BMW 745i turbos were sold from year 1979 to 1986. Up to 1983 cars had 3.2L M102 engine featuring L-Jetronic management. This meant electronic fuel injection and vacuum spark timing. Late cars from 1983 had digital Motronic management for turbo, fuel injection and spark timing. All this with advanced transmission made improvement in fuel economy and driveability. There were also visual changes to bodywork through years, but M106 engine can be seen as biggest change. Notable visual changes were metal nose and chrome mirrors on early cars.
Look for late car with Motronic management. Prices start from a few thousand euros up to tens of thousands euros. Most expensive cars have low mileage and mint condition. A good 745i turbo can be bought above ten thousand euros. It is recommended to skip cars with low price and condition unless buyer is committed to put extra effort on car. Overhauls take vast money and time. Owning a 30-year old car is going to take effort even though being in good condition to begin with. Many spare parts are fit for other BMW models, meaning reasonable running costs.
Most important is history of car and how it was maintained. High mileage car with good documentation is better than non-serviced low mileage one. Costly repairs as new radiator do not always mean there is something wrong, it also shows care take of previous owner. Beside history bodywork should be inspected for rust. Though being from eighties there are minor defects always. Wheel arches, doors, tail lights, side skirts and body underside are places to check. Cars with sunroof are more prone to have rusted side skirts, water is ran trough skirts to ground.
Owning a 745i turbo is most rewarding while driving it. As a collectible item it has less value. Eighties motorsport BMW’s are sold for completely different sums of money. Rare models like Highline and Executive are usually priced higher though. Not many of these were made and after 30-years not many left. For comparison on 1986 you could almost have bought two M3’s for a price of Highline. Total of 16168 cars were made before moving to naturally aspirated engine. It was last gasoline turbocharged BMW until twinturbo 335i was introduced year 2006.
Unfortunately low prices of 745i turbos have led to modified, lowly maintained examples. Many cars have lost M106 power plant for another chassis, like E28 during the years and are out of picture. Replacing auto transmission for 5-speed manual seems popular task on several cars due to problems with original transmission. Performance wise there is little to no sense going between auto and manual box on M106 based car. 4HP22EH box with electric control is way up for task and locking converter downplays economy benefits on highway.
In general try to look for a stock one and carry on from there. Though when cars is modified, it always goes away from original experience. Serious overboost gives more power output from engine, but makes power curve steep and transforms to light-switch-like behaviour. For all work done to car if not visible nor documented should mean nothing on sale. Previous owners can have very different views of what engine rebuild means. Always try to verify origins for work carried on. When considering getting a 745i turbo, if possible go to see more than one.
Example prices (AVG 11 100 EUR) collected from mobile.de on February 2017:
| YEAR | EUR | KM | MODEL |
| 1985 | 26 900 | 83 300 | — |
| 1984 | 14 500 | 203 000 | Executive |
| 1982 | 11 900 | 160 000 | — |
| 1985 | 9 999 | 396 000 | Highline |
| 1983 | 8 950 | 96 000 | — |
| 1982 | 6 500 | 175 000 | Executive |
| 1983 | 5 500 | 250 000 | — |
| 1984 | 4 500 | 218 000 | Executive |
Example prices (AVG 13 600 EUR) collected from mobile.de on February 2018:
| YEAR | EUR | KM | MODEL |
| 1985 | 26 900 | 83 300 | — |
| 1983 | 19 890 | 184 900 | — |
| 1984 | 14 900 | 127 000 | — |
| 1984 | 13 499 | 194 000 | — |
| 1984 | 11 900 | 192 346 | Executive |
| 1986 | 9 900 | 199 000 | — |
| 1981 | 9 500 | 162 215 | USA |
| 1984 | 8 400 | 162 000 | Executive |
| 1981 | 7 500 | 275 000 | — |
Example prices (AVG 18 500 EUR) collected from mobile.de on February 2019:
| YEAR | EUR | KM | MODEL |
| 1983 | 33 999 | 209 000 | — |
| 1985 | 25 000 | 83 300 | — |
| 1984 | 22 500 | 192 999 | Executive |
| 1983 | 17 500 | 185 000 | Executive |
| 1984 | 15 890 | 183 000 | Executive |
| 1981 | 14 999 | 165 000 | — |
| 1982 | 11 900 | 41 082 | — |
| 1984 | 5 900 | 150 000 | — |
Example prices (AVG 15 300 EUR) collected from mobile.de on February 2020:
| YEAR | EUR | KM | MODEL |
| 1986 | 28 000 | 54 635 | — |
| 1985 | 25 000 | 83 300 | — |
| 1983 | 22 000 | 11 8000 | — |
| 1984 | 19 999 | 192 999 | Executive |
| 1984 | 18 500 | 184 000 | Executive |
| 1985 | 17 900 | 151 999 | Executive |
| 1985 | 15 999 | 220 861 | — |
| 1984 | 15 700 | 143 000 | Executive |
| 1986 | 11 999 | 305 888 | Executive |
| 1985 | 11 500 | 315 000 | — |
| 1986 | 9 500 | 200 000 | Executive |
| 1983 | 9 000 | 181 000 | — |
| 1985 | 5 500 | 450 000 | Executive |
| 1984 | 3 900 | 150 000 | — |
Example prices (AVG 16 700 EUR) collected from mobile.de on February 2021:
| YEAR | EUR | KM | MODEL |
| 1983 | 22 745 | 50 000 | Shadowline |
| 1985 | 17 900 | 151 999 | Executive |
| 1981 | 17 500 | 250 000 | — |
| 1984 | 16 500 | 192 999 | Executive |
| 1983 | 15 990 | 120 898 | “Executive” |
| 1982 | 15 700 | 146 500 | “Highline” |
| 1984 | 10 900 | 100 000 | — |
Example prices (AVG 24 200 EUR) collected from mobile.de on February 2022:
| YEAR | EUR | KM | MODEL |
| 1986 | 32 500 | 144 145 | Executive |
| 1981 | 27 900 | 129 657 | — |
| 1986 | 23 000 | 82 000 | “Executive” |
| 1984 | 13 500 | 104 000 | Executive |
Example prices (AVG 22 100 EUR) collected from mobile.de on February 2023:
| YEAR | EUR | KM | MODEL |
| 1981 | 24 990 | 130 070 | — |
| 1986 | 34 950 | 144 163 | Executive |
| 1983 | 13 500 | 165 800 | — |
| 1983 | 14 990 | 302 000 | “Executive” |
BMW E23 745i 1983-86 