Price: SOLD
Mileage: 111,200 Miles
Engine: Refreshed M20B25 Inline 6-Cylinder Engine
Transmission: 5-Speed Manual Transmission (Getrag G260)
Exterior color: Black (Schwarz) Exterior
Interior: Cardinal Red Leather Interior
Additional features:
M Tri-Color Pin Stripe
3:73 Limited Slip Differential
Euro Bumpers
M Tech I Front Valance
M Tech I Rear Spoiler
Bilstein Sport Shocks
H&R Sport Springs
13-Button OBC
Short Shifter Sport Seats
Pioneer MVH-X390BT Head Unit
Premium Sound
Full R134 Air Conditioning Conversion
15” x 6.5” BBS RM Wheels w/ Polished Lips
Dunlop Direzza DZ102 Tires
Excellent Condition
Clean Carfax
The 1984-1991 BMW 3 Series, known generationally as the E30, is the one model, more than any other, that earned BMW its Ultimate Driving Machine reputation. E30s are one of our specialty vehicles at Glen Shelly Auto Brokers. We have restored, rebuilt, and sorted many E30’s over the years. Everyone here has had at least one. 1987 was an important model year for the E30; it was the first year of the M20B25 “i” engine. The “i” motor had a higher redline and produced more power than the fuel-economy focused M20B27 “e” motor. The 325iS featured an aggressive front valance, rear deck lid spoiler, sport seats, an M Tech 1 steering wheel, 13-button on-board computer, and a limited-slip differential. The end result was a significant improvement over the base model 325 and arguably one of the best driver-focused E30s produced.
This 1987 BMW 325iS is former Glen Shelly personal car and now we have it back! We sorted and built this car back in 2016 and 2017. Since then, it has travelled 10,000 miles with two enthusiast owners (both members of the Glen Shelly extended family), and is in the same exceptional condition it was in when it last left our hands. Black over Cardinal Red leather is a striking color combination that is accented by chrome Euro bumpers, an M Tech I front valance, an M Tech I rear spoiler, and BBS RM wheels, all accented by M tricolor pinstripes to finish the package. It was originally sold in May of 1987 by Concours Motors of Milwaukee, Wisconsin and remained with that owner for the next fourteen years. In 2001 it was sold to the second owner with 43,000 miles on the odometer. The last owner before it initially came into our hands purchased it in 2009 with approximately 96,000 miles. When it came here in 2016, The original engine had succumbed to timing belt failure earlier in the car’s life, and the replacement engine that was in it had the piston slap indicative of a higher-mileage M20. It ran well, but this E30 deserved better, so that motor went on Craigslist and we installed a fresh motor built from a low-mileage M20 from our parts stash. The motor was completely disassembled top and bottom and was cleaned, honed, polished, and rebuilt. Next, we resealed the gearbox and rebuilt the shifter assembly. The suspension was upgraded with new bushings, H&R Sport springs, and Bilstein Sport Shocks. The brake calipers were pulled, cleaned, painted, then reinstalled with stainless steel lines and fresh pads and rotors. The BBS RM wheels were then added to complete the package. As it sits, this is a thoroughly refreshed E30 that is properly sorted with some very rare and exclusive options. In 2017, we sold it to the son of one of our best clients, and it moved to sunny Southern California. In 2018 he sold it to another meticulous owner whom we purchased it back from. He had the A/C given a full refresh, replaced a faulty ECU, had the fuel pump, filter, and spark plugs changed, and replaced the oxygen sensor. As it sits, it’s an outstanding example of an E30 325iS with some rare and desirable bits. We’d like to find a deserving home for it for the next chapter of its story.
Black paint accented by chrome Euro bumpers and polished BBS lips are a dynamic combination that adds subtle flare to the E30’s understated and tidy lines. Euro bumpers and the M Tech 1 bits make it stand out against more pedestrian examples. In our opinion, early chrome bumpers (albeit harder to come by) are the best look for an E30. Overall the paint is in good condition, but close scrutiny will reveal imperfections expected of a 33 year old BMW. The worst are a scratch on the left rear wheel arch, a small upwards dimple in the trunk lid, a small dent in the left front fender, and a scratch on the right front fender. Detailed pictures of all imperfections are in the photo gallery (on our website if you are reading this elsewhere). All paint is original except for the M Tech bits, left front fender, and driver’s door. We have an invoice from 1990 showing replacement of the fender and and repair of the door by Concours Motors. The damage was clearly superficial. The Carfax is clean. All VIN tags are in place with the exception of the driver’s front fender, which has a DOT-R tag. There is no rust; it has clearly been spared from winter exposure. All common spots like the battery tray, floor boards, fenders, and lower windshield cowling are clean. All trim is in place; there are some small imperfections in the bumper trim from street parking. The bumper chrome is slightly faded, but it is still very presentable. The power antenna is stuck (common issue). The windshield has no cracks, and is BMW glass; it has moderate pitting. All light lenses are clear and crack-free. The BBS RM wheels are straight and true. The lips have no curb rash and the paint on the centers is in great condition.
Cardinal Red is one of the best E30 interior colors, and it looks fantastic under a black exterior. Overall, the interior is in excellent condition. There are no odors. The carpet has no tears or stains. Clean Cardinal Red sport seats are hard to come by and these are in very good condition, the seat leather is in excellent shape for its age. They have no excessive bolster wear or failed seams. The only glaring imperfection is a small ¼” hole in the driver’s seat cushion bolster. All seat adjustments work. We replaced the driver’s seat recline shocks. The rear seat is in excellent condition. The dashboard is crack-free and immaculate. The M Tech 1 steering wheel looks great, with very minor leather wear. All instrument cluster functions work, including the odometer. The 13-button onboard computer has correct backlighting and all functions work. The head unit has been replaced with an aftermarket Pioneer unit, which sounds great through the factory premium sound system. The early style “mushroom” shift knob is in excellent condition. The window and sunroof switches work, as does the central locking system. We installed a replacement driver’s door lock cylinder coded to the original key in 2017. The heat blows warm and the air conditioning blows cold. The trunk carpet is clean and the tool kit is complete.
We have extensive records from the first two owners showing regular oil changes, services, and routine maintenance. The previous owner did most of his own maintenance, but receipts are included with the records. The rebuilt motor was from a 1989 automatic 325i. It was a complete rebuild including hot tanking all components, honing the cylinders, polishing the crank, fresh rings, camshaft, rocker arms, valves, guides, bearings, and resurfacing the head. We also installed a fresh oil pump. All engine seals were done, along with the spark plugs, timing belt, drive belts, radiator hoses, thermostat, coolant reservoir, water pump, fuel pump, and oxygen sensor. The clutch and flywheel were inspected, the gearbox was resealed, and the shifter assembly was rebuilt. The suspension has been upgraded with H&R Sport springs and Bilstein shocks. As it sits, this is a turn-key E30. The engine starts on command, idles smoothly, and pulls strongly to redline. The clutch take up is correct and the shifter is tight and precise—not the spoon in the bowl of spaghetti that some E30s are. The suspension is firm and compliant and the brakes are strong. There are no driveline or wheel bearing vibrations. The exhaust has been replaced at some point in recent history and is rust-free.
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