gjm

Pressed the owner/seller for the rego to be sorted. He is taking it for a WoF tomorrow - if it passes, then rego will be renewed. If not, rego will be put on hold.

https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors/cars/bmw/listing/4305264355

1 hour ago, KwS said:

Should just put it on hold for him, you dont need to be the registered owner to do so online.

There'll be back payments required to cover the period from December through now. I keep telling the owner it needs to be done!

9 hours ago, Eagle said:

Doesn't even have a wof so who knows. Not sure why the owner doesn't get one?

4 hours ago, swapsndeals said:

Good point if it passes wof would make it easy to sell even a wof check would be handy

Agreed. This, and not having put the rego on hold, are red flags for a buyer.

I have advised the rego (at the very least) should be sorted. 

2 hours ago, Olaf said:

$35k? "He's dreamin'".

@gjm It does rather look like you're selling it.  Is he lazy and duped you in to doing this work for free, or just inept and you've swooped in to help out?  As the champion of "all e30's are over-priced and not good value", I'd have expected a very different estimate from you!  

I've said I think $35k is too high, and that I'd expect offers under $30k. The rarity of a PFL M325i could easily add to the value, but it'd need a buyer who is specifically looking for that.

Not my car, not my sale. Just trying to help out.

24 minutes ago, Olaf said:

So where are you in all this Graham?  Are you the seller's agent?  

My view:  it looks like it came out the showroom as an M325i.  Plenty of changes throughout it's life.  It's down at heel, and rough around the edges.  Assume it needs a full fluids and rubbers changeout, as there's no mention of folders full of history, or regular maintenance.  It needs re-rego and WoF.  It's looking neglected.  You haven't mentioned Mileage?  Also the current owner is the son of the first owner - who was the second owner?

It will never be a $50k car - it'd need two things to get close: 1) a full restoration including back to Tech 1 spec, and collectors are understandably picky about milege and provenance - it's only original once!  2) a market cycle or two, and a strong economy to make this attractive to someone cashed-up in ten years or so.  In order to make that worthwhile, you'd want $10k headroom (margin) on a current sell price ($35k if *really* tidy and back to tech 1?), and $15-20k to sort everything out (paint and body, correct trim, suspension, and really addressing an old (and possibly neglected car.  You do the math on what the buy price is to make it work.

Or, you view it as a driver.  Accept it as a bitser, it's got bits of tech 1, bits of tech 2, and needs a tidy.  You're not going to try and make it what it's not, you just want it clean tidy and ready to dance.  $15-20k would be a generous bid, and you'll be putting in $5-10k to get it sorted so you can drive it anywhere in the country and it won't let you down - you might not get the aircon fixed in there though.

Nothing in it for me. I was approached by the owner and asked what I thought "my car is worth" - at the time there was no mention of it even possibly being a M325i. That came out later.

Given Jons advice around code 333, I agree - it was a M325i when bought new.

The rest? Yes. I've tried to present it as honestly as possible. Mileage is shown in one of the pics as just shy of 221000km. I'll ask about service history, and I have advised the seller that he needs to sort the rego before sale. It's not yet a re-rego as that expired in December last year, giving up to 12 months to get it sorted before de-registration. There will be a back-payment even if simply having rego put on hold.

The price is definitely open to negotiation, but I'll not be involved in that. The seller has posted in on TradeMe now, with a $35k tag. I do think that is very optimistic.

5 hours ago, Sammo said:

Ahhh I did wonder if it was the one in question from your other thread but for some reason I had assumed it was a tech 2.

The bodywork makes it look like one.

10 hours ago, Sammo said:

Mtech 1 / 2 Hybrid?

https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors/cars/bmw/325i/listing/4300604823

Interesting, I don't think the leather interior hurts it at all but definately looks like it needs some love.

https://bimmersport.co.nz/topic/68350-1987-e30-m325i/

49 minutes ago, E30 325i Rag-Top said:

Something weird going on with the VIN decode though - three sets of wheels on one car..??

