I'm very new to the E30 family, so comments are more from a business perspective. The main reason I bought mine was to tow behind the motor home. My truck is too heavy, and wife isn't thrilled with her nice SUV being the mule. A red convertible that's light, sporty, has timeless lines, and is also fun to drive for less than $7500 is a bargain, IMO. What else fits those criteria?
Rick
Gulf Coast, AL
1999 528i 5-speed, 156K miles
2000 528i auto Donor Car, 78K miles (blown head gasket)
2003 530i, 143K miles
1991 318iC, 140K miles, red/black, Sept 2015
1989 325iC, 173K miles, red/tan
1999 528i auto, 290K miles, SOLD
1988 M6, 56K miles and zinnoberet/tan, SOLD (like an idiot)
635s, 735s, 733s, several 3s SOLD
Makes sense since salt and cold weather take their toll. If the car I'd found was a coupe, I would have passed.
Rick
Gulf Coast, AL
1999 528i 5-speed, 156K miles
2000 528i auto Donor Car, 78K miles (blown head gasket)
2003 530i, 143K miles
1991 318iC, 140K miles, red/black, Sept 2015
1989 325iC, 173K miles, red/tan
1999 528i auto, 290K miles, SOLD
1988 M6, 56K miles and zinnoberet/tan, SOLD (like an idiot)
635s, 735s, 733s, several 3s SOLD
Verts are not appealing to purists.
They are heavier
They have more body flex.
They leak.
It's an extra part that needs to be replaced.
E39 DIYs done: Wipers, O2 sensors , MAF , Upper/Lower Intake Boots , FSU , ABS module fix , Power Steering Reservoir , Changed Rear Differential Oil , DISA , SAP, Vacuum lines , Radar Detector Hardwire , Fuel Filter , LED Angel Eyes , Headlight Adjusters--> [1],[2], [3] , Headlight Polishing, Punted: Fan Clutch/Tensioner/Pulleys , Oil cap O-rings , Window regulator ,Crumbling Cowl
1986 325 ~Elsa~
Alpenweiss
Need a photographer, come visit my site: http://estoguy.wix.com/unique-perspectives
"The future is uncertain and the end is always near."
This E30 in nice condition just sold for $15,000.
http://bringatrailer.com/listing/1990-bmw-325i-2/
E39 DIYs done: Wipers, O2 sensors , MAF , Upper/Lower Intake Boots , FSU , ABS module fix , Power Steering Reservoir , Changed Rear Differential Oil , DISA , SAP, Vacuum lines , Radar Detector Hardwire , Fuel Filter , LED Angel Eyes , Headlight Adjusters--> [1],[2], [3] , Headlight Polishing, Punted: Fan Clutch/Tensioner/Pulleys , Oil cap O-rings , Window regulator ,Crumbling Cowl
ryan, runs a shop somewhere around the auburn area, owns a really clean E30M3? i've hung out with him a few times when he was living in monterey.
Tom D
77 e21 - m42
88 e30m3
04 330 dinan3
84 r1000rt
02 r1150rs
all of them gray
14 f800gsa - red headed stepchild!
it was a question, is it the same ryan? i once went to dinner and did some M3 things with a ryan that worked at the local bmw dealer, he then moved to auburn and opened a new shop. not knowing where you live in particular i asked, is this the same ryan i hung with a few times in monterey?
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and yes, it is about me.
Tom D
77 e21 - m42
88 e30m3
04 330 dinan3
84 r1000rt
02 r1150rs
all of them gray
14 f800gsa - red headed stepchild!
Oh, haha. Yes it's that Ryan.
This automatic just sold for $10,000
http://bringatrailer.com/2016/03/05/...1989-bmw-325i/
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Who remembers straight nicely preserved E30s being called "outrageously" priced at $3000?
E39 DIYs done: Wipers, O2 sensors , MAF , Upper/Lower Intake Boots , FSU , ABS module fix , Power Steering Reservoir , Changed Rear Differential Oil , DISA , SAP, Vacuum lines , Radar Detector Hardwire , Fuel Filter , LED Angel Eyes , Headlight Adjusters--> [1],[2], [3] , Headlight Polishing, Punted: Fan Clutch/Tensioner/Pulleys , Oil cap O-rings , Window regulator ,Crumbling Cowl
Who remembers nice e36 m3s at $5000?
A repainted high mileage E30 is now a $7000 car
http://bringatrailer.com/listing/1990-bmw-325i-3/
E39 DIYs done: Wipers, O2 sensors , MAF , Upper/Lower Intake Boots , FSU , ABS module fix , Power Steering Reservoir , Changed Rear Differential Oil , DISA , SAP, Vacuum lines , Radar Detector Hardwire , Fuel Filter , LED Angel Eyes , Headlight Adjusters--> [1],[2], [3] , Headlight Polishing, Punted: Fan Clutch/Tensioner/Pulleys , Oil cap O-rings , Window regulator ,Crumbling Cowl
Supply and demand!
