A List of Most Expensive BMW Cars Ever Sold in Auction

BMW, founded in 1916, started creating automobiles in 1927. The name is an acronym for “Bayerische Motoren Werke,” or Bavarian Motor Works. The German carmaker’s headquarters are in Munich, Bavaria. From early models like the 3/15, BMW’s first automobile, to post-war classics like the 500 Series and current “Bimmers,” the BMW name is a symbol of elegance, high performance, and driving delight. 

BMW has evolved into a more luxurious company as it has grown, and the increased performance, lavishness, and technology that its vehicles serve raise the asking price. That got us thinking: what is the most premium BMW ever sold, and which are the priciest BMW models currently on the market? While BMW’s current “ultimate driving machines” are undeniably amazing, the brand’s rare vintage and race vehicles with historical records often fetch the greatest prices at auction. Let’s explore some of the most expensive BMW cars ever auctioned off.

Breathtaking Luxurious BMWs – Sold for How Much?

Here is the list of some of the most exquisite and swanky BMWs, owned by the elite and auctioned off with a price tag big enough to stop your breath for a while!

1.  John Surtees’ 1957 BMW 507 Touring Sports Car

John Surtees, a well-known racer, had this factory hardtop BMW 507. According to the racer, the 507 was a gift from MV Augusta to mark his victory in the 1956 Motorcycle World Championship upon that brand’s entry, and he adored it until his death, keeping it in excellent condition. When the Surtees family ultimately sold it through Bonhams in July 2018, it went for a shocking £3,809,500, or little more than $5 million at the time of sale. This is the pinnacle of BMW’s classic vehicle sales, but if this specific version ever reaches the marketplace again, expect the odds to be turned. The 507 had been powered by a 3.2-liter V8, but Surtees’ vehicle had a special specification that increased horsepower to roughly 165. Read more about the most expensive lotus cars ever made in the world.

2.  1958 BMW 507 Roadster Series II

Excellence doesn’t come cheap these days, so does a BMW. And if it’s a rare vintage, well you might want to sit it tightly before we drop its auctioned price. Going back to 2014, RM Sotheby’s lowered the hammer on a 1958 BMW 507 Roadster Series II for $2,420,000 at the Amelia Island auction. It has just two owners and was equipped with factory Rudge wheels, a Becker Mexico radio, and the rare factory hardtop. With original whitewall tires, immaculate brightwork, and an almost-perfect body, this is a vintage roadster that demands to be photographed as much as it is driven. A 3.2-liter V8 with two carburetors was paired with a four-speed manual transmission and produced 145 horsepower. Read more about the most expensive Golf carts in the world.

3.  1958 BMW 507 Series II

A single model takes up the entire platform, but can you blame auction attendees? The 507 is really beautiful and it is perhaps the most amazing BMW ever made. Its appearance alone is enough to earn it an award, no doubt it’s auctioned off on that much. Series II models received more passenger room than earlier models, as well as a cleaner interior, front disc brakes, and a few other upgrades that would now be considered a mid-life Life Cycle Impulse, or facelift, and this instance has been well-kept, with previous owners including respected collectors Oscar Davis and Tony Wang.

At Gooding & Company’s Amelia Island auction in 2023, this Series II model sold for $1,820,000. And this is despite the fact that it was completely renovated removing the unique Papyrus White paint and replacing it with a dark blue over-red scheme. The Interior’s been a classy beige since then. Read more about the most expensive bicycles in the world.

4.  2023 BMW 3.0 CSL

On November 25, 2023, RM Sotheby’s sold a 20-mile BMW 3.0 CSL that had never been licensed by the original owner for a shocking €1,017,500 – around $1,114,167. That makes it the newest automobile on our list, as well as the most expensive BMW ever sold (excluding the 507).

Only 50 examples of the 543-hp 3.0 CSL were built in commemoration of BMW M’s 50th anniversary, with each thought to have a base MSRP of well over $750,000. Based on the M4 CSL, the 3.0 CSL was little more than an architectural study and a cash grab, yet this hasn’t prevented the wealthy from spending excessively.