I've seen that on several M325i decodes. I suspect it is a case of mistransposition of details, or BMW having changed the use of an option code at some point.

59 minutes ago, Jono51 said:

Maybe this one is more suited to the budget perhaps 

 

cheapest E30 on trademe 🙂

https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/marketplace/toys-models/die-casts/corgi/listing/4287582913

 

FSH, very low running costs, always garaged, never seen a wet road...

This is an on-behalf post. I'll answer questions as best I can, and refer to the owner for those that I can't.
I recently posted here to try and identify with some certainty whether a given vehicle was a true M325i. On balance, it seems likely this one is.

NZ new 1987 Diamant-Schwarz 325i with all relevant M325i attributes. Purchased from Shelley Motors in Wellington who (I think) were bought out by Jeff Gray. Absolute, categoric confirmation that this is a M325i is difficult but it fits the description, and that is what the first owner has said it was bought as.

Of particular note are the following options:

0209 - Differential lock 25%
0339 - Shadow line
0481 - Sports seat
0704 - M Sports suspension
0708 - M Sports steering wheel leather

And it has the black headlining.

3 owners from new; current owner is the son of the first owner and lives in Auckland. He is moving to Australia and selling the car here rather than taking it with him.

Let's get the warts out of the way.
The dash is cracked, the air conditioning is shot, there are some seal issues, and some floor pan rust is starting to creep in. The interior was changed at some point from the original houndstooth to full leather due to wear and tear - it's in good condition, but it's not original. Original 15" basket weaves had cracked and were disposed of some 10-12years ago instead of being repaired/reconditioned - it is currently fitted with after- market Bayern wheels.

Paintwork is reasonable with some fairly minor wear and tear. There was a respray 6 or so years ago.

At some point it was involved in a minor accident and required a new front skirt. The repairer couldn’t source an original part, so a later piece was fitted.

No other major work has ever been required.

WoF expired in September last year; rego expired in December 2022. I have advised the owner that he should at least put the rego on hold but that back-rego will be due when that is done.

Pics attached. If there is anything in particular that anyone interested would like to see, please let me know.

Pricing is tricky. Truly excellent examples of the facelift E30 M325i has listed at $50k or more, but prices have come back a bit since then. The PFL cars are rarer, but this one does need work to return it to excellent, original condition. The owner has had some quoting done and estimates $12k or so to get this car to where it should be.
I'll pitch this at $30k but will discuss further with the owner.

What's involved in sorting one of these? Considering a vehicle and this will need doing.

I understand the crankshaft damper can also be an issue - I replaced this on the E46 320d (M47B20) after it made a horrible knocking noise! Helluva job. That bolt is tight.

OK - from the M3 to a more mundane example.

1987 318i automatic. So, the M10B18 (great engine!)

Sensible mileage, decent but not outstanding condition (and not claimed to be), a coupe, no sunroof... Needs manual window winders to be a true poverty spec (my favourite).

https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors/cars/bmw/listing/4290703953

2 hours ago, Sammo said:

Whats the colour, out of interest?

(Another) Diamant-Schwarz.

https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors/cars/bmw/listing/4289575679

1988 E30 M3 - listed at $125k.

However, TM description says:

"Damaged import check

This vehicle was imported into New Zealand with obvious damage or deterioration. This alert will not appear if the vehicle had superficial dents to some of its body panels."

Which doesn't mean it is a bad car - lots of M3s were raced, significantly crashed, rebuilt, and sell for BIG money. Just something to be aware of.

I have some pics of the car in question, and it is for sale. This was entirely an attempt to ensure that if it were to be described as a M325i in any advertising, that the car would in fact be a M325i.

It has a black headlining.  

I'm not the seller of the car, but have been sent some pics. I'm waiting for contact details for the seller before listing it - depending on what the seller wants to do, contact may be via me, or may be direct to the current owner. However, until that is sorted, I'll sit tight.