10 years ago, every nice E30 was bought to drift it or drag it and was turned into crap boxes by high school kids. Now all nice E30s that are left were kept nice by purists so those people don't want to sell for cheap.
If your e30 runs bad, switch to Megasquirt first. Then try new spark plugs, cap and rotor, wires, oxygen sensor, crank shaft position sensor, coolant temp sensor, air flow meter, idle control valve, throttle position sensor, digital motor electronics unit, harmonic balancer, fuel injectors, engine harness...
Dec 2016: This covertible just sold for $15,000
http://bringatrailer.com/listing/1987-bmw-325i-7/
E39 DIYs done: Wipers, O2 sensors , MAF , Upper/Lower Intake Boots , FSU , ABS module fix , Power Steering Reservoir , Changed Rear Differential Oil , DISA , SAP, Vacuum lines , Radar Detector Hardwire , Fuel Filter , LED Angel Eyes , Headlight Adjusters--> [1],[2], [3] , Headlight Polishing, Punted: Fan Clutch/Tensioner/Pulleys , Oil cap O-rings , Window regulator ,Crumbling Cowl
there are a few listed around here for 10k plus. more for 5-7500, though. and the torn up crappy ones I used to pay 150-300 bucks for in 03ish years are now the 2-3k cars. I cannot believe how the e30s have gone up in price.
I went looking for one for my youngest son's first car. he said he remembered when we had tons of them and he would ride in his car seat with me at the autocross and he wanted one. we finally found two for 600 bucks each. I was shocked to pay 600 bucks for an e30 I had to tow home. I am still shocked to see normal old daily driver e30s with dents or mismatched paint for 3k.
the most expensive e30 I ever bought was an 89 four door 325i with konis all the way around and a non sport interior for 1500. and I was not happy to pay that for it. it was well kept, complete, ran great, and had mildly faded cinnaberot paint but was such a dang good car. other then that, 350 was the max I ever paid for an e30, and e28, and even a euro 635csi. even the mtech2 euro 318i that was our last e30 was 1k, with a complete mtech2 body kit and five speed. the guy bought it in Germany and brought it home when he got out of the army. nowdays, that mtech2 car would have probably been a 6 or 7k car.
unbelievable, its amazing to me. and I cannot find any good deals for mtech parts anymore. I used to give away mtech1 steering wheels and paid 70 for an mtech2 wheel and bought an e30 m3 interior for my 89 325i for 200 bucks. front and rear seats for 200. ugle old mtech1 steering wheels are 150 plus!! that's amazing the value of the little e30 now.
No e30s again.
I'm sorry, what? http://bringatrailer.com/listing/1997-bmw-m3-sedan-48/
If your e30 runs bad, switch to Megasquirt first. Then try new spark plugs, cap and rotor, wires, oxygen sensor, crank shaft position sensor, coolant temp sensor, air flow meter, idle control valve, throttle position sensor, digital motor electronics unit, harmonic balancer, fuel injectors, engine harness...
Your definition of "nice" must be a bit higher than mine. I keep seeing e36 m3 convertibles listed for 10-18k on craigslist by dealers now, though.
http://indianapolis.craigslist.org/cto/5905468619.html
http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/hnp/cto/5879008612.html
Last edited by hotdish; 12-19-2016 at 05:27 PM.
200k miles pretty much wipes out a huge pool of buyers.
E39 DIYs done: Wipers, O2 sensors , MAF , Upper/Lower Intake Boots , FSU , ABS module fix , Power Steering Reservoir , Changed Rear Differential Oil , DISA , SAP, Vacuum lines , Radar Detector Hardwire , Fuel Filter , LED Angel Eyes , Headlight Adjusters--> [1],[2], [3] , Headlight Polishing, Punted: Fan Clutch/Tensioner/Pulleys , Oil cap O-rings , Window regulator ,Crumbling Cowl
Both of the ones you listed are more than $5000, are you proving my point for me?
If your e30 runs bad, switch to Megasquirt first. Then try new spark plugs, cap and rotor, wires, oxygen sensor, crank shaft position sensor, coolant temp sensor, air flow meter, idle control valve, throttle position sensor, digital motor electronics unit, harmonic balancer, fuel injectors, engine harness...
I just got an e30 for a dollar yesterday.
unfortunately, the engine needs replacing but its an 87 325 two door 5 speed with a newly recovered interior so its not to bad a deal. and a guy in Houston (I think) has a complete running b25 for 500 so I could grab the engine, grab a harness and ecu from a&j's bmw junkyard in san Antonio, and have a running car for less than 1k, easily. or I could get the b27 in san Antonio (I think it was) for 200 and go back to stock for 200.
I went from having 1 e30 to having 3 e30s in two weeks and have only 601 dollars in all three of them. one runs and two need work though but I feel like its been good still. remind me of the ol 150 dollar e30 days
No e30s again.
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