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Hi everyone! I registered a few months back and felt that it was time to finally make a proper introduction. From just the little time that I've been on here so far, I want to thank you all for the wealth of information that's been shared. Your knowledge and willing to help others in this community is absolutely incredible!
I’m also creating this thread to serve as a journal of what’s to come.
So on to the car. For the last 2 years, I had been looking at numerous sites, including BringATrailer for "the one". I was looking for something lower mileage, but something unique and perhaps needing a little TLC. Over the summer I found her. She was listed as a 1988 BMW M3 on BaT showing 10k miles (17k km) and was an import from Japan. I fell in love with the Diamond Black exterior and Anthracite Uberkaro Plaid interior. On top of that, the car was bone stock other than a Japanese head unit and a funky car charger stuck to the center console.
In the few months that I’ve had the vehicle, I’ve been soaking up every bit of information I could on this forum and doing some deep diving on the history of the vehicle through numerous outside channels. First, I learned that it was likely sold by BMW as a 1989 model and not a 1988 as listed on the auction. The vehicle was built November 11, 1988.
The vehicle was first sold and registered on August 23, 1989 in the Okayama Prefecture of Japan, between Hiroshima and Osaka.
This owner had it de-registered in 2004, where the car likely sat for the next 9 years of its life. After sitting, a new owner was found on September 12, 2013 and enjoyed her for the next 7 years in the Aichi Prefecture, around 300 km west of Tokyo.
On February 18, 2020, it was sold to a dealer, where it was traded between dealers for the next several months. Essentially two owners had enjoyed this car since it was purchased new in August of 1989. Its new life would take place across the Pacific.
The final dealer put the car up for auction September 3, 2020 as lot #574 with 10,242 miles (16,483 km).
An American buyer/dealer from Florida won the auction on September 9, 2020 and the wait began to arrange for export. Over a year goes by and is loaded onto the Hoegh Seoul V/119 on November 25, 2021, ready to begin the journey across the ocean. On January 4, 2022 the vehicle first touches asphalt in America.
The Floridian owner put the vehicle up for auction on BringATrailer at the end of May, and the auction ended June 5, 2022. I had to pinch myself a few times after watching the countdown clock reach zero. The E30 I had been looking for was officially mine. As both parties made the necessary arrangements to get the transaction completed and what seemed like the longest and most excruciating period of waiting in my life, it finally arrived and came off the trailer on June 28, 2022 with 10,389 miles (16,719 km). Welcome home.
Mechanically, it’s in really good shape. The previous owner had the undercarriage dry ice cleaned before putting up for auction. Aesthetically, the paint is in great condition in many areas, but not so much in others where the sun was shining down for years while waiting for the new owner to come along. Some of the rubber and plastic components on the exterior including window seals are on the to-do list. However, the interior is what really sold me. The seats are in immaculate condition visually, carpets and mats still feel brand new, and the steering wheel still feels new which is a strangely satisfying feeling for a car of this vintage. The dashboard is in good condition considering it sat likely outside for many years. A few small cracks exist where the defroster slots are located, however.
I’m using a well-respected mechanic in my area that specializes in European vehicles, and we’ve come up with a to-do list that we’ll be knocking out in phases. There are also some items I’m going to sprinkle in that will freshen her up or just bring quality of life improvements to the experience. The vision is to keep the vehicle’s appearance stock and only OEM parts will be used for refreshing and upgrading.
I look forward to sharing more of the journey with you all!
I’m also creating this thread to serve as a journal of what’s to come.
So on to the car. For the last 2 years, I had been looking at numerous sites, including BringATrailer for "the one". I was looking for something lower mileage, but something unique and perhaps needing a little TLC. Over the summer I found her. She was listed as a 1988 BMW M3 on BaT showing 10k miles (17k km) and was an import from Japan. I fell in love with the Diamond Black exterior and Anthracite Uberkaro Plaid interior. On top of that, the car was bone stock other than a Japanese head unit and a funky car charger stuck to the center console.
In the few months that I’ve had the vehicle, I’ve been soaking up every bit of information I could on this forum and doing some deep diving on the history of the vehicle through numerous outside channels. First, I learned that it was likely sold by BMW as a 1989 model and not a 1988 as listed on the auction. The vehicle was built November 11, 1988.
The vehicle was first sold and registered on August 23, 1989 in the Okayama Prefecture of Japan, between Hiroshima and Osaka.
This owner had it de-registered in 2004, where the car likely sat for the next 9 years of its life. After sitting, a new owner was found on September 12, 2013 and enjoyed her for the next 7 years in the Aichi Prefecture, around 300 km west of Tokyo.
On February 18, 2020, it was sold to a dealer, where it was traded between dealers for the next several months. Essentially two owners had enjoyed this car since it was purchased new in August of 1989. Its new life would take place across the Pacific.
The final dealer put the car up for auction September 3, 2020 as lot #574 with 10,242 miles (16,483 km).
An American buyer/dealer from Florida won the auction on September 9, 2020 and the wait began to arrange for export. Over a year goes by and is loaded onto the Hoegh Seoul V/119 on November 25, 2021, ready to begin the journey across the ocean. On January 4, 2022 the vehicle first touches asphalt in America.
The Floridian owner put the vehicle up for auction on BringATrailer at the end of May, and the auction ended June 5, 2022. I had to pinch myself a few times after watching the countdown clock reach zero. The E30 I had been looking for was officially mine. As both parties made the necessary arrangements to get the transaction completed and what seemed like the longest and most excruciating period of waiting in my life, it finally arrived and came off the trailer on June 28, 2022 with 10,389 miles (16,719 km). Welcome home.
Mechanically, it’s in really good shape. The previous owner had the undercarriage dry ice cleaned before putting up for auction. Aesthetically, the paint is in great condition in many areas, but not so much in others where the sun was shining down for years while waiting for the new owner to come along. Some of the rubber and plastic components on the exterior including window seals are on the to-do list. However, the interior is what really sold me. The seats are in immaculate condition visually, carpets and mats still feel brand new, and the steering wheel still feels new which is a strangely satisfying feeling for a car of this vintage. The dashboard is in good condition considering it sat likely outside for many years. A few small cracks exist where the defroster slots are located, however.
I’m using a well-respected mechanic in my area that specializes in European vehicles, and we’ve come up with a to-do list that we’ll be knocking out in phases. There are also some items I’m going to sprinkle in that will freshen her up or just bring quality of life improvements to the experience. The vision is to keep the vehicle’s appearance stock and only OEM parts will be used for refreshing and upgrading.
I look forward to sharing more of the journey with you all!
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