Need Opinions: '89 325iX...5spd, 4dr...233k mi...$2k...HELP!

[themightyquinn]

Moving to Jackson Hole, Wyoming this coming fall, and need an AWD/4x4 to handle the snow.

It's either going to be a Jeep, or an iX, but I'm really craving being back in an e30!



I found this white, 4door 325iX, 5 speed, with 233k miles. The driver's side trunk-well has rusted through, and there's some under the battery tray, but it seems to be confined to the trunk area.

The owner bought it at auction, replaced spark plugs, battery, some other little things. He said the compression test yielded 140-145 on all cylinders. There were some dead leaves/light debris in the engine bay, which leads me to believe it sat for a little, but not too long. Interior is great, all electronics/windows work. No records though...

He wants $2500 for it, or $500 off if he doesn't fix the rust.

What does everyone think? Worth $2000?

I was going to have a pre-purchase-inspection done Friday, I'm mainly concerned about the AWD driveline/engine after sitting.

Sorry the pics are tiny, but that's all I have now.


Thanks!

[BrownBeanE30]

Looks good dude

[glucklich21]

A 4 door plastic manual IX with style 10s*, I think yes.

*Although ridiculous looking

[z31maniac]

I'd buy a Jeep, Jackson Hole get's real snow. Not a few time a year of 4-6".

[nando]

ix does fine in "real snow" ;)

[325ix]

ix does fine in "real snow" ;)

I second that! I have tried and tried to get my car stuck and have failed every time, even on crappy all seasons in deep, deep snow. With snow tires you would be fine. Also, it's not like they don't plow the roads. Look on youtube for the jack test, sitting wouldn't likely hurt the AWD though.

[Acehye559]

Thats a nice looking e30. Id buy it for 2k.

[Kershaw]

definitely do it.

[z31maniac]

ix does fine in "real snow" ;)

Jackson hole averages twice as much snow per year as Bellingham does rain.

[nando]

did you look that up? lol

total accumulation - sure. but if there's 18-20" of unplowed snow the ix will still be fine. maybe more, that's the most I've had the opportunity to drive through.

[themightyquinn]

Thanks for the replies, doods. I'm going over to do the jack test in a half hour.


And I've been to Jackson for a few weeks each winter the past couple years, they got a good 2-5 feet each time, so I'm familiar with the kind of snow they get.

Obviously anything that doesn't have a foot of ground clearance isn't going anywhere if it snows 2 feet in a day, but the next day when it's packed a little I'm sure it'd be fine. Never owned an iX but I've heard from everyone who's owned one they're monsters in the fluffy white stuff.


Just hard to turn down a decent iX for 2 grand, when a Jeep of similar vintage is minimum 4 grand.

[325ix]

An ix will be fine in 2 feet of snow. It is fantastic for a vehicle, not just a car.

[themightyquinn]

It was a dud.

Miserably failed the jack test. VC fried.

Both front CV boots were cracked.

Trunk is rusted all the way through, and not just in the wells.

A lot of the other rubber bits on the car need replacing due to sitting.



NNEEEEEXXXTTT! :hitler:

Thanks for the help, everyone!