1988 BMW 325i convertible

cmoore207

Well-known member
Oct 8, 2004
1,084
0
41
Takoma Park, MD
Putting my 1988 e30 cabrio up for sale. This is my third e30 and my favorite so far. Has been a daily driver for me with no issues, and would be a perfect summer gas saver to keep in the garage next to your Rover.

Like all e30's, the odometer is frozen. From the looks of the clean CARFAX, it was accurate until about 2004. I estimate it has less than 175k on it. New automatic transmission two years ago.

Shiny new black paint (two years ago), black leather interior with Recaro sport seats. Shows some really minor wear, but no rips or tears in the front seats. The rear seat is a little more worn (I think it has always had covers on the front seats) with a small tear about a half an inch long. I've got some sheepskins over the front seats to protect them and keep them cool when the sun is beating down. The dash is perfect, no cracks or fading and its nice and shiny. New top two years ago leaks a couple drops at the front corners if you sit in a downpour but otherwise water tight. Back plastic window is in good shape. It has a brand new Sony stereo with integrated XM radio and i-Pod jack. Four speakers were installed by the PO, but sound pretty good.

It had a lot of work done to it last summer, including valve adjustment, new plugs/wires, transmission filter, o-ring, and flushed and filled with synthetic fluid, new synthetic diff fluid, new control arms/bushings, new hoses and drive belts except timing belt, coolant flushed. It got a brand new exhaust, including the cat, this past November.

About two years ago, in addition to the new paint and top, it got a new steering rack, new rear shocks, new flex disc (guibo) and center bearing. The timing belt was done in summer 2003, so it won't be due for changing until 2008. The brakes and tires are in good shape for many more miles.

There are just a couple little things that need attention to make it perfect. The gauge cluster came from a car with the lower revving eta motor, so the tach reads the proper rpm but it just looks goofy. The fuel and temp gauges work intermittently. MPH and fuel economy gauge work perfect. Odometer is frozen. I have a complete replacement cluster that will be included with the sale. The job looks to be easy enough to DIY, there are several write ups floating around the internet. The A/C needs a recharge, and the fan only works on the highest setting. The fix for this is a new resistor board, cost is about $12 for the part and its easy enough to DIY in a couple minutes, and again, there are several write-ups posted on the internet. I just haven't bothered because when you are at cruising speed, you still get plenty of heat coming through the vents. The heated seats don't work. The front seats do not fold forward for some reason, so it is not possible to get into the rear seat (not that it is big enough to sit in anyway). None of the locks work, which is also a fairly common e30 issue. Personally, I would rather somebody be able to open the door if they want to break in, rather than taking a knife to the top. I just detach the stereo faceplate and forget about it.

I think that covers it. I only have one photo at the moment, I will take more when I have a chance to give the car a good washing. Contact me with any questions at ccm5k at alumni dot virginia dot edu. During the day you can call me in my office at 703-264-7850 or in the evenings on my cell at 434-242-6769. Car is located in Arlington in the evenings and Reston during the day.

Car will not be available to take up residence with a new owner until after April 6, but I want to see if I can set a sale in motion sooner. Asking price is $4500 obo.

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cmoore207

Well-known member
Oct 8, 2004
1,084
0
41
Takoma Park, MD
Thanks for the bumps!

I'm probably going to put it on eBay sometime next week. My rock bottom DWeb-only price is $3500 in the mean time.
 

Asolo3j

Well-known member
Nov 8, 2004
1,267
1
Annapolis
I am looking for an E30, just not a cabrio or auto. I have been doing my homework and been looking at 89-91 325is.