buying an e30: automatic or manual?

[HardTech]

I'm in the market for a cheap daily car and the e30 bmw's have caught my eye. I've seen a few for sale around me, but a lot of them are either a convertible, automatic transmission, or both.

Right now, I drive a 2004 Acura TL 6MT, and I love the way it feels. I'd like to stay with a manual transmission for the sheer joy of driving, but all of the manual transmission e30 bmw's get bought really quickly around me (Nor Cal).

With that said, there are a few automatic ones for sale. How bad are the automatic transmissions? Anybody have or have driven both?

thanks

[HardTech]

also, let me add that I'm not as mechanically inclined as other E30 owners, so I can't swap out the transmission for a manual one.

[kishg]

definitely try and get a manual unless you can get a slushie for a significant discount to account for the trans swap you'll need to pay for.

[kringer]

Mine is an Auto. I got it for two reasons. It is what my wife prefers to drive and it was what was available.

The Auto is not very responsive and it hunts for 3 or 4th from 40-50 mph. Easy to drive though.

It's my daily driver, so I prefer the auto. On my sports car I have a stick.

Bottom line if you like and want a stick get one don't settle.

[iowabmw]

I have a 88 325is Auto and I HATE IT! I will definitely be doing a Manual swap (around $500 for Parts). Get a Manual if you can, but if you get a Auto get it for the right Price to do a swap.

[Herb]

Manual.

[brilliantrot318]

dude if ur in nor cal i suggest searching the web for this place that RECYCLES bmws. theyre around there somewhere and theyre respectable. i got my parts bmw to Vermont in less than 3 weeks from them and for an amazing price. so get one with a good body and one with a shity body and mix n match

[egk2]

Wait for a manual e30, you'll regret buying an auto.

[HardTech]

alright then, manual it is

thanks guys

[UmmYeahOk]

I love my auto... ...most cabrios are auto.. ...manuals are rare for that body style. If youre after a daily driver, I recomend an auto... ...a manual is just stressful in traffic... ...and I have enough road rage to worry about... ...if youre after a racer however, get a manual

However, when chosing a manul, knowing that you are purchasing a manual that may be about 20 years old... ...theres a very good chance that the car has been abused. You dont know how long its been driven in the red. The engine, clutch, transmission may not be very realiable. With an auto, the driver really cannot be stupid with it. Thanks to the computer, pretty much the only damage a driver can do with it is either crash it, or poor maintenance.

Though my auto BMW has more HP than my auto mustang, the BMW does feel a tad slow. However, unlike the mustang, its transmission is a 1-2-3-D as opposed to most 1-2-Ds If you want the power and feeling of a manual, just shift it. It actually responds faster than most autos Ive done this with. Shifts just like a manual, just without a cluth pedal, and a lot smoother gear change (compared with how many manuals are driven)

Final point and flames await: If you truely want a fast car, you wouldnt be interested in an e30 in the first place, auto or manual.

[HardTech]

Final point and flames await: If you truely want a fast car, you wouldnt be interested in an e30 in the first place, auto or manual.

yeah, a fast car would be great... but more important than fast is fun. I want something cheap, reliable, and fun, and the image of something Japanese isn't very professional.

of course, I'm venturing into unknown territory with BMW's since I've never driven one before, and my family has ONLY had japanese import cars.

[ArtemLepilov]

If you know how to drive a manual get one. Case and point.

[egk2]

and the image of something Japanese isn't very professional.

.

...and an owning an e30 screams professional?


Look the OP drives a 6mt acura right now, he would regret buying an auto e30. They're sluggish off the line and tend to have more issues than manuals.

It's not about which one is faster but which one is more enjoyable to drive.
Let him test drive both head to head, it's safe to say he'll like the manual better.

[325mtech2]

If you must get an auto, at least get a "switchable auto" with sports mode. However, manual is always the driver's choice.

[stircrazy]

dude if ur in nor cal i suggest searching the web for this place that RECYCLES bmws. theyre around there somewhere and theyre respectable. i got my parts bmw to Vermont in less than 3 weeks from them and for an amazing price. so get one with a good body and one with a shity body and mix n match

They're in Rancho Cordova (Pretty much Sacramento).

Not affiliated, but I do dig their style.

[HardTech]

...and an owning an e30 screams professional?

Where did I say that? An E30 is certainly more professional than a japanese car you can get for the same price. MR2, 240SX.. don't get me wrong I'd love to drive them, but I dont' think it's the best idea at this time.

I'd also love to keep my TL, but payments are too high and I don't feel like it's worth the payments. If I can get something just as fun but without the car payment and a lower insurance bill, then I'm game.

[egk2]

So you want something that's cheap, fun, reliable and look professional
in? You want it all E30's are all of those but looking professional in one? Maybe more presentable than something else in the same price range, I'll give you that.

E30's are great cars, especially in a 5spd but they require constant
attention. If you don't mind getting dirt under your fingernails than an e30 can be a very solid daily driver that's fun to drive. If you're a cheackbook mechanic, these little cars can become very expensive to maintain.

[HardTech]

So you want something that's cheap, fun, reliable and look professional
in? You want it all E30's are all of those but looking professional in one? Maybe more presentable than something else in the same price range, I'll give you that.

