1990 BMW 320i Convertible (E30)

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1990 BMW 320i Convertible (E30) – Reserve Met

This vehicle has now been sold - click ‘Register Similar’ below to get notified when we consign a similar vehicle.

Sold Price

£6,360

Mileage~87,443
TransmissionManual
Engine2.0L
LocationOxford

SOLD

1990 BMW 320i Convertible (E30) – Reserve Met

I WANT ONE

Introduction

Glyn Parry

Professional Consigner

Timeless 90's styling, legendary engineering and 3 series heritage, the E30 is an ever popular classic.

The second generation of the 3 series, also known as the E30, launched in 1982 and remained in production until 1994. Automotive press from around the world praised BMW for its handling capabilities, rear wheel drive and excellent chassis set-up. The model range included various body types, this one being the very desirable and warmer weather ready, cabriolet version. In 1987, a major update came to the E30 range, external styling changes included redesigned rear lights, front bumper, and a reduction of chrome trim, along with extended rust protection, increased interior cabin space and improved suspension set-up.

This E30 comes to market from ~9 year ownership, having covered under ~1,000 miles in the last 7 years. It also comes with a valid MOT and had a replacement soft top hood that was installed in 2015. It hasn't been used much in the recent past and so we think it's a use and improve project car, ready for the Summer months.

This listing was written from information supplied by Glynn after meeting Joe the owner, and having visited and photographed the vehicle.

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Secure Auctions

We verify all our sellers and buyers to keep our community safe whilst also providing the highest levels of website security.

Full Transparency

8 out of 10 people that buy cars via our service don’t feel the need to visit due to the transparency and thoroughness of our listings.

Vehicle Delivery

We're there every step of your buying journey and will even arrange pick-up and delivery of your new vehicle.

Meet the owner

I really love the look of this car, the style is just excellent and it captures that 90s feeling.

The BMW has come up for sale where Joe is selling the car on behalf of his mum, Judy. Having had the car in the family for the past ~9 years, the 320i hasn't been used that much in the recent past "The car was originally purchased as my family are fans of BMW and their cars. When my mum had the opportunity to buy this car, I helped her with the purchase as it meant I was also able to drive it when it wasn't in use, a nice perk".

The E30 just isn't getting the attention that it has done in years gone by. The mid to late 90's saw the car with much more usage than it has now and with that in mind, Joe and his family have decided to allow a future owner to be able to enjoy it as they have done. Joe will be happy to answer any questions on the car in the comments below.

Joe

Vehicle Owner

Joe saved £1,080* when they
sold their BMW with us.

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EXTERIOR VIDEO

Exterior

The Alpine White finish is well suited for the E30, showing off its lovely characteristics and boxy lines.

Wheels and Tyres

The 14" multi spoke alloys show in a reasonable condition but would benefit from some refurbishment to bring these up to a higher standard. Take a look over the exterior gallery section for a close up view of the wheels and tyres on the 320i.

The 320i has Zmax Landgema tyres on all four corners and show a good amount of tread and dates codes from 2020 on these. Both front and rear tyres show a width / aspect ratio of 195/65.

Bodywork

The E30's in convertible form are still really popular especially in the warmer months. The bodywork and shut lines on this car appear to align nicely and the car stands straight on the road.

Looking for imperfections, the rear offside panel has some signs of corrosion. Over the boot section, we noted a slight ding to the nearside facing which we've highlighted on our exterior review video also. Over on the door sections, there were a few minor parking dents also noted.

We've highlighted in more detail our observations through our hi-resolution images and videos, so please take time to look through all the media files for a detailed view at what’s on offer, and for you to assess the condition of the car for yourselves.

Paint

Finished in the very popular "Alpine White II" (Paint Code 218), the paintwork did look flat on our visit and would really benefit from a detailed machine polish to bring it up to the standard that it could be at.

