1999 BMW 325 TDS

The eagle-eyed among you might recall we sold this Morea Green BMW 325 TDS a couple of years, at which time it had just 78 miles on the odometer.

It was effectively a brand-new example, and it sold for a tidy sum as a result.

The winning bidder was sufficiently enamoured with it to have it recommissioned before driving it. Modestly, for sure, but he used it as God and BMW intended, racking up 6,000 careful miles over two years.

We think this turned a very good car into a great one; museum-quality exhibits are all very well, but a museum-quality car you can actually drive is always going to be a far more appealing proposition – even if it costs you another £7,500 on top of the purchase price to get it there.

But it was worth every penny because the E36 325TDS is a very appealing proposition indeed: With a 2.5-litre turbocharged inline-six diesel engine under the bonnet, its 141bhp and 191 lb.ft of torque pass to the rear wheels via a five-speed automatic transmission. Comfortable and quick, it’s incredibly easy to drive thanks to that fat-wad of torque and the auto ‘box – and it’ll streak past 62mph in 10.4 seconds on its way to a top speed of 133mph. Forty miles-per-gallon should be within easy reach too, with 50 an attainable goal on a decent run. 

One of only 119 ever sold here and fitted with the registration number ‘325 TDS’, it’s also being offered with no reserve.

We bet you’re reconsidering your thoughts about buying an oil-powered E36 now, aren’t you?

Two years ago we wrote: “The panel fit and alignment is exactly as it was when it rolled out of the factory back in 1997. With mm-perfect shutlines, it looks like it’s been carved out of a chunk of aluminium before being anodised Morea Green.”

The addition of 6,000 miles to the odometer hasn’t changed that and it’s still utterly lovely, with a fine shine to the paintwork and factory-perfect shutlines. 

He didn’t need to do anything other than polish it, which was professionally done and protected leaving him with enough in the coffers to splash out on a set of 205/60R15 Michelin Energy Saver tyres to replace the perished originals.

We will never get tired of telling you that experience shows that matching high-quality tyres are an infallible sign of a caring and mechanically sympathetic owner who is prepared to spend the appropriate amount in maintaining their car properly.

The O/E BMW alloy wheels are still free of kerbing, scuffs and other damage, and it also still proudly wears its original dealer-fit numberplates. The lamp lenses are free of cracks and sun damage, the black trim is glossy and unmarked, the glazing is perfect, and the four corners are still free of scuffs and marks, as are the mirror caps.

Oh, and the sunroof not only fits its aperture perfectly, it also slides fore and aft as it should.

In fact, the only issue we can see is the windscreen is starting to delaminate, but even we’d hesitate to describe this as an actual issue…

If the coachwork is relatively subtle, the turquoise interior is wonderfully cheery – and as you’d expect given the car’s pampered life, it’s also in an exceptional condition with barely a mark to the half-leather trim.

It’s also so original that the tool kit in the boot even still contains the business card from Lewis BMW of Falmouth who supplied the car.

(While we’re talking about unused items, we’re going to skip around the cabin a bit to tell you that the white torch is still in the glovebox. The first aid kit in the boot is still sealed, and the warning triangle is in situ. Oh, and the spare wheel, which is fitted with a Michelin Pilot tyre, doesn’t look like it has ever been used.)

Moving back into the cabin, the wood veneer is glossy and free of cracks and lilting lacquer. There’s plenty of it too, including the door pulls.

Other luxury appointments include electric windows all round, a comprehensive trip computer, an electric sunroof, a full-width rear sunblind, and air-conditioning.

The gearbox offers three settings – Sport, Economy, and Winter – and the console still has the original warning sticker stuck on it.

Other encouraging signs are still-taut elasticated pockets in the back of the front seats, bright white lettering on the switches and controls, and a taut and undamaged headlining.

A Blaupunkt Essen headunit has been fitted, and the Blaupunkt Boston it was sold with is in the boot.

