1990 BMW 325i Convertible

First registered in August 1990, this silver BMW 325i Convertible with a 4-speed ZF automatic gearbox has now covered 109,000 miles and is offered at NO RESERVE despite recent expenditure of over £9,000.

This 325i was bought for the vendor by his wife as a surprise silver wedding anniversary present nearly five years ago - how thoughtful to get a 25 year old silver car registered in the same month and year that they were married. He’d always hankered after an E30 having learnt to drive in one back in the ‘80s and had clearly made no secret of it. 

We’re pleased to report that the marriage is still going strong and that the wife is clearly a keeper, but the vendor feels that he can no longer give the time and attention to the car that it deserves.

Being parked up outside the house on a leafy South London back street, he just doesn’t get enough use out of the car and, sensibly in our view, he’d rather pass it on for a new owner to enjoy than see it gradually deteriorate.

Although not perfect, the Sterling Silver metallic paintwork is very good; there are a few blemishes and scratches here and there, notably a tear in the paint on the boot lid and a crease and some small dimples in the bonnet (which can be seen in the photo gallery) but nothing too serious. The front and rear valences and lower sills have been recently refinished in body colour over the factory-correct stone guard protective undercoat.

The black mohair roof was replaced in March 2016 and although a little green in places with algae, which can be cleaned off with an appropriate agent. Manually operated, it is in good working order and the vendor reports that it is weathertight. The roof stowage recess and cover panel are also clean and rust free.

Exterior trims, both chrome and black plastic, appear like new although the rear bumper strip is showing some age-related cracking. A fairly straightforward replacement would mean that it presents as well as the rest of the car. Also a small hole in the off side tail light unit has been patched with coloured plastic which is an effective work around but a new owner may wish to fit a replacement.

The original spec 14 inch “bottle cap” alloy wheels appear in very good order, with new centre badges, and all refitted with Firestone Firehawk tyres back in June 2018 - less than 2,000 miles ago.

Eagle-eyed viewers of the photo gallery will notice that there is an additional keyhole/sensor on the driver-side door which is for a previously fitted Cobra alarm. The vendor has never used this alarm - he’s never had the magnetic key - so we cannot say whether it is operational. The car does, however, have a functioning key-operated immobiliser for additional security.

The interior is a combination of dark grey on the forward areas of the cockpit with dark blue seats, carpets and door upholstery. The leather on the seats is in good condition for the age and mileage showing some creasing and scuffing, particularly on the driver side bolster, but nothing that is cause for concern or that couldn’t be addressed with some leather colour restorer.

There are a few small splits in the dashboard vinyl and the M-sport steering wheel is a little burnished but otherwise, the interior presents in good condition.

The rear seats are in good order and although the E30 has a relatively short wheel base, the back is roomy enough to occasionally hold a couple of average-sized adults.  

The gear selector has visually seen better days but isn't in need of immediate replacement, but would be a trivial morning's work if required. 

The original stereo was replaced by an aftermarket Kenwood head unit just under 5 years ago giving Bluetooth mobile phone connectivity. All other electrical fixtures and fittings tested appear functional although we note that the you can only lock the car from the passenger side door.

As can be seen in the photo gallery, the undersides of the car are in very good condition. The underbody was completely stripped back and refurbished in late 2018 with rusted areas cut out and repaired and new underseal applied. Suspension components and structural parts also appear corrosion free and in good order and the exhaust system and undertrays seem intact.

On visual inspection the wheel arches appear solid and corrosion free - an invoice in the history file suggests some of the inner arch panels were replaced in 2015. 

Under the corrosion-free bonnet the engine bay appears without rust, clean and tidy with a new steering rack and many other recent components, hoses and fittings in evidence. The cam cover atop the straight six motor could easily be rejuvenated by cleaning and painting or replacement if desired. However this isn’t a concours car, it’s one for driving, so as long as everything works and looks presentable it really isn’t an issue.

Inside the boot, the gas struts look to be recent replacements and hold the lid open strongly. Rubber seals all round the opening seem to be in good condition. For a convertible, the boot is fairly spacious, easily swallowing a set of golf clubs.

Under the carpets, the boot floor looks solid and the full-size spare alloy wheel with Pirelli P6 tyre are both ready for service should the need arise. To aid in such a situation, a scissor-jack, wheel brace and small boot-lid stored tool kit are also included. Additionally, the vendor has thrown in an all-weather car cover and Haynes owners workshop manual.

The history file contains MOT certificates back to 1998, including the current certificate showing a valid MOT until June 2020. In the last five years the car has passed with no advisories. The owner’s handbook shows the service record from main dealers or BMW specialists up to 2015 (103k miles) with subsequent services evidenced on invoices.

Invoices in the documents gallery show that both of the two most recent owners have spent good money on restoring and maintaining the car. Over £9k has been spent with BMW specialists Classic Heroes in the last year alone to ensure that not only the important underbody and mechanicals are in good order but also most of the trim and aesthetic elements are addressed.

Whilst undergoing a service and MOT in June of this year, the steering rack was replaced and the electrics checked and renewed where necessary. Just over a year ago, again during a full service, several jobs were carried out including cutting out corrosion underneath and welding in repairs, a full cavity wax and underseal, suspension and running gear fettling and new hoses as well as more cosmetic things like wheel badges and trims.

We are looking after this E30 during the auction and have taken it for a short test drive. We were genuinely impressed with how well and solid it all feels. It drives smoothly and handles well, with the powerful 2.5 litre engine pulling strongly and the automatic ‘box changing up and down through the gears effortlessly.

The vendor drove the seventy plus miles from his home in South London to our facility in Oxfordshire without issue, showing real confidence in the car. He says it runs “like a dream, with a full-throated roar and excellent handling”.

A really nice car with average mileage for its age, this fun E30 convertible is mechanically strong and solid, with only cosmetic things to fix and is ready to provide the new owner with an enjoyable driving experience with the top up or down. On a sunny day it will also offer a taste of late 20th century glamour with the roof and windows dropped - just remember to wear the Ray-Ban’s.

Our 325i Convertible is offered with NO RESERVE but we expect this exciting modern classic to achieve between £5,000 and £8,000.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this particular car is located with us at The Market HQ near Abingdon; to arrange an appointment please use the ‘Contact Seller’ button at the top of the listing. Feel free to ask any questions or make observations in the comments section below, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.

If needed, please remember we have a network of trusted suppliers we work with regularly and can recommend: Classic & Sportscar Finance for purchase-financing, Thames Valley Car Storage for storing your car, AnyVan for transporting it, and Footman James for classic car insurance.

BORING, but IMPORTANT: Please note that whilst we at The Market always aim to offer the most descriptive and transparent auction listings available, we cannot claim they are perfect analyses of any of the vehicles for sale. We offer far greater opportunity for bidders to view, or arrange inspections for each vehicle thoroughly prior to bidding than traditional auctions, and we never stop encouraging bidders to take advantage of this. We do take a good look at the vehicles delivered to our premises for sale, but this only results in our unbiased personal observations, not those of a qualified inspector or other professional, or the result of a long test drive.

Additionally, please note that most of the videos on our site have been recorded using simple cameras which often result in 'average' sound quality; in particular, engines and exhausts notes can sound a little different to how they are in reality.