Most of the E31 was introduced in Russia in the 1990s. They are dominated by BMW850i 1990-1992 (~ 70%), but there are really rare and unique items.
In those years the E31 cost 80 to 200 thousand $, and afford such a car could either gangsters or the very rich people. In the first half of 1990 apartment in Moscow worth 15-30 thousand $, and the average salary in the country was less than 100 $. It is easy to imagine how a small % of the population could afford to E31. The big problem was the lack of qualified service E31 outside of Moscow and St. Petersburg. Poor road conditions, improper operation, harsh climate - as a result, a significant portion of E31, imported in the 1990s to the present day has not been preserved. Import E31 after the beginning of the 2000s has become very difficult because of environmental constraints. From 2012 legaly import E31 in Russia is impossible. Under current law, free admission (with the payment of customs duties - about 40 thousand $) is allowed for cars older than 30 years (for E31 - not earlier than 2020).
Below - a rare E31, preserved in Russia by 2016.
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BMW Alpina B12 5.7coupe #31, Shifttronic. Car repeatedly repainted.
Imported in Moscow in 1997 famous car dealer Alexander Vasilev for personal use. In 2014 it sold. The car remained in Moscow.
Over the years, A. Vasilev and his friend (in Alpina 5.7 #24) went to the car for the Monaco Grand Prix. One description of such trips - here: http://ru-auto.livejournal.com…608.html?thread=433998504.
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2000s. Last photo - 2013.
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2014.