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Exterior photo of 1990 BMW (E30) 325iX Sedan

1990 BMW (E30) 325iX Sedan

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Details

Price: SOLD

Mileage: 231,000 Miles

Engine: M20B25 2.5-Liter Inline 6-Cylinder Engine

Transmission: 5-Speed Manual Transmission

Exterior color: Alpine White Exterior (218)

Interior: Black Leather Interior

Additional features:

Very Good Repaint in Factory Alpine White II

Professionally Painted Shadowline Trim

Heated Comfort Seats

Ski Pass-through

Complete Tool Kit

Modern Pioneer Stereo with Bluetooth

2 Sets of Wheels and Tires Summer and Winter

Fresh Timing Belt, Water Pump, Valve Adj, Belts, Spark Plugs, and More

Perfect Daily Driver iX

Clean Carfax

Colorado Title

Background

1990 BMW (E30) 325iX Sedan exterior photo

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. I have restored, rebuilt, and sorted a dozen E30’s over the years and currently own three 1989 E30’s, including an iX, an IS and a Touring. The “iX” was released to the U.S. market for the 1988 model year and was BMW’s first all wheel drive model—it is unstoppable in the snow. What makes it so good is not the all wheel drive; it is 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. Limited production numbers and exposure to the cold weather climates most have lived in have decimated the population of clean iX’s, making good ones few and far between.

Summary

 exterior photo

I purchased this 1990 325iX through an E30 enthusiast and friend of mine. I have detailed records dating back to 1993. It has always been a Utah, Wyoming, and Colorado car and is largely rust-free as a result. BMWs, especially E30s, are like airplanes. Age and mileage are relevant, but not nearly as important as preventative and routine maintenance that they all need. If maintained properly, an E30 will last well over 400,000 miles. In preparation for sale we gave this one a timing belt service, cam seal, water pump, valve adjustment, drive belts, coolant flush, power steering lines, power steering flush, and re-sealed a few leaks. It has had a high-quality repaint in the original Alpine White II, including the trim, finished in M3 shadowline black. It is very nicely optioned with working heated seats and a ski pass-through. A 2-inch stack of records and receipts comes with the car, along with a clean Carfax. We have priced it accordingly.

Overall this 325iX is an excellent daily driver AWD E30 sedan. My personal 325iX sedan makes me smile every time I drive it. The E30’s connected and communicative chassis is unparalleled and the sedan’s extra B-pillars and doors add rigidity and utility. When the snow falls, the iX destroys the white stuff like an ‘80s cocaine habit. We would like to find a buyer who will care for and enjoy this unique E30 for years to come.

Exterior

1990 BMW (E30) 325iX Sedan exterior photo

Alpine White is one of the best E30 colors. It complements the E30’s form and always presents fantastically, even when dirty. This iX presents even better thanks to a quality re-paint at some point. The paint is in excellent condition with no glaring defects; no failed clear coat spots or chips. There is virtually no rust underneath; common spots like the lower windshield cowling, fenders, and floorboards are all clean. There is minor corrosion on the bottom of the driver’s side doors and just forward of the right rear wheel (pictures are on our website if you are reading this elsewhere). All VIN tags are in place except for a DOT hood and missing tags on the front fenders. I have a receipt from July 14, 1999 showing their replacement, along with various other parts. All panel gaps are correct and there is no evidence of front subframe, rear subframe, unibody, or suspension component damage. Whatever the reason for their replacement, it was not structural. All trim is in place and in good condition. The iX lip on the lower front valance is painted white and has one small paint chip. The retractable antenna moves about half its travel, which is a common issue. We replaced the windshield, as a result it has no cracks or pitting. The side and rear window glass are tinted, which has protected the interior and looks great. The headlight lenses are crack-free. The right front fog light lens is cracked. A set of 15-inch iX wheels are currently mounted. They are in good condition, but missing the center caps. They are wrapped in Goodyear Eagle GT tires that have about a year left on them. I would recommend replacing them before next summer. Steel winter wheels are also included with good studded snow tires.

Interior

 interior photo

The interior is in very good condition. There are no odors and it has never been smoked in. The carpet has no tears or stains. The leather comfort seats are in good shape. I had the driver’s seat bottom professionally reupholstered. There is some wear on the seat back bolster, but overall it looks great. The passenger seat is in great shape except for a missing cover over the recline mechanism (I might have one in my E30 parts stash). The rear seat is in great condition, as are the door cards. The dashboard has the typical E30 cracks, but they aren’t as bad as most dry-climate E30s. The 4-spoke airbag steering wheel looks great, with minor leather wear. All instrument cluster functions work, as does the 6-button onboard computer (sometimes it goes crazy, but pressing on the center fixes it—a common issue). The Pioneer stereo sounds great and has blue tooth and aux inputs. The heat blows warm and the air conditioning blows cold. The shifter boot leather is nice, and I replaced the shifter cup and shift knob with an E36 M3 shift knob (not pictured). The power windows and sunroof work correctly, as does the central locking system. The trunk is clean and the toolkit is complete. Two replacement keys from CO’s BMW are included with the original key.

Mechanical

 engine photo

The records show that the previous owners have always been fastidious in their care of this iX. When you buy a used BMW, the most important element is the previous owner’s care. I would much rather have a documented and well-cared-for higher mileage example over a lower mileage one riddled with deferred maintenance from poor ownership. In preparation sale, I addressed all preventative and routine maintenance to reset the clock on this one. This included:

  • Timing Belt
  • Timing Belt Tensioner and Spring
  • Cam Seal and O Ring
  • Water Pump
  • Thermostat
  • Accessory Belts
  • Valve Adjustment
  • Valve Cover Gasket
  • Spark Plugs
  • Air Filter
  • Throttle Body Gasket
  • Set CO Mixture
  • Coolant Flush
  • Oil Change
  • Power Steering Reservoir
  • Power Steering Pressure Hose
  • Power Steering Flush

The fuel pump was also replaced last fall, just prior to us getting it.

The engine fires on command, idles smoothly, and pulls super strong to redline. The transmission shifts smoothly and the drivetrain is quiet with no excessive vibrations. E30 iX’s do have noisy drivetrains and this iX is no exception, but it is well within the realm of normal operation. My personal iX sedan has 40K less miles and is much louder on the highway. There are slight oil seeps at the oil pan and transmission output flange, but neither warrant attention in the foreseeable future. None of the seeps leave spots on the floor. The suspension is firm, yet compliant, with no creaks or noise. All suspension bushings are in good shape. We pay for and ensure it passes emissions, which it does.

VIN Decode

 exterior photo

VIN Decode

  • VIN: WBAAE9310LED64196
  • Type: AE93
  • Model: 325iX – USA
  • Development Code: E30
  • Chassis: LIM
  • Steering: LL
  • Doors: 4
  • Engine: M20
  • Displacement: 2.50
  • Power: 168 Horsepower
  • Drivetrain: AWD
  • Transmission: Manual
  • Color: Alpine White II (218)
  • Upholstery: Black Leather (0203)
  • Production Plant: Regensburg
  • Production Date: 9-30-1989

Options

  • 240 Leather Steering Wheel
  • 401 Power Sunroof
  • 411 Power Windows
  • 464 Skibag
  • 494 Heated Seats
  • 497 Center Armrest in Rear
  • 530 Air Conditioning
  • 540 Cruise Control
  • 556 Exterior Temperature Display
  • 925 Shipping Protection Package