftermarket Sony head unit has been installed with Bluetooth capability and a CD player.

The Design Edition E30 models were exclusively offered with 4-cylinder engines, displacing 1.6 or 1.8 liters. In the case of this car, it is equipped with the 1.6-liter M40 inline-4 engine, which is rated at 101 horsepower and 105 lb-ft of torque. Although this isn't much power by modern standards, it's a blast of an engine to rev out and will happily cruise at freeway speeds all day. Alternately, this could be an excellent candidate to swap a more potent motor from the BMW catalog into, giving you a wagon that both looks and performs fantastically. This car is also outfitted with an aftermarket exhaust system that should add a bit of power and makes the 1.6-liter engine sound better than the restrictive stock unit.

The BMW E30 is one of the most beloved enthusiast cars around, and in recent years, they have become significantly more sought after by collectors. It is easy to see why- a classic design paired with fun and dependable mechanicals that lets the person behind the wheel enjoy everything fun about driving without being so fast that you land yourself in jail. This wagon will help you experience all these things and draw looks everywhere due to its rarity stateside and fantastic color combination.