For sale is a two door, 1988 BMW 325iX. It has a Lachssilber (Salmon Silver) exterior and a Cardinal Red interior. The car currently has ~207.5k miles; mileage will continue to go up slowly as it gets driven. I have really enjoyed this car for the past 4.5 years, but it’s time for me to move onto something else. The car is by no means perfect, it is a 28 year old driver; but it has never left me stranded. I will try to list out what I remember about the car as well as some of the recent repairs.
General info:
5-speed manual transmission
Build month: October 1987
Clean WA State title in hand
I have had zero issues with annual registration. The car is emissions-exempt in Washington (older than 25 years), but it passed with flying colors at the last emissions test ~2 years ago.
Car will be eligible for Washington Collector Vehicle status in <2 years
Car started life in New York, then went to Pennsylvania, before coming out to Washington
Original owner’s manual and two sets of keys will come with the car
The few modifications made to this car:
Z3 1.9 shifter (shortens throws) with leather ZHP shift knob
Bilstein shocks and H&R Sport springs installed by previous owner
Magnaflow exhaust
Pioneer speakers and head unit with CD, USB and Aux In capabilities
Aftermarket remote keyless entry and alarm
173 DME ECU installed in lieu of 153 DME ECU. 173 ECU includes updated OBD stomp tests and updated engine mapping. Original VIN matching 153 DME ECU will come with the car
Leather E36 handbrake grip. Original E30 plastic grip will come with the car
14 inch steelie spare tire upgraded to 15 inch spare tire on iX basketweaves. Original 14 inch steelie spare wheel will come with the car
The Good:
All panels are VIN number-matching
Functional AWD
Cardinal Red interior is factory; it was not swapped in at a later time
Clean interior. A small dime sized rip on the driver’s seat bolster of the bottom cushion. Otherwise no other rips.
Factory cardinal red floor mats included, but driver’s mat is beat up. Cardinal Red floor mats are no longer available (NLA) from BMW.
Clean, non-sagging headliner
Uncracked dash
Both front seats have functional tilting mechanisms
No leakage into the interior. All door seals, sunroof seals and trunk seals seal
Power sunroof opens and closes (tilt and sliding).
Functional interior and exterior lights except for side marker lights
Fully functional OBC, including exterior temperature sensor, except lightbar has gone out
Fully functional check panel
Has rear pop out windows
Functional central locking system. Driver’s side door lock is a little tight to turn, but will lock and unlock, as well as actuate the double lock feature.
Fully extending and retracting power antenna
Complete set of trunk tools, including plastic manual window crank
Oil change and oil filter change every 3,000 miles with conventional, non-synthetic 10W-40 oil
All 4 wheels include wheel center
Spare wheel and tire updated to match the rest of the iX weaves. Spare tire is new and has not been used from ~3 years/25k miles ago
Straight front and rear valence
The Not So Good:
Paint is fading. Rear trunk lid and rear quarter panel right above the fuel filler door is the worse. Could use a repaint
Few minor door dings on body.
Scratch on the passenger side plastic iX rear wheel arch flares
Foot-long scratch on driver’s side door. I think someone keyed the car years ago.
Side marker lights are not functional. Some of the corners work with a new bulb and cleaning of the contact leads
Cracked glass on headlights and foglights. Though they are original and are all functional.
Headlight adjustment screws are rusted and don’t adjust.
There is a rust spot on the passenger side of the rear apron underneath the rear tow hook.
The front passenger side bumper has been pushed in due to a guy backing into me. I have been driving the car like this for the past 4+ years, and it does not impact drivability at all.
Sunroof seal is worn but still functions fine. I have a replacement OE sunroof seal that will come with the car.
AC compressor functional, but does not actually produce cold air, system will probably need recharge of refrigerant. AC system is original; it is NOT converted to R134a
Engine will eventually need a rebuild. Compression is ok, but leak down on a couple of cylinders are not so good.
Exhaust header heat shield is rotted through. A replacement set is included with the car.
Car burns about a quart of oil every ~2,500 miles
O2 sensor should be replaced. The threads on the sensor has rusted through, making removal difficult; it may be easier to just replace the entire exhaust from another car when it has to be off for the exhaust header heat shields to be replaced anyway.
Driver’s side trim piece behind the rear pop-out window is missing
Cruise control not functional
Front and rear brake pad wear sensor needs replacement. Front sensor wires are damaged and will need to be spliced
The It Is What It Is:
Car did not come with heated seats, and this is the only option that the car does not have.
Car does not have folding rear seats, folding rear arm rest or ski pass-through.
Recent Notable Repairs. All repairs using OE or OEM parts unless otherwise noted:
Brake hard lines and iX brake booster replaced at ~201k miles
Intake coolant bypass gasket and intake hoses replaced at ~195k miles
Trunk seal replaced at ~192k miles
Odometer gears replaced with Garagistic gears at ~191k miles
Front inside CV boots replaced at ~190k miles
Heater core replaced at ~185k miles
Inspection II completed at ~180k miles
Timing belt, water pump and thermostat replaced at ~180k miles
Brake master and slave cylinders replaced at ~175k miles
Rear wheel bearings replaced at ~170k miles
Timesert installed on oil pan at drain hole at ~165k miles
Car is located in Seattle, WA. I will not be shipping the car. I’m happy to work with non-local potential buyers, but the buyer will have to meet me in the Greater Seattle area to finalize the deal and pick up the car.
