1990 | BMW 320i

BMW 320i Cabriolet E30 – The Golden Six-Cylinder Sin of the 90s

There are cars that make you wake up in the morning thinking the day might not be so bad. And then there’s the E30 Cabrio, which makes you feel like a young Günther Netzer on the way to training – with your hair blowing in the wind, even if you don’t have any left.

Welcome to the BMW 320i Cabriolet, built in 1990. A six-cylinder engine so smooth you’d almost want to take it to bed with you. And this particular example is anything but a worn-out piece of scrap metal with a rattling roof.

History – When BMW Still Got It Right

1990 – a time when people bought cars to drive them, not to collect likes. With the E30, BMW launched a convertible that soon saw more hours of sunshine than many vacationers on the Costa del Sol. Back then, the inline-six was the ultimate choice for those who still cared about manners but also wanted to pull a clean donut in the supermarket car park if needed.

Technology – Refreshed, Not Ruined

This cabriolet has had more wellness treatments in the past three years than the ladies at the local spa:

✅ New paint in 2017 – done by the previous owner, no amateur spray can job.
✅ Cylinder head overhauled – runs like a young deer.
✅ Timing belt and water pump renewed – so the engine doesn’t flip you the finger at 180 km/h.
✅ Radiator and all hoses replaced – and no, they don’t leak.
✅ Front and rear axles: all bushings new.
✅ Shock absorbers, clutch, catalytic converter, rear silencer – fresh as your first kiss.
✅ Differential overhauled and blasted – so you can safely floor it.
✅ Flex disc, slave and master cylinders new – the drivetrain is fully serviced.
✅ New soft top – so you won’t look like a wet dog when it rains.

Interior – More Leather Than a 90s Nightclub

The interior was completely redone by an upholsterer:

✔ Full brown leather trim – a dream for anyone tired of grey hard plastic.
✔ M-Tech steering wheel newly wrapped – grippy as a freshly buttered baguette.
✔ Three auxiliary gauges – because you can never have enough displays.
✔ Tweeters – for a proper soundscape.
✔ New battery – just to be sure.
✔ Electric motorized antenna, satnav radio with pop-up display, portable bass amplifier – you’ll hardly find better sound in a cabrio.

Looks – Polished Rims for Extra Show Effect

The legendary BBS wheels have mirror-polished lips that shine in the sun brighter than your financial advisor’s smile when you sign the contract.

Driving Experience – Convertible Cruising for Grown-Ups

This BMW was only driven in fair weather and otherwise tucked away in a garage like a secret love affair. It drives exactly how you’d expect an E30 to drive: direct, honest, a little cheeky. And the inline-six under the hood sings its unmistakable song while you wonder why modern cars have no soul.

A current appraisal from Dataclassic (2024) is available – in plain terms: this is no dodgy DIY project but a carefully maintained cabrio ready to carry you stylishly into the sunset.

Conclusion – More Summer Isn’t Possible

If you buy this E30 Cabrio, you’re not buying a car. You’re buying a feeling. The feeling that the world can wait while you just enjoy driving with the top down. And if you’re still hesitating – maybe you’re just the type for a Golf with a folding roof.