Living with a Classic E30 BMW 325i Touring Across 2500 Miles

Celebrating 50 years of the BMW 3 Series, the author purchased a 1990 E30-generation 325i Touring. After selling a Porsche 944 four years earlier, the goal was to own a simple, light, rear-wheel-drive manual car that is mechanical yet comfortable enough for long trips. This example cost less than a new Renault Clio and features factory air conditioning, a limited-slip differential, and Bilstein dampers.

Soon after purchase, the car was taken to Classic Bahnstormers for a detailed appraisal costing £456. The inspection revealed that the car was in good condition with minimal rust, though it required attention to items like a leaky radiator, perished fuel hoses, air conditioning, suspension, and central locking. To benchmark the ride and handling, the author swapped cars with a colleague who owns a 1986 325i Sport saloon with Bilstein B6 dampers and standard M Technic springs, proving that the author’s car could be improved with fresh suspension bushes, springs, and tyres.

Approaching a year of ownership, the author embarked on a 2,500-mile road trip from the UK to Portugal via the Portsmouth-Santander ferry. The E30 handled the journey effortlessly, maintaining high motorway speeds, delivering 30 MPG, and fitting through narrow medieval streets. However, the trip brought out classic-car quirks, including a leaking heater matrix, a soaked headlining after rain, difficult starting, and a temperamental driver’s door.

Following the trip, the car returned to the specialist for major repairs. The heating and ventilation system was overhauled using a US-made kit to convert the air conditioning to modern R134a refrigerant, alongside a replacement heater matrix, a fixed central locking system, a new aerial, a failing fuel pump, and a retro Bluetooth- and DAB-equipped Blaupunkt Frankfurt radio. With these mechanical issues resolved, attention now turns to replacing the aftermarket sport springs and Uniroyal RainSport tyres to improve the car’s dry-weather handling.