1988 BMW 325ix Coupe 5sp Red Interior, Tons of New Parts + Lots of Spare Parts

1988 BMW 3-Series E30 325ix Additional Info:

Purchased in January 2012 with 206k on the clock, from New Mexico. Has mostly been garage kept while in my possession. I have the original Car and Driver article for this car. Production Date is 11/87, also referenced as “early” when you see early vs late references for some parts. Most spare parts are from a single other 88 325ix with a 9/87 production. Hasn’t been driven the past handful of years due to the process of tearing it down and rebuilding the engine and replacing many other parts around the car (all done/kept in insulated garage); car ran great before, but I planned on keeping it for a very long time/never planned to sell, so I decided to start the process of full rebuild and bring it back to near day-one condition. Unfortunately with finally getting it on the road again/spending more time driving, realizing it doesn’t physically work for me anymore and want to pass it on to someone that will enjoy it, this is and probably will always be the best & most fun car I’ve ever driven.

I will still do a more in depth wipe down and take decal off window before handing it off. Have a lot more pictures from the rebuild, receipts/part numbers used for the parts purchased for rebuild, video of “jack test” for AWD system working. Replaced the original tan interior with new black carpet and cardinal red interior. Car comes with a load of spare parts, see some notes below and uploaded pictures. Paint on body in decent shape, just a little “sun faded” due to coming from the south-west, and has some minor “rust” spots repairs needed from the usual rock chips; car has expected wear for it’s age but have not seen any concerning rust in/under/around the car, floor pans are in great shape, and hasn’t been driven in much of any salt while up in the Midwest. Have changed the oil a couple of times already for the break-in process, sent some out to Blackstone for testing and came back clean, report in pics.

Description:

- Cruise control works, all main lights around the car work.

o Few need bulbs or a fixed connector: driver fog light, passenger light over door, rear under window brake light.

- Instrument cluster / gauges all working, radio works.

- Antenna goes up/down & new seal through trunk for antenna

- All windows & sunroof & rear defrost work

- New Weather Tech Mats, all 4. Replaced the carpet, overall fits well but few spots where the forming wasn’t exact.

- 3 sets of wheels: (have many of the caps for the basket weaves)

o 15” Basket Weaves: Silver/original finish, no tires mounted

o 15” Basket Weaves: Coated Black, red reflective stripe around rim.

§ Started using at 235,607mi. New Sept 2025, 205/55R15 Ecsta 4X II (KU22) XLV

o 15” Ronal:

§ Started using at 237,180mi. New Dec 2025, 195/60R15 Michelin X-Ice Snow XL

- Significant rebuild and replacement of components, see below list. Loads of spare parts.

Notable items that should get done / are not “perfect”, just have not gotten to yet:

- Driver door lock mechanism needs a part replaced. Door works and locks fine via central locking system, just the key device has an issue inside the door. I have the broken off part to make sure the right replacement gets ordered.

- Dash has some cracks but still overall in good shape. Have complete spare dash that can be swapped in, better condition but couple small cracks.

- Some interior trim clips could be fixed up/replaced for the door cards, but are currently secured.

- Windshield does have a couple small impact chips/cracks, but all small, have been there since before I had the car, and have never spread/gotten larger. So it is still plenty solid/not critical.

- Fixing of chips in paint from rocks/usual road stuff, mostly on hood and mirrors.

Downtime/Tear Down Work Completed: Engine and other parts rebuilt/replaced at 235,607mi, noted items are all new unless specifically stated otherwise.

- Engine:

o Complete teardown to every individual component, deep clean

o Piston rings, clips for piston pin

o All gaskets, o-rings, seals, bearings, belts, etc. related to the engine

o Valve Guides & Valve Seals

o Thermostat, thermostat housing, temp sensor (orange)

o Complete deep clean & prep of block & head

o Spark plugs: Bosch WR-8-LC+ (7909)

o Camshaft: upgraded slightly to a new billet 272 deg

o Rocker arms & associated hardware

o Fuel injectors: Bosch OEM

o Ignition wires

o Replaced ignition coil with a good condition spare

o Most coolant hoses are new: All blue hoses are new, handful of black hoses are new, few others were cleaned/looked over for condition/reused.

