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Rightly so, I’ve been accused of comparing everything to BMWs – so for today’s 10K Friday, I thought why not compare BMWs to BMWs? Part of the reason I compare various cars I write up to the alternative BMW products is because for some time they have been considered the benchmark, and their popularity from new to the used classic market means that they set the pricing trends against which others can be judged. That’s especially true of the 3 series; for some time, the go-to performance product from Germany, increasingly many earlier generations of the 3 are being viewed as not only collectable, but indeed as investments. So, what does your $10,000 budget buy these days? I’ve rounded up five examples from the first five generations, covering nearly every configuration the small executive platform has been available in. Which is the winner?
The 1989 BMW 325ix we featured last month did not sell and is back up on offer. With four doors and a five-speed manual, this one should grab the attention of the E30 fanatics.
The below post originally appeared on our site June 30, 2015:
This 325ix looks like a complete time capsule, but digging deeper reveals an E30 that has been subtly enhanced and revamped at no small cost to the previous owner. The whole drivetrain has just 60k miles, and the interior and exterior have been updated to look even better than stock. In addition to a high-quality repaint, the door moldings have been shaved to provide a clean contrast to the ix’s standard M-Tech body kit. No badges or spoilers here, just a very sharp 4-door sedan hiding all-wheel drive and a smooth inline-6. The interior has been updated with some leather/cloth Recaros to continue the slightly-better-than-stock theme. The biggest detractions are the overall mileage (236k) and the autobox, but the pristine condition and overall package still have the seller asking for strong (but reasonable) E30 money.
Manual, all-wheel drive station wagon. Magic words almost for those in the northern climates or for those seeking the cure for the common SUV. BMW passed up the chance to offer one of their most versatile cars to US customers in the late 1980s. Now, 25 years on, we see just how popular it could have been with enthusiasts importing E30 Touring at a rapid clip. The E30 Touring was offered in “ix” trim, giving an added all-weather dimension to this compact hauler. This 325ix for sale in Florida has got the goods. Reasonable miles, 5-speed manual and left-hand drive.
When it rains, it pours. The BMW E30 325ix was not a huge seller during its lifetime and of course fewer examples exists today. Over 2.3 million E30s were produced, of which less than 30,000 had the “ix” suffix on their decklid. We’ve seen several clean examples over the last two weeks, both in sedan and coupe form. This 1989 325ix sedan comes to us from our reader Mike. This was originally an automatic car but received a 5-speed manual swap. For a car with just over 170,000 miles, it is a real minter and wears its original paint. This is one you surely won’t miss as it tears its way through the snow drifts.
