Two Owner Survivor: 1989 BMW 325iS

The BMW E30 range produced several great classics, including the original giant-killing M3. Another deserving a close look is the 325iS, which combined a peppy engine with excellent handling. The result was a rewarding driver’s car, and these vehicles are still held in high regard. Our feature 325iS rolled off the line in 1989 and is a two-owner survivor. It isn’t perfect, but it could be ideal for a new owner seeking a turnkey European classic offering pure motoring fun.

The 325iS enjoyed a relatively short production life within the E30 range, gracing showrooms from 1987 until 1991. The first owner ordered our feature car in 1989, choosing to cloak its exterior in classy Bronzit Beige Metallic paint. The seller is candid about the BMW’s overall condition, admitting that what they believe to be the original paint has some minor flaws and blemishes. None appear to be particularly bad, and the car’s overall presentation is comfortably acceptable for a driver-grade classic. The only confirmed non-original paint is on the front lip, which also shows a mismatch with the rest of the exterior. The panels are straight, while the underside shots confirm the car’s rust-free status. The 14″ factory alloy wheels are an exterior highlight, showing no evidence of stains or physical damage. The trim is in generally good condition, and there are no visible glass issues.

The BMW’s exterior doesn’t show a lot of wear and tear for a car with a six-figure odometer reading, but the interior exhibits signs it isn’t a trailer queen. The leather on the body-hugging driver’s seat is failing, but the passenger seat presents better and the back seat is pristine. Pale carpet will always be prone to dirty marks, and this BMW is no exception. There are a few stains and a couple of small tears, although a set of mats would hide the worst of those problems if the new owner wishes to stick to a budget. The air conditioning blows cold, but with it requiring an annual recharge, it seems there is a system leak that could warrant future attention. The factory stereo is inoperative, but the remaining features function as they should.

Part of the secret to this BMW’s appeal hides in the engine bay. The 168hp and 164 ft/lbs of torque generated by the fuel-injected 2,494cc six-cylinder engine feeds to the back wheels via a five-speed Getrag manual transmission. The engine is a peppy performer in most circumstances, but when tasked with shifting a mere 2,844 lbs, its performance is particularly impressive. The seller doesn’t make bold claims about this 325iS as a low-mile classic, confirming that its odometer shows 175,000 miles. The first owner dropped the ride height with new springs and Bilstein shocks, which would have improved the car’s already excellent handling. There are no major mechanical problems or gremlins beyond the missing spare wheel. Potential buyers can consider this a turnkey proposition that runs and drives well.

This 1989 BMW 325iS isn’t pristine and doesn’t feature an extraordinarily low odometer reading. Its two owners have driven it as its creators intended, and it is virtually guaranteed that they wore a mile-wide smile every time they slipped behind the wheel. The seller listed the BMW here on eBay in Louisville, Kentucky. The lure of the engaging driving experience may have been irresistible to many, with twenty-five bids pushing the price to $5,439. That figure is short of the reserve, although there is plenty of time remaining for the situation to change. A pristine example would typically sell for approximately three times the current bid price, but what do you see as a fair figure when the hammer falls on this classic?