There were several stone chips over the car, some of which had started to show some signs of rust appearing on these also. However, with the right amount of work involved, the car has the potential to be a real stand out with a good level of care and love shown to it.

Again, we have taken high resolution images and videos of the car for you to assess the condition of the bodywork for yourselves. The images are taken from a few different angles to show off the car as you would see it if you were standing there for yourselves. So please take the time to fully assess these high resolution images and videos of the car, for you to make up your own minds about the condition of the paint.

Glass and Trim

The glass on this 320i looked good and in line with the mileage and ownership, we didn't notice any major chips, cracks, or discolouration on our visit and was all BMW etched. The window seals look good too and in line with the rest of the condition of the car. The soft top hood has been replaced in March 2015 and showed in great condition including the perspex window section.

We did note that the BMW badging has started to show signs of age where the finish is beginning to come away from the main decal underneath. The number plate also was marked as an advisory on the last MOT due to signs of deterioration. Taking a look in closer detail at the rear of the car, on the underside of the bumper there are signs of pitting on the metalwork.

Take a look through the gallery and review video, we take you across all the areas of the car as if you were standing there for yourself. This way, you can see in greater detail how the BMW looks around the exterior sections.

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INTERIOR VIDEO

Interior

A modern and really ergonomic interior from the 90s, dials and switches all within the drivers reach, everything has its place and purpose.

Seats and Carpets

The BMW is kitted out with grey checked cloth interior, overall the seats look respectable but we did note a tear to the drivers seat on the bolster section. Backs of the seats looked good on initial inspection, a dusting required as pictured.

The main carpet of the interior showed in a reasonable condition, looking underneath the mats showed the car could be raised to a better standard with a good clean through. Over in the boot section, the carpet areas looked good but could benefit from another good clean over to bring these up to a great condition. We cover the cabin area of the E30 in further detail in our interior review video.

Dashboard

Clocks and dials showed nicely with ~87,443 miles at the time of our visit. The display on these sections showed in a presentable way although the tachometer wasn't functioning correctly on our test drive out.

The dash area across the BMW showed well with no major scuffs observed on our visit. It would benefit from a really detailed level of cleaning to bring back its former glory. Everything looked to be as it should, sitting nicely within the driver’s reach for ease of use.

Our interior gallery section takes you over some closer images of the BMW dashboard, head over and see the car's interior in finer detail.

Steering Wheel / Gear Stick

The original leather bound, 3 spoke wheel steering wheel shows in a good condition without major wear and in line with the condition of this car. The same can be said for the manual gear selector where minimal issues were observed and the gaiter showing in good condition also.

We've captured high-resolution photos for you to review and appreciate the condition of the interior in our gallery section.

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'ON THE ROAD' VIDEO

Mechanics

Under the bonnet is a 2.0L naturally aspirated, straight-six engine bringing ~129BHP from factory, driving the rear wheels via a five-speed manual transmission, an ever popular combination.

Engine and Gearbox

Looking closer at the E30, the engine would really benefit from a good amount of cleaning work to bring it back up to a high standard, a weekend job for an enthusiast owner. Head over to the mechanical review video for an overview of the engine, here you can see the car start up from cold which turns over and idles without issue.

The 5 speed gearbox worked through its paces without issue. We took the car on a drive around some local roads with the owner to get a better feel for what this vehicle is all about. Out on the drive, we run through the gears and get an overview of how the car performs. It is worth noting that the exhaust system was highlighted as an advisory on the last MOT where there is a minor blow from the exhaust gas through the centre section silencer.

Suspension and Brakes

We noted no knocks, bangs or issue from the suspension when we were on the road in the car, and it gave us no concerns in its performance or handling. The brakes bring the car to a halt in a straight line with no juddering reported to come through the pedal and worked as to be expected. The stopping power and control felt good and worked as to be expected.

Looking around the underside of the car, we did note a few signs of corrosion which would be well worth catching early in the next keepers ownership. The metal areas and jack points did show signs of surface rusting on the underside of the car and the front wheel arch showed signs of corrosion also. Please view the mechanical review video and photographs to see close-up and underside images from around the BMW.

