BMW 325i Touring

[PeterS]

No, not the current one, or even the one before that. The original 325i Touring :grin

A couple of years ago, while we were doing quite a lot of work around the house, I bought an old E30 BMW 316i Touring to use as a general work horse; fetching stuff from builders, B&Q etc and, more importantly, taking stuff to the tip. We had it for around 8 months; nothing went wrong, it always started and, once we’d finished with it it was quickly snapped up by one of our friendly local Poles; it may well be in Warsaw as we speak [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

During our bout of car swapping last year I had a need for a car for a short while, as I was waiting for my short-lived SLK to be delivered. A quick browse on eBay brought up a couple of likely candidates, and I ended up with a 1988 BMW 325i Touring [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]





It was first registered as a demo car by Stephen James BMW in Liverpool, so it has had at least one careful owner; wouldn’t like to say what the others have been like, but it is, how shall I put it, somewhat worn!! Nice spec though; ABS, heated leather seats, A/C, OBC, electric sunroof/windows/mirrors, Premium Sound Pack (which seems to mean front/rear fader [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif[/img]), cassette holder [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/yelrotflmao.gif[/img], 15”(!) BBS alloys and, most importantly, an M Sport leather steering wheel [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ha.gif[/img].



BMW customer services were very helpful in confirming the spec, and the service history, and didn’t seem at all sniffy about providing details on a 20 year old car. Stangest thing of all is that it was first registered on the day I passed my driving test [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ooo.gif[/img]

On the road it’s a hoot to drive; originally I think the straight 6 2.5 litre engine had around 170bhp (around the same as our old 120d), but I have to say it doesn’t feel like it. Still pretty quick though, much to the annoyance of tailgating Focus TDCI drivers on the A27 [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ECLIPSe.gif[/img]

Its amazing how small it is; externally its around the size of a 1 series, though it feels bigger inside. It’s not that economical, and it doesn’t handle quite as well as it should; a suspension overhaul is probably required. The engine sound is fantastic though; modern engines are just so much quieter [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img] More economical though; this averages 22.4 mpg [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif[/img]




But what to with it now? We don’t really need it; it is useful (and fun) to have around though. Again it’s been completely reliable since I bought it, even if left standing for weeks on end. Insurance is pennies (on a classic car policy), and at the moment road tax is only a couple of hundred quid; Gordon/Alistair can’t charge it on emissions (thank goodness) as they weren’t measured then [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/sportifs2.gif[/img]

What would you do with it? Keep or sell?

Peter

[Ritey]

Hmmm wonder what it would tow like [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

[PeterS]

[ QUOTE ]
Hmmm wonder what it would tow like [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

[/ QUOTE ]

Forgot to say, it also has a towbar [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/169144-ok.gif[/img] Do you need someting towing [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

Peter

[Ritey]

Well yes, but on a more permanent basis so if you do decide to sell it I could be interested depending on the hitch weight it can take [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/169144-ok.gif[/img]

[PeterS]

[ QUOTE ]
Well yes, but on a more permanent basis so if you do decide to sell it I could be interested depending on the hitch weight it can take [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/169144-ok.gif[/img]

[/ QUOTE ]

That sounds like a technical question [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif[/img] It's not an original BMW towbar, so I'm not sure how I'd find that out [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img]

Not sure if I should sell it or not tbh; part of me likes having a car that I can leave anywhere or chuck anything in [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

Peter

[gizze]

Well I needed something as a stop gap too, and I ended up buying a..........

1989 BMW E30 325i touring in Lachs Silver.

I would post pics but it looks exactly the same as yours.



Mine had new mounts, shocks and some klein springs put on about 10k miles ago, so it feels incredibly solid for a 25 year old car, and have to say it is an absolute hoot to drive.
I love it and have decided to keep it.

How many miles has yours got on it??
If you do sell I would be interested too.

[PeterS]

It's done 146k miles, if the odometer is to be believed [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/yelrotflmao.gif[/img]



To be fair the BMW dealer service history peters out around 2001, when it switched to a non BMW garage. It had the same owner from '97 though, covering around 6k miles a year, so I think it's probably OK [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img]

It's got a pretty comprehensive history; evidence of new pads & disks all round/brake fluid/coolant/timing belt, on top of the standard service items, in the last 10 k miles. It has had some suspension work; ARB links replaced, the bushes, but I think the dampers are past their best...

The 'clock' service indicator has just come one, so it's due an annual service. For a laugh I asked my local BMW dealer for a quote under the '4 plus' scheme: £152 for the 'Oil' serice, and £42 extra for the annual inspection. Surprising reasonable IMO [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img] And it includes a courtesy car [img]/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/yelrotflmao.gif[/img]

Peter

[PeterS]

Quick update - I decided to keep the 325...well, I say decided to keep...what I really mean is I couldn't be bothered to sell it As a result I've now had to have it MOT'ed.

I booked it into a local garage (not, not BMW) half expecting it to fail badly, despite the fact it has never missed a beat. It's only done 1,000 miles since March, but always starts first time. In fact the car passed first time, with just 3 advisories. And one of those it had last year as well I was so surprised I treated it to an Inspection I service as well

Here's to another 12 months low cost motoring in one of Munich's finest

Peter