1988 BMW 325i Manual 2-door (E30)

Highlights

19,406 miles, verified by MOT and service history
Three owners from new
Very original, factory specification
Excellent history
Desirable two-door, manual car

The Appeal

The E30 3-Series was that rarest of things when it launched – a truly desirable and stylish car that straddled the boundaries of luxury, family and enthusiast vehicles. There really was an E30 for everyone and it continues to be a much sought after modern classic.

What’s difficult to find now is an unmodified, original, low mileage example. Which is where this wonderful vehicle comes in.

The History and Paperwork

First registered in August 1988
Supplied by Tice & Son of Dorchester (original dealer sticker and plates intact)
Original order sheet present and correct
Used sparingly over the years, the car was SORN from 2010 to January 2020
Just 19,406 miles from new, verified by the MOT and service history
Complete with the original owner’s handbooks in their vinyl wallet
Numerous old MOT certificates back to 1994 and a number of invoices for servicing
Stamped service book – eight stamps, with the latest in April 2022 at 19,226 which included the cambelt and water pump
Three owners from new
Current owner since March 2022
The car comes with its original radio cassette
MOT until January 2024

The Interior

Indigo cloth interior
Electrically adjusted door mirrors
Factory fitted electric metal sunroof
Modern Pioneer radio with USB, Aux and Bluetooth, plus Pioneer speakers
Highly original and factory

Specified from the factory with ‘Indigo’ cloth upholstery, the cabin of this 325i has weathered in very nicely indeed. In fact, it’s no exaggeration to say that it’s in quite incredible condition. The seats are undamaged and in nearly perfect condition, with the rear bench appearing as if it’s hardly ever been used.

Blue-grey carpet adorns the cabin and is in very good order, with no staining or notable wear we could see. The same can be said for the headlining, which presents very well, being secure, undamaged and unstained, even where the sunroof is situated.

All of the internal trim and switchgear shows exceptionally well, with clear gauges, hardly worn controls and highly legible iconography. In fact the only mark or blemish of note we could find was a slight crack in the fascia near the fog light buttons. Otherwise, we could easily describe all the trim as pristine for its age. In fact, it even still has the iconic hand torch in the glovebox – and they always go missing!

The boot is nice and generous. It’s trimmed in smart grey carpet that appears to be undamaged and has no stains we could discern. It also contains a full-size spare alloy wheel and the original toolkit.

The Exterior

Cirrus Blue Metallic paintwork
Original BBS alloy wheels
Excellent original condition overall

The Cirrus Blue paintwork really suits the E30 and is here presented in very good order. We’re told by the vendor that it’s all original and has never had any paint or work done to the panels. It certainly looks that way. There are a few minor blemishes, such as a small crease to the near-side front wheel arch and some micro-blistering to the lip of the boot and bonnet, but otherwise the paint looks to be in fine condition.

As mentioned before, the body itself looks nice and straight, with even gaps and no notable damage or corrosion we could identify. Complementing this, the trim all appears to be complete and in fine fettle, with the black plastics not showing much in the way of fading and the minimal brightwork having a nice shine to it. There is a factory fitted rear boot lid spoiler as well as BMW branded rubber rear mud flaps. Amazingly, the car is still wearing its original dealer plates too.

It is riding on the correct ‘Style 5’ BBS 15-inch alloy wheels, which look to be in excellent condition and are shod with a matched set of Goodyear tyres that appear to have good tread levels.

Looking underneath, the car appears to be very straight and clean, with the sills and floors in fine condition and no damage or notable corrosion apparent. The paperwork shows that some underside rust was professionally addressed in January 2021.

The Mechanics

2,494cc inline-six, driving the rear wheels
Five speed manual transmission
Scorpion stainless steel exhaust system
Full service and cambelt change in April 2022

That naturally aspirated 2.5-litre inline-six is a cracking engine and definitely the one in an E30. Mated to the manual transmission, it offers a great engine note and an addictive driving experience.

Under the bonnet, the engine bay is very clean, with the car clearly having been well maintained over the years. Over the last two years or so, the car has been treated to the following:

New brake flexi-hoses all round and new rear anti-roll bar links (February 2020)
New Scorpion stainless steel exhaust (January 2021)
Full service (January 2021 at 17,483 miles)
New clutch master cylinder and slave cylinder (April 2021)
Full service, including cambelt change and new water pump (April 2022 at 19,226 miles)

As you may expect with such a fine recent service record and good history, the vendor tells us that the car drives just as it should, with no mechanical issues, no leaks and no smoke under load.

Summary

We honestly can’t remember the last time we saw an E30 like this – it’s the perfect specification, with incredibly low, verified mileage and is presented in superb overall condition. Frankly, we think this is an exceptional opportunity to acquire a very fine example of this ever more collectible sports saloon.

BEFORE YOU BUY

This sale is subject to the Car & Classic Terms and Conditions. By bidding and/or making an offer, you also agree to the following:

✓ If the seller is registered as a private seller, consumer rights stemming from EU consumer protection law do not apply. Car & Classic’s return policy applies.

✓ A non-refundable deposit will be payable if you are the winning bidder at auction or if your offer is accepted, refer to FAQs and T&Cs for details.

✓ This vehicle is “Sold As Seen”, on an “As Is, Where Is’ basis and without warranty. A full inspection of the vehicle prior to purchase and bidding is highly recommended. Photos and descriptions are for guidance purposes only.

✓ VAT is included in the buyer's deposit. VAT may or may not be included in the final bid or offer price, as specified in the listing.

✓ UK-registered cars and motorbikes on Car & Classic are run through an online HPI check, to verify that they show no insurance database markers for damage or theft, and have no finance owing.

✓ Buyers are responsible for vehicle collection or delivery.

Please see our FAQs here and our Terms & Conditions here