Learn my 1986 BMW 325: Grassroots Motorsports forum: Grassroots Motorsports Magazine

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Feb. 23, 2011 8:24 a.m. DaveEstey HalfDork

Car looks clean as a whistle and is currently owned by a group that sponsors my club's races and once in a while comes racing themselves.

220,492 Miles One Owner Non-Smoker Have Original Manuals Have All Keys No Known Mechanical Problems

"1986 325 coupe, 5-Speed Manual, Schwartz Black with Hounds Tooth cloth. This car has been well sorted out mechanically by our shop and has a great body for a 25 year old car. We have serviced this car for many years and will provide all service histroy we have. This car will be very reliable and inexpensive to run for anyone on a budget."

What do I look for? This would be a daily driver.
Feb. 23, 2011 11:50 a.m. itsarebuild Reader

rust in the well under the antenae in the trunk when the timing belt was last changed when the water pump and radiator were last changed when the driveshaft guibo was changed whether or not all the guages work whether or not the heater core bypoass recall was done excessive play in the shifter....

and directions to my house to drop it off when you are done picking it up.....

nice looking car!
Feb. 23, 2011 11:51 a.m. carzan HalfDork

It's a beautiful car. The rear wheel looks to be at a little odd angle and I'd want to know what was up with that, but if it drives ok and everything checks out mechanically, I'd probably buy it at a fair price.
Feb. 23, 2011 12:29 p.m. DaveEstey HalfDork

What would you fellows call a fair price?
Feb. 23, 2011 12:59 p.m. z31maniac SuperDork

Depending on the real condition/maitenance done, anywhere from $2000-4000.
Feb. 23, 2011 1:08 p.m. itsarebuild Reader

DaveEstey wrote:

What would you fellows call a fair price?

that would depend on the condition. z31's estimate is a good one for the midwest and northeast, 1500 to 3000 is usually fair for a relatively stock 2 door in the southeast. i dont know much about other regions. price also depends on several things like wether or not it is an "e" or "i" motor, wether it has an lsd or open differential, what is the condition of the interior and paint etc. i've seen working examples with what you would expect for 25 year old paint and interior go for 1600 and i've seen really well built and aftermarket optioned examples going for 6000.
Feb. 23, 2011 1:10 p.m. stuart in mn SuperDork

It looks very nice, but I'd say the price should be closer to $2000. It is an eta car so it's not a hot rod, but they still have decent torque for street driving and will provide good mileage.
Feb. 23, 2011 1:23 p.m. Brotus7 Reader

z31maniac wrote:

Depending on the real condition/maitenance done, anywhere from $2000-4000.

Since it's an early car, I would go towards the low side of that scale. The engine doesn't rev as high, nor does it make as much power as the later cars. Is it an E or an ES? My brother has had a 325E and a 325ES and they both made for great commuter cars. Reliable, fun to drive, but some parts were on the pricey side (ball joints, if I remember right, were expensive).
Feb. 23, 2011 1:23 p.m. DaveEstey HalfDork

Price is $3,800...

http://www.concordmotorsport.com/detail-1986-bmw-325-5~speed_manual-used-6309749.html

Little rich for my blood but if any of you want to talk them down have at it!
Feb. 23, 2011 4:02 p.m. ValuePack Dork

Oh no, something nice much, MUCH closer to home than ATL! (Stares at bank account balance)

If memory serves, I sold tires to these guys years back. Nice dudes to do business with. Now someone snap this up before I come to my senses.
Feb. 23, 2011 5:33 p.m. minimac SuperDork

DaveEstey wrote:

What do I look for? This would be a daily driver.

Some cash and a place to park it.
Feb. 23, 2011 6:17 p.m. OldGray320i New Reader

I have a white 86 325es, about the same miles, so something will go wrong (got mine from a shop who did a lot of the things normally looked for, like timing belt, ac work, some suspension, new winshield, etc...). At two years in, the ps pump went, alternator/battery, needed struts (I think the fronts were original! - they had a bmw p/n, not the bilstein p/n), and a drive shaft. But, not bad for 230K miles (and probably more, sometimes the odometer doesn't spin...).

I got it with the intention of being just a once in a blue moon driver (honey, the kids will need a car anyway, and I'll drive this once or twice a month to salve my sporty car desires...) but drive it daily. I get about 27mpg combined (mostly city), got nearly 30mpg by babying it, and love driving the car.

I said I wouldn't do anything to it, just drive it, but euro bumpers and vogtland springs have found their way on to the car, and my 15's will replace the bottlecaps if I ever finish re-finishing them...