Back to Basics: 1988 BMW 325i E30

I love featuring random crazy kit cars and super well preserved malaise era boats as much as the next guy, but there are times when you've got to get back to basics when it comes to finding your "daily turismo".  Let's rewind the clock to July 17th, 2012 when this little website was first launched, and some dude (me) wrote that cars on DT would be; Fun (which was loosely defined as: 1) Manual transmission 2) Rear wheel drive 3) Fast) and Cheap.  That's it.  So here is something that gets back to basics. Find this 1988 BMW 325i E30 offered for $3300 in Phoenix, AZ via craigslist. Tip from FuelTruck.

Der Camino: 1986 BMW 325i

The E30 generation BMW 3-series was available with a number of different body styles, including a 2-door sedan, a 4-door sedan, a 4-door station wagon, a 2-door convertible, and a 2-door pickup El Camino version...whoa....wait, what?  I only wish that this was a BMW built thing, because the world needs more Utes. Find this 1986 BMW 325i offered for $8900 in Los Angeles, CA via craigslist.

Hard to Tell: 1988 BMW 325i Convertible

This next car comes as a tip from Art C who writes:  Hard to tell if its a diamond in the rough or a poorly polished turd. If it's even somewhat sorted seems to be a great buy!  That just about describes EVERY car I find on craigslist these days...but I digress. Find this 1988 BMW 325i Convertible offered for $3,500 in Rhode Island via craigslist.

All The Wheels: 1989 BMW 325ix E30

BMW built an astonishing 2.5 million E30s in coupe, sedan, estate & convertible trim from 1982 through 1994. The ursprünglicher gangster BMW 3-series was a successful yuppy-mobile when new and has generated a significant cult following as a cheap, fun & reliable sports sedan...but don't expect the prices of the sporty all-wheel-drive 325ix version with a manual gearbox to stay low for much longer. Find this 1989 BMW 325ix here on eBay bidding for $4,050 reserve-not-met with 6 days to go, located in Encino, CA.

What Is That Pedal For? 1989 BMW 325i E30

Unless you've been hiding under an old BMW for the past few weeks, you probably have read something about the new 2019 BMW 3-series, and you may have caught that it launches without a manual gearbox option!?!?  That's it, I've had it -- I'm never buying a new BMW again...oh...wait...I've never purchased a new BMW and probably wouldn't if I had Bill Gates' money because used BMWs are so delectably cheap and available with manual gearboxes and non-hideous styling.  Like this 1989 BMW 325i offered for $3,500 in SF Bay Area, CA via craigslist.

End of an Era: 2006 BMW 325xi Touring

The E91 BMW was part of the E90/E91/E92/E93 generation of BMWs 3-series was introduced in the 2006 model year for the USA with a number of sweet sounding inline-6s.  It was the last generation of BMW's iconic compact executive sedan to use a conventional hydraulic steering assist (electric power steering = yuck!) and naturally aspirated inline-6 engines. Find this 2006 BMW 325xi Touring offered for $10,995 in Seattle, WA via craigslist. Tip from Patrick.

V8 Swapped! 1987 BMW 325i LT1

The E30 generation Chevrolet 325i was built only for the 1987 model year with an LT1 powerplant and German styling.  Wait...that isn't right.  Except, it is right...allllll right.  Find this 1987 BMW 325i LT1 offered for $3,000 in Woodland, CA via craigslist.  Tip from Rock On!

Built Turbo: 1987 BMW 325i E30

Words and tip from DT regular Jeff G: So, one day, you're minding your own business and driving down the highway in your late model supercharged CTS-V or turbo Porsche or whatever, only to be taunted by a primer grey, 30-ish year old Beemer.... 3 series at that. Because he at least took the time to polish his wheels, you decide to give the young padawan a clinic on power and speed.  Find this 1987 BMW 325i offered for $10,000 in Tulsa, OK via craigslist.

You Had Me At "La Strada": 1979 BMW 335 ElCsi

I could be biased, but nobody does stuff better than the Italians.  While the rest of the world was living in animal-skin huts the Italians built the worlds oldest still functioning building (the Pantheon) out of stone. A few centuries later the Italians created what is certainly the most beautiful fine art ever conceived with marble, oil, and canvas. In the 20th century, there was this little company called Ferrari -- I'll just let you make your own conclusions -- but even today the Italians continue to hit them out of the park.  Like this 1979 BMW 335 ElCsi offered for 18,500 € ($19,575 USD at this time). Tip from James.

