1990 BMW 325i Cabriolet (E30) |

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1990 BMW 325i Cabriolet (E30)

Sold Price

£12,932

Mileage~7,389 on clock
TransmissionAutomatic
Engine2.5L
LocationWoodford Green

SOLD

1990 BMW 325i Cabriolet (E30)

I WANT ONE

Introduction

Darren Rungasamy

Automotive Editor, Photographer and Consigner

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

True as it may be, to call the E30 as BMW's entry-level car would be a mild disservice to the much-loved icon. Compared to everything else at the time, it looked sharp, smart and sophisticated. Yet there was far more substance than looks alone, its robust engineering encaptured a high level of smoothness and refinement, and provided the right ingredients for young urban professionals to flock to the dealerships in their droves.

The 325i, a sporting, higher-revving version of the M20 straight-six, was considered the choice of the standard production models. Never one to miss an opportunity, BMW combined the 2.5-litre engine with the full open-top cabriolet style in 1985 and created a compact, practical, high-quality car in a way that’s yet to have been bettered.

This 1990 version of the 325i is fitted with a 4-speed automatic gearbox and has recently seen £1600 worth of mechanical maintenance, to complement the freshly finished "Diamantschwarz Metallic" paintwork, and bespoke cream leather interior. With several long terms owners under its belt, it comes to market from ~6 years ownership with 5 former keepers registered.

This auction listing was written from information supplied by Darren after meeting Barbara the owner, and having visited and photographed the vehicle.

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Vehicle Delivery

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

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

It drives so well, and looks sensational, perfect for the summer months.

The owner Barbara has a history of appreciation of the E30 BMW, having owned one went they were current. Her son came across this well-maintained solid example in 2016 and has gradually brought the car up to a very good physical standard to complement the car's impressive mechanical promise.

It comes to market from ~6 years ownership, and this year had service and maintenance work actioned too. The car has been stored in an enclosed off-road space, but with the condition after renovation, the owners feel it really needs undercover facilities and so it comes to market with us. Barbara and her son will be happy to answer any questions about the car in the comments below.

Barbara

Vehicle Owner

Barbara saved £2,160* when they
sold their BMW with us.

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EXTERIOR VIDEO

Exterior

Step back and appreciate the design and lines of the E30, now one of BMWs most iconic.

Wheels and Tyres

The alloys are in excellent shape with very little in terms of wear. They are the 29 spoke BMW items, 15" in size.

The tyres are in good condition, with a couple of them showing mild signs of age on the sidewalls but all look to have good tread. View the pictures to see the detail.

Bodywork

It's generally good news in terms of the structural integrity of the car, with sills, wheel arches, base around the windscreen and engine bay looking solid. The car is free of dents and the panel gaps and panel flow are tight. The jacking points are intact, with no significant issues noted on the exterior panels, other than a minor blemish on the bonnet.

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

The car has been treated to a recent respray, with very little of note to mark down the quality of the job, with no evidence of runs or flatness spotted on the paint. The finish is very presentable and retains the original metallic hue. There is a minor chip on the leading edge of the bonnet but that is the full extent of the road wear.

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 hi-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 is in excellent shape, with no issues in terms of chips or lamination damage. The rubber seals are in good condition, although the door near-side door glass rubber has a little damage. The bumper trim does show signs of age, with some loose-fitting components along with paint wear but the bumpers themselves are free of damage and would be ideal candidates for a little spruce-up. The lighting and lenses are generally intact, with some signs of age noted.

The roof looks to be a good older item. Fitment looks correct, the rear window doesn't present typical age related signs, but the canvas does look like it would benefit from being cleaned and detailed professionally with specialist products.

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INTERIOR VIDEO

Interior

The leather seating has been exquisitely furnished by a specialist, elevating this 325i further.

Seats and Carpets

The seats are in excellent condition, having been subject to a high-quality reupholstery using nappa leather in cream, Barbara telling us the work was completed by "BTRIM".

The carpets are tidy with some age related wear but were all dry on the day. The door cards are good with minor wear noted on the driver's side. View the images and videos for the detailed view.

