Hello,
I'm a newbie on this forum, though a member on some other BMW-related forums. I'm looking to sell my son's 1991 325i (4-door, automatic). Asking $9900. I will link my current Autotrader ad, but the details are below (which my wife says are "way too honest").
Autotrader Link: https://classics.autotrader.com/clas...325i/101918088
You may contact me through this forum, or at: bmw@davidmisti.net
My son and I purchased this car in October 2020, and have enjoyed driving it and working on it for over 3 years. But now that my son is in college, and spending a lot of time backpacking/camping, he wants something more amenable to his lifestyle. (Plus, he didn't want to leave this beauty sitting out all the time in the college freshman parking lot, so he left it at home with me.) Here's the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly:
The Good: The best two things about this car (although not very good at the time) is that its got a new head, and a new A/C.
Despite being told by the seller that the timing belt was recently replaced, it broke about a year after we bought it, bending valves and breaking a rocker arm. We pulled the head, and had it rebuilt by Allied Industrial Machine in Falls Church, VA. This included machining the head, inspecting for wear/cracks, and installation of new intake and exhaust valves, new camshaft, new rocker arms, and new seals. In the process of replacing the head, we replaced all the belts, timing belt (obv) and tensioner, water pump, fuel injectors, distributor cap and rotor, coolant hoses, radiator, and spark plugs. We meticulously cleaned all the carbon off the pistons, and smoothed out the small groove where the valve had made contact. We cleaned the surface of the block before replacing the head gasket and torquing the head down to spec following the proper procedure. All gaskets (intake manifold, exhaust manifold, etc.) were replaced. We also replaced the thermostat housing, as the old one was severely corroded. All work is documented, and the engine runs great. Work was completed in June 2021.
In July of 2021, we realized the A/C wasn't blowing cold, diagnosed as a leaky compressor. J&F Motors in Arlington, VA replaced the compressor (with an excellently rebuilt BMW unit converted for R134a) replaced the receiver/dryer, and modified the auxiliary fan switch so that the fan runs on high whenever the A/C is engaged (recommended modification for R134a conversions). In June of 2022, the A/C again stopped blowing cold, and it was diagnosed as a leaky evaporator core so J&F Motors replaced it with a new one. The A/C blows nice and cold ever since. (It should, since our investment in the A/C runs in the multiple $ks at this point.)
Otherwise, we've done the typical maintenance to fix things as they come up: new front shocks when we purchased the vehicle, fixed malfunctioning reverse lights, replaced muffler, replaced brake pads, replaced the fuel tank filler vent hose cover (old one was rusted), replaced a door latch and hinge pin, replaced bad window switch, replaced the battery. The front seats were recovered by E&E Service & Restoration in Broadway, VA by a previous owner, and look very nice. E&E also repainted the car (original color) for a previous owner. We also replaced the spare tire with a new one, since the old one was dry-rotted. We put new WeatherTech floormats in (and have some nice carpeted ones that come with the car).
A local BMW specialist commented that owners of e30s have to tithe to be part of the club. I feel we've done so.
The Bad: As with all BMW e30s, there are still some things that need addressing. The dash has a couple of cracks, as anyone who has experience with e30s will understand. The motor and transmission mounts could probably be replaced, to reduce drivetrain vibrations in the cabin. The tires, while having plenty of tread left, are getting old. The passenger door lock doesn't always unlock via the central locking mechanism. (I know why, just haven't had the motivation to try to fix.) While the front seats look great, the rear seats have their original leather which doesn't look bad, although one of the seams did recently start to split.
Other things: The car came equipped with BMW Premium Audio. The head-unit has been replaced with an aftermarket unit, which works fine, but since its not 100% compatible with the factory premium audio amplifier, the sound distorts if you turn it up too loud. Some of the interior trim could use some refreshening. A previous owner (or clueless mechanic) apparently tried to jack up the car once via the gas tank, so there's a bit of a dent in the tank. And I believe unrelatedly, even though the fuel gauge reads FULL when the tank is full, it reaches EMPTY long before the tank is empty. (OK, I'm starting to get nitpicky.) We use the tripometer to estimate when we need to fill up - can generally go ~250 miles before we start to get nervous.
