1989 BMW (E30) 325iX Touring (wagon) Royal Blue 5-Speed Manual Nogaro iX Weaves
1989 BMW 3-Series Description
1989 BMW (E30) 325iX Touring
Royal Blue Metallic Exterior (198)
Gray/Black Cloth Interior
244,100 KM / 151,676 Miles
M20B25 2.5-Liter 6-Cylinder Engine
5-Speed Manual Transmission
Left Hand Drive
M Tech 1 Steering Wheel
Heated Cloth Comfort Seats
Kenwood Stereo w/ Aux In and Bluetooth
6-Button On Board Computer
Power Front Windows
Slicktop (No Sunroof)
No Rust
Shadowline Trim
French Euro Smiley Headlights
15-Inch Style 5 Nogaro iX Wheels
BF Goodrich Advantage T/A Tires
Spanish Market Touring
25-Year Exempt
Recent Timing Belt Service
All Mx Up to Date
US-Market Exhaust w/ Catalytic Converters
Colorado Title
Background
The 1984-1991 BMW 3 Series, known generationally as the E30, is the one model more than any other that earned BMW the Ultimate Driving Machine reputation. E30s are one of our specialty vehicles at Glen Shelly Auto Brokers. The E30 Touring was the pet project of BMW engineer Max Reisbock. He literally built the first E30 touring out of a wrecked 323i in his garage after work—it was so good that BMW put it into production (with a few minor changes). The E30 Touring started a legacy of sporty BMW wagons that remains to this day. All late-model tourings were spec’d with the 325 suspension and 4-wheel disc brakes. The extra pillars added rigidity over the Coupe and Sedan and there is slightly more rear weight bias, giving it superb handling characteristics. Fold down rear seats, shadowline trim, and Euro headlights make the Touring one of the most exclusive and sporting E30s. One of the most rare Touring models is the all-wheel drive 325iX Touring, which combined the added utility of the wagon with the all-weather capability of all-wheel drive. The E30 iX is unstoppable in the snow and dirt, driving circles around even modern all-wheel drive cars. The U.S. market never got the Touring, but they are legal now, thanks to the 25-year exemption. Most were subjected to harsh climates and daily duty, thanks to their increased utility. Rust in the rear hatch is a common issue, making dry climate history an important consideration regarding the country of origin. This and a clean body are the most important factors in finding a touring. Limited production numbers and exposure to cold weather climates have decimated the population of clean iX Tourings, making clean, rust-free examples extremely rare.
Summary
This Spanish market Touring came to us from an importer we have used numerous times in the past. It was previously part of a private collection of exceptionally rare E30s. It was originally ordered in Royal Blue Metallic over a gray cloth comfort interior with an M Tech I steering wheel, 15-inch basket weave wheels, and with no sunroof. It also has the rare vertical rear cargo net and horizontal cargo cover. Air Conditioning was not originally optioned. It—astonishingly—has virtually no rust and is in exceptional condition inside and out. When it first arrived stateside we gave it a complete mechanical reset of common E30 and iX items, the majority of which were oil leaks thanks to living in a dry climate—but I’ll take those all day over rust. The list included a timing belt kit and water pump, valve adjustment, valve cover gasket, cam seal, a cylinder head gasket (due to the common oil leak spots), front CV axle boots, transmission output shaft seal, shift shaft seal, shifter cup, transfer case output shaft seal, rear brakes, rear brake calipers, rear shocks, rear shock mounts, exhaust hangers, heater vent controls, glove box latch, and an antenna. We also installed a Kenwood stereo with Bluetooth. The tires are BF Goodrich Advantage T/A’s mounted on refinished IX basket weaves with Nogaro gray centers. As it sits, this is a turn-key E30 ready to be driven and enjoyed by its new owner. We would like to find a new owner who will appreciate and enjoy it for years to come.
