The time has come for me to sell my 1989 325iC I've been working on for the past couple years. I purchased this in good but neglected shape on 2/12/2007 from the second owner. Between then and now I've spent countless hours on my quest for a clean, well-sorted E30 convertible. Over the years I've fallen in and out of love with this car, and I believe I'm finally ready to sell.
I'll start by saying two things and providing a summary:
1) This car is in very good shape.
2) This car, like most E30's, still needs some stuff to be perfect.
- Clean Title (3 Owners)
- Alpine White Exterior (very good condition, 8.5/10)
- Black Leather Sport Interior (soft and pliable, no cracks or tears)
- Heated Seats
- 121,xxx Miles
- 5-Speed Manual
- New Clutch
- Brand New Bilstien Sports
- Extremely Rare Heyking GmhB Lowering Springs
- New Control Arms & Bushings
- Recent Alignment (50 miles ago)
- Extremely Rare DP Wheels from 1989 (sorry, only one center cap)
- Brand New Goodyear Eagle F1 Tires (150 miles or so)
- Non-3rd Brake Light Trunk Lid
- Plastic Bumper Conversion
- New Euro Bumper Trim Front & Rear
- New iS Lip (not installed, still in box)
- New Battery
- Map Light Mirror (Not Installed)
A year and a half ago I decided I wanted to join the ultra-exclusive 'leak-free E30' club. I pulled the engine and transmission in order to have every external engine and transmission seal and gasket replaced, aside from the head gasket. At the same time I had the shop replace the timing belt, water pump, guibo, CSB, shift bushings, and much more (over $500 in just parts from BMA).
The following is my to-do list of parts which need to be replaced. I like to sleep at night and I don't like wasting people's time. I also appreciate it when others don't waste mine. This list includes everything I know the car needs to be perfect.
- Hood (clear coat peeling)
- Side Moulding
- Oil Level Sensor (for check panel)
- Convertible Cover Shocks
- Convertible Top Triangle Piece
- Passenger Headlight Shroud
- Trunk Tools
- Black Brake Cooling Ducts
- Radio Slider Button
- Floor Mats
- E-Brake Console Nut
- Driver Side Fender Liner
- Fix or Replace Rear Seat Back
- Bottom Trunk Mat & Upper Trim Piece
- Fog Light Bulbs & Passenger Pigtail
- When I had the vehicle in to Rasmussen BMW last time (I work there, and much of the work on this vehicle was done there) the tech noted my oil pressure light was flickering, in addition to the brake lining light which I wanted him to check out (I had just replaced the brakes). He noted the brakes and sensors were in excellent shape, and verified via mechanical oil pressure gauge that everything was as it should be. His diagnosis was a failing SI board in the gauge cluster, which I have not replaced yet. The brake lining light and low oil pressure light still come on from time to time.
- I refinished the wheels a while back and didn't apply enough paint to them, so they have a few rock chips and whatnot. I took them down to bare metal with a bead blaster and I was going to powdercoat them but they're a style where the spokes stick out further than the lip, and I used a small amount of wheel bondo to fill in the curb rash before shooting them with self etching primer. I could never get a straight answer as to whether the bondo would hold up in the powder coating oven, so I used wheel paint. They look fine from a distance but I would definitely plan on refinishing them again. If you're planning on changing the wheels if you get the car, do note that those are period correct from 1989 and that they have significant value (should pull $700+ easily).
- From time to time the idle fluctuates when I first start the car, then goes away as it warms up. Common for E30's, and I have not attempted to fix it.
- There is a small hole in the stock muffler, which I was going to replace until I heard a stock 325i. A good used stock muffler is $20, I just like the sound of this one.
- I'm not certain both the back and bottom of the heated seats work properly, but I will verify next time I see the car.
All things considered, this is an excellent car which needs a couple hundred dollars worth of parts and some love from a fellow E30 fanatic to really take it to the next level. The vehicle is stored in Amboy, WA (about an hour from Portland) and I work 12 hour days, so I just ask that you're serious about making a purchase if you ask to look at the vehicle. I'm looking for $4500 at the moment, but may be open to fair offers. As time allows I will continue to work on the to-do list, and my price will become more firm to reflect that.
