1988 BMW 325i

Description

This is it: the car that transformed BMW from the enthusiast's well-kept secret to mainstream full-line automaker. When this 1988 BMW 325i convertible hit the streets, suddenly BMWs were fashion as much as function, and they haven't been the same since. What's even better, though, is that this convertible has the moves to make it an enthusiast's choice, all for a price that's shockingly affordable.

With only 42,886 original miles on the clock, this is one clean Bimmer. The bright white finish is totally original and offers a nice change from the more familiar red and black cabrios running around. The clean, chiseled lines of the E30 3-Series are familiar and look as good today as they did more than 25 years ago, suggesting status, performance, and quality in BMW's uniquely quiet way. Fit and finish are excellent and thanks to proper care over the years (and just 1500 miles per year) it still shines up beautifully. You'll get admiring glances in this car, and like the Mercedes-Benz SL roadster, your neighbors will probably think you've hit the lottery when they see this in your driveway. Things like the black bumpers, fog lamps, and even the rubber components all remain in excellent condition with few signs of age, a perfect throwback to 1980s fashion and performance.

Remember the simplicity of German luxury? Not over-loaded with tech, but clean, concise, and straight to the point, the BMW was definitely built for the driver and the road. Handsome well-bolstered tan leather buckets show a few age-related wrinkles but nothing major and even in a convertible, the hides remain remarkably supple. Darker carpets give the interior a well-finished look and this car was built before airbags were mandatory, so the steering wheel is a beautiful 3-spoke unit that's just awesome. Big, clear gauges offer up all the information you'll need and there's a period AM/FM/cassette stereo in the dash. Of course, not everything was simple in 1988, because the HVAC controls are still tough to decipher and there's a trip computer with an array of tiny buttons, but no car is perfect. And yes, that's a built-in car phone, the perfect accessory for your 1980s convertible. A snug-fitting German canvas convertible top fits better than most and still has a clear rear window, while the trunk is well-shaped and useful, top up or top down.

BMW's 2.5 liter inline-six was legendary for its turbine-like smoothness, flat torque curve, and brilliant exhaust note, all of which are proudly on display in this ragtop. It turns out that these engines are brutally reliable, easy to service, and still a joy to drive in today's era of 600 horsepower supercars. It purrs to life effortlessly and thanks to a relatively light curb weight, 189 horsepower turns out to be plenty of fun. Linked to a 4-speed automatic transmission, it's easy to drive and doesn't mind the daily grind as well as hustling down your favorite twisty road. As you'd expect, the suspension is capable, the brakes are powerful, and the joy of running the machine aggressively is something that's often lost today. The underside is in good order and very clean, as you'd expect with so few miles, and all the original equipment is intact so it feels like the factory intended. Handsome BMW alloy wheels are in very good condition and carry right-sized 195/65/15 blackwall radials.

The ultimate driving machine? The ultimate sun-tanning machine? The ultimate status symbol? Can't this BMW be all three? Call today!