Price: SOLD
Mileage: 178,500 Miles
Exterior color: Royal Blue Metallic Exterior (BMW Paint Code 198)
Interior: Natur (Tan) Leather Interior
Additional features:
Virtually Crack-free Dash
Projector Headlights
Leather Sport Heated Seats
3-Spoke Sport Steering Wheel
13-Button On Board Computer
Kenwood KDC-162U Head Unit
Premium Sound
Manual Top
Factory Wind Deflector
Stock 14” Bottle Cap Wheels
BF Goodrich Traction T/A Tires
3-Owner Colorado Car
Clean Carfax
All Maintenance Up to Date
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 population of worthy E30s was decimated when their values were at the bottom of the inverted bell curve of appreciation. Lower mileage, properly sorted, pristine examples are extremely hard to find and have appreciated considerably in recent years. 1989 was arguably the best year of the E30; it had the late model M20B25 “i” motor, projector headlights, and a non-airbag steering wheel. Convertibles were usually well optioned and commanded a significant premium when new. Unlike the Coupes and Sedans, 1989 was a pre-facelift year for the convertible. This is a good thing because they have a manual top, opposed to the failure prone power top on later models. Convertibles also represent one of the best buys in the current market, and are some of the most enjoyable E30s to drive.
This 1989 BMW 325i convertible is a repeat visitor to Glen Shelly. We originally purchased it in 2016 as a two-owner E30 that had spent its entire life in Colorado and sold it twice within our inner circle since then. The first owner registered it in Colorado Springs and drove it for 106,000 miles. The second owner purchased it in 1998 and kept it in Colorado Springs until they moved to Littleton in the spring of 2011. It was traded in to Schomp BMW in October of 2015. We purchased it from them through auction at 165,000 miles and sold it to the third owner after enjoying it ourselves for a few months. At 165,000 miles we gave it full round of routine maintenance including: timing belt, tensioner, and pulley, camshaft seal and O-ring, valve adjustment and valve cover gasket, spark plugs, accessory belts, crankcase vent hose, cooling system hoses, power steering “trombone” line, all shift bushings, and hood and trunk shocks. We also replaced the convertible top rear window. Within the last year we replaced the clutch, master cylinder, transmission output shaft seal, shift shaft seal, throttle body housing gasket, a power steering line, and the oil pan gasket with a fresh oil change. As it sits, it’s ready to be enjoyed by its new owner. Royal Blue over Natur leather is a fantastic color combination. The aluminum (diving board) bumpers look fantastic against Royal Blue, especially with the color-matched trim that convertibles received. It has a few cosmetic imperfections (detailed in the paragraphs below), but overall it is very presentable, which makes it a great guilt-free driver E30. Convertible season is year round in Colorado. Fair weather days in the spring, fall, and winter are often more enjoyable than the nuclear hot days of summer. I’ve had this car since early January and put the top down on every drive!
Royal Blue Metallic is one of the best E30 colors and one of the more exclusive hues. It looks fantastic with the matching dark blue cloth top. The paint and clear coat are in very good condition. Closer scrutiny does reveal imperfections in the form of typical small dings and scratches. There is also one area of spider cracks on the right front of the hood and small areas of touchup paint on the passenger side. The right front fender has a small indentation next to the headlight. The lower lip valence appears to have been replaced with an OEM unit. The fog lights have been deleted, which tidy’s up the front end considerably. The aluminum diving board bumpers are in great shape, but the trim has some UV fade and one small crack in the front. The dark blue cloth top has no excessive fading or glaring defects. Close scrutiny does reveal some wear spots. The rear window was replaced in 2016 and is clear as a result. The windshield is free of the pitting most Colorado cars get. It has no cracks and there is only one small chip about 3mm in diameter. The projector headlights are not cracked, pitted, or cloudy. The same is true for the indicator, brake, and taillights. The stock bottle caps are also in good condition and are wearing BF Goodrich Traction T/A tires with good tread left.
Overall the interior is in good condition and indicative of a car that has lived indoors. The dashboard is crack-free except for one tiny ¼” crack in the parcel shelf. The leather sport seats are in good shape, but they do have some typwear. The worst areas are in the common spots on the outboard cushion and backrest bolsters. I reckon these could be fixed for several hundred dollars. The seat heaters are intermittent at best. The recline and seat shocks can also be finicky. The door cards, rear trim, and rear seats are in good shape. The convertible top storage deck lid (directly behind the headrests) has a few weird circles in the finish, but they are not glaring. The heat is warm and the air conditioning does not work, but that’s where the convertible top comes in! I have not diagnosed the air conditioning, but based on the other E30s I have sold recently, I would just do a complete system refresh rather than chase individual components. You may be able to get it to work in the short term with a recharge, but that is a stop-gap solution. The odometer and trip meter work. All dashboard and console lights work. The 13-button computer has no blown out pixels and good back lighting. There are no lights on the overhead check panel. The horn, windshield wipers & washers, turn signals, and cruise control function correctly. The window switches all work, as does the central locking system. The Kenwood head unit illumination is similar to the factory BMW. It sounds great through the premium sound speakers and has aux and USB inputs. The carpet is clean and has been protected by matching factory floor mats, which are in fair condition. The original owners manual is in the glove box. There is a complete tool kit in the trunk.
As it sits, this is a turn-key E30. The M20 engine starts on command and has no running issues. It idles smoothly and pulls strong in that wonderful way that only an M20B25 does. It doesn’t leak or spot. The clutch engages smoothly and the shifter is super tight thanks to the rebuild (not the spoon in the bowl of spaghetti that so many are). There are no drive shaft U-joint, center shaft bearing, differential, CV axle, or wheel bearing noise or vibration. The shocks (KYB brand) and suspension bushings are firm and compliant. The brakes are firm and we ensure it passes and pay for emissions in the State of Colorado. Like any E30, it will need continued care and maintenance, and we can assist with that when the time comes. We would like to find a new owner who will care for it as it has been and who will enjoy it for years to come.
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