My Classic 1989 E30 BMW 325i SE – Part 2 (2023-25)

1989 BCG BMW E30 325i SE – BLOG, video reports & Instagram posts

BCG BMW SOLD! The End of an Era for My Classic E30.

8 February 2025 – Well, here we are. The BrownCarGuy BMW E30 325i SE – the BCG BMW – has officially moved on. The keys have been handed over, the last revs have echoed through the streets of Brent, and the car park suddenly feels a little too empty.

For the past three years, this stunning 1989 BMW E30 325i SE in brilliant black lack has been more than just a car. It’s been my channel mascot, my time machine, my elixir of youth, my daily companion, my therapist, my chill buddy, my outlet, and a rolling tribute to when cars had soul. But sometimes, even the best stories need to arrive at ‘The End’.

I first laid eyes on this proper 80s legend at an auction in March 2022, standing gleaming under the lights of the NEC Classic Motor Show. It was calling to me. I had one of these back in the 90s — an ’88 BMW 325i SE – but I had to sell it too soon. And I never really got over it. So… let’s try this one more time.

And oh, what a car.

The perfect blend of analogue driving joy, balanced handling, a glorious straight-six soundtrack, and proper retro charm. It was everything I remembered – and more. Every drive felt like a flashback to a time when cars were simple, desirable, and properly engaging.

It wasn’t just nostalgia. This was living history on wheels.

Now I had a new mission – part of the reason for getting this car was to answer a simple question: Can you still daily drive a classic?

And for a while, the answer was a definite YES!

The E30 did everything. Work, fun, errands, weekend blasts, road trips, car shows – you name it. And the best part? It got reactions everywhere it went. People waved, smiled, shared stories about their dad’s old one, their uncle’s pride and joy, or the one they always wished they’d bought.

But then, ULEZ expanded at the end of 2023, and suddenly, this daily-driver experiment got a whole lot more expensive. What was once a practical, charming, old-school hero was now a £12.50-a-day liability.

Still, I tried to keep it going. But then came the repairs.

With any classic, it’s never long before the bills start piling up… I always knew owning a classic would mean occasional maintenance bills. That’s part of the deal.

Wheel hub issues. Odometer stopped working – twice! Brake lines, fuel lines, steering rack replacement – all needed doing. But then came the real heartbreaker.

Rust.

Not just a bit of surface rust you could sand down and respray. No. This was structural, hidden away deep inside the bulkhead – the absolute worst place for it.

BMW engineered this car brilliantly – over engineered in fact, in every aspect. Except one – why the hell did they create a water pit just ahead of the windscreen with not enough paths for the H2O to take out? The result is inevitable. And it’s not just my car. I’m hearing this same issue occurring increasingly on E30s.

The only way to sort it properly? Engine out. Interior out.
Full-on surgery. And the cost? Way beyond what I could manage.

I had a decision to make.

At this point, it wasn’t about getting back the investment – I knew that wasn’t happening. Instead, it became about finding the right home for the car. Someone who would appreciate this car for what it is, take care of it, nurse it back to health and most importantly, save it from the scrapheap.

So, I put it up for sale at just under £4995 – under half the price paid for it back in 2022. Frankly though this is a £15k car easily. Without the rusting valley of death that is.

Barely a few hours after posting the all-laid-bare advert, four potential buyers were at my door, eager to take it on. Each of them had a connection to the E30, each had a story. But one stood out.

A young BMW enthusiast, Saadic Ali, who had always dreamt of owning an E30. And get this – he wanted one for his 30th birthday this year!

It was meant to be.

But the best bit is that Saadic isn’t just an BMW fan. He’s hands-on, knows his way around BMWs, and – most importantly – has the skills to tackle the restoration himself. Where I saw an impossible repair bill, he saw a project worth fighting for.

And that means this car isn’t disappearing. In fact, he’s promised to keep me updated on its progress, and we might even see it back at car shows in the future.

So, in a way, this isn’t really goodbye. It’s just the next phase of the BCG BMW E30’s story. Good luck Saadic. Treat her well. Because one thing I can promise you, she will treat you well back. She did for me.

I won’t lie. Letting go of the BCG BMW was tough. Every time I see an E30, I’ll probably do a double-take. I’ll probably still instinctively check classic car listings for them. Still, never say never, but I think I’m done with E30s. For now.

So what’s next? Another classic. Not sure. One thing this experience has confirmed is that you either need to be adept at DIY car fixing yourself to a significant extent (which I’m not) or rich enough to have a master mechanic on speed dial (which I’m most DEFINITELY NOT!).

Any suggestions? What should be the next BrownCarGuy car? It has to be ULEZ-compliant, daily-driveable, cool, a fun steer and not break the bank. Let me know in the comments!

3 February 2025 – This is the video I never wanted to make. My beloved 1989 BMW E30 325i SE, a car that has brought me endless joy and unforgettable drives, is officially up for sale £4995. I’ve owned this beauty for nearly three years, and every moment with it has been fully documented on here, from the moment I picked it up at the Classic Car Auctions NEC to the latest updates. Despite recent repairs, including a new steering rack, brake and fuel lines, the time has come for me to part with it due to the ULEZ expansion and costly rust repairs.