Exterior
The Royal Blue paint is in very good condition and presents fantastically. It wears a high-end re-spray with even orange peel and no glaring defects. Close scrutiny does reveal minor imperfections and a few scuffs on the plastic bumper trim. There is no rust, only minor corrosion on the bottom of the driver’s door and a very minor split in the seam of the hatch near the license plate mounting area. Common areas like the battery and jack trays, front fender seams, lower windshield cowling, and floorboards are rust-free (pictures are on our website if you are reading this elsewhere). The Euro VIN placard and firewall stamp are in place. The body and panel gaps are perfectly straight. All trim is present and intact, and the iX fender flares are in great shape. The windshield has one notable chip, but it is outside of the driver’s field of view. The Yellow French Euro smiley headlights have good glass with light pitting, and the color accents the Royal Blue paint extremely well. The turn signals, marker lights, and taillights are all clear and crack free, with the exception of a small (one inch long) crack in the driver’s side taillight. The fog lights are clear, the driver’s side has a small crack and the passenger side has a chip. The front indicators are clear. The roof antenna shared with the E30 M3 is present and in great shape. The 15-inch iX weaves are straight and true with no curb rash, only a few minor chips. All center caps are present with good Roundel emblems including the spare. The BF Goodrich Advantage T/A tires have lots of tread remaining.
Interior
The interior is in very good condition. There are no odors. The carpet is in great condition and covered by matching carpet floor mats. The dashboard is crack-free. The MT1 steering wheel is in good shape with only light wear. The shift knob is lightly worn. All instrument cluster functions work correctly. The 6-button on-board computer has no LCD screen bleed-through. The Kenwood stereo has matching illumination with aux in and Bluetooth functions. The heat blows warm and the blower motor is quiet and functions at all speeds. Air Conditioning is was not originally optioned, but could be retrofitted at the buyer’s expense. The power windows and door locks function correctly. The headliner is in very good condition. The cloth comfort seats are in great shape, with only minor bolster wear and some minor failing of the stitching on the seat bottom. They are heated and both are functional. The rear seat cloth is excellent; they are fitted with headrests and fold forward like in all E30 Tourings. The rear hatch area is very clean and the cargo cover with the net is present.
Mechanical
This is an extremely well sorted E30; no common E30 issues are present. The M20B25 engine fires on command, idles smoothly and pulls strongly to redline. There are no check engine or ABS lights, and no check panel alerts. Thanks to our round of oil leak mitigation, all of the common oil leak spots are dry and it does not spot. The manual transmission shifts crisply and smoothly thanks to its recent shifter cup replacement. The driveshaft, differential, CV axles, and wheel bearings are quiet and free of vibration. The all-wheel drive functions correctly and the viscous couplings are healthy. The suspension is firm, yet compliant. The brakes are firm with lots of pad and rotor life left in the front and fresh pads in the rear. A US 325i exhaust including the catalytic converter is fitted, and we pay for and ensure it passes emissions here in Colorado.
VIN Decode
VIN: WBAAG95000952347
Type: AG95
Model: 325i – EUR
Development Code: E30 (5)
Chassis: TOUR
Steering: LL
Doors: 5
Engine: M20
Displacement: 2.50
Power: 168 Horsepower
Drivetrain: AWD
Transmission: Manual
Color: Royal Blue Metallic (Royalblau Metallic – 198)
Upholstery: Nature Leather Cloth
Production Plant: Regensburg
Production Date: 11-23-1988
Options:
219 Leather Covered Sport Steering Wheel 380mm
288 BMW Light Alloy Wheel, Cross Spoke 29
314 Door Mirror, Driver Lock Heated
320 Deleted, Model Lettering
410 Power Windows
423 Floor Mats Velours
428 Warning Triangle and First Aid Kit
481 Sports Seats (REMOVED)
494 Seat Heating Driver / Passenger
498 Headrest Mechanically Adjustable Rear (ADDED)
500 Headlight Washer Intensive Cleaning System (REMOVED)
510 Vertical Aim Control
556 Exterior Temperature Display
668 Radio BMW Reverse RDS (REMOVED)
681 Roof Antenna
690 Cassette Holder
Glen Shelly is a low volume auto brokerage focused on only the highest quality vehicles. We are airline pilots, mechanics, and auto enthusiasts who bring a high level of professionalism and attention to detail to the automobile business. Our philosophy is to keep our inventory small so that we can focus on thorough mechanical and cosmetic preparation of the vehicles we select. We have over 20 years of experience restoring and repairing automobiles and are intimately familiar with our cars. We do the inspections, service, detailing, and corrective maintenance using only OEM parts and service manuals. We offer an informed and low-pressure sales environment resulting in a premium buying experience for you. Find out more about us at www.glenshelly.com.
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