gjm

Don't forget 'perfect condition for year'. Perfect is an absolute. It either is, or it isn't. There is no qualifier! (I've no issue with people asking questions - I absolutely appreciate a desire to know as much as possible, especially if viewing isn't practical for whatever reason.)

Ad says: "One owner for 27 years..." Question - "Any service history from before you bought it?"

Then there's the 'organised' flip side - the questions from non-buyers which start with "Looks like a great car!" and go on to either praise the seller, praise the car, or offer opportunities to compare to lesser examples.

BMW will expand its offering of paid-for on-demand services and functions with future models – but sales boss Pieter Nota has said they are not considering charging customers to activate hardware-based functions in the future. As with many car firms, BMW is using the increasing connectivity of cars to offer over-the-air updates, which can include the ability to add new functions. Last year they controversially offered a monthly subscription to activate heated seats in some models. Asked how BMW will ensure customers don’t feel they’re being made to pay extra for functions they would previously have expected as standard, Pieter Nota said: “We have some experience with that, and testing how the customer responds is part of that process. “We actually are now focusing with those ‘functions on demand’ on software and service-related products, like driving assistance and parking assistance, which you can add later after purchasing the car, or for certain functions that require data transmission that customers are used to paying for in other areas. “What we don’t do any more – and that is a very well-known example – is offer seat heating by this way. It’s either in or out. We offer it by the factory and you either have it or you don’t have it. “We thought that we would provide an extra service to the customer by offering the chance to activate that later, but the user acceptance isn’t that high. People feel that they paid double – which was actually not true, but perception is reality, I always say. So that was the reason we stopped that.” When asked which services BMW could charge for, Nota said: “What we find is software-based services, like downloading a parking assist product, is very well accepted. People know it’s a certain piece of software they can download that costs money. It’s the same as downloading a film or an extra feature on an app. That is accepted and we do that increasingly successfully.”

Rego ow on hold. I think it failed the WoF but I don't have details. Edit: Failed on a headlight out of adjustment and a 'small power steering fluid leak'. Both issues are booked to be addressed on Monday of next week.

Electric? No. (And I do think hydrogen presents a better future.) H2R - 6.0-litre V12 zero carbon emissions.mp4

Alternator died. Got house. Lost job 1 week later. Water pump died.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

The bodywork makes it look like one.

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

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.

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