Price: SOLD
Mileage: 194,200 Miles
Exterior color: Alpine White II Exterior
Interior: Natur (Tan) Leather Interior
VIN: WBAAB0312LEC95175
Transmission: 5-speed Manual Transmission
Additional features:
Working AWD (Jack Test Video Coming Soon)
Heated Comfort Seats
Dinan Performance Chip
Koni Sport Shocks
Renown Leather Wrapped M Stitched 3-Spoke Small Diameter Steering Wheel (Original Steering Wheel Included)
Z3 1.9 Short Shift Kit
ZHP Leather Shift Knob
Z3 Antenna
Ski Pass Through
BMW Rubber Floor Mats
Lightly Tinted Windows (70%)
Shadowline Trim
Custom Cup Holders
Clarion DXZ385USB Head Unit w/ Premium Speakers and Custom Tweeters
Euro Analog Clock
Keyless Entry / Alarm
4:10 Front and Rear Differentials
Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2 Snow Tires
Complete Maintenance Records (old school maintenance)
Complete Recent Mechanical Overhaul
Colorado Car
Clean Carfax / No Accidents
Original Factory Option Codes:
BMW E30’s (1984-1991 3 Series) are one of our specialty vehicles at Glen Shelly Auto Brokers. I have restored, rebuilt, and sorted a dozen E30’s over the years. I currently own three 1989 E30’s—an iX, an iS and a Touring. I am selling this 1990 325iX coupe on consignment for a friend and E30 enthusiast. It’s a clean and well-maintained iX with a fully documented maintenance history. E30’s are like airplanes. Age and mileage are relevant, but not nearly as relevant as maintenance history and the replacement of common wear items that they all eventually need. This is especially true with iX’s due to their additional AWD parts, lower original production numbers, and likely exposure to harsh winter conditions. This one has had virtually every major component replaced, serviced, or upgraded and is properly sorted as a result.
It was originally purchased from Schomp BMW of Littleton and has remained in Colorado ever since (original window sticker is included). As a result it is free of the rust and corrosion that kill so many iX’s. It has changed owners a few times, but each was meticulous and detailed with their care and documentation. I have a two-inch binder filled with receipts dating back to the original purchase. The seller I am consigning it for purchased it in 2009 and has maintained and upgraded it to a high standard. In October of 2015 it underwent a major transformation when he had it professionally swapped from an automatic to a manuals transmission. The donor car had 160,000 miles (it got the automatic). The gearbox and transfer case were tested, inspected, re-sealed, and a new clutch kit and Z3 1.9 shifter were installed. The automatic 4:10 differentials were left in place, which is a very desirable upgrade to a manual iX. The short gearing of the differentials along with a Dinan performance chip make this car pull stronger than my RWD iS. The power delivery is perfect for mountain driving – the iX’s natural habitat. To help put that power to the road a set of Koni sport shocks were installed, along with a full front suspension overhaul including new control arms and sway bar end links. A small diameter steering wheel and new steering rack and pinion allow the driver to take full advantage of the suspension and power mods. This iX must be driven to be fully appreciated. BMW should have made them all this way! Make no mistake about it, 26 years later it is still the Ultimate Driving Machine.
I have summarized the transmission swap and all recent maintenance below. Unless otherwise noted all work was done by BMW specialists Autosport Werks.
192,528 Miles:
192,147 Miles:
192,335 Miles:
192,131 Miles:
This is a turn-key 325ix that needs nothing. The biggest mechanical gripe I can find is a small seep from the power steering pump. It was not deemed in need of replacement when the steering rack was done. It operates normally and does not spot, but like all leaks it will probably grow with time. I have a replacement pump that is included with the sale for when that time comes. The engine idles smoothly and pulls strong to redline. The drive train is quiet with no excessive whine or vibrations. The shifter feels amazingly tight, not the spoon in a bowl of spaghetti that so many E30’s feel like if it has not been have not been rebuilt. The suspension is firm, yet compliant, with no creaks or noise. Even a full left or right slow speed turn over bumps results in no noise (sway bar bushings, end links, or shock mounts usually creak on IX’s in this situation). There is a significant amount of cosmoline protectant left over from the original delivery in the engine bay, but it is entirely superficial.
Alpine White II is an excellent color for E30’s making this one present very well. I am highly critical of our cars and try to describe every imperfection. Overall the exterior is in good condition. The paint has no peeling or failed areas. A close inspection reveals imperfections, but nothing offensive and much less than expected for the mileage. The worst areas are chips on the leading edges, slight discolorations, and a mismatched IS rear spoiler (it looks like Alpine White I, which is slightly whiter than Alpine White II). It would be an easy fix to paint match it, but could also be lived with. The body is free of any damage or rust. Common areas like the battery tray, floorboards, and wheel arches are clean. In October the seller had an area of superficial rust on the left rocker professionally addressed by high-end body shop SVE. SVE specializes in E30’s and is one of the only shops I trust with my cars. While it was there, the seller had the windshield pulled and the windshield housing cleaned and treated for rust preventatively (another common area). He also had the chrome trim painted shadowline (black), a very desirable cosmetic upgrade. The black-work and grills have slight UV fading, but it is minimal for a Colorado car. It could be easily corrected with a coat of SEM trim paint, but is not necessary. All trim and iX-specific moldings are intact and in good shape. The windshield is crack-free and the side glass and tint are in great shape. The headlight glass, indicators, and taillights are in good shape. The late-model fog light lenses have a few small cracks, but are presentable. The 15-inch iX-specific Style 5 wheels have no bends or chipped paint. The center caps are present and have good Roundel decals. There are a few small spots of curb rash on the wheel lips, but they are not glaring. The Nokian Hakkapeliitta R2 Snow Tires are evenly worn and have over 95% tread remaining, they have only 2000 miles on them.
Natur (tan) leather is a perfect fit for the Alpine White exterior. It is light and airy, but well contrasted by the black dashboard and center console. Generally, E30 interiors do not stand up well to time, but this one is in good shape for its age. The carpet is clean, there are no odors, and it has never been smoked in. The leather comfort seats present well. There are visible creases in common wear areas, but no rips, sans a two-inch tear on the driver’s seat bottom cushion. All adjustments work correctly along with the seat heaters. The rear ski-pass through is a great option to keep your skis or snowboard free of road grime. The dashboard has some cracks, but not the massive crevasses that some E30’s have. There are two on the passenger side and another near the center vent (pictures are on our website if you are reading this elsewhere). All E30 dashboards will crack at some point. I would address these with a dashboard cover or just live with them. The Renown steering wheel looks stock and is a very nice upgrade over the 4-spoke airbag wheel (which is included). All instrument cluster gauges and lights work, including the odometer. There are no burnt out bulbs anywhere. The Clarion head unit and custom speakers are an excellent upgrade over the stock stereo. The analogue clock is a stylish European option The ZHP shift knob and leather boot are perfectly suited to the Z3 1.9 shifter. The door cards have folding cup holders that look stock and match perfectly. All interior functions work correctly. The heat blows warm, the air condition blows cold. There are no overhead check panel lights.
This is a wonderfully sorted 325iX Coupe. The reason to buy this car is for its mechanical pedigree and they way it drives. It is set up the way every iX should be. Cosmetically it isn’t perfect, but it is very presentable; I have priced it accordingly. We would like to find an owner who will continue to appreciate and maintain it for years to come. It is ready to be enjoyed for several hundred thousand more miles!
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