Help me out with an E30 decision
 

I just sold my 356 and my 911 is likely next. Porsche values have just gotten to be too much and I would love a spring/summer daily that I wasn't so worried about. My 911 is a euro car, 3.2 swap with no AC and set up as a track car. It would take a fair bit of work to make it a more usable and comfortable driver.

Long story, but I happened upon a guy selling a BMW in Portland. That meeting sent me down a rabbit hole of learning about E30s. His is a 1984 318i that was heavily massaged by a 2002 and E30 guy named David Lumbra in Eugene several years ago.

He rebuilt the M10 and bumped it out to 2100cc with J&E pistons, a 284 cam, dual valve springs, stahl header and much more. He has the build sheet. It retains the stock FI system. The suspension was also modified and updated. It has a 3.91 LSD and rear disc brake conversion.

The car is rust free and cosmetically in great shape. There is a small crack in the dash and the AC system (which I would like operational) is there but not working.

I have a 912 core motor he may want so the deal would no cost me much in cash. This is the cheaper park it anywhere one.

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The second E30 is local. A bone stock 88 325ix. 167,000 miles, very well maintained and cosmetically mint. The owner just had the seats redone in leather. He wants top top dollar, but other than a 20k mile car, this has to be the cleanest E30 ix for sale anywhere. I don't need the awd, but the car is just so nice.

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Which one, or neither?

I had an '87 325is and it was such an awesome, reliable and fun car. If you can get it for the right price, you can't go wrong with an E30.

I too had an '87 325is; loved that car. Never owned an ix but driven one and remember feeling a little unimpressed. Must've been the extra weight, but the ix just didn't have the oomph out of corners my younger self enjoyed.

Don't know much about the M10, but on the M20 make sure the head bolts have been upgraded (the original hex heads have been known to pop off the bolts at inopportune times); peek inside the oil filler cap -- if you see Torx head bolts you know they've been replaced. These cars are really easy to work on, too.

As with most cars of this vintage, condition is (nearly) everything. Looks like the 318 has some nice cosmetic upgrades; the seats in particular. And the ix interior looks spectacular.

If it were me, I'd choose the ix for 3 reasons: 1) it's stock/close to stock; 2) I love the sound of BMWs inline sixes; and 3) creature comforts [like power windows and better instrumentation] standard on the ix but optional/not available on the bargain-basement 318.

You also may want to reach out to T77911S here on PP -- he (and his son, I think) are really into E30s.

Ooo, a bone-stock super-clean ix . . . I'd go for that one. ix are not that common, and with everything AWD now, I suspect it will hold value better.

I would go for the 325 all day long for the straight six. I’ve never driven an E30 318 but owned an E36 318ti, even with a supercharger it was underwhelming. Also not a particularly fun or smooth engine, that’s not a car I miss.

Convertible not an option?

I had an '85 325e that I commuted to work in for a lot of years.
I'd go for the Ix before a breathed on 4-cyl any day of the week.

Maybe. Every convertible I have seen has been a slushbox though. The guy with the IX has a nice one in great colors but alas, auto trans. I am also not a big fan of the looks of the E30 convertible.

Manuals are more common around here. Quick search, first click: 1992 BMW 3 series 325i Convertible 2D

Everyone has different taste. It's funny you don't like the convertible, I'm the opposite, not a fan of the coupe.

I'd go with a 6. I love the M10...in my tiny light 2002. In an E30, unless you can get an M3, I'd want a 6, it's just not enough engine otherwise.

I love BMW sixes - I have an E12 with a 3.5 - but between these two I think the 318i appeals to me a little more. Early E30s are lighter than later ones, and that 318 is hundreds of pounds less than the iX. Replace the big bumpers with a set of Euro bumpers and it gets lighter yet and looks better. That one will have more of a light/revvy character. Depends what you want, I guess.

Like everyone else and their brother, I’ve owned an E30 “back in the day.” Mine was a mint 325is with the nice sport seats in your first photo, it was a fantastic car but definitely not structurally strong like a 911…hardly anything was in those days. Extremely well put together but you could feel it twist when you cranked really hard on the steering wheel. The average driver would never know this but you’re not the average driver. :)

I also had a 533i sedan with 5-speed manual and that is one of my most missed cars out of dozens owned. I’ve never had anything that was so sweet to cruise at 100+ mph. Back to E30s, for “top dollar” I would only buy exactly what I wanted, which would be a 325is coupe manual with relatively low mileage. Unless you need the AWD for winter driving, it reduces the fun factor by a lot on that car. Any 4-cylinder 318 would be a hard pass, they were just underpowered. Same with convertibles, just extra weight and less stiffness in a car lacking stiffness to start with. Most are trashed and they were always girl’s cars.

Edit: I would consider a manual 4-door with the I-series 6, (not the e-series 2.8, which was a low-revving economy motor). The 4-door E30 had nice proportions, IMO, and I doubt that they drive any differently.

We will see how this plays out. The IX guy took his car off of the market and sent me a message. When it got more serious, he decided he couldn't sell. I don't really need the AWD anyway, so fine.

The 318 cars motor was built buy a great engine builder. He had a following before he passed, at least in the PNW. I don't know the difference between stock and the 2100cc motor he built, but it should help. The early 318 E30 coupes weren't too much heavier than a 2002.

The seller has said he may do a partial trade for a 912 motor I have had for close to 20 years on a shelf. Given 912 values, I'll never use the thing. That may be attractive. I'd get a car for very little cash and have something to play with.

It will probably all result in nothing. Meanwhile, my internet education continues. Thanks for the input!

That is something...not nothing!

325is would be my preference but any nice affordable e30 is a win...

Maybe expand your hunt to the E28?

I bought an 88IS new from Vasek Polak back in the day. Owned it for 4 years, and then sold it. I kept it clean enough to eat off of... the guy I sold it to re-sold it after about 8 months as he felt that having such a nice car was too much pressure to keep it that way.

I loved that car... it was my first "big" purchase, and I had just had an 86 Jetta GLI stolen, and got a good settlement. I had a "gooseneck" CD setup in it, I was living 5 blocks from the ocean in Hermosa Beach with a great view... 3 blocks from Vasek's in Hermosa... I also had a 62B cab and a 914-6. Life was great! Then I met this girl...... sigh....

I sold the 88IS in 92', bought a Ford Explorer after getting married (I got a 5 spd that was my consolation).

Bought an 89IX in late 90's, but it had a slushbox and the performance was dismal.

I think the only daily driver type of cars since then that was any fun was a 94 E400 (silver over black, it was heaven on the freeway), but every service on that car was $1500 and the car just "ate" coils, and I had a 92 Jetta GLI 16V as well, but got rear ended in that by some chick looking at her phone (I was looking in my rear view at the stop light and just "begging" her mentally to hit her brakes...)

I still look at EVERY "IS" on BAT, but haven't pulled the trigger (yet). I'm currently driving a low mileage Subaru Crosstrek that I inherited from my aunt.... it's fine (I guess...).

I'd get an "IS" personally....

I had a 90 318is (or was it 91?) with the M42 engine and manual transmission. They called the M42 the baby M3 engine. It was a good peppy little car. I bought it from the original owner around 2012 with about 145k miles.

I’d get a M42 car or the 2WD 6 cylinder E30 if you’re looking for one.

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I'd keep looking

I'd look for a nice 89+ 325iS.

You want the six, the smaller bumpers are a huge upgrade and you don't want an automatic or the weight of an iX.