Model History

Brought to the market as an entry-level luxury car, the E30 chassis spanned twelve years of production. Replacing the E21 in 1982 and overlapping its successor, the E36 (introduced in 1990), by four years.

Early models featured the 4-pot M10 and straight-6 M20 engines used in the E21. The major update for the E30 took place in 1987 where the M20 engine was fitted with Bosch Motronic injection and the M10 was replaced by the M40 engine, again utilising Motronic. The chrome bumpers were also replaced with black or coloured ones in late 1989, with the rear light clusters also made slightly bigger during this minor facelift. E30s are now referred to as pre-facelift (chrome bumpers) or facelift (plastic bumpers).

The E30 boasted a spacious cabin and a light curb weight. This was due to the suspension design that utilised Macpherson front struts and rear semi trailing arms. It was also the first 3-Series to receive a service light indicator and warning light. The 325i convertible was the first drop-top solely built by BMW, with early E30s being converted by Baur, a coachbuilder located in Stuttgart. To strengthen the chassis and reduce scuttle shake BMW added plates to the front suspension turrets and built in chassis beams down the length of the car, which helped to reduce flex or twist in the chassis after removing the metal roof.

Equipment

Alpine White paintwork, Black leather upholstery, Folding soft-top in black, 14-inch BBS cross-spoke alloy wheels, 4-speed switchable automatic transmission, Air conditioning, Cruise control, Leather steering wheel, BMW Bavaria cassette radio, Cassette storage, Analogue clock, Electric windows front and rear, Electric door mirrors, Power steering, ABS, Carpet mats, BMW torch, BMW tool kit, BMW first aid kit, Spare wheel, Spare key.

Exterior

This low mileage 325i looks particularly sharp in gleaming Alpineweiss. The paintwork is lovely and bright with a deep shine throughout following a machine polish by our in-house detailer. There are no signs of rust in any of the common E30 weak spots and the panel gaps are spot on all round. Being a pre-facelift example this one sports chrome bumpers front and rear, both in excellent condition with a great mirror-shine; the black rubbers are also in fine order with no unsightly scrapes to report. The manual-folding soft-top is equally well presented, and without a complex electric/hydraulic mechanism to go wrong it will never fail to operate. The roof has always been folded away correctly and so the rear screen is free from any damage or cracks. A highly impressive example, ready to be driven and very much enjoyed this summer.

VIEWINGS WELCOME BY APPOINTMENT ONLY /// ADDITIONAL PHOTOS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST

Interior

Nicely spec’d with full black leather, air conditioning and cruise control, this magnificent example not only looks great but is very usable too. The leather seats have worn nicely and present with only light patina perfectly in line with the mileage. There is no damage to any of the bolsters, the carpets are spotless, and the door cards are perfect. Some minor ring marks are visible on the steering wheel but again, nothing untoward for a car of this vintage. Glancing across the dash there are no cracks to be found and pleasingly the original BMW cassette deck is still fitted, ready for your favourite 80s mixtape. The boot area is also very tidy and comes readily equipped with the original BMW first aid kit, spare wheel and tools.

ENGINE & TRANSMISSION

Reading through the accompanying history file it’s clear that this one has always been maintained to a high standard. The car has been serviced 23 times, most recently in June 2022 at 61,798 miles. The cambelt was last changed in July 2021. Under the bonnet the engine bay is extremely clean and tidy with a great original finish. There are no signs of accident damage or previous poor repair, and even the factory bonnet insulation remains in place.

WHEELS, TYRES & BRAKES

The E30 sits on 14-inch cross-spoke alloy wheels, all in excellent kerb-free condition. They are wrapped in a matching set of Uniroyal tyres with plenty of tread left at each corner. The brakes have also been checked and remain in fine operational condition, stopping the car quickly and in a straight line.

History File

This beautiful chrome bumper 325i was manufactured in January 1987. It resided in Jersey from 1987 until 2002 when it was then registered over here. The car has now driven a mere 62k miles with 6 keepers showing on the V5C. The paperwork comprises a raft of invoices, MOT certificates, a spare key, and original booklets. The service book is stamped up to 2020 but invoices are present for all subsequent maintenance. The last service was completed in June last year and the timing belt was done in 2021.

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