In the back of my mind I have a kind of a wish list, cars that I once want to own, if it fits within budget. On this forum I often participate in various discussions and am a frequenly poster in threads about all the Bavarian brand has to offer besides the E21. One of the cars on my list is the E30 convertible. I would like to experience the convertible car, why it's addictive. Additionally, the E30 is also a car of my youth, so a nice combination. Thats why I even started this thread, about the attention points regarding the E30 convertible.
In one of the posts in that thread Jeroen posted the picture of a 1987 325i automatic. Beautiful color combination, Malachit grün with a beige leather interior and in combination with the chromeworks on a E30 Type 1 makes it an desirable car! On behalf of an acquaintance, Jeroen even put this car up for sale on this forum. Seen it, too expensive, not a priority, but a damn nice car.
in the meanwhile I frequently checked http://www.mobile.de. For over 1.5 years there is an '86 325i convertible for sale, 130k km in red. Every now and then the ad is refreshed, but it remains for sale. I have, after following this car for a while, told my Girl that as it is still being offered in the winter season '11-'11, we would go and check it out. But that never happened ...
Early October of this year I recieved a pm from an unknown forummer, who reported that he owned the car from Jeroens ad. He asked me if I was interested in he car. "Okay", you think, "that’s kind of weird..." So I thought about it for a few days and actually called him. Nice fellow, for now I just call him Rwho told me a thing or two about his 325iA. After that I thought about it for a few days, again. Couple of days later he emailed me some more pictures of the car. We’ve some telephone, SMS and email contact. Ping-pong back and forth about the condition of the car and the financial aspect. R. gave me a good feeling about the car and we made the appointment to come and look at the car “anytime soon".
Because R. and his wife live near the North Sea coast (and I had to convince my girl
), I suggested my girl to go on an familytrip for a weekend, a nice hotel, relaxed strolls on the beach, good food, nice restaurants. The works. And of we went, after exploring some nice hotels on the internet and after making an appointment with R. So I took a day leave, loaded up the kids, the stroller and other related junk and of we went last Friday towards the West! Around 11 we were at R.’s and his wife and dogs, where we were welcomed with coffee and tea. Nice people with gasoline in their veins. R. told about his history with cars and about selling his collection in order to make room and money for other plans. Including a Porsche 911 and a 320iS which he sold to a member of this forum and a friend of his.After exchanging enthusiastic stories was time to check the car. The car has stood in storage for over 4 years, whose owner is now deceased. R. had taken the car home because the storage will be demolished. The car was nicely washed and cleaned and in the garage. After an initial inspection in the garage, on, under, behind, in and around the car, we rolled it out in the daylight and took a closer look.
Option List:
• Alpina's
• 4X winter tire on 14 "steel
• 4x 14 "BBS
• Radio with CD changer
• Beige leather interior with sports seats
• 4x electric windows
• Alpina steering wheel
• Foglights in front
• Almost brandnew convertible top
• Wiesmann hardtop and roof rack with mounting brackets
• Wind deflector
Points of attention:
• Major maintenance, including D-belt, water pump and tensioner etc, including all of the fluids, incluiding the gearboxoil, valve ajustment, new thermostat housing and thermostat, brake overhaul
• frontskirt below bumper is rusted on both sides and has a dent near the right fog light
• Rear skirt below the rear bumper is dented, driven against something solid I guess
• lose seam at the backseat and driversseat
• gearbox covered in oil, probably due to a dried out gasket or seal or something like that
• Color lock on the leather is badly needed
After another nice chat with R. and his wife we left. Drove along the coast down south towards Scheveningen. We booked a nice hotel with a nice spacious room. Had a delicious meal, with our little kids. It was the first time that our youngest went with us on an overnight trip. After a good night we had a wonderful day at the beach. Enjoyed strolling, picking shells (there is much to discover for a toddler) and shouting at the sea. At the end of the day went home.
On the beach, at the hotel, on the way home, Malachit grün thoughts were in my head. Talked about it for about 80,000 times with my girl, what is wise, another car, spend money or not, finish the 323i first or postpone that one even more (you spend it only once, right?) will I come across some unexpected things lateron? will I than two projects? and more of those thoughts.
Finally last mondaymorning I called R. and put my thoughts on the table. After some back and forth talking, I called my prize and R. could "live with it." That's nice because I also can. A deal must match on both sides. So it was on a very foggy Monday morning calling from my 118d on the A32 somewhere near Akkrum, The Netherlands, that I became the owner of a E30 325iA Malachit grün convertible, at least, virtually. The car must just be transferred in to my name of course.
The Price: I think I bargained a very good price. Deal of the Week? I really hope not, because I want to enjoy my purchases in stead of what happened to my 323i. I hope for more luck, do have faith in R. 's story and whatever more I've heard about the car and R. The car was built in November 1986, coincidentally the 323i was also built in November, but in '78. The 325iA is built in '86 but in '87 put on plate. In the Netherlands up to 1-1-2012 a car becomes taxfree after reaching the age of 25 years R. has received a letter from the tax authorities that the car taxfree is based on the certificate of BMW. But after 1-1-2012 the taxlaws will change. What that means in the context of the new taxlaw I do not know, but in the worst case max I pay tax for a year and after that its also free.
Planning for the 325iA to pick it up it a week or two. Then just put it next to the shell of the 323i. Sometime in January, I’ll make start on the maintenance. The goal is to have the car up and running sometime in March or April to get it MOT approved. Want to get is technically sound first and then perhaps lateron some cosmetic improvements. If this one is ready to ride, the 323i is priority number one.
And now some pics perhaps?
. The metal it selve is also very thin, so it looks to me it’s an imitation, not to good paintjob and no primercoating. How rotten it is? Everywhere I touched it, it started to crumble. Even on spots that didn’t look rusty to begin with.