The Drive

The car handles well going through the motions out on the road without complaint. The car is a relaxed and comfortable place to be with an inviting ride and balanced level of control.

Gear changes sounded slick and quiet with the steering precise and road-holding felt sure footed. Our on the road video gives an overview of the car on some local roads and how it performs whilst driving.

Electrics and Other

The BMW features a Blaupunkt stereo cassette radio system, dash clock, "Overhead Check System" and electric windows. The electronic functions on the E30 are reported to be working as expected, with the exception of the rev counter, as reported by the current owner.

A car jack, spare wheel and warning triangles are located in the boot section.

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History and Paperwork

BMW E30’s are getting harder to find and this is a really practical classic, ready to drive and enjoy for the future owner with great future potential for ongoing improvement.

In regard to additional history, the car has its BMW service book which contains some stamped badges and service logs. There has been a gap in the MOT history of the car due to it not being used for several years. Other history includes a replacement soft top hood in March 2015 and servicing provided to the car in 1991, 1995, 1996, 1997 and 1999. The cambelt was replaced at 43,941 miles in June 1996 according to the log book entry, and Joe believes it was also changed at ~85,000 miles although can't find the paperwork for this.

Joe will be more than happy to answer any questions you have about the car in the comments below.

We’ve done all our usual seller checks including photo ID, V5 and also actioned a HPi check on the vehicle; Category D insurance loss recorded on 05/11/2008.

We've summarised our own view on the car based on information gained from the seller in the listing above, however, and as you can see, we go to great lengths to photograph and video the car in hi-resolution detail - this has been done for you to make your own assessment from the comfort of your sofa. So please sit back, have a cuppa and take your time to review everything on this listing in order to make your own assessment on the vehicle's condition. Viewings are also welcomed with all our listings, so please get in touch with us to arrange a suitable time - we just need to speak to you first and receive a valid photo ID before confirming.

If there's anything you're unsure about, no matter how small, then please first ask the owner in the comments area below before placing your bid/s, as bids can't be retracted and form a binding contract if you win the car - just like a traditional auction house. Please note, the car may be in daily use, so the mileage may increase from that shown here - you can request an update check with us after you register your interest.

Service History

Date	Type	Mileage
20.05.2022	MOT	87,400
25.05.2015	MOT	86,623
29.08.2014	MOT	86,537
25.07.2013	MOT	83,817
10.03.2011	MOT	82,651
18.11.2009	MOT	82,228
31.10.2008	MOT	81,537
23.07.2007	MOT	79,254
16.11.1999	Service	75,448
17.11.1997	Service	61,817
15.10.1996	Service	50,322
17.10.1995	Service	38,468
15.05.1991	Service	6,607

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Key Details

Model320i Cabriolet (E30)
TransmissionManual
Reg. Date14.08.1990
CC1,990
Mileage~87,443
ColourAlpine White II
Interior ColourBlack / Grey
Interior TrimCloth
Chassis #WBABA12090EB66867
Engine #22804875
MOTYes. Exp 19.05.2023
HPi ClearCategory D Insurance Loss 05/11/2008
Former Keepers5
Tyre BrandZmax Landgema
Tyre Age2020
LHD or RHDRHD
VisitedYes
Sale TypePrivate
Owned~9 years
Key FeatureNice usable classic that can be improved
Auction ID1269

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Ask Questions

Seller : JoeB Sale Date 06.07.2023

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2 Comments

oldcarthusian

1 year ago

Hi I see the MOT has expired, will the car be sold/collected with a full MOT?

Kulraj Salh

Admin

1 year ago

Auction Update – The reserve on this auction has been met, and so it is “On Sale” and will be going to the highest bidder tonight. Good luck if you’re involved in the bidding. Best, Kulraj – Trade Classics

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Vehicle Location

Oxford

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