As for flaws, the fabric on the door cards has loosened a little, which is a common E36 fault that happens over time as the glue loses its efficacy. The seller didn’t get around to sorting this out but then given how much heavy lifting he’s done on the mechanical side, we can’t really blame him.

The only other thing the new owner might like to do is to have the carpets professionally shampooed. That’s it.

The BMW’s service and maintenance record is recorded as follows:

· 22.03.2024 and 79 miles – service and recommission by The Hero Motor Company at a cost of £7,325.

· 21.10.2024 and 2,538 miles – inspection and diagnostic check by Group 1 Reading BMW

· 28.01.2025 and 3,000 miles – new fuel hose and wiper blades by Group 1 Reading BMW

· 17.04.2025 and 4,771 miles – oil and filter change by Group 1 Reading BMW

· 17.07.2025 and unknown miles – fuel system clean including a new injector and replacement hose by The Hero Motor Company

· 12.11.2025 and 3,825 miles – inspection plus new front brake discs exterior door handle gaskets by The Hero Motor Company

It’s worth going through the invoice for the recommissioning; running to four pages, it illustrates how thoroughly the team went through the BMW to bring it back to a reliable and usable condition.

You see, our seller had already fallen in love with his new 325 TDS, but The Hero Motor Company egged him on to do the work properly and the finished article is what happens when a money-no-object attitude to car ownership coincides with a company dedicated to doing the best work possible: “They did everything to it that needed doing,”, he laughed. “It’s been a great car to own and is still like new to look at and drive!”

He tells us he’s thoroughly enjoyed his time with his BMW, and it’s only for sale because his dog doesn’t like travelling on the back seat.

Later work included an oil and filter service plus sorting out a few fuelling issues, caused primarily by #6 fuel injector being duff.

As you can see, it now starts on the button, idles and revs as it should, and our photographer reports that it drives every bit as well as you’d expect given its low mileage and the recent work.

The condition of the engine bay wowed us two years and 6,000 miles ago, and it continues to wow us today. It’s still fresh and clean, and the majority of the fasteners are still bright and free of the surface corrosion that inevitably accumulates over the years.

The underside is also clean and strong, with no obvious flaws, problematic rust, or even imperfections. The underside and cavities have also been professionally protected.

The BMW’s MoT certificate, which is valid until March 2026, was issued with just the one advisory – and that was for having an engine cover fitted…

The recent Vehicle History Check is clear, and it comes with two keys. It’s still got the BMW wallet and full book pack too, as well as the original sales invoice showing the purchase price of £28,965.

It’s also gained some stamps in the service history booklet, which is nice to see.

In 2023 we wrote:

“This is a genuine once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get your hands on one of the most under-rated BMWs of all time. Fast and frugal and beautifully equipped, the 325 TDS is the best E36 you’ve never heard of.

Essentially still brand new, this one is sure to draw an awful lot of interest.”

We still stand by that assessment.

In fact, if anything it’s probably even more appealing now than it was then: Yes, it’s gained a few miles, but only a few and it has also gained an awful lot of new parts, parts you’d have had to replace anyway if you’d bought it back then.

So, if, like us, you often complain that you can’t buy simple, well-engineered new cars anymore, then this E36 might just be the one to prove you wrong; if you continue to look after it properly, it might just outlast you.

Which makes our guide price of between £12,000 and £15,000 feel like astonishing value – and as it is being offered with no reserve, it may go for even less.

While it’s still early days, this BMW 325 TDS might just be a contender for The Canniest Purchase of 2026.

Viewing is strongly encouraged, and this lot is located at THE MARKET, HQ. Viewings are STRICTLY BY APPOINTMENT and we are open weekdays between 10am - 12pm or 2pm - 4pm. To make a booking, please use the ‘Enquire About This Vehicle’ button on the listing. Feel free to ask any questions, or try our ‘Frequently Asked Questions’.