1989 BMW 325i Coupe Sport E30

Upon reading the term sports saloon, we’d wager a fair few of you conjured up a BMW roundel. After all, the Munich maker has tried to corner this market segment for more than 40 years, earning fame by making fast, class-leading saloons.

If the Seventies had been formative, then the Eighties were transformative. The BMW 2002 (E10) and first-generation of 3-Series (E21) had set the blueprint for Munich’s take on the fun driver-oriented four-seater. The second-generation (E30) took that baton and ran with it.

The badge was undoubtedly one of the main draws, but its clean and boxy Boyke Boyer lines – penned under the gaze of Claus Luthe – also helped make it an icon of the era of excess. Just below the homologation-special M3 at the top of the tree was the 1985-on BMW 325i Sport E30.

A yuppie favourite, this six-cylinder sports saloon proved as moreish as a certain white powder, though fortunately driving a 325i provides the kind of high that keeps your septum intact. Let’s get the obvious out of the way first. This BMW has two rather than four doors. In classic BMW circles, more doors mean less desire. That’s reflected in the vast differential in values between two- and four-door E30s. Often wrongly described as a coupé, the 3 Series in front of you is, in fact, a two-door saloon. A clear pecking order was established early on – the four-door was aimed at the family man, the two-door was for the young, thrusting executive. This E30’s cabin therefore does sacrifice a little rear passenger leg and head room... well, quite a lot actually. If you’re older than eight you will struggle to fit comfortably. Front passengers are, however, amply ensconced.

Cosmetically enhanced with ‘M-Tech’ aerodynamic goodies – incorporating a revised front splitter, rear apron, skirts and wing – the UK-market 325i Sport we have here was noticeably slicker. The transformation wasn’t just skin-deep; it got a stiffer chassis via revised gas-filled dampers, new lowering springs and thicker anti-roll bars. Wider rubber was also deployed to make the most of these enhanced abilities – 6.5J 14-inch from 1986, seminal 7J 15-inch BBS alloy wheels thereafter.

Slipping down into the driver’s seat is like sliding on a pair of warm socks. The seat is by far the most supportive of our group, with the Sport’s three-spoke leather steering wheel positioned perfectly. In an age when brand image was becoming of paramount importance, it’s no shock to see the BMW M Power badge staring you right in the face. This overwhelming first impression when readying for a drive in this BMW is that it feels tailored rather than assembled. Its centre console being skewed toward the driver is a subtle nod that this machine’s interaction with you is the most important part of its existence.

Dynamically, the 325i Sport is close to revelatory for an Eighties product. This era represents BMW’s halcyon days, when it barely put a foot wrong. Turn into a tight corner at speed and this E30 fanatically holds its line. If you pile on the speed, its 205mm front tyres will gradually begin to push wide, but adding a little throttle translates understeer into mild oversteer, which is wonderfully linear in its transition. The tail-out trademark BMW heroics prove to be surprisingly difficult to replicate.

The 325i is one of those models that previous owners wish they’d kept hold of – not only is it fantastic to drive, it’s also appreciating faster than bitcoin. Retro car fanciers in the States are largely responsible, as are the car’s innumerable appearances in music videos over the past decade. The Eighties has become the decade of cool, and few products from the era have become as coveted as this shark-nosed symbol of success. Entry into this six-cylinder culture club starts at around £8000-£10,000 for a two-door or £5000-£7000 for the less popular four-door. The M-Tech model is in another league entirely, with nothing short of £20,000 needed for even a high miler – the very best are now topping £50,000.

The insulation in this BMW mutes the theatrics a bit too well, that six-cylinder engine only making itself known above the background at high rpm. Wind noise is louder than in a contemporary Mercedes-Benz 190E W201, but thankfully you can still hear the engine having a workout. The 2.5-litre M20 at full chat reminds you that Munich used to make some of the angriest sounding six-cylinders out there.

‘Dynamically, the 325i Sport E30 is close to revelatory for an Eighties product

Owning a BMW 325i Sport (E30)

Ryan Corton has been a self-confessed BMW nut for most of his driving life and bought this 325i in 2019 after noticing the supply of good examples had diminished. ‘I always wanted one, I remember them well from my early teens. I looked through magazines and online, and came across this one up near Bradford. The car was about half as good as it is now, but was still worth buying. It was off the road for a year getting various things done, including new linkages for the transmission, a new clutch, various bushes and hoses and a new oil pump. That all came to £2500. It was like new afterwards and it’s been an absolute joy since. I bought it right on the brink of the pandemic, so I’ve haven’t used it as much as I’d hoped, but it’s still cost between £400 and £600 a year to service.’

TECHNICAL DATA 1989 BMW 325i Coupe Sport (E30)

Engine 2494cc inline six-cylinder (M20B25), sohc, Bosch ME-Motronic electronic fuel injectionMax Power 169bhp @ 5800rpmMax Power 167lb ft @ 4000rpmTransmission Five-speed manual, rear-wheel driveSteering Power-assisted rack & pinionSuspension Front: independent MacPherson struts with lower control arms and antiroll bar. Rear: independent semi-trailing arms with coil springs and separate telescopic dampers and anti-roll bar.Brakes Servo-assisted discs (vented front, solid rear), ABSPerformance 0-60mph: 7.2sec.Top speed: 138mphWeight 1209kg (2665lb)Fuel consumption 29mpgCost new £14,095Classic Cars Price Guide £3750-£12,500

Driver-focused cabin with M Power badge on wheel Anger without over-management under the bonnet BMW’s sharp Eighties lines are all about aggression.