- Brakes/Clutch/Fuel:

o Pads, Rotors, bleeders, e-brake cables, complete e-brake system in the hubs/rear rotors (shoes, clips, bolts, springs, etc.), tore down calipers-cleaned-and replaced piston seals.

o Clutch: Spec

o SS Brake lines, all 4 corners. (the brake lining sensors are mostly broken/wires torn from over the years, so did not replace / not really an important item).

o Clutch slave cylinder, bleeder, including line replaced with SS line

o Fuel filter

o Most rubber fuel lines on/around fuel tank, fuel filter, fuel lines in engine bay, drained tank & flushed new fuel through, pulled and cleaned pump / sending unit.

o Fuel pressure regulator

- Drivetrain:

o Front Diff: main gasket, drain bolt, axle seals & o-ring

o Tie rods, complete w/ ball joints, and boots

o Some axle boots that were showing cracking were replaced

o IE short shift kit/assembly, bushing, and billet knob with classic BMW logo

o Front control arm ball joints and bushings

o Engine mounts

- Fluids fully flushed & replaced:

o Front diff: Valvoline, full synthetic, 75W-90 GL-5 API

o Center diff: Valvoline, full synthetic ATF, import

o Rear diff: Valvoline, full synthetic, 75W-90 GL-5 API

o Transmission: Redline GL-4 75W80 API

o Power steering: Valvoline, full synthetic ATF, import

o Brake/clutch system: Prestone Brake Fluid, DOT 4, synthetic

o Coolant: Prestone 50/50, European vehicles, blue

o Oil: BMW SAE5W30 Longlife-01 (couple of changes already to push things through with being a rebuild), sent oil to Blackstone for testing too.

- Other:

o Exhaust gaskets, including the mid-pipe metal rings & hardware.

o Supports for exhaust; rubber ones and metal for muffler brackets

o Replaced all fuses and some relays with the best condition ones for good measure, previous ones did all still work though.

o Misc. hardware across the car.

o New Battery summer of 2025

o Washer fluid system (replaced all hoses, connections, nozzles in hood, some wiring/connections)

o Etc.

- Interior/Misc:

o Glove box latch/lock rebuilt

o Replaced number of switches with best condition ones from the stash

o Suade shift boot

o Replaced sun visors with good condition ones, pivot/articulation works

o Rearview mirror map lights work

o Replaced 12v outlet, works

o New Weather Tech mats

o Racing bucket seat, rails do have front/back adjustment.

o Rebuilt instrument cluster (bulbs, cleaned up, replaced ODO gears cause plastic was old and breaking down after sitting unused during rebuild)

o New carpet w/ thick backing (pretty good install, few spots where the forming from the carpet company wasn’t the best, but was specifically formed for an e30 coupe.)

Past Notable Maintenance / Information:

- Spring 2012, replaced all struts, Bilstein HD (at around 207k miles).

- Summer 2012 power steering rack replaced

- A/C compressor removed. Worked, still have most parts, but just for cutting weight.

- ABS module unplugged, was randomly kicking off and on, still have the unit.

Spare Parts: (most parts all came from the same donor 88 325ix, with 9/87 build date)

- M20B25 Block, bored “20” over. head, crankshaft, oil pan, other engine internals.

- Front suspension

- Full set of axels (some CV boots are split)

- Center diff, Rear diff, Final drive(front diff)

- Both drive shafts

- Intake manifold

- Starter

- Power steering pumps

- Fan w/ clutch

- Transmission

- Steering wheel

- Water pump

- Window motor setups (multiple)

- Lot of electrical parts, components, fuse & main engine loom

- Oil pan take up system / pump

Spare Materials:

- -Rear diff seal kit

- -Power steering pump seal kit

- -Full car cover specific for this car

- -Lots of elec items: switches, components, relays, modules