1989 BMW 325ix

Last Friday, we featured a four door version of the car you see before you, a 1989 BMW 325ix. Like that car we featured last week, this one is equipped with the automatic gearbox option. Enthusiasts will certainly cringe, but as one astute commenter pointed out in our last post, perhaps those cars equipped with a manual gearbox were run a bit more ragged, which is why you see few in good shape come up for sale. This example has over 100,000 miles, but presents very well for its age. In popular Alpine White, it would match the white stuff on the ground a lot of us are struggling to get through this season.

Click for details: 1989 BMW 325ix on eBay

Year: 1989
Model: 325ix
Engine: 2.5 liter inline-6
Transmission: 4-speed automatic
Mileage: 111,800 mi
Price: Reserve auction

1989 BMW 325iX

I am the 3rd owner of this beautiful, two-door, all wheel drive 325iX. Having spent the majority of its life in Houston, Texas this 325iX has never been in a climate to use it for what it was built for and it shows with no signs of rust or abuse. All original paint, body panels etc. with no indication or signs of major body/paint work. This car is ready to drive anywhere and enjoy…

• Exceptionally clean and original both inside and out

• Car had seat covers and the seats look great with little to no wear (only two small smudges on passenger seat, see pic.)

• Dash is crack free

• Door panels are perfect

• A/C blows cold – no leaks

• Heater blows hot

• Heated seats work well

• Transmission shifts smooth

• Engine runs strong, smooth and quiet

• Drives straight and tight

• Brake pads with ~90% life

• Brake rotors smooth and straight

• No check engine lights

• Spare Tire / 5th basket weave wheel

• No rust including under spare tire, or area behind the wheel wells in bottom of trunk

• Full tool set, jack, lug nut wrench

• Two BMW keys and owners manual

• Exhaust – from manifold back – replaced in last few years (BMW sticker still on muffler)

• Rear Shocks replaced in last few years

• Antenna does not work

• Tiny dings on trunk that can be seen in certain light/angles.

• Few other minor scratches, paint chips and small dings in various places. More of what you would expect on a 4 year old car, not a 26 year old car.

• Small bubble in corner of recessed area at the front of the console (see pic.)

Recent Work / Parts Replaced (everything with less than 200 miles, receipts available)

• Timing Belt

• Water pump

• Drive belts

• Some heater and radiator hoses

• Spark plugs

• Cam seal and o-ring

• Valve cover gasket

• Spark plug wires

• Distributor cap / rotor

• Sunroof seal

• Under hood sound damper

• BMW floor mats

• Wheels professionally stripped, repainted (zero curb rash – not even a scratch)

• Four new all-season tires

• Drivers side front CV joints – new grease / boots

Please feel free to email me with any questions or I am happy to speak with you as well (please email your number or I can reply mine). If the car needs to be shipped I will be glad help facilitate shipping arrangements with the buyer. This car really is a quality, clean ride with many years of dependable enjoyment left in it.

I’m a big fan of the flared wheel arches and lower body cladding of the ix models, as they give it a bit more visual interest than the standard E30 without aping a look akin to the M3. We’ve seen a few of these four-wheel drive E30s sell over the past two years, with the meaty part of the value curve hovering in the $7,000 to $10,000 territory for cars with similar mileage to what we see here. This one probably will push the envelope towards $9,000. The gearbox might hold it back a bit, but if you have to have a 325ix, there weren’t many sold here and fewer survive to this day. Right now is a good time to snap up one of these capable classics.

-Paul