1989 BMW 325i E30

The car for sale here is a 1989 325i Convertible from the E30 series. The car features the factory convertible body style and is presented in its original colour of BMW – Alpinaweiss II. Chassis number WBABB210X0EB97209 was first registered in June 1989 and has thus just turned 33 years old. The car was delivered new to Europe and is accompanied by a BMW Classic certificate confirming its numbers and colours matching condition. The 325i Convertible was originally specified with the 2,5 litre 6-cylinder in-line engine with Bosch Motronic injection developing 168bhp and has a 4-speed automatic ZF 4HP22 gearbox.

At time of writing, the BMW has run a total of 253 709kms.

Externally, the car presents well overall. If one were to give an appreciation, one could describe the outside condition as good. The 325i is presented in its original white colour and has had a recent full respray. It should be noted that the respray only concerned the exterior and that the car has not been taken apart. As such, some defects can be noted, especially on the sides, where it is apparent that the black plastic door trims were not removed before the paint was applied. The dark grey body side sills are slightly faded and would benefit from a respray or detailing.

A larger scratch is to be noted on the rear passenger side bumper. The bodywork beneath that bumper also appears to have been slightly scratched, but not dented. Overall, however, the bumpers all around are complete and no major damage can be seen. The plastic parts also show a decent deep black colour and do not appear to be overly faded from the sunlight. The same can be said about the door handles, window surround trim and front grille. The characteristic chromed squared front grille is in very good condition. The lights at the front and rear do not appear to be broken or cracked and the glass lenses are clear. The wheels have clearly been well maintained and recently restored and are in good condition. New all-weather tyres have been mounted. The black fabric soft top is in very good condition with almost no signs of use and has evidently benefitted from recent attention. Panel gaps all around are very good.

For a car that has run over 250 000 kms, it can only be said that the interior is in remarkably good condition. All the leather seats from the so-called Shadow Line are in good original condition and show a lovely patina. The leather is not damaged, though is showing some wear especially on the side upholstery of the driver’s seat. For a car that has been used and lovingly driven as this one, a perfectly normal appearance. The new owner could decide to carefully preserve the seats as they are, including their patina, or alternatively opt for a sympathetic restoration that would consist in re-colorizing the leather. The steering wheel including its black leather is in decent condition, albeit showing signs of use. The rear leather seats are in good condition. The grey carpeting, likely still original as well, is in decent condition. The plastic carpet protection in the driver footwell is damaged. The black leather on the soft top cover has detached in some areas, leading to the appearance of “bubbles”, most likely due to sunlight / heat exposure.

The dashboard including all its buttons is in excellent condition with no defects or broken switches. The original radio has been replaced by a more modern unit with a CD charger. The cassette charger in between the two seats appears to be damaged.

The automatic gear lever’s stitching is coming lose, an easy fix for a professional. A 5cm-long scratch can be seen in the leather left of the glove compartment.

In the trunk, the carpeting is in good condition, and the original toolbox is still in place, though appears to be missing some tools. Beneath the carpet lies the spare wheel in good condition. Rust can be seen on the metal next to the spare wheel and this would probably require some attention in the not-too-distant future to avoid it becoming perforating.

The car presents well from underneath. We do not make out major rust issues or oil leaks. This is a car that has been driven all its life in different conditions, but the second series E30 benefitted from improved rust protection, and coupled to good care by its owners, these cars are very reliable drivers. The example offered clearly seems to have been maintained, as it appears that the rubber suspension components are not overly used. There is some slight rust on the exhaust line, though nothing perforating. The same goes for the underbody, where some surface rust is appearing.

The engine, differential and gearbox show some oil “sweating”, but nothing that would appears to be worrying and that could not be considered normal for the age of the car. The engine bay is tidy and in very original condition, though would benefit from a clean-up. The car has been driven on a regular basis and the engine bay inevitably collected some road dust. Rust is forming on the left-hand upper suspension dome.

It is reported that this vehicle has undergone major mechanical works and a service as recently as 2019 with various invoices on file. The works included the replacement of the automatic transmission at 220 000 kms. The BMW has a valid technical inspection certificate until March 2024.

Little has been reported about the early history of the car, apart from the fact that it was built for the European market and first registered in 06/1989 in Switzerland. It is currently owned by an enthusiast, who is the second owner of the car, he registered the car in Germany and uses it for trips across Europe.

The E30 series has seen its fan base grow over the last years. The cars are immediately recognizable as a BMW and have an important following among young timer enthusiasts. Often used and abused as daily drivers in their early days, it is increasingly complicated to find a car in good condition such as the example presented. The example available is not only in nice original condition and benefitted from recent attention and care, but also features the desirable and legendary six-cylinder BMW engine.

If you are looking for a sporty 80s young timer for the summer, this could be a good candidate to consider. Take out your Wayfarer sunglasses, load a Bon Jovi cassette and get out and drive!