1985 BMW 325i SE – Project Profile

We’re always looking through our own auction listings for project cars to woo you with, and this 1989 BMW 325i SE is well worth wooing. In a somewhat serendipitous turn, we were only singing the praises of the E30 generation 3 Series a few weeks ago, so the timing really couldn’t be better. The E30 is an icon, for many it’s the defining 3 Series, and in three-door, big engine guise with a manual transmission, it’s also the true definition of BMW’s ‘ultimate driving machine’ philosophy. And this 1989 model ticks all those boxes. It’s a bit tired, a bit battered and in need of no shortage of love. But make no mistake, under that battered exterior lies an ocean of potential. This could be something really, really special.

What is it? 

As we touched on above, this is a 1989 BMW 325i SE. This makes it one of the last E30s to ever be made, as the not nearly as good E36 was waiting in the wings for its release. Being one of the final E30s is a good thing though. It means BMW threw the parts bit at it, making it a really rather special specification indeed. Naturally, it’s a facelift with the bigger, more purposeful bumpers. It boasts loads of nice touches like electric windows, power steering, headlight washers, trip computer, warning control panel and more. But, in a JML way, wait, there’s more! This 325i SE was also built with a sports manual five-speed transmission and a limited slip differential. It’s basically an M3, right? RIGHT? Okay, maybe not, but it’s certainly going to be fun. And unlike most of the projects we post here, this one even has an MOT until December. A clean MOT with no advisories. In fact, it hasn’t had an advisory since 2018, and that was only on tyres which have since been replaced. Good bones, as they say.

Why is it a project? 

In one sense, it’s not. You could buy it and drive it and be happy enough. However, this 325i deserves more than that. Much more. Looking at the six-cylinder engine, it’s evident there is more oil on it than in it, so new gaskets and a full engine bay freshen are needed. Get that valve cover off, get it cleaned and painted. The body, while solid, is faded in places and there are dents and signs of light corrosion here and there. It’s actually in remarkably good condition for its age, but some body work, some fresh paint, some treatment to make the trims and wheels shine like they once did would work wonders. The interior, too, is a bit tired. The driver’s seat needs reupholstering, it needs a clean, and the truly hideous chrome gear knob needs to be filed, without hesitation, in the bin. But, you can do all of this while also enjoying the car, due to it being on the road still. That’s good, as it means if your enthusiasm ever wains, you can just go for a blast and fall in love all over again.

What should you look for? 

As mentioned earlier, this 1989 BMW 325i SE is in fact on Car & Classic Auctions, meaning we have done the hard work for you. There are 89 pictures of this car on the listing, while the listing itself goes into great detail about the car’s history and specification. Plus, we’ve checked the MOT history and can assure you that makes for exciting reading because, well, there’s nothing to read. It’s as clean as a whistle!

What should you do with it? 

If this were our money bidding, this handsome old coupe would be brought back to mint, original condition. You could modify it, you could lower it and change the wheels, and put a silly exhaust on it, but that would be a crime. This 325i is a glorious survivor, one that can be pulled back from the brink and restored into something truly spectacular. And it deserves it. Imagine the paint gleaming, the interior fresh, the engine bay in near showroom condition. It would be magnificent. But not nearly as magnificent as it would be to drive and enjoy. Cars like this don’t come up often. If you want an E30, it’s this one.