The main thing that has bothered me (though it may not bother some) is that the dash-lights do not work. Sometimes they come on with the headlights off, but with the headlights on, the dash-lights turn off. I've done some diagnosing myself (including the obvious replacing the headlight switch), and have been unable to solve. We even got a spare instrument cluster and replaced it, but there was no change. Alexandria Bavarian Service (Alexandria, VA) spent quite a bit of my time (and money) diagnosing, and the lights just started working again at one point but later ceased to do so. (No fault of Alexandria Bavarian Service I think they're great.)
The Ugly: There's nothing ugly with this car. Since we've rebuilt the head, it is mechanically solid. I wouldn't hesitate to drive it long distance, and in fact my son recently took it on an 800-mile road-trip with no issues at all. (Although, I might suggest replacing the tires first.)
I have the CARFAX from when we bought it, and will note (under the ugly category) that there may be a mileage discrepancy that comes up, which is explainable. When we purchased the car in October 2020, I was told the actual mileage was 163,830. However, the previous owner had E&E Service replace the speedometer because the old one was nonfunctional. The new speedometer showed 217,xxx miles on the odometer. (I believe the story about the speedometer is true, since the CARFAX shows 158,830 miles in October 2017, and 217,659 miles in October 2018. I doubt it was driven 60k miles in one year.) In July of 2021, when we replaced the instrument cluster while diagnosing the dash-lights, we put in a speedometer that showed 179,470 on the odometer. I decided to leave that in, since it was closer to (though likely still higher than) the actual mileage. Currently, the odometer shows 182,xxx, but that might trigger a mileage discrepancy since its lower than the October 2018 mileage, even though its closer to correct approximately 10-15k miles higher than the actual mileage.
The new owner will have a reliable (for a 32-year-old BMW) that can be daily-driven, fully restored/modified, or both. We get compliments on the car every time we drive it. Strangers will approach us to ask about it. It, like most running e30s, gets attention.
I'm a newbie on this forum, though a member on some other BMW-related forums. I'm looking to sell my son's 1991 325i (4-door, automatic). Asking $9900. I will link my current Autotrader ad, but the details are below (which my wife says are "way too honest").
Autotrader Link: https://classics.autotrader.com/clas...325i/101918088
You may contact me through this forum, or at: bmw@davidmisti.net
My son and I purchased this car in October 2020, and have enjoyed driving it and working on it for over 3 years. But now that my son is in college, and spending a lot of time backpacking/camping, he wants something more amenable to his lifestyle. (Plus, he didn't want to leave this beauty sitting out all the time in the college freshman parking lot, so he left it at home with me.) Here's the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly:
The Good: The best two things about this car (although not very good at the time) is that its got a new head, and a new A/C.
Despite being told by the seller that the timing belt was recently replaced, it broke about a year after we bought it, bending valves and breaking a rocker arm. We pulled the head, and had it rebuilt by Allied Industrial Machine in Falls Church, VA. This included machining the head, inspecting for wear/cracks, and installation of new intake and exhaust valves, new camshaft, new rocker arms, and new seals. In the process of replacing the head, we replaced all the belts, timing belt (obv) and tensioner, water pump, fuel injectors, distributor cap and rotor, coolant hoses, radiator, and spark plugs. We meticulously cleaned all the carbon off the pistons, and smoothed out the small groove where the valve had made contact. We cleaned the surface of the block before replacing the head gasket and torquing the head down to spec following the proper procedure. All gaskets (intake manifold, exhaust manifold, etc.) were replaced. We also replaced the thermostat housing, as the old one was severely corroded. All work is documented, and the engine runs great. Work was completed in June 2021.
In July of 2021, we realized the A/C wasn't blowing cold, diagnosed as a leaky compressor. J&F Motors in Arlington, VA replaced the compressor (with an excellently rebuilt BMW unit converted for R134a) replaced the receiver/dryer, and modified the auxiliary fan switch so that the fan runs on high whenever the A/C is engaged (recommended modification for R134a conversions). In June of 2022, the A/C again stopped blowing cold, and it was diagnosed as a leaky evaporator core so J&F Motors replaced it with a new one. The A/C blows nice and cold ever since. (It should, since our investment in the A/C runs in the multiple $ks at this point.)
