E30 325I - non-sport?

[Windymiller]

Hi, I've spotted a H-reg 325i that I'm interested in with the full tech II kit and a manual box. But the owner doesn't know if it has an LSD or not.To my eyes it looks like what I know to be a Sport...

Did BMW product a Sport and a non-Sport at all, or were they all sports? Is there any way I can check other than putting it up in the air and spinning the wheels?

Thanks in advance!

[E30M3SE]

Non sport 325i were available.

What does it have that makes you believe it is a sport?

[Oi_Oi_Savaloy]

Yes they did produce non sports (known as SE's).

Three ways to check for an LSD:

1) Go to a BMW dealer with the registration plate - go to the parts or service dept and they'll print off the original spec sheet for you. that's one way for you to check whether it's got an lsd without getting dirty.
2) get underneath the car. The LSD has a tag on it (v rusty by now). If it's still there it will tell you the ratio and if it's an LSD there will be an S stamped into the tag too. take a torch with you. the markings will be faint.
3) get the back of the car off the ground. spin one wheel; the other should turn too. if it doesn't you have an open diff.

The MTecII bodykit is in demand.

[Windymiller]

Ah, just popped the plate through my insurance co's database and it just comes up as 325. Checked out the plate of a known Sport and it comes up as 325 Sport.

Damm.

Anything else that's different if it's a non-Sport?

[S3_Graham]

Colour of the trim round the windows should be black on sports
The trip computer or multi function job is SE, sport has analogue clock
Leather is rarer in sports
Should have black head lining on a sport.
15" BBS wheel over the SE 14's.

As you have pointed out though easiest way is check logbook or punch the reg into mycarcheck app on iPhone?

[4rephill]

S3_Graham said:

The trip computer or multi function job is SE,sport has analogue clock

That's not true!, the multi function computer was an option that a lot of 325i Sports came with, including My own, it just depended on what was ordered when the car was new.




Also, the 325i Sport came with a close ratio gearbox, not the standard 325i gearbox.

Edited by 4rephill on Thursday 12th May 19:39

[roofer]

LSD was an option on SE if i remember correctly.

[Windymiller]

Cheers guys. So if an SE could have an LSD, how else can I tell? Is there a VIN code or something? I'm guessing there's always a possibility that is could be a Sport even if the DVLA don't list it as one on the V5?

[S3_Graham]

Windymiller said:

Cheers guys. So if an SE could have an LSD, how else can I tell? Is there a VIN code or something? I'm guessing there's always a possibility that is could be a Sport even if the DVLA don't list it as one on the V5?

That sounds like wishful thinking tbh, my E30 325 SE had all the m-tech II kit but was SE on logbook. The 325 sport I had said sport on the logbook and my 328 sport says sport on the logbook!

Didn't know about the clock think, though all the ones I've seen had analogue clocks.

All depends on price tbh, 325 SE is still a good car, as long as you don't pay the premium for a sport. Saw my old SE being sold as a sport for £5000!!!! I paid £500 for it 2 years previous!

[E30M3SE]

Only way to really know if it is bona fide sport is to take the last 7 digits of the VIN to your local friendly BMW dealer and get them to run the numbers and let you know the full spec as it left the factory.

If you are not that friendly with your local dealer, yet, then there is 0906 £/min number that you can call BMW on and they will give you the same.

Edit'd for being dim.

Edited by E30M3SE on Friday 13th May 10:30

[neiljohnson]

I had an h plate se with the full kit velour (i think) seats black window trims & 15" bbs wheels was factory original (was my mums before me) & it also had an lsd. Only found this out after blowing the diff & replacing it with another 2nd hand open unit.

The lsd was so worn it didnt work as an lsd anymore hence why i didnt know. I wouldnt get to hung up on having one it was still a great car without it.

Actually saw my old one in performance Bmw a couple of years ago H552YUC if anyone knows it

[4rephill]

neiljohnson said:

I had an h plate se with the full kit velour (i think) seats black window trims & 15" bbs wheels was factory original (was my mums before me) & it also had an lsd. Only found this out after blowing the diff & replacing it with another 2nd hand open unit.

The lsd was so worn it didnt work as an lsd anymore hence why i didnt know. I wouldnt get to hung up on having one it was still a great car without it.

Actually saw my old one in performance Bmw a couple of years ago H552YUC if anyone knows it

Believe Me, it's a lot more fun with a working LSD! (until you rip it out of it mounts! , Sure were a lot of sparks coming out the rear end when that happened but to be fair to the car, she got Me the last 50 miles home! ).

[neiljohnson]

4rephill said:

Believe Me, it's a lot more fun with a working LSD! (until you rip it out of it mounts! , Sure were a lot of sparks coming out the rear end when that happened but to be fair to the car, she got Me the last 50 miles home! ).

I understand about being more fun its just with the age of the cars now the Lsd's are so slack that they are no differant to an open diff. Why pay the extra for the sport when you can buy a nice se & then buy a diff thats not knackered!

[4rephill]

neiljohnson said:

I understand about being more fun its just with the age of the cars now the Lsd's are so slack that they are no differant to an open diff. Why pay the extra for the sport when you can buy a nice se & then buy a diff thats not knackered!

That's a bit of a sweeping statement!. On My car the diff was fine and fully functional, it was the mounts that let go! (a common problem for certain BMW's of the time).

As for your second comment: because a Sports a Sport and an SE with all the kit on it is an SE pretending to be a Sport! (and still lacking the close ratio gearbox, not that it makes that much difference to performance if any). To some it matters, to others it doesn't, horses for courses at the end of the day.

[AJBridgend]

H552YUC was a silver 325SE Automatic when we had it, now it appears to be a black 325 manual, assuming it's the same car underneath.