As car enthusiasts, we get rather excited when an unrestored, original car comes along. Now 33 years old and never having been restored, this BMW 320i is an incredible survivor that remains in fine condition.
With just 4 owners since it was new in 1989, it is clear that this example of BMW's second generation 3 Series has been cherished. If you fancy a nice example of a 2 door E30 or simply appreciate a car that has stood the test of time, this car is definitely for you.5.jpeg2.6 MB
Inside, this 3 Series has a charmingly original interior. The grey cloth seats are in delightful condition when you consider the car’s age. While there is some wear evident on the driver’s seat bolsters, the remaining seats appear undamaged with no holes or tears to the cloth.
The dashboard and switchgear are in excellent order, with everything working and the dashboard itself displaying no signs of UV damage. The headlining is in good shape too, with the owner reporting that it is unmarked and well supported. The carpets are in fine order, although there is some wear to the BMW liveried driver’s overmat as one would expect. The instrumentation presents smartly and remains clearly legible. Evidently, a later CD stereo has been fitted at some point. Inside the boot is situated a spare wheel and the original toolkit which is in very good, likely unused condition.
Overall, this unrestored interior is very smart and is in eminently usable condition. The next owner may wish to improve upon the driver’s seat to bring this interior to the next level, although it is quite serviceable as is.
This BMW’s originality continues outside, with the original paintwork having survived exceptionally well over the years. The vendor informs us that at great expense, a protective coating has been applied to the car in order to preserve its originality.
The original alloy wheels look to be really fine and the vendor reports that the tyres have plentiful tread remaining. There are a few scuffs on the corners of the bumpers although this could be easily rectified with some localised paintwork which would bring the exterior of this 320i up to a really high standard.
The vendor informs us that the car is free from corrosion, looking particularly fine underneath. In addition, the exterior brightwork appears complete, without any pitting or blemishes. Our favourite features are those wonderful headlamp wipers which we understand work as BMW intended.
Under the bonnet, this BMW is again very original. There is some scope for the next owner to improve the appearance of the engine, although it is overall in clean and tidy condition.
The vendor informs us that the car drives very well, accelerating well with no smoke coming from the exhaust. The automatic transmission changes gear smoothly and makes for a relaxed driving experience.
While no extensive work has been required under the bonnet in the past, the car most recently received a new cam belt and water pump in 2018.2.jpeg1.46 MB
Summary
It is wonderful to see how well this BMW has survived and with a little work it could easily be amongst the best surviving examples. Equally, we’re sure that this charming example is ready to be driven for many years to come as a really usable modern classic.
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