1990 BMW 325i Convertible (E30) |

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1990 BMW 325i Convertible (E30)

Sold Price

£7,791

Mileage~154,286
TransmissionManual
Engine2.5L
LocationWaterlooville

SOLD

1990 BMW 325i Convertible (E30)

I WANT ONE

Introduction

Alan Stuart

Vehicle Consigner and Photographer

Timeless styling, legendary engineering and the 3 series heritage – the E30 has to be the perfect modern classic.

BMW’s best seller, the 3 Series is now in its 7th generation. BMW identity, robust engineering, classic lines and a rewarding driving experience all combine to make the cars enduringly popular with the buying public.

Initially introduced as the E21 in 1975 the 3 Series had a tough act to follow, succeeding the iconic 02 series, but BMW got it right. The second generation, the E30, came to the market in 1982 and, predictably enough, BMW hit the mark perfectly yet again. The design was modern and stylish, entirely in keeping with the period, yet managed to stay true to BMW lineage.

This car is a late E30 convertible that’s been with the current owner for 24 years. It’s powered by the M20, 2.5L straight six engine, delivering the ~168BHP to the rear wheels though a 5 speed Gertrag 260 gearbox.

Presented in “Sterling Silver” over a grey leather interior, an MOT recently and a good, solid maintenance history, this is a practical and useable modern classic that covered less than ~10,000 miles in the last decade. While the bodywork and interior would benefit from some improvement, the legendary BMW engineering, comfort and 4-seater practicality combine to make this convertible ideal to use and improve as a daily driver or to enjoy some occasional top down motoring.

This auction listing was written from information supplied by Alan after meeting Ann 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

This car makes me smile. It’s got great looks, fantastic road-holding and it’s wonderfully responsive – i've loved it.

Ann’s owned this 325i convertible for 24 years and she’s loved every minute of it. “I think it is such good-looking car and I love having the roof down taking it for a spin around the South Downs”. She goes on to say “It is a pleasure to drive, and the car handles very well, it’s responsive, hugs the road and I can feel the powerful engine with great pulling power in the high gears".

Ann has now been retired a couple of years and as the car is used only in the summer months. She says: “I have hardly used the car and it is a shame for it to sit mostly in the garage. I am hoping whoever buys it will enjoy the car as much as I have over the past 24 years”. She will be happy to answer any questions on the car in the comments section below.

Ann

Vehicle Owner

Ann saved £1,260* when they
sold their BMW with us.

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EXTERIOR VIDEO

Exterior

BMW stance, great lines and cross spoke alloys - hood up or down, these cars remain true to classic BMW styling.

Wheels and Tyres

The 15-inch cross spoke alloy wheels appear in very good condition with only minor kerb marks. The centre caps are good, and the tyres show plenty of tread remaining.

View the image gallery to see the detail.

Bodywork

These E30's in convertible form we so popular when released, and still draw a crowd now. The bodywork on this car appears to stand straight, and is generally solid with no visible creasing or distortion of the panels. There are some areas of corrosion, particularly around the wheel arch lips, on the sills and on the front bulkhead. Some historic repair work appears to have been carried out between the boot and the offside rear wing.

Doors and bonnet appear to open and close cleanly and precisely, however the boot lid alignment would benefit from some attention. The manually operated hood opens and closes as it should.

Paint

The “Sterling Silver” paint suits this car perfectly and complements the grey leather interior well. Overall, the car retains a consistent finish, however, on the boot, front bumpers and bulkhead the paint appears to show deterioration which will require attention to bring it up to match the rest of the car.

Do take a look at the photos and video and judge for yourself.

Glass and Trim

The green tinted windscreen and window glass looks good with no sign of significant scratching or damage. The mirrors, lenses and badging all appear in good condition.

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INTERIOR VIDEO

Interior

BMW manage to combine style with functionality like few other brands – this 325i is no exception.

Seats and Carpets

The grey leather seats are comfortable and firm, deep bolsters in this example. However, there is no doubt the front seats are a little tired and would benefit from some restoration. There’s no hurry though as everything works as it should, carpets are remarkably sound and, apart from some vinyl peeling on the centre console, the dash appears in good shape. So, the car’s ready to use and enjoy!

Check out the interior photos and videos to see the condition of this stylish cabin for yourself.

Dashboard

The dashboard appears in good condition. Dials are clear, nothing appears broken, and Ann assures us everything works exactly as it should.

Steering Wheel / Gear Stick

The steering wheel looks in sound condition with only minor wear consistent with a car of this mileage. The grey leather covered gear stick and the surround look in good shape too, the gear-knob looks to be a replacement item.

Take a look at the high-resolution video and photographs we’ve taken and judge for yourself.

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'ON THE ROAD' VIDEO

Mechanics

Fuel injected straight six, combined with a slick 5 speed Gertrag 260 gearbox and rear wheel drive give a communicative, responsive and highly rewarding drive.

Engine and Gearbox

Legendary, in line, 6-cylinder engine delivers ~168BHP to the rear wheels resulting in a factory specified top speed of 135mph and 0-60 in 7.8 seconds.

On our cold start the car fired up easily and quickly settled down to a steady idle. There were no warning lights illuminated on the dash or overhead panel and emissions appeared clear. Check out the ‘On the Road’ video to see the cold start for yourself.

Suspension and Brakes

Fitted with discs all round and ABS this BMW is equipped to stop as well as it goes. On our brief test drive with Ann the car appeared to stop well, pulling up sharply and evenly with no pulling to either side and no judder.

The Drive

This is a car that’s ready to be driven with a full MOT and lots of recent mechanical work. On the brief test drive we joined Ann for the car pulled well, accelerated evenly and there were no knocks, bangs or rattles that we could hear. Gear changes seemed slick and quiet, steering precise and road-holding felt sure footed.

Check out the video to share in our experience on the road with Ann.

Electrics and Other

This 325i comes with electric windows, central locking, a CD player and overhead warning panel. All dials, gauges and switches appeared unbroken, and Ann assures us everything works exactly as it should.

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History and Paperwork

These E30’s are getting harder to find and this is a truly practical classic – ready to drive and enjoy with great potential for ongoing improvement.

This 325i has been loved for sure – 24 years in Ann’s ownership and only really going out in dry weather during that time. The car comes with good service history, numerous receipts for maintenance work and Ann advises that in 2021 it’s benefited from a cam belt change, new clutch, battery and water pump.

Historic MOT certificates are included in the paperwork along with the original handbook and a Haynes manual.

We’ve done all our usual seller checks including photo ID, V5 and also actioned a HPi check on the vehicle.

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.

Service History

Date	Type	Mileage
31.03.2022	MOT	154,244
28.04.2021	MOT	153,539
09.06.2020	MOT	153,206
12.04.2019	MOT	152,493
13.04.2018	MOT & SERVICE	151,392
20.04.2017	MOT	150,767
07.03.2016	MOT & SERVICE	149,015
01.04.2015	MOT	148,471
19.03.2014	MOT & SERVICE	147,623
26.03.2013	MOT & SERVICE	146,453
12.03.2012	MOT & SERVICE	145,281
31.03.2011	MOT & SERVICE	144,535
01.04.2010	MOT	142,488
25.03.2010	MOT	142,464
29.05.2009	MOT	141,166
31.05.2008	MOT	140,409
23.05.2008	MOT	140,409
30.05.2007	MOT	139,150
21.05.2007	MOT	139,147
19.05.2006	MOT	139,108
29.04.2006	MOT	139,105
15.04.2005	SERVICE	132,055
08.11.2004	SERVICE	126,589
02.12.2003	SERVICE	115,164