It’s drop-top season and a red BMW is the perfect ride for a spirited canyon run, a Sunday brunch outing, or a picnic. More on that later!
The Pick of the Day is a low-mileage 1987 BMW 325i convertible listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a private seller in Branford, Connecticut. (Click the link to view the listing)
This car comes from the second generation of the popular 3 Series, which used the “E30” chassis and was produced beginning in 1982 as a compact executive car. Design for this generation started as far back as 1976 under the direction of Claus Luthe. He kept the low front profile and quad headlights that were characteristic of the outgoing E21 model but modernized the look. The E30 was manufactured in a variety of body styles including coupes, convertibles, and station wagons.
In the United States, E30 models had front and rear aluminum bumpers between 1984 and 1987 as seen in today’s feature car. The Cinnabar Red exterior looks nice — which is to be expected for a car showing only 62,579 miles on the odometer. The listing comes with a photo gallery of 60 photos, and the equipment appears largely original. A newer Magnaflow exhaust system has been installed, and the black cloth soft top has also been replaced. The seller states that the power antenna is inoperative.
Power for this drop-top comes from a 2.5-liter inline-six mated to a five-speed manual transmission and a limited-slip differential; this powertrain was rated at 168 horsepower and 164 lb-ft of torque. All E30 models came as rear-wheel drive except for the 325iX which was all-wheel drive.
The seller outlines some of the maintenance that was performed about a year ago: “Service in March 2022 consisted of replacing an oxygen sensor, brake pads and rotors, as well as the fuel pump, filter, pressure regulator, and damper valve.”
The E30 has been a beloved platform in the import tuner communities for years. Today, there are a variety of clubs and organizations devoted to preservation of these cars. In fact, there is even an annual picnic coming up on June 25th in Washington where E30 owners from all around will rendezvous. If you act quickly enough, you could buy this 325i in Connecticut and drive it cross-country to attend!
“Lots of documentation to support its excellent condition,” the listing concludes. The asking price is $21,500, which includes literature, service records, a clean Carfax report, and a New York title.
To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day.