Otherwise, we've done the typical maintenance to fix things as they come up: new front shocks when we purchased the vehicle, fixed malfunctioning reverse lights, replaced muffler, replaced brake pads, replaced the fuel tank filler vent hose cover (old one was rusted), replaced a door latch and hinge pin, replaced bad window switch, replaced the battery. The front seats were recovered by E&E Service & Restoration in Broadway, VA by a previous owner, and look very nice. E&E also repainted the car (original color) for a previous owner. We also replaced the spare tire with a new one, since the old one was dry-rotted. We put new WeatherTech floormats in (and have some nice carpeted ones that come with the car).
A local BMW specialist commented that owners of e30s have to tithe to be part of the club. I feel we've done so.
The Bad: As with all BMW e30s, there are still some things that need addressing. The dash has a couple of cracks, as anyone who has experience with e30s will understand. The motor and transmission mounts could probably be replaced, to reduce drivetrain vibrations in the cabin. The tires, while having plenty of tread left, are getting old. The passenger door lock doesn't always unlock via the central locking mechanism. (I know why, just haven't had the motivation to try to fix.) While the front seats look great, the rear seats have their original leather which doesn't look bad, although one of the seams did recently start to split.
Other things: The car came equipped with BMW Premium Audio. The head-unit has been replaced with an aftermarket unit, which works fine, but since its not 100% compatible with the factory premium audio amplifier, the sound distorts if you turn it up too loud. Some of the interior trim could use some refreshening. A previous owner (or clueless mechanic) apparently tried to jack up the car once via the gas tank, so there's a bit of a dent in the tank. And I believe unrelatedly, even though the fuel gauge reads FULL when the tank is full, it reaches EMPTY long before the tank is empty. (OK, I'm starting to get nitpicky.) We use the tripometer to estimate when we need to fill up - can generally go ~250 miles before we start to get nervous.
The main thing that has bothered me (though it may not bother some) is that the dash-lights do not work. Sometimes they come on with the headlights off, but with the headlights on, the dash-lights turn off. I've done some diagnosing myself (including the obvious replacing the headlight switch), and have been unable to solve. We even got a spare instrument cluster and replaced it, but there was no change. Alexandria Bavarian Service (Alexandria, VA) spent quite a bit of my time (and money) diagnosing, and the lights just started working again at one point but later ceased to do so. (No fault of Alexandria Bavarian Service I think they're great.)
The Ugly: There's nothing ugly with this car. Since we've rebuilt the head, it is mechanically solid. I wouldn't hesitate to drive it long distance, and in fact my son recently took it on an 800-mile road-trip with no issues at all. (Although, I might suggest replacing the tires first.)
I have the CARFAX from when we bought it, and will note (under the ugly category) that there may be a mileage discrepancy that comes up, which is explainable. When we purchased the car in October 2020, I was told the actual mileage was 163,830. However, the previous owner had E&E Service replace the speedometer because the old one was nonfunctional. The new speedometer showed 217,xxx miles on the odometer. (I believe the story about the speedometer is true, since the CARFAX shows 158,830 miles in October 2017, and 217,659 miles in October 2018. I doubt it was driven 60k miles in one year.) In July of 2021, when we replaced the instrument cluster while diagnosing the dash-lights, we put in a speedometer that showed 179,470 on the odometer. I decided to leave that in, since it was closer to (though likely still higher than) the actual mileage. Currently, the odometer shows 182,xxx, but that might trigger a mileage discrepancy since its lower than the October 2018 mileage, even though its closer to correct approximately 10-15k miles higher than the actual mileage.
The new owner will have a reliable (for a 32-year-old BMW) that can be daily-driven, fully restored/modified, or both. We get compliments on the car every time we drive it. Strangers will approach us to ask about it. It, like most running e30s, gets attention.