Dashboard

The dashboard bears the typical hallmarks of age, and has a handful of minor fractures to the top, but is otherwise in good shape with the plastics generally holding up well.

The glove box handle is missing but still functional. The main controls are in good shape, some lower areas of the facia around the driver's side may need a little adjustment and the binnacle screen has a crack but the instruments are still legible. All functions are said to work. The car comes with an interior mirror which needs to be refitted.

Steering Wheel / Gear Stick

The steering wheel is very presentable and the gear lever is good with minor wear. The car was optioned with the 3 spoke steering wheel wrapped in leather from factory, as detailed in the paperwork gallery.

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'ON THE ROAD' VIDEO

Mechanics

The 2.5-litre engine cruises beautifully, but there's enough to get you into trouble too if you really push it.

Engine and Gearbox

The engine has seen a positive amount of attention and servicing over the years, and this is reflected in the car's performance on the day. It starts on the button with no unwanted noises or leaks. It idles well and was left on for a period of time in the hot weather with no ill effects on the engine temperature or oil pressure.

The automatic gearbox functions well, with a well-engaged shift during kick down. The gearshift was smooth, with no issues with selecting the reverse gear. Please view the mechanical video to see the car in action.

Suspension and Brakes

The car was proven to ride well, with no noises or ill effects from the suspension. The steering remained tight, with no vibration around town and operates without drama on full lock.

The brakes themselves have seen recent attention with discs and pads replaced, see the paperwork, and the owner confidently showing us that they work well and evenly.

The Drive

The M20 2.5-litre straight six engine pulls very well, and the car felt tight during the drive. No groans or creaks were heard at lower speeds, with the car revealing an indecent amount of potency when pressed and cruised beautifully at town speeds.

Its agility and urge are just part of the charm of the E30, and can also cope with modern road conditions - A testament to the car's long-lasting appeal.

Electrics and Other

The hood is in good condition, with minor signs of outdoor elements noted but is free of damage and offers a good fit. The nearside rear glass motor will need attention.

The car is fitted with a 2000's Kenwood CD player. The odometer was replaced in 2007, making the calculated mileage approximately 120,000 miles.

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History and Paperwork

Over £1,600 has been spent on the car since the beginning of the year, and on top of that it has had a respray in original black colour and retrim in leather, a cracking 325i E30 cabriolet.

Originally registered by a Swansea BMW Dealer in 1990, specified with several bespoke options including a leather-covered sports wheel, cross-spoke alloys, and shadow-line trim. The car lived a life typical of higher spec E30 cabriolets of the era and appears to have gone through regular servicing and maintenance for the first 15 years of its life. It was believed to have seen an overhaul in 2007, which includes the exchange of the odometer which explains the mileage discrepancy. Its use had slowed down by then but still kept on the road as an occasional car.

The previous owner bought the car in 2003 and sold it to the current owner in 2016, who has spent time renewing the visuals of the car, including a top-quality respray and a full leather seat re-upholster courtesy of BTrim of Enfield. The car has seen a recent service and comes with an MOT to July 2023.

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
27-07-2022	MOT	7,382
08-01-2022	Service	7,366
14-06-2016	MOT	6,770
23-04-2015	MOT	6,389
17-06-2013	MOT	5,457
30-09-2011	MOT	4,445
05-07-2011	Service	4,315
19-08-2010	MOT	3,965
07-05-2009	Service	1,864
06-05-2009	MOT	1,864
01-04-2008	MOT	490
30-03-2007	Service	113,471
27-03-2007	MOT	113,465
05-05-2006	MOT	111,221
13-05-2005	MOT	106,259
30-03-2004	MOT	100,534
06-05-2003	Service
03-04-2003	MOT	92,100
27-03-2000	MOT	89,593
25-03-1999	MOT	80,957
03-10-1997	MOT	68,166
09-09-1996	MOT	54,690
12-02-1996	Service	49,727
10-02-1995	Service	41,124
18-12-1992	Service	27,481
09-01-1992	Service	19,916
27-09-1991	Service	17,479
28-04-1991	Service	13,215
18-09-1990	Service	6,922
12-03-1990	Service	1,124