Please let me know if you have any questions. R3v references for this car and myself available upon request.
Thanks,
Joey
503-380-5806
I'll start by saying two things and providing a summary:
1) This car is in very good shape.
2) This car, like most E30's, still needs some stuff to be perfect.
- Clean Title (3 Owners)
- Alpine White Exterior (very good condition, 8.5/10)
- Black Leather Sport Interior (soft and pliable, no cracks or tears)
- Heated Seats
- 121,xxx Miles
- 5-Speed Manual
- New Clutch
- Brand New Bilstien Sports
- Extremely Rare Heyking GmhB Lowering Springs
- New Control Arms & Bushings
- Recent Alignment (50 miles ago)
- Extremely Rare DP Wheels from 1989 (sorry, only one center cap)
- Brand New Goodyear Eagle F1 Tires (150 miles or so)
- Non-3rd Brake Light Trunk Lid
- Plastic Bumper Conversion
- New Euro Bumper Trim Front & Rear
- New iS Lip (not installed, still in box)
- New Battery
- Map Light Mirror (Not Installed)
A year and a half ago I decided I wanted to join the ultra-exclusive 'leak-free E30' club. I pulled the engine and transmission in order to have every external engine and transmission seal and gasket replaced, aside from the head gasket. At the same time I had the shop replace the timing belt, water pump, guibo, CSB, shift bushings, and much more (over $500 in just parts from BMA).
The following is my to-do list of parts which need to be replaced. I like to sleep at night and I don't like wasting people's time. I also appreciate it when others don't waste mine. This list includes everything I know the car needs to be perfect.
- Hood (clear coat peeling)
- Side Moulding
- Oil Level Sensor (for check panel)
- Convertible Cover Shocks
- Convertible Top Triangle Piece
- Passenger Headlight Shroud
- Trunk Tools
- Black Brake Cooling Ducts
- Radio Slider Button
- Floor Mats
- E-Brake Console Nut
- Driver Side Fender Liner
- Fix or Replace Rear Seat Back
- Bottom Trunk Mat & Upper Trim Piece
- Fog Light Bulbs & Passenger Pigtail
- When I had the vehicle in to Rasmussen BMW last time (I work there, and much of the work on this vehicle was done there) the tech noted my oil pressure light was flickering, in addition to the brake lining light which I wanted him to check out (I had just replaced the brakes). He noted the brakes and sensors were in excellent shape, and verified via mechanical oil pressure gauge that everything was as it should be. His diagnosis was a failing SI board in the gauge cluster, which I have not replaced yet. The brake lining light and low oil pressure light still come on from time to time.
- I refinished the wheels a while back and didn't apply enough paint to them, so they have a few rock chips and whatnot. I took them down to bare metal with a bead blaster and I was going to powdercoat them but they're a style where the spokes stick out further than the lip, and I used a small amount of wheel bondo to fill in the curb rash before shooting them with self etching primer. I could never get a straight answer as to whether the bondo would hold up in the powder coating oven, so I used wheel paint. They look fine from a distance but I would definitely plan on refinishing them again. If you're planning on changing the wheels if you get the car, do note that those are period correct from 1989 and that they have significant value (should pull $700+ easily).
- From time to time the idle fluctuates when I first start the car, then goes away as it warms up. Common for E30's, and I have not attempted to fix it.
- There is a small hole in the stock muffler, which I was going to replace until I heard a stock 325i. A good used stock muffler is $20, I just like the sound of this one.
- I'm not certain both the back and bottom of the heated seats work properly, but I will verify next time I see the car.
All things considered, this is an excellent car which needs a couple hundred dollars worth of parts and some love from a fellow E30 fanatic to really take it to the next level. The vehicle is stored in Amboy, WA (about an hour from Portland) and I work 12 hour days, so I just ask that you're serious about making a purchase if you ask to look at the vehicle. I'm looking for $4500 at the moment, but may be open to fair offers. As time allows I will continue to work on the to-do list, and my price will become more firm to reflect that.
Please let me know if you have any questions. R3v references for this car and myself available upon request.
Thanks,
Joey
503-380-5806
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