88 325is I'm lookin' at - Any thoughts?

[DarkWing6]

I'm checkin out this 88 325is.

http://www.roadfly.org/bmw/classifieds/cars/detview.php?view=24271&sortby=_DATE&dir=DESC

Here is what the owner told me:

- I have replaced just about everything that has given me a problem. When I got the car in Sept 2002 the previous owner hadn't done much service and let it sit for a while, which is why I had the whole car gone through. The only problems right now are annoyances, such as the overhead warning lights sometimes tell me I have low oil, but I know I don't. My mechanic tells me that it's a plunger-type system that measures oil in the pan and those go out all the time. I didn't replace it because my mechanic told me it wasn't worth the $300 or so to do it. I just check the oil. The other warning light is the one on the dash for the brake lining. Again, this is a sensor issue, not the pads. I ignore it and it goes out. The other light which is a pain is the light behind the on-board computer. The computer works fine, just you can't really see it. The BMW chat boards say that you have to take the console out to fix the 50-cent part, but I haven't had the time or capabilities to do so. Any other problems? The shift-boot design. I'm on my second one and they keep ripping. They're cheap to replace.

- Any rust or things like that? There is a little bubble on the sunroof. Additionally on the right rear corner just above the taillight there is a small bit of surface rust. When I got the car it was there, so I sanded it and covered it in rust inhibitor paint - it hasn't spread or even moved since Sept 02. The paint is pretty good on the car. There is some cracking on the roof. Dent-wise it's got some pebble chips on the hood, and both the hood and left-rear fender have dents, but they're not too big and they didn't crack the paint.

I have a total investment of around $7K or so in the car including purchase since Sept 02.

Tell me what you guys think of it and what other questions I should ask the owner.

Thanks,
Derek

[Digitalwave]

$2,000-2,500 tops.

[schnitzer teil-jäger]

Posted: Mon Apr 19, 2004 11:41 am Post subject:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

e30 prices
"e" broke timing belt $300.00
"i" broke timing belt $500.00
"i" late bumper broke timing belt $600.00
1984-1985 318 great shape $750.00
1984-1987 325e great shape $1600.00
1987-1988 325i great shape $2000.00
1989+ 325i great shape $2500.00
1987-1990 convert in great shape $3500.00
1991-1993 convert in great shape $5000.00

w

[AdamF 88iS]

The OBC backlight is more than .50; and yes it's a pain in the ass to fix.

But if that's all that's wrong with the car, and the paint/body is clean I'd give $3k ish for it. Those prices listed there seem a bit low, at least for my area.

[Super Eta]

Heres an E30 for dirt cheap...its local and worth checking out. :)

http://www.roadfly.org/bmw/classifieds/cars/detview.php?view=23403&sortby=&dir=

[KenC]

It has cardinal leather interior, which is my favorite. However, I've yet to see one still in good condition. The ad mentions 'drivers seat worn' and the question is how worn? My guess is that the left bolster is pretty beat up and in need of reuphostry.

[KenC]

Heres an E30 for dirt cheap...its local and worth checking out. :)

http://www.roadfly.org/bmw/classifie...3&sortby=&dir=

He is in WA and the car is in NY, how is that local?

Plus it's an auto and needs a new headgasket.

[M-technik-3]

Heres an E30 for dirt cheap...its local and worth checking out. :)

http://www.roadfly.org/bmw/classifie...3&sortby=&dir=

Stay away from this car. It needed a head gasket bad last summer but the owner still drove it anyway. He also had a bronzit one that was a piece of shit. I wasted an entire day driving to NY from the Boston area to look at em.

That car was not worth it in my opinion.

[Super Eta]

haha thats great..i only looked at the Mt Vernon part and figured it was WA. my bad

Ryan

[MR 325]

I am with digitalwave on this one. I would not pay more than around $2000, $2500 tops.

My friend just bought a 1988 325is for $1900, all it needed was a steering rack which he did himself. He has no warning lights on, paint is perfect, interior is very nice, and just has one little dent in the bottom of the door. No rust, CA cars should NOT have rust.

[golde30]

that whole myth about CA cars should not have rust is bogus...there are plently of bayside/seaside towns in CA, and if yer car is not garaged, there will be some light surface rust after 14+yrs...

but anyways, i just bought an 88 325is for $2k, but it need a steering rack which i have offa my old e30...

[Erick]

$2,000-2,500 tops.

Yup.... too many issues listed already. I found my car for 3.7k and I thought I payed the max already. And it was mechanically perfect. I wouldnt go above 4k on a 325i ( unless it had mods ).