5.  1980 BMW M1 Procar

Another real race car is a 1980 BMW M1 Procar auctioned by RM Sotheby’s at Monterey in 2020 for $913,000. This was the 36th of 54 Procars built, and it competed in the 1981 IMSA GTO Championship, finishing on the podium eight times. In 2009, it underwent a three-year renovation. In 2018, the FIA (the governing body of motorsport) granted the car a Historic Technical Passport, making it suitable for historic racing events such as the Le Mans Classic. As a racing, the M1 Procar outperformed the road version’s 273 horsepower, producing 470 horsepower from the 3.5-liter six-cylinder. Read more about the most expensive commercials in the world ever made.

6.  1939 Frazer Nash-BMW 328 Roadster

Gooding & Company presented a 1937 BMW 328 at its 2020 Scottsdale auction, and it sold for an amazing $830,000. That’s somewhat surprising since the auction house’s estimated price was only $350,000-$450,000. However, even that sum was rather low, since Bonhams sold a single instance (chassis no. 85411) in London at the Bond Street Sale for £644,583, roughly converted to $846,743 at the time. While the white-and-red color combination is tempting, the fact that this model was eligible for classic races like the Mille Miglia and Le Mans Historic only adds to its attractiveness. This car was driven by a 2.0-liter straight-six with three Solex carburetors, producing an impressive 80 horsepower.

If you’re wondering about the prefix, it stems from the fact that 42 of the over 400 BMW 328s made were brought into the UK by local manufacturer Frazer Nash, modified with steering wheels on the right side, and adorned with Frazer Nash-BMW emblems.

7.  BMW i8 Concours d’Elegance Edition

The BMW i8 wasn’t the most desired or powerful Bimmer ever made. However, with the appropriate special edition embellishments and modifications, it may sell for six figures. In 2014, BMW and Gooding & Company presented the 2014 i8 Concours d’Elegance Edition at Pebble Beach without reserve. The particular car was painted in Frozen Grey Metallic paint with Pure Impulse Tera World (blue) interior highlights contrasted by Dalbergia Brown leather. That was a bit of a wasted opportunity given how many other lovely colors were offered, but the distinct element (this was a one-of-a-kind) compensated for it. Still, $825,000 is a lot to spend for a limited edition that was made just to commemorate BMW’s first hybrid sports car’s debut in the United States.

The BMW i8 was fueled by a 1.5-liter three-cylinder gas engine powering its rear wheels with an electric motor driving the front wheels, resulting in a total output of 369 horsepower. At the very least, it featured butterfly doors, which helped explain the supercar price.

8.  1978 BMW 320i Turbo IMSA

Back to the classics: the eighth highest-priced BMW on the list is a 1978 320i Turbo IMSA. Based on the E21 320i, this was a watershed moment for BMW as it began to seriously consider turbocharging technology. In truth, the 320i Turbo IMSA was designed with the concealed goal of producing a turbocharged engine for eventual usage in Formula One. BMW Motorsport developed two vehicles for the factory IMSA squad, but when Porsche destroyed the field in 1977, further work was required. Thus, chassis number 003 was developed as a lightweight version, dropping around 300 pounds.

The car seen here is the only lightweight 320i Turbo, and its fiberglass body has a one-piece bonnet with integrated fenders, a front splitter, and a larger rear end. Only two additional 320i Turbos were ever produced. Unfortunately, after BMW had achieved its engine development goals, it stopped the 320i Turbo program, which the team and staff members believed still had a lot of promise. This really remarkable racecar sold for an eye-popping $731,000 at RM Sotheby’s 2018 Monterey auctions.

With McLaren’s assistance, the M12/9 2.0-liter four-cylinder installed here generated more than 600 horsepower, but future F1 engines based on it may more than quadruple that. Easily.