Asking $3,500 OBO.
Pictures (in various states of cleanliness from the past):
General info:
5-speed manual transmission
Build month: October 1987
Clean WA State title in hand
I have had zero issues with annual registration. The car is emissions-exempt in Washington (older than 25 years), but it passed with flying colors at the last emissions test ~2 years ago.
Car will be eligible for Washington Collector Vehicle status in <2 years
Car started life in New York, then went to Pennsylvania, before coming out to Washington
Original owner’s manual and two sets of keys will come with the car
The few modifications made to this car:
Z3 1.9 shifter (shortens throws) with leather ZHP shift knob
Bilstein shocks and H&R Sport springs installed by previous owner
Magnaflow exhaust
Pioneer speakers and head unit with CD, USB and Aux In capabilities
Aftermarket remote keyless entry and alarm
173 DME ECU installed in lieu of 153 DME ECU. 173 ECU includes updated OBD stomp tests and updated engine mapping. Original VIN matching 153 DME ECU will come with the car
Leather E36 handbrake grip. Original E30 plastic grip will come with the car
14 inch steelie spare tire upgraded to 15 inch spare tire on iX basketweaves. Original 14 inch steelie spare wheel will come with the car
The Good:
All panels are VIN number-matching
Functional AWD
Cardinal Red interior is factory; it was not swapped in at a later time
Clean interior. A small dime sized rip on the driver’s seat bolster of the bottom cushion. Otherwise no other rips.
Factory cardinal red floor mats included, but driver’s mat is beat up. Cardinal Red floor mats are no longer available (NLA) from BMW.
Clean, non-sagging headliner
Uncracked dash
Both front seats have functional tilting mechanisms
No leakage into the interior. All door seals, sunroof seals and trunk seals seal
Power sunroof opens and closes (tilt and sliding).
Functional interior and exterior lights except for side marker lights
Fully functional OBC, including exterior temperature sensor, except lightbar has gone out
Fully functional check panel
Has rear pop out windows
Functional central locking system. Driver’s side door lock is a little tight to turn, but will lock and unlock, as well as actuate the double lock feature.
Fully extending and retracting power antenna
Complete set of trunk tools, including plastic manual window crank
Oil change and oil filter change every 3,000 miles with conventional, non-synthetic 10W-40 oil
All 4 wheels include wheel center
Spare wheel and tire updated to match the rest of the iX weaves. Spare tire is new and has not been used from ~3 years/25k miles ago
Straight front and rear valence
The Not So Good:
Paint is fading. Rear trunk lid and rear quarter panel right above the fuel filler door is the worse. Could use a repaint
Few minor door dings on body.
Scratch on the passenger side plastic iX rear wheel arch flares
Foot-long scratch on driver’s side door. I think someone keyed the car years ago.
Side marker lights are not functional. Some of the corners work with a new bulb and cleaning of the contact leads
Cracked glass on headlights and foglights. Though they are original and are all functional.
Headlight adjustment screws are rusted and don’t adjust.
There is a rust spot on the passenger side of the rear apron underneath the rear tow hook.
The front passenger side bumper has been pushed in due to a guy backing into me. I have been driving the car like this for the past 4+ years, and it does not impact drivability at all.
Sunroof seal is worn but still functions fine. I have a replacement OE sunroof seal that will come with the car.
AC compressor functional, but does not actually produce cold air, system will probably need recharge of refrigerant. AC system is original; it is NOT converted to R134a
Engine will eventually need a rebuild. Compression is ok, but leak down on a couple of cylinders are not so good.
Exhaust header heat shield is rotted through. A replacement set is included with the car.
Car burns about a quart of oil every ~2,500 miles
O2 sensor should be replaced. The threads on the sensor has rusted through, making removal difficult; it may be easier to just replace the entire exhaust from another car when it has to be off for the exhaust header heat shields to be replaced anyway.
Driver’s side trim piece behind the rear pop-out window is missing
Cruise control not functional
Front and rear brake pad wear sensor needs replacement. Front sensor wires are damaged and will need to be spliced
The It Is What It Is:
Car did not come with heated seats, and this is the only option that the car does not have.
Car does not have folding rear seats, folding rear arm rest or ski pass-through.
Recent Notable Repairs. All repairs using OE or OEM parts unless otherwise noted:
Brake hard lines and iX brake booster replaced at ~201k miles
Intake coolant bypass gasket and intake hoses replaced at ~195k miles
Trunk seal replaced at ~192k miles
Odometer gears replaced with Garagistic gears at ~191k miles
Front inside CV boots replaced at ~190k miles
Heater core replaced at ~185k miles
Inspection II completed at ~180k miles
Timing belt, water pump and thermostat replaced at ~180k miles
Brake master and slave cylinders replaced at ~175k miles
Rear wheel bearings replaced at ~170k miles
Timesert installed on oil pan at drain hole at ~165k miles
Car is located in Seattle, WA. I will not be shipping the car. I’m happy to work with non-local potential buyers, but the buyer will have to meet me in the Greater Seattle area to finalize the deal and pick up the car.
Asking $3,500 OBO.
Pictures (in various states of cleanliness from the past):
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