1985 BMW E30 325I Hartge H27

EQUIPMENT

Diamond Black Metallic paintwork, Anthracite cloth upholstery, 16-inch Hartge alloy wheels, 2.7-litre M20 straight-six producing circa 200hp, 5-speed manual transmission, Sports seats, Hartge cylinder head, Hartge valves and camshaft, Hartge long-throw steel crank, Hartge ECU, Hartge suspension, Hartge steering wheel and gear knob, Stainless steel exhaust, Air conditioning, Glass sunroof, Electric windows, On-board computer, ABS, Remote central locking, Alarm, Alpine CD player, Spare key.

EXTERIOR

Finished in classic Diamantschwarz with contrasting chrome bumpers and 16-inch Hartge alloy wheels, this special E30 looks fantastic beneath our studio lights. And, as one of only a handful of 325is converted to Hartge H26 specification in period by Birds BMW, it’s a rare beast indeed. The body and paintwork are well presented with deep and even shine but in line with the age and mileage there is an honest dusting of small marks and chips to report on very close inspection. The glass and plastics are in fine order throughout, and all the chrome elements still retain a mirror shine.

The previous owner was a Birds BMW technician and E30 enthusiast who, in the early 2000s, carried out a full restoration on the car. Now, after spending a few years tucked away in storage, it has once again been fully recommissioned and cosmetically improved with bills in the paperwork totalling more than £22k since 2021. The result is what you see here, a very special and rather unique Hartge-tuned E30 in sought after manual, two-door guise.

INTERIOR

The interior is well appointed with sports seats, electric windows, electric mirrors, a glass sunroof, on-board computer, and ice-cold air conditioning. It’s lifted further with a Hartge leather steering wheel, gear knob, and some very nice subtle Alcantara touches. The pinstriped anthracite cloth presents in great original condition, including commonly worn areas such as the seat bolsters, and the dashboard is free from any of the usual E30 cracking issues. There are a few small marks on the steering wheel rim and spokes but, with little else to detract from the cabin’s overall highly impressive finish, it’s a great place to be.

ENGINE & TRANSMISSION

Under the bonnet is clean and tidy but what really makes this one so special is the engine itself. The original Hartge-tuned M20 straight-six was fully rebuilt to H27 2.7-litre spec 12k miles ago and features a gas-flowed and skimmed Hartge cylinder head, Hartge valves and camshaft, a Hartge H27 long-throw steel crank, machined BMW M43 pistons, and a Hartge ECU; further equipped with a stainless exhaust the car sounds absolutely fantastic. The original 325i manual gearbox is retained but was treated to new linkage and a replacement clutch alongside the engine rebuild. The last service was carried out less than 500 miles ago and both the cambelt and water pump were replaced in 2021.

HISTORY FILE

This brilliant pre-facelift E30 Hartge was first registered in November 1985. Supplied new by Birds BMW it has now driven 123,000 miles in the hands of only 4 registered keepers. Birds Garage, a former BMW main dealer, are internationally recognised for their affiliation with Hartge during the 80s and 90s and are a highly regarded BMW tuning specialist to this day. The car featured here was one of a batch imported by Birds to convert and sell in period, so right from the start it was equipped with the full Hartge H26-spec cylinder head package which also included new valves, a Hartge camshaft, tweaked ignition and fuelling, along with a Hartge exhaust and the full Hartge suspension kit.

In 2003 the car was purchased by the current owner who drove it for about 12k miles before placing placing it into storage. The owner before him (of 11 years) was a BMW technician at Birds so it’s safe to assume that he knew a thing or two the marque, and Hartges in particular. The car was restored by him in the early 2000s, and while the engine was removed it was fully stripped and rebuilt but this time to H27 spec, with a new long-stroke Hartge crank and shorter pistons.

In 2021 the car was sent to a classic marque specialist for a thorough shakedown and recommissioning, with invoices for this work on file amounting to an eye-watering £22,300! Now ready for its next custodian, we’re pleased to report that this is one of the most rewarding E30s we’ve driven; near-M3 levels of performance but with a smooth straight six – and right-hand drive.

The History File is complete with the original BMW document wallet and handbooks, the dealer-supplied service book that’s stamped up to 117k miles, a selection of invoices and MOT certificates, an issue of Total BMW magazine where the car was featured, a spare key, and the V5C showing only 3 former keepers.