Black Iron Racing's Bavarian Brougham On Roadkill

DT's resident clutch dumper CFlo has been tearing up the track in Black Iron Racing's LM7 V8 powered BMW, read all about it in this article by Muliree Martin on Roadkill. Way to go CFlo, listener Dan, and NT!

Hair Dryer: 1990 BMW 325i Convertible

The E30 generation BWM 3-series offers an affordable entry into rear-drive German luxury, but in stock trim they can be a bit lackadaisical in straight line performance.  But that is easily solved with an M50 engine swap and a giant cantaloupe sized turbocharger.  Find this 1990 BMW 325i Convertible here on eBay bidding for $6,200 in Yorktown, VA.

E36 M3 Swap: 1989 BMW 325i E30

If you are confused when BMdubheads get into their nomenclature, you are not alone.  And you don't need to know the difference between an E36 and an E37 to understand the appeal of a rear-drive manual-transmission sport sedan from Germany. Find this 1989 BMW 325i E30 offered for $12,500 in San Diego, CA via craigslist.

The Black Iron Racing Bavarian Brougham v2.0

or How to Build a Crappy Race Car out of a $200 BMW and an LM7

by CFlo

With all of the V8 swapped oddballs we like to feature here on DT, we had to eventually start practicing what we preach. This build was over 3 years in the making, and we finally ran it this October in its maiden 24 Hours of Lemons endurance race at Buttonwillow Raceway Park in California's dusty Central Valley. Time to share!

The story started in 2012 with the first incarnation of our newest build for the 24 Hours of Lemons. It was a 1993 BMW 325i (E36) 4-door that old friend Dan (Listener Dan of DT Radio fame) had bought back in Michigan about 10 years earlier. Needless to say, there was rust. At the time, there weren’t any other E36s in Lemons that we knew of, so we figured the rust would help our cause in convincing the judges this was a $500 car. In California you’d be hard pressed to find someone to pay $250 for this thing except as a parts car.

E36 Custom: 1996 BMW 357i V8

BMW introduced the 3rd generation of their 3-series in 1990, and the lineup included sedans, coupes, hatchbacks, and wagons with inline engines.  The fastest has always been the BMW Motorsports designed M3 version, but many people have discovered that Chevrolet's fantastic GenIII small block V8 fits between the shock towers...and the rest is history.  Find this 1996 BMW 357i V8 offered for $15,000 CAD ($11,515 USD) in Medicine Hat, Alberta, Canada via Kijiji.ca.  Tip from Jeff.

S52 Powered: 1990 BMW 325i

The E30 generation BMW 3-series offers one of the better cost to fun ratios for a compact sport sedan -- but modern cars are so bloody fast that you'll find your classic 5-speed 80s sedan getting schooled at the stop lights by an EV Spark. Obviously the answer is to hot rod it...or buy the other guy's hard work for pennies on the dollar.  Find this 1990 BMW 325i offered for $9000 in Flagstaff, AZ via craigslist.

The Ultimate Zoom Zoom: 1992 BMW 325 with Mazda 12A Rotary

The E36 generation BMW 3-series was released in 1990 with "dolphin shape" styling by Darrin Boyer and Joji Nagashima -- but this car isn't known for its styling, it is known as the benchmark for 90s sedan handling.  The Z-axle multilink suspension out back and MacPherson strut with rack-n-pinion up front wasn't tuned to punish you, but offers superb balance in most driving conditions.  Matched with a torquey inline-6 the 325 makes a great canyon carver...but what happens when you swap a rotary Mazda engine?  Find this 1992 BMW 325 with Mazda 12A offered for $4,000 in Cape Coral, FL.

Axis Combo: 1987 BMW 325i, Nissan VH45DE V8

The BMW E30 3-series is a popular car for modification -- it was produced in great numbers, has a huge fan-base, and handles like a modern car.  This means that all kinds of engines get shoved in the front, mostly larger/better/later BMW inline-6s, a few BMW V8s, LSX V8s (of course), but this one is certainly an interesting choice.  Find this 1987 BMW 325i with Nissan VH45DE V8 power offered for $6,200 in Tustin, CA via craigslist.

Seller Submission: 1990 BMW 325i E30

This next feature is a seller submission from Mike who writes:  Yes, this is my car.  I have decided to thin the herd and focus on a smaller number of vehicles.  It's time to send this one to another garage will someone will put more miles on it. Find this 1990 BMW 325i offered for $4,000 in Richmond, VA via craigslist.