Price: SOLD
Mileage: 155,342 Miles (250,000 km)
Engine: M20B25 2.5-Liter 6-Cylinder Engine
Transmission: 5-Speed Manual Transmission
Exterior color: Royal Blue Metallic Exterior (198)
Interior: Gray/Black Cloth Interior
VIN: WBAAG950400952347
Additional features:
Left-hand Drive
M Tech 1 Steering Wheel
Heated Cloth Comfort Seats
Kenwood Stereo w/ Aux In and Bluetooth
6-Button On Board Computer
Power Front Windows
Slicktop (No Sunroof)
No Rust
Shadowline Trim
Hella “Frenchie” Euro Smiley Headlights
15-Inch Style 5 Nogaro iX Wheels
BF Goodrich Advantage T/A Tires
Clear Film Protectant on Leading Edges
Spanish Market Touring
25-Year Exempt
US-Market Exhaust w/ Catalytic Converters
Colorado Title
Recent Maintenance:
Headgasket/Timing Belt Service
Fresh Shocks/Struts on Each Corner
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 E30 Touring was the pet project of BMW engineer Max Reisbock. He literally built the first E30 touring out of a wrecked 323i in his garage after work—it was so good that BMW put it into production (with a few minor changes). The E30 Touring started a legacy of sporty BMW wagons that remains to this day. All late-model tourings were spec’d with the 325 suspension and 4-wheel disc brakes. The extra pillars added rigidity over the Coupe and Sedan and there is slightly more rear weight bias, giving it superb handling characteristics. Fold down rear seats, shadowline trim, and Euro headlights make the Touring one of the most exclusive and sporting E30s. One of the most rare Touring models is the all-wheel drive 325iX Touring, which combined the added utility of the wagon with the all-weather capability of all-wheel drive. The E30 iX is unstoppable in the snow and dirt, driving circles around even modern all-wheel drive cars. The U.S. market never got the Touring, but they are legal now, thanks to the 25-year exemption. Most were subjected to harsh climates and daily duty, thanks to their increased utility. Rust in the rear hatch is a common issue, making dry climate history an important consideration regarding the country of origin. This and a clean body are the most important factors in finding a touring. Limited production numbers and exposure to cold weather climates have decimated the population of clean iX Tourings, making clean, rust-free examples extremely rare.
This 1989 BMW E30 325iX Spanish Market Touring is a repeat visitor to Glen Shelly. It came to us from an importer that we have used numerous times and was part of a private collection of exceptionally rare E30s. It was originally ordered in Royal Blue Metallic over a gray cloth comfort interior with an M Tech I steering wheel, 15-inch basket weave wheels, and with no sunroof. It also has the rare vertical rear cargo net and horizontal cargo cover. Air Conditioning was not originally optioned. We added a second set of iX-basketweave wheels finished in Nogaro grey and a pair of genuine Hella “Frenchie” smiley Euro headlights from our secret stash to accentuate its European roots. We also installed a Kenwood stereo with Bluetooth. After coming the States it remained in our personal collection before being purchased by our collector specialty insurance agent. After that, it came back to us for several months before going to another E30 enthusiast who’s quiver includes a spec-E30 racecar and an E30 M3. After enjoying it for several years it’s back and we are selling it on consignment.
It—astonishingly—has virtually no rust and is in exceptional condition inside and out. When it first arrived stateside we gave it a complete mechanical reset of common E30 and iX items, the majority of which were oil leaks thanks to living in a dry climate. The list included a timing belt kit and water pump, valve adjustment, valve cover gasket, cam seal, a cylinder head gasket (due to the common oil leak spots), front CV axle boots, transmission output shaft seal, shift shaft seal, shifter cup, transfer case output shaft seal, rear brakes, rear brake calipers, rear shocks, rear shock mounts, exhaust hangers, heater vent controls, glove box latch, and an antenna. More recent maintenance includes a headgasket replacement with another timing belt service and the left rear wheel bearing. The shocks and struts were also replaced at each corner earlier this year. In preparation for sale we didn’t find much other than a weeping throttle body gasket, which we replaced (the photos were taken prior to its replacement). As it sits, this is a turn-key E30 ready to be driven and enjoyed by its new owner. We would like to find a new owner who will appreciate and enjoy it for years to come.
The Royal Blue paint is in very good condition and presents fantastically. It wears a high-end re-spray with even orange peel and no glaring defects. Close scrutiny does reveal minor imperfections and a few scuffs on the plastic bumper trim. There is no rust, only minor corrosion on the bottom of the driver’s door and a very minor split in the seam of the hatch near the license plate mounting area. Common areas like the battery and jack trays, front fender seams, lower windshield cowling, and floorboards are rust-free (pictures are on our website if you are reading this elsewhere). The Euro VIN placard and firewall stamp are in place. The body and panel gaps are perfectly straight. All trim is present and intact, and the iX fender flares are in great shape. The windshield has one notable chip, but it is outside of the driver’s field of view. The Yellow French Euro smiley headlights have good glass with light pitting, and the color accents the Royal Blue paint extremely well. The turn signals, marker lights, and taillights are all clear and crack free, with the exception of a small (one inch long) crack in the driver’s side taillight. The fog lights are clear, the driver’s side has a small crack and the passenger side has a chip. The front indicators are clear. The roof antenna shared with the E30 M3 is present and in great shape. The 15-inch iX weaves are straight and true with no curb rash, only a few minor chips. All center caps are present with good Roundel emblems including the spare. The BF Goodrich Advantage T/A tires have lots of tread remaining.
The interior is in very good condition. There are no odors. The carpet is in great condition and covered by matching carpet floor mats. The dashboard is crack-free. The MT1 steering wheel is in good shape with only light wear. The shift knob is lightly worn. All instrument cluster functions work correctly. The 6-button on-board computer has no LCD screen bleed-through. The Kenwood stereo has matching illumination with aux in and Bluetooth functions. The heat blows warm and the blower motor is quiet and functions at all speeds. Air Conditioning is was not originally optioned, but could be retrofitted at the buyer’s expense. The power windows and door locks function correctly. The headliner is in very good condition. The cloth comfort seats are in great shape, with only minor bolster wear and some minor failing of the stitching on the seat bottom. They are heated and both are functional. The rear seat cloth is excellent; they are fitted with headrests and fold forward like in all E30 Tourings. The rear hatch area is very clean and the cargo cover with the net is present.
This is an extremely well sorted E30; no common E30 issues are present. The M20B25 engine fires on command, idles smoothly and pulls strongly to redline. There are no check engine or ABS lights, and no check panel alerts. The timing belt was replaced with the headgasket, which was done at 245,800 kilometers. The manual transmission shifts crisply and smoothly thanks to its recent shifter cup replacement. The driveshaft, differential, CV axles, and wheel bearings are quiet and free of vibration. The all-wheel drive functions correctly and the viscous couplings are healthy. The suspension is firm, yet compliant thanks to its recent replacement. The brakes are firm with lots of pad and rotor life left in the front and fresh pads in the rear. A US 325i exhaust including the catalytic converter is fitted, and we pay for and ensure it passes emissions here in Colorado.
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