This BMW E30 is completely unmodified, featuring the original BBS alloy wheels, black leather upholstery, and M Sport steering wheel. However, it does have a rust issue on the bulkhead that requires attention, which unfortunately makes the repair a bit more involved due to the engine and dashboard needing removal. That said, everything else works, even down to the original trip computer and electric sunroof!

This car deserves a good home, someone who will cherish it, keep it original, and complete the necessary repair work. Watch this video for all the details on its history, current condition, and how you can make an offer. Let’s find this E30 the loving home it deserves!

Follow #BCGBMWE30 on social media Bookmark this page to follow my ongoing series with this car – everything that happens with the ownership of this BMW – one that I’ve owned for the second time. I used to own a blue one just like this back in the 1990s, and it was one of my most missed cars.

Featured in Classic Car Weekly Issue 29 May 2024

Latest update on my 1989 BMW 325i SE (E30) – the #BCGBMWE30 – it’s been fantastic throughout 2023 – but now there’s BAD NEWS! Work to get it through the MOT turned out to be far more complex and costlier than anticipated. But that’s not the worst of it, there’s rust on the bulkhead. It’s easily solvable… if you take the engine and part of the interior out!

Suddenly this has turned into an expensive restoration job! Arrghhh!!!

It could be way more than I can justify on a car that, as utterly brilliant as it is, was supposed to prove that you can daily-drive a classic in London. Except that the whole of London now has ULEZ (the Ultra Low Emission Zone) and driving this incurs a daily £12.50 charge. Which means I’m driving it much less than I was.

Could this be the final straw that broke the camels’ back? Have they made it impossible to run and enjoy a usable classic car?

Motul UK very kindly sent me some ‘Eighties’ Motor oil as my 1989 BMW 325i SE E30 needed an oil change. Got a Mann filter from Halfords for about £13 and got it all changed for about £50 at a local garage. She’s purring sweetly!

Just driving around last night in North West London in Classic 1989 BMW 325i (E30).

Normally I could drive my ‘modern classic’ 1989 BMW E30 325i SE Two-door coupe about 3-4 times a week. Tomorrow it will be exactly a month since the ULEZ Expansion covered my area. Now every time I take it out of my residential car park, I have to pay £12.50. Today was only the third time I drove it since the expansion. The problem with this? A) The car will just stand and slowly rot and B) I need a car I can use regularly. What do you think I could do?

Best part of the day – starting up my classic 1989 BMW E30 325i SE coupe!

The BMW is featured in this article in the Daily Mail – Wednesday 6 September 2023

The BMW E30 is heavily featured at the beginning of this ULEZ report on Major International News Channel Al Jazeera!

GT Shine sent me this Quick Ceramic Spray to try out along with a set of Quick Buffing Towels – here’s an affiliate link for the products https://gtshine.com?sca_ref=4078913.j6aMXnhJSD – Used Discount Code ‘BROWNCARGUY10’

New scratch!! Should I be annoyed, or flattered? Because it’s very clear from the location and position of the scratch that someone has sat there to get a picture taken and maybe their trousers/jeans or a back pack has left a scratch. Still a bit of working in with T-Cut Black has mostly made it invisible. I still know where it is, but it’s much less obvious now. The realities of daily driving a classic though I guess.

Some new pics at the Ace Cafe shot by Damien Jennings!

More pics sent to me from Shelsley Walsh

How does this happen to a badge, despite regular cleaning?

Car Show Walkaround with Tim Shaw (Car S.O.S) & Sam Hard (Hard Up Garage)

MAY 2023 – See my full album and video from attending the Shelsley Walsh Hill Climb Driving School in the BMW:

2023 Shelsley Walsh Hill Climb Driving School [Guide to a Fast Time!]

Park a 1980s BMW E30 325i among some sensational supercars and you’d expect it to be mostly ignored. Not at all as it turned out. Thanks to all those that stopped by to take a look and ask about the car at the Drivers Union display at Brands Hatch. I was invited by Drivers Union to commentate on the spectacular supercar live demo arena!

View this post on Instagram

Appearance on Classic Car Garage on Yesterday Channel
20 April 2023 – this was filmed a while back, but finally came out on TV now!

New Pics!

Thanks to eBay seller ‘TaranMalhi2008’ I found a genuine replacement for my missing front left hubcap from the BBS alloy on my 1989 BMW 325i SE E30 that I previously lost

It’s been exactly a year since I’ve had my second BMW E30, a 1989 325i SE in black. What’s the experience been like, and what’s it cost? Watch this video now.

Help! I’ve lost a hubcap off one the beautiful BBS alloys wheels – unfortunately the replacement I ordered from Amazon, were not correct!

Great to catch up with my old buddy Tom Conway-Gordon, who runs Instagram page @AnyColourAsLongAsIts_Black at Chaiiwala in Kingsbury with the #BCGBMWE30 – full podcast coming next soon! He wanted to snap the car for his Instagram page – and it’s live there now!

Valentine’s Day gift from my wonderful wife is almost an exact 1:18 KK Scale Model replica of my BMW E30 325i SE. Mine is a 1989 UK-spec SE, the model is an 87 M Sport version, but both have the optional BBS wheels and M-Sport steering wheel. Mine also has black leather upholstery and a sunroof. Hope you enjoy this little vid showcasing it.