E30's are great cars, especially in a 5spd but they require constant
attention. If you don't mind getting dirt under your fingernails than an e30 can be a very solid daily driver that's fun to drive. If you're a cheackbook mechanic, these little cars can become very expensive to maintain.

of course I want it all who wants anything less?

I don't mind getting down and dirty, but like I said earlier my mechanical skills are not very good. I can change the oil, and I've troubleshot my gf's power steering and alternator problems. I could've replaced those too, but I didn't need to. I want to learn a lot more, though, and if I can find a decent e30, that'd be a perfect chance to learn.

Then again, I rely on my car to get to work everyday, so maybe this isn't the best idea in the world? Do these cars have common problems that prevent it from being driven every day?

[e31bubba]

I've had both also the automatic isn't bad. Especially if your driving in stop and go traffic like bay bridge metering lights or 101 or 880 at rush. I'm from nor cal also. I have two surgically repaired knees from MMA so driving a manual in stop and go is not the best for me. If it's just for a cheap dd then the auto should be fine especially in our kind of traffic.

[ArtemLepilov]

I dont know where these threads even come from. If you are buying a BMW, get a manual tranny - there is no other way about it. Autos will fail at 150-200k miles, manuals will run forever. A manual BMW is always more desirable, there are hardly any auto BMWs in europe, the cars were designed with a manual and were intended for use as manual cars. On craigslist, manual BMWs get snapped up quite fast, whereas automatic ones stay on and on and get relisted over and over/ Im sure a lot of people will back me up on this. Selling BMWs I always get the same question - is it a manual? I never once had been asked whether it was an automatic. There was a massive problem with my old car. I bought it used it was an auto it has 130k miles on it, it was leaking everywhere. I Fixed a good portion of seals, took it to a shop and it was still leaking from the front input seal. I parted my old car mostly because of the tranny. I hate auto BMWs and will never ever get one again. As far as I know the autos were mostly used in US, and they are very rare and unnecessary in Europe. A 5-speed will last you forever, just replace seals and the clutch once in a while. This is mostly based on how I feel and my really unfortunate experiences with an auto BMW, but if you are buying a used BMW, it is easier to get one with an auto in bad shape than one with a good auto tranny. The E30s are old, finding one with few miles will be a very expensive and tedious process. If you dont care about learning to drive a manual, and dont have any specific conditions preventing you from doing so, driving in traffic is not a big deal, I dont know what is so hard about it. I have just started driving a manual car (318is) this year and I dont think anything of it.

Just my .02 - I really hate automatics, so im biased.

[iowabmw]

^ +1

[HardTech]

I dont know where these threads even come from. If you are buying a BMW, get a manual tranny - there is no other way about it. Autos will fail at 150-200k miles, manuals will run forever. A manual BMW is always more desirable, there are hardly any auto BMWs in europe, the cars were designed with a manual and were intended for use as manual cars. On craigslist, manual BMWs get snapped up quite fast, whereas automatic ones stay on and on and get relisted over and over/ Im sure a lot of people will back me up on this. Selling BMWs I always get the same question - is it a manual? I never once had been asked whether it was an automatic. There was a massive problem with my old car. I bought it used it was an auto it has 130k miles on it, it was leaking everywhere. I Fixed a good portion of seals, took it to a shop and it was still leaking from the front input seal. I parted my old car mostly because of the tranny. I hate auto BMWs and will never ever get one again. As far as I know the autos were mostly used in US, and they are very rare and unnecessary in Europe. A 5-speed will last you forever, just replace seals and the clutch once in a while. This is mostly based on how I feel and my really unfortunate experiences with an auto BMW, but if you are buying a used BMW, it is easier to get one with an auto in bad shape than one with a good auto tranny. The E30s are old, finding one with few miles will be a very expensive and tedious process. If you dont care about learning to drive a manual, and dont have any specific conditions preventing you from doing so, driving in traffic is not a big deal, I dont know what is so hard about it. I have just started driving a manual car (318is) this year and I dont think anything of it.

Just my .02 - I really hate automatics, so im biased.

come now... tell us how you REALLY think

I'm going to check out a manual 325is today with 206k miles. The owner says it needs a new timing belt. Does anybody want to go check it out with me? It's in San Carlos at 7pm.

I'm in San Mateo, btw

[e31bubba]

come now... tell us how you REALLY think

I'm going to check out a manual 325is today with 206k miles. The owner says it needs a new timing belt. Does anybody want to go check it out with me? It's in San Carlos at 7pm.

I'm in San Mateo, btw

Are you getting a pre buy inspection. Conti Auto is in san mateo off railroad i believe they do PBIC's for a reasonable price they are also bmw and mercedes "specialists". Might save you alot of hassle if you are not to mechanically inclined.

[strad]

These cars make great daily drivers. Usually the one you buy is going to need a few things like hoses, timing belt to be reliable.

As for the automatic vs. manual . . . is it even a question? Manual all the way.

[HardTech]

Are you getting a pre buy inspection. Conti Auto is in san mateo off railroad i believe they do PBIC's for a reasonable price they are also bmw and mercedes "specialists". Might save you alot of hassle if you are not to mechanically inclined.

thanks, that's a good idea. I'm going to check it out myself and see how it drives. If I like it, I'll probably ask for a pre-buy inspection.