1988 BMW (E30) 325i TOURING

This 1988 BMW 325i Touring is a modern classic estate, which is said to be in very good mechanical order and benefits from a number of upgraded components. Under the bonnet is a 2.5-litre naturally aspirated ‘M20B25’ straight-six, driving the rear wheels via a five-speed manual transmission. The odometer displays 217,396 miles from new.

First registered on 20 September 1988 and sold to its first owner by a BMW dealer in Odiham, this right-hand drive 325i has had seven keepers to date, with it only changing hands twice in the last 20 years. The current vendor acquired the car in January 2020.

Today, the bodywork presents well, with flush shut lines and no signs of any prior accident damage. While there are signs of corrosion on the front wings and wheel arches (an aftermarket pair of front wings is included), other typical weak points are rust-free, thanks to remedial welding work which was carried out in both 2016 and 2020. This included repair of the sills, front inner arches, floor and rear valance, bulkhead under the battery tray, as well as a clean-up of the front passenger-side footwell and the area around the taillights.

The attractive Malachite Green paintwork is described by the vendor as being in good overall condition, and the roof, A-pillars and rear tailgate were recently repainted by Bentley Panel Craft, who also carried out the car’s most recent welding work to the bulkhead. Overall, the finish presents well, though there are some slight imperfections on the passenger-side of the bonnet and various stone chips on the front bumper. The seller also states that the sunroof has been replaced with a rust-free panel, and the windscreen and rear bumper trim have also been renewed. The vehicle rides on the correct set of 15-inch alloy wheels, which have been professionally refurbished. They are missing their centre caps, but the vendor is including two genuine caps needing some refurbishment with the car.

Moving inside, the cabin shows various signs of wear and damage, in line with the car’s age and mileage. The very rare sport seats are trimmed with tan cloth centres, and the driver’s seat and rear bench have various rips and tears on the base and bolsters, so would benefit from a re-trim. Furthermore, the material covering the driver’s sun visor is coming away from its backing, the fabric on the underside of the sunroof is pulling away in places and the rear section of the headlining is sagging in areas. Ahead, the black leather-wrapped M Tech steering wheel is in generally good condition, with a small prior tape repair.

The interior plastics are in good shape, though there are holes drilled on the passenger-side of the dashboard where a phone mount was previously located and there is a crack on the passenger-side of the upper dashboard. The seller notes that the rear demister only works on the top half of the window, the rear wiper will sometimes stop in the incorrect position. The headlight adjuster also does not work and the front headlight wipers do not function. However, the cabin remains highly original and is complete, and there are no warning lights displayed on the dashboard.

The car’s most recent routine maintenance was carried out at 215,355 miles by BMW specialist BMR Performance. This consisted of a service with replacement cambelt, camshaft seals, water pump and a coolant flush. At this time, the car further underwent a full check-over by BMR, and the vendor rectified all that was found – the invoices in the gallery below indicate the extent of the work, totalling over £4,600. This included jobs such as the replacement of the fuel tank due to corrosion, the rectification of a gearbox and engine oil leak, replacement fuel and brake pipes front to rear, and replacement of the steering rack with an upgraded item from an E46-generation 3 Series, using the correct BM Conversions pipe and linkage kit.

Prior to this, the car received a full service in February 2020, which included replacement of the oils for the engine, gearbox, and differential, the cam cover gasket, one of the front wheel bearings and an exhaust mount and engine mount. While it is largely unmodified, this 325i has been slightly enhanced by the addition of Bilstein B8 dampers with H&R springs (fitted in summer 2020), MTEC front discs and a Longlife stainless-steel exhaust system, as well as the previously mentioned E46 purple tag steering rack. The speakers have also been updated front to rear and paired with a modern Alpine head unit.

Its last MOT test was conducted on 6 January 2021 at 215,355 miles, which resulted in a first-time pass with advisories for slight deterioration of the front brake hoses. All four wheels are fitted with Falken Ziex ZE914 tyres, which are in good condition. The car also benefits from a recent full track alignment.

The car will be accompanied by a large file of receipts and invoices for its previous maintenance, as well as its stamped service book, all of its original booklets and one key. The seller will also provide a pair of aftermarket front wings, spare fuel pump as well as a copy of the May 2019 issue of BMW Car magazine, which includes a feature on the vehicle and its previous owner.

This E30-generation BMW 325i Touring is a sound example of the marque’s timeless modern classic estate, finished in an attractive factory colour scheme. As evidenced by its mileage, the car has been driven and used as intended, and its mechanical components have been maintained to a high standard with significant recent expenditure. While it could benefit from some cosmetic restoration, this reliable estate ready to enjoy immediately, and should take another 200,000 miles in its stride with the proper care and attention.

The description of this auction lot is, to the best of the seller's knowledge, accurate and not misleading. Collecting Cars requests a range of detail about the lot from the seller, and performs a level of due diligence. However, bidders must satisfy themselves as to the accuracy of the description, and conduct any research they feel is necessary before committing to a bid. Please see our Terms and Conditions for full details.

All UK-registered cars and motorbikes on Collecting Cars are run through an online HPI check. On the HPI report, this vehicle shows no insurance database markers for damage or theft, and has no finance owing.