It's not a fabulous, minty-fresh, unmolested example as some changes have been made over the years, but pricing will reflect that. 

Looks like a decent deal.

Just wish I had something that they'd fit!

34 minutes ago, Sammo said:

https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors/cars/bmw/325i/listing/4286829678

Possibly the nicest one I've seen since that Red $64K one in the height of the frenzy?

$57k would be a push for a modified UK import however.

Looks great but not much info on the listing and always hard to tell with pics.

Granitssilver is great and very rare.

Very pretty.

Very high price.

(And - for me! - the rims are too big, for this money I'd definitely be looking for the real thing and not replicas, and the stretched tyres... 🤢 )

57 minutes ago, BM WORLD said:

space saver needs to be 17" min to clear the brakes

and ET18 for a e60 , 3 series type wont work 

Thanks Brent.
Beyond my experience - I'd hoped someone who knew more would be able to help!

OK - I have pics and details.

The rim looks to have come from an E46 - part number is 1095264. I found specific mention of this part number being supplied with a 1999 328i, but it looks like a general supply for the E46 and E36 Z3.

Tyre is a Continental, size 125/90-16. This will be about 1" smaller in overall diameter than your 225/50-17 (it'd be perfect match for temporarily replacing a 205/55-17) so it's a touch large for a stock E46 replacement. Use it on a non-drive axle and obey the speed 80km/h restriction.

The tyre is not cracked. The whole thing needs a clean.
Biggest concern is whether it would actually fit over the brake calipers. I've no idea about that.
 

I have a new, unused 'narrow' space saver here. Full size tyre so not one that you have to inflate before use.

I'll try to get out to the garage to get more details this evening.

6 minutes ago, Neil McCauley said:

Bored on a Saturday night, crunched the colour numbers of MT2 still on the road in NZ:

...

If you're still bored, could you do the same for MTech 1 cars? I think these were only built in 1986 and 1987.

2 hours ago, C-130 Hercules said:

... And you can always email BMW Classic classic@bmwgroup.com 

Not sure they'll be able to help as if the M325i was a NZ-only (dealer-prepared) car they are unlikely to have any relevant info.

(Let's not get mixed up with the 325i Sport!)

2 hours ago, Neil McCauley said:

Not really sure I understand the question? Should be fairly black and white - if the spec sheet has option code 333 for an mt1, and 335 for an mt2 it's an m325i. 

All of the m325i goodies were also a either factory option, or available as dealer retrofit aside from one, which is the black headliner - it wasn't even listed as an option if you run the vin of an m325i, so if it's got the headliner, you can be fairly sure you're looking at the genuine article. 

Code 333 is for 'Light Alloy Wheels Star-Spoke Style 105 With Mixed Tyres.' It doesn't denote a 'M325i' - as I understood (I could well be wrong!) the M325i was not a BMW factory car. It was a NZ dealer special created from selected parts, in response to the M3 not being sold here. As such, no amount of factory-original VIN decoding is likely to help.

However, the car I'm helping with has:
S333 Light Alloy Wheels Star-Spoke Style 105 With Mixed Tyres
S339 Shadow-Line
S704 M Sports Suspension
S708 M Sports Steering Wheel Leather

It also has the other options associated with a M325i, including:
S481 Sports Seat
S209 Differential Lock 25%

Most telling (for me) though is a VIN decode 'feature' which appears common to all M325i cars:
S333 Light Alloy Wheels Star-Spoke Style 105 With Mixed Tyres
S288 BMW Light Alloy Wheel, Cross Spoke 29
S311 Light-Alloy Wheels Star-Spoke Style 69 Brilliant

Note that the M-Tech bodykit is not mentioned in the VIN decode as (again, as I have understood) this was dealer-fitted in NZ as a part of the M325i spec. It could also have been ordered from te factory but was typically not a feature of the M325i cars.

The black headliner is an interesting one. 👍  I'll check on that.