325i convertible

[orangecurry]

So I've owned this for seventeen years. 1989 90k miles - manual of course.

I think it's a very good colour combo - all original paint, CirrusBlau Metallic, which looks silver-blue in the sun and silver-grey in the gloom, and indigo cloth interior, Uberkaro check. Blue interior apart from that, and a new quality dark-blue hood in 2012.

I'll get to the point eventually.

But time takes it's toll on us all, and because the top has been down, the OE cloth seats have all faded, the cloth is looking thin in a few places, and the driver's RHS bolsters have worn through. It is the Recaro sport interior, the front seats being probably the most comfortable seat ever, with the adjustable under-thigh thingy.

I'm almost certainly going to put it up for sale next spring.

1) would you replace the interior, bearing in mind that the OE cloth is NLA?
or would you sell it as-is, and then the next owner can retrim it exactly how they wish?

2) a more difficult question - what difference does a worn interior make to the value?
Replacing it, not with OE cloth, bothers me - I don't want to trash the originality, because it is totally original. Apart from the springs. And I have the originals in a box.

This thread is useless without photos. Thanks all you lovely people.

BMWside.JPG

[flybynite]

would you sell it as-is, and then the next owner can retrim it exactly how they wish?

This is what I would do, no question, whatever you do one potential buyer will have wanted to do something different and whatever you spend on the trim will mean nothing to the price they will pay.

Alternatively you could try to get some spare bits of trim second hand in better condition to improve what you have.

When you say the seats are Recaro sport, which seats do you mean, BMW sport seats or Recaro LS/LX seats? Both were available in Uberkaro but which seats they are would have a huge impact on your chances of picking up matching spares.

If they are standard sport seats then you might try Brutus on here for some bolsters

[orangecurry]

Thanks for the thoughts.

yes sorry - standard sport seats - I have already started a conversation with Brutus

But it's the majority of the cloth, central sections (as well as the driver's bolsters) that need replacing.

[Satan]

What is the material code?

[flybynite]

What is the material code?

It has 2 codes according to the WIKI 0306 and 0381 Uberkaro in indigo, was also done in silver and anthracite

[orangecurry]

too quick for me! Yes it does look to be those codes.

[Satan]

What is the material code?

It has 2 codes according to the WIKI 0306 and 0381 Uberkaro in indigo, was also done in silver and anthracite

Out of stock but worth keeping an eye out,

Someone I know managed to get some bubble leather from BMW, got knows how, wasn't cheap mind you.

https://retropower.co.uk/product/e30-bm ... ery-cloth/

[Cloggy Saint]

When I lived in Holland I used these guys https://westtrading.nl/en/car-upholster ... /brand/bmw have a scroll, maybe they have what you need.

[flybynite]

When I lived in Holland I used these guys https://westtrading.nl/en/car-upholster ... /brand/bmw have a scroll, maybe they have what you need.

Already checked.....Blue Uberkaro is NLA from these guys too, only one that is NLA mind you.

They are a bit reluctant to sell to the public these days

They are very good but they have been looking for the bolster fabric for the chromie for a couple of years now with no success.

[orangecurry]

thanks everyone for your ideas and research