15k: (OO≡[][]≡OO): 1989 BMW 325iT E30 Wagon
It is no secret that the Daily Turismo staff are fans of both wagons and E30 BMWs, but the combination is indeed a rare sight on this side of the Atlantic Ocean. The BMW E30 Touring was never sold new in the US Market, but BMW sold a number over in the continent as late as 1994 (after the rest of the 3-series lineup had moved onto the E36 body style). Find this 1989 BMW 325iT wagon for sale in St. Louis, MO currently bidding on ebay for $12,200 reserve-not-met with 4 days to go.
This E30 325i is the most desirable of series-2 E30 wagons as it includes the larger 2.5 liter M20B25 inline-6 making 170 horsepower and is mated up to a 5-speed manual transmission. Performance won’t be M-class, but it should sound sweet at a “boil” and the E30 is a decent and competent chassis. However, the reason we like the E30 is because it is a cheap-fun-rear-drive sedan…the minute they become expensive (M3, rare imported wagon…etc) our desire drops considerably.
See a better family wagon for sale? email us here: tips@dailyturismo.com
Always show the headliner in a BMW…
I want it now!
The history on this car is a little more interesting though. It started life as a 318iT, with the M20 engine swap later. This was on offer by (apparently) the previous owner two years ago for $15K ( cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/BMW-E30-1989-Euro-Touring-Wagon-325iT-318iT-325i-318i-/330568218031?ViewItem=&item=330568218031), so the current dealer is likely to be asking similar or more. That's fairly pricey for a 24-year-old, higher mileage, engine swapped, federalized gray market E30 wagon. The swapped engine mileage isn't given, and it's also a little curious that the reported chassis mileage hasn't changed in the 2+ years since the prior auction.
I really like these E30 wagons, but with the 25 year prohibition on the '87 and '88 E30 Tourings now off, and more than a few questions lingering here, I'd be inclined to locate and import something myself. Despite this dealer's scare discouragement, and the inherent hassle factor (there are plenty of resources to help interested buyers import a car), I'm sure I could do it for a lot less all-in than the asking price on this car.
I still think that is the stupidest damn deck opening I have ever seen on a wagon.
^^Agree. It looks as if someone got cute in the sketch phase of the design and no one noticed.
Isn't that Ferris Beuller's house?
@ Bill H & doctordel: Reason for the "stupid" deck opening is that BMW had not planned to produce wagon version. Employee of their prototype shop built one for himself after hours. He decided to keep taillight arrangement of donor sedan. When done, showed it to his boss, who showed it to CEO, who spontaneously decided to produce it in factory. Complete story here: e30zone.net/e30zonewiki/index.php/Touring
What that story tells me is that Herr Reisbock actually had the saner idea- make it a hatchback. Since it was BMW that came up with the space between the taillights, a set of wagon specific lamps that were disguised as sedan units and the necessary bodywork to get there would have been very little more. The car looks great, probably has a decent capacity, and Herr Reisbock is to be feted for making the idea happen. BMW sorely needed that, but after reading that story (by the way- thanks for the link) the design makes even less sense now. Thankfully, BMW got away from that on the next bodyshell.
~ for anyone on the fence about this car or the dealer, i can tell you from my BMW days that they are a well respected independent shop. in the years i have done business with them and the ensuing time since i haven't heard a negative report about them.
Winning bid: US $15,000.00
well bought !!