1987 BMW 325i Sport

This particular car was supplied new to Flack Pressman, a firm of accountants in Hornchurch, Essex. A Mrs Flack then proceeded to drive it for fewer than 2,000 miles a year during the nine years it was in her care. She covered around 15,000 miles in all before selling it to a Mrs Gardner of Upminster, who was a friend of hers.

Mrs Gardner used it to commute to her business in Walthamstow until she retired about 2001 and moved to Suffolk. It was then acquired by its current owner in 2003, who has used it as a third car for weekend and holiday motoring. He’s covered just 16,000 miles in the last 16 years, hence the car’s mileage.

He tells us that the vehicle has been garaged all its life, has been well looked after and maintained, and that no restoration has taken place except for the driver’s seat, which has been partially re-upholstered with the correct cloth, sourced via the BMW dealership.

The previous owners had their personal registrations on the car which they retained on its sale. The current registration, D445KMD, is original and not transferable.

The de-chromed Diamond Black coachwork is in good condition, and the M-Technic bodykit and badging is present and correct.The panels are straight and free of damage but the vehicle has inevitably acquired a few small dents in the bonnet together with a few minor stone chips.This wear is as one might expect for a car that has 32years under its belt and entirely consistent with its mileage. Please see photographs for details.

This patina gives the new owner the opportunity to either restore the BMW or to leave it as it is; a car is only original once and we applaud the vendor for leaving it as it is. His prudence will allow the new owner to take the car in the direction they feel is most appropriate.

The 7x15” alloy wheels are in good condition but the new owner would probably want to have them refurbished as they are a little oxidised and the paint and lacquer is lifting. They are shod with tyres that still have plenty of tread.

The underside of the car looks to be straight, solid and free of significant rust and rot.

The interior is in good condition, and the standard M-Technic front sports seats are in great condition, partly thanks to a restoration of the driver’s seat using the correct cloth, which the owner sourced via a BMW dealer. The work has been done to a very good standard and there was some material left over, which will be supplied with the car. This will make any future repairs much easier as it is unlikely that BMW will continue to stock the material forever.

The other seats were virtually unused during the car’s time with its first two owners and the rear seat has still not had much use. As a result, they all look fabulous and remain firm and supportive.

In addition to the standard 325i Sport M-Technic steering wheel, gearknob and sports front seats, this example features a tilt-and-slide electric sunroof, electric door mirrors, green tinted glass with electric front windows, central locking, a rear central armrest, and a map light. These features are all confirmed as having been fitted when the car was new on a printout showing the car’s original specification.

The door cards, with their distinctive trim and blanked-off window winding hole, are in great shape, as are the carpets, headlining and dashboard.It really is in time warp condition in there and it is a credit to the car’s three owners as well as the integrity of the car’s design; the Ultimate Driving Machine might not be as applicable now as it used to be thanks to the presence of monstrosities like the BMW X6, but cars like this remind you why they were the saloon car of choice in the 1980s for well-heeled enthusiasts.

Speaking of yuppies, a period phone cradle is fitted to the rear of the centre console, and a modern head unit sits in the dashboard. Given the car’s mileage and originality, we can’t help but think that a period phone and head unit, sourced from somewhere like eBay, would finish the interior off nicely.

A set of over mats protects the carpets and a Tracker has been fitted but will need registering.

The boot is very clean and tidy and the car’s original toolkit still sits in the boot lid; it looks to be complete and still in virtually as new condition.

In summary, the interior is in very good condition and we would urge potential bidders to go and view the car in order to appreciate just how good it is.

The car retains its M-Technic sports suspension, limited slip differential, and that silky smooth straight-six engine, which starts, ticks over and revs very nicely, as you can see in the accompanying video.

The engine bay is a little grubby but that’s good because it makes it easy to spot oil leaks and leaves you reassured that the seller hasn’t had it steam-cleaned to hide anything.

In fact, the biggest problem we can see under there is the soundproofing, which has started to deteriorate.

The online MOT history shows nothing of concern whatsoever and the car hasn’t garnered a single advisory point since 2012. The car comes with a number of expired MOT certificates plus a invoices and bills to confirm the work that has been done to it recently.

It also has a Haynes workshop manual, a Bentley service handbook, a printout confirming its original specification, a stamped service history booklet, a selection of expired road tax discs, and the owner’s wallet.

Please visit the documents section of the gallery of this listing where you will find photos of this and other paperwork to support our claim that this car has maintained to the very highest standard.

With the price of good E30 M3s having reached £50,000 and more, the time when you could buy one to use as your everyday modern classic has probably been and gone. Which is a shame, but then there is and always has been a better option - one that BMW spotted and filled back in the mid-1980s.

 UK drivers will also appreciate that the factory offered it as a right-hand-drive car too, a feature that will make everyday use here in Blighty much easier.

It’ll be a lot cheaper than an M3 too; we think this one will sell for between £10,000 and £14,000, at which price point we think it’ll be a bit of a snip considering its condition and the performance that’s on tap.

Viewing is always encouraged, and this car can be seen in Colchester; 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.