Price: SOLD
Mileage: 165,700 Miles
Engine: M20B25 2.5-Liter Inline 6-Cylinder Engine
Transmission: 5-Speed Manual Gearbox
Exterior color: Alpine White Exterior (L0146)
Interior: Cardinal Red Interior (P0296)
Additional features:
Sport Seats
Heated Seats
M Tech I Leather Steering Wheel
Early-Style Mushroom Shift Knob
Map Light Mirror
Alpine CDE-153BT Head Unit
Premium Sound with Upgraded Speakers and Pioneer Subwoofer
Tape Holder Center Console
13-Button Onboard Computer
US Ellipsoid Projector Headlights
Fog Lights
“IS” Front Lip
Crack-free Dashboard
15” Style 5 iX Basket Weave Wheels
Kumho Solus TA11 Tires (just replaced)
Recent Significant Maintenance
Coco Floor Mats
California/Colorado Car
The 1984-1991 BMW 3 Series, known generationally as the E30, is the one model more than any other that earned BMW the Ultimate Driving Machine reputation. E30s are one of our specialty vehicles at Glen Shelly Auto Brokers. The “iX” was released to the U.S. market for the 1988 model year, and it came with nearly every available option in the E30 catalog. Released only in a manual Coupe, the 1988 325iX stickered for a little more than the E30 M3. Like the M3, the 1988 325iX option list included sport seats, the M Tech 1 steering wheel, a 13-button onboard computer, premium sound, and a rear spoiler. The iX was BMW’s first all-wheel drive model and is simply unstoppable in the snow. What makes it so good isn’t the all-wheel drive; it’s the E30’s perfectly balanced and telepathically communicative chassis. It is light, tossable, and wonderfully controllable. Adding all-wheel drive to the mix only makes the iX that much better. Unfortunately, limited production numbers and exposure to the cold weather climates they often live in have decimated the iX’s population, making clean examples very rare.
This 1988 BMW 325iX, finished in Alpine White over Cardinal leather, is an outstanding example and a repeat visitor at Glen Shelly! Being a launch-year model, it is outfitted with virtually every available option. That list includes heated sports seats, an M Tech I steering wheel, a 13-button on-board computer, premium sound, a tape holder center console, a map light mirror, and front and rear iS lip and spoiler. It was originally delivered in Southern California to the first owner and was eventually purchased by the owner of the independent repair shop that serviced it. It remained in that family until coming to Colorado when their son attended the University of Colorado, Boulder. He sold it to us in 2019, and we did a round of maintenance. The larger items included a timing belt service, replacing the heater core, rear differential, and driveshaft, shimming the front drive shaft, and power steering lines. Then we sold it to a Glen Shelly regular who enjoyed it until trading it for an E36 M3/4/5 in 2021. Before selling it the second time, we did a significant round of maintenance, including replacing the cylinder head with a timing belt service, spark plugs, drive belts, water pump, clutch, resurfacing the flywheel, rear main seal, and fresh shocks and struts at each corner. The new owner enjoyed it for the following year and sold it back to us before moving out of the area. This time we spared no expense in bringing it up to par. The list includes a fresh oil change and timing belt service, valve adjustment, spark plugs, distributor cap and rotor, and radiator hoses. We also replaced the radiator, oil cooler lines, left front CV axle boots, front flex disc, oil relief seals and oil filter housing o-rings, rear sway bar end links, muffler hangers, washer nozzles, and wiper blades. Cosmetically, we had the seat bolster leather replaced on both the driver seat and replaced the shift boot. As it sits, this is a turn-key 325iX. We would like to find a new steward for it to enjoy for the next chapter of its story.
The Alpine White paint is in very nice condition, with no glaring defects, thanks to having spent most of its life in sunny California. The body panels are straight, and the panel gaps are even; close inspection reveals a handful of shallow door dings, but they are not glaring. The undercarriage is bone dry thanks to California’s climate; there is a small rust bubble directly below the driver’s side of the trunk seal from a past tail panel repair. There is also evidence of past repairs in the rear fenders with deeper paint gauge readings. The trunk lid, doors, hood, and front fenders all have their original VIN tags present. The bumpers are clean; the surrounding trim has minor warping but is not significantly UV-faded. The rear spoiler has some hairline cracks in the clear coat. The windshield is BMW glass with minor pitting and one small chip; the rest appears to be original and in excellent condition. The headlights are Hella US-Spec Ellipsoids with moderate pitting. The turn signals, markers, and taillights are clear and crack-free, except for a short hairline crack on the driver’s side taillight. The wheels are 15” “IX” weaves; they are straight with some minor curb rash. The left front wheel is actually what was the spare wheel, which has what appears to be dried cosmoline on it. The old left front wheel is now the spare tire, which has a small bend in it. This could likely be repaired by a competent wheel shop. The tires are Kumho Solus TA11 tires with plenty of tread remaining.
The interior is in very good condition. Cardinal Red Leather is a desirable interior color that complements the Alpine White exterior. It is made even better being optioned with heated sports seats! There are no odors or any evidence that it has been smoked in. The carpet is clean and has no tears. Overall the seats are very nice; the driver seat bolster leather has been replaced. The dashboard is one of the nicest we have seen in an E30, with no cracks or notable imperfections. All gauges work correctly in the instrument cluster; the brake lining light bulb is out. The steering column stalks and switches all work. The sunroof and both power windows work properly. The map light mirror works and is a desirable option. The M Tech 1 steering wheel has no torn stitching and moderate wear, but the leather is still intact and serviceable. The premium sound system has upgraded speakers with an Alpine amplifier, Pioneer subwoofer, and an Alpine CDE 153BT head unit; it sounds fantastic. The telescoping antenna functions as well. The trunk carpet is in good shape, and the toolkit is mostly complete.
As detailed in the summary paragraph, over the last several years, we have done significant rounds of maintenance on this E30. It will certainly need continued care, as any E30 will, but we’ve given you a good head start. The M20 engine fires on command, idles smoothly, and pulls strongly to redline. It does not leak or spot and runs cool. The transmission shifts smoothly, the shifter is tight, and the clutch take-up is correct, thanks to recently being replaced. The transfer case is healthy, and the four-wheel drive functions correctly. The drivetrain is quiet, with no excessive whine or vibrations. We shimmed the front driveshaft to achieve more spline engagement, a preventative measure we do for every iX. The suspension is firm yet compliant, with no creaks or noise—iX’s always ride the best, thanks to their taller ride height. All suspension bushings are in good shape, and the shocks and struts have been recently replaced. It passes and we pay for emissions in the State of Colorado. We would like to find a new owner who will enjoy and care for it for years to come!
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