Two decades after its debut, the hand-assembled E90-generation BMW 320si remains a rare touring-car homologation special that offers rear-wheel drive, high-revving naturally aspirated performance, and a six-speed manual gearbox at prices that can fall below ordinary used commuter cars.
Engineering a Touring Car Special
BMW built just 2,600 examples of the 320si to satisfy World Touring Car Championship rules. Unlike the standard compact luxury sedan it resembled, the homologation special underwent extensive mechanical revision. Engineers pushed displacement to 1,997 cc, raised compression from 10.5:1 to 11.0:1, and fitted larger intake and exhaust valves.
To help the engine breathe at higher rpm, BMW removed the standard ValveTronic variable valve lift system in favor of a conventional throttle body and pushed the tachometer redline to 7,300 rpm. The cylinder head was cast at the Landshut plant where BMW Motorsport produced competition engine components, while final assembly took place at the Hams Hall plant near Coventry. A carbon-fiber cylinder head cover provided a subtle nod to its motorsport roots.
Championship Success on the Track
The engineering investment paid immediate dividends in international competition. The race-prepped WTCC version featured a P45 racing engine producing approximately 275 horsepower at 8,300 rpm alongside extensively revised internals.
Driver Andy Priaulx entered the 2006 season defending his 2005 title. Piloting the new touring car weapon, he secured five race victories to defend his championship by a single point over fellow BMW driver Jörg Müller. Concurrently, BMW captured the manufacturers’ championship with 254 points—surpassing rival SEAT by 19 points—before Priaulx won the drivers’ championship again in 2007.
Market Realities and Cylinder Liner Risks
Two decades later, surviving road-going examples present an unusual used-car value proposition paired with distinct mechanical risks. Prices span a wide range depending on condition, history, and mileage.
A high-mileage 2006 example with 116,050 miles on the odometer is advertised for just £2,550, or about $3,330, though it carries an engine fault code, requires timing chain work, and features a leaking rear shock absorber. At the opposite end, a privately advertised 67,000-mile example is listed at £12,995 ($17,300).
Buyers must approach the period special with caution due to a significant vulnerability involving aluminum cylinder liners. Cracked liners can trigger compression loss and severe internal damage. Independent specialists recommend machining the engine block to replace the aluminum liners with steel sleeves, a repair that can amount to as much as £4,000 (or $5,500)—a consequential expense for a car that may cost only a few thousand pounds to purchase.
US Import Timeline and Driving Dynamics
Because the vehicle never reached American showrooms, enthusiasts in the United States have remained excluded from ownership. However, under standard federal import rules, US buyers can legally import a 320si starting in 2031 as vehicles cross the 25-year threshold.
When that window opens, American drivers will gain access to a rear-wheel-drive sedan featuring a naturally aspirated, high-revving engine mated to a six-speed manual gearbox and a short 4.10:1 final drive ratio. Featuring an ordinary compact luxury sedan appearance on the outside alongside a chassis that BMW developed when mechanical involvement was central to the company’s sporting identity, the homologation special combines everyday packaging with a mechanical purity rooted in BMW’s sporting history.