Yesterday I bought my first BMW, a 1987 325e. The car is in pretty good mechanical shape where it matters (engine/transmission/suspension/exhaust) but has some flaws here and there, like most cars its age. The car has a limited slip diff, working a/c, electric windows, and the 6 button clock.
Faults: It says 160000 miles, but the odometer has quit, so fixing those gears will be on the top of my list. Tach and temp gauge are also inop, and a Sunpro temp gauge has been installed by the PO. Random light bulbs burnt on the inside, radio and cruise control don't turn work, sunroof crank broke, fog light switch is stuck on (lights off), upholstery is mostly very good but driver's seat has a worn bolster. On the outside a few BMW roundels need to be replaced due to fading, and on the wheels one of them is gone. The antenna grommet isn't there, leading water to enter trunk (going by my dealership tomorrow to get the part), the front valance is cracked. Tires are mismatched front to rear, but they match left to right.
The PO has receipts for over $4000 worth of work done to the car in the last three years, including paint job, shocks, tires, engine maintenance, shifter and clutch, etc. He also owned two other Bimmers: an E38 740i and a E36 325i convertible, among his seven cars.
It all points to a car that has been doing daily driver duty, being an utilitarian tool. I plan on fixing those items to slowly bring the car to a better shape than it currently is.
The E30 will be doing daily driver duty, saving miles on my weekend car, a 1988 Peugeot 205 GTI 1.6 that is currently on the boat from Germany to the US.
Faults: It says 160000 miles, but the odometer has quit, so fixing those gears will be on the top of my list. Tach and temp gauge are also inop, and a Sunpro temp gauge has been installed by the PO. Random light bulbs burnt on the inside, radio and cruise control don't turn work, sunroof crank broke, fog light switch is stuck on (lights off), upholstery is mostly very good but driver's seat has a worn bolster. On the outside a few BMW roundels need to be replaced due to fading, and on the wheels one of them is gone. The antenna grommet isn't there, leading water to enter trunk (going by my dealership tomorrow to get the part), the front valance is cracked. Tires are mismatched front to rear, but they match left to right.
The PO has receipts for over $4000 worth of work done to the car in the last three years, including paint job, shocks, tires, engine maintenance, shifter and clutch, etc. He also owned two other Bimmers: an E38 740i and a E36 325i convertible, among his seven cars.
It all points to a car that has been doing daily driver duty, being an utilitarian tool. I plan on fixing those items to slowly bring the car to a better shape than it currently is.
The E30 will be doing daily driver duty, saving miles on my weekend car, a 1988 Peugeot 205 GTI 1.6 that is currently on the boat from Germany to the US.
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