RE: SOTW: BMW 325i Touring

[carinaman]

Seems harsh.

Where else can you get RWD and a manual? Omega?

[wid77]

I had one of these about 5 years ago in black. Lovely condition and owned by previous owner for 14 years. FSH and all the receipts. Bought for £1200 with about 140k miles on her. Lovely car to look at and very well built. Mine had immaculate tan leather which cost the original owner £1000. Had to sell though due to being too thirsty (late 20's?) and the seats offered so little lateral support that i slid off at every corner and they gave me backache. It was a difficult decision and i often regret selling her but can't drive an uncomfortable car. The engine sounded great when revved but i did find that you had to rev it quite a lot to get the performance. This then affected the economy so a bit of a vicious circle. Also a bit roly in the corners and not that big inside for a family car.

My wife managed to set off at the traffic lights on a greasy road on day and by applying too many revs managed to complete a 270 degree semi-doughnut, mount the kerb in the central reservation and end up practically where she started to the amusement of fellow motorists. Didn't damage the car though as built like a tank! A newer model would have had traction control and probably useful on a semi-powerful rear wheel drive like this.

I sold her for £1250 but i'm sure it would be worth more now if the new owner has looked after her. Often wonder what happened to her, F56 NCE?

[V12 Migaloo]

Had one in 88, bought brand new from Cheam, dechrome, sunroof, manual windows no stereo. Fantastic car then, but have over riding memories of understeer, oversteer, bad back...

[Sf_Manta]

I've got mine, ironically it's the same colour

I got it as a rolling project, having spent a fair bit of time and some cash on it, though it's been pretty reliable transport, not once failed to start, though it did suffer the all too common cracked head problem most 325i's have, but it's now been sorted and going strong once again
I drove to Germany and back in it, got me and 2 friends to a competition at Hockenhiem with all our gear.

[Cotty]

mig25_foxbat2003 said:

Seats that don't look like they've lost a fight with a crocodile are a rare find!

Its the drivers seat that always seems to go. One fix is to find a decent passenger seat and bolt that into the drivers side. If you don't mind the adjuster being next to the tunnel its fine.

[urquattro]

mik_jg said:

tobinen said:

Chain driven engine, Shirley?

Not sure what to make of it really. Shed is an appropriate desciption!

I think it's a bit sharp money-wise. I mean, I've been offered a 2000 Merc S500, properly loaded to the tits and in great shape, for £2k...

You may well need another £2k in the bank to fund any problems, happily sold an excellent W140 S500 as i was getting paranoid over what could go wrong etc.
The electrics/electronics are frightening - Kept the W126 S500 as that is a much more reilable model.

[roadwolf]

dbdb said:

Munich said:

What is the circular dial by the handbrake for?

It is the mode switch for the automatic gearbox.

Cigarette lighter.

[E30M3SE]

roadwolf said:

dbdb said:

Munich said:

What is the circular dial by the handbrake for?

It is the mode switch for the automatic gearbox.

Cigarette lighter.

...is next to the ash tray in front of the gear lever.

The circular dial,



is as already posted the mode selector for the automatic gearbox that this car originally had fitted but was swapped over for the manual that it is currently fitted with.

[Cotty]

I can't believe I have had my E30 3251 touring for 10 years. There is a small bit of rust on the rear valance but its very clean and only has 80,000 miles on it. Might take it back to Le Mans next year.

[Penneth]

N Dentressangle said:

Doesn't work with Firefox. Try Explorer - works with that OK.

Or are you on the way to Bridgend already?

Disable adblockplus on the classifieds site and it will work in firefox again

[varsas]

Old road test of one...

Http://www.flickr.com/photos/triggerscarstuff/sets...

[WhiteBaron]

Do all e30 325i's come with an LSD or would you have to find an M-sport one to put in it?

[300bhp/ton]

Kawasicki said:

semi trailing rear suspension....death on a stick

Only if you can't drive for toffee.

[Chunkychucky]

mrtwisty said:

Kawasicki said:

semi trailing rear suspension....death on a stick

Yep, every person I know who ever drove or was a passenger in a car with anything less than fully independent rear suspension is now dead...

300bhp/ton said:

Kawasicki said:

semi trailing rear suspension....death on a stick

Only if you can't drive for toffee.

This. If you think E30s are bad don't try an E21 323.

Edited by Chunkychucky on Friday 22 June 14:31

[E30M3SE]

WhiteBaron said:

Do all e30 325i's come with an LSD or would you have to find an M-sport one to put in it?

Motorsport cars all came with LSD as part of the Motorsport option pack, but LSD was on the option list so not impossible to find a non sport with a LSD.

[WhiteBaron]

E30M3SE said:

Motorsport cars all came with LSD as part of the Motorsport option pack, but LSD was on the option list so not impossible to find a non sport with a LSD.

Thankyou

[s m]

Chunkychucky said:

This. If you think E30s are bad don't try an E21 323.

Too extreme for even Swedish rally stars! ( banned from sale for a while over there )

[Itsallicanafford]

...Top shed, IMO the E30 really is a good looking motor..

[B'stard Child]

wid77 said:

I had one of these about 5 years ago in black. Lovely condition and owned by previous owner for 14 years. FSH and all the receipts. Bought for £1200 with about 140k miles on her. Lovely car to look at and very well built. Mine had immaculate tan leather which cost the original owner £1000. Had to sell though due to being too thirsty (late 20's?) and the seats offered so little lateral support that i slid off at every corner and they gave me backache. It was a difficult decision and i often regret selling her but can't drive an uncomfortable car. The engine sounded great when revved but i did find that you had to rev it quite a lot to get the performance. This then affected the economy so a bit of a vicious circle. Also a bit roly in the corners and not that big inside for a family car.

My wife managed to set off at the traffic lights on a greasy road on day and by applying too many revs managed to complete a 270 degree semi-doughnut, mount the kerb in the central reservation and end up practically where she started to the amusement of fellow motorists. Didn't damage the car though as built like a tank! A newer model would have had traction control and probably useful on a semi-powerful rear wheel drive like this.

I sold her for £1250 but i'm sure it would be worth more now if the new owner has looked after her. Often wonder what happened to her, F56 NCE?

Doesn't look good

The vehicle details for F56 NCE are:
Date of Liability 22 06 2011
Date of First Registration 10 08 1988
Year of Manufacture 1988
Cylinder Capacity (cc) 2494cc
CO2 Emissions Not Available
Fuel Type PETROL
Export Marker Y
Vehicle Status Unlicensed
Vehicle Colour BLACK
Vehicle Type Approval Not Available
This vehicle can be licensed at a DVLA Local Office without the V5C Registration Certificate
Vehicle Excise Duty rate for vehicle

ETA - didn't spot the export marker so I'd guess it's probably making curly marks in T junctions across the other side of the muddy ditch

Edited by B'stard Child on Friday 22 June 20:45

[E30Addict]

E38Ross said:

stevesuk said:

tobinen said:

Chain driven engine, Shirley?

Nope, I think back then BMW were using belts, not chains.

this M20 is belt driven but to say it's before BMW were using chains is wrong. the M10 4 pot used a chain from 1961 IIRC.

Not forgetting the S14 from the M3 and M42 from the 318is.