e30 325is - how much would you pay?

[nostatic]

For an unmolested, bone stock 100K mile 325is? I see ones around here in LA for around $3K but they're all tired looking. Pondering this or a 964 as a daily driver. This would obviously be the cheaper choice.

[Nostril Cheese]

for a nice one? $5K

Good luck finding one

[VincentVega]

For 5k get a e36 instead

[nostatic]

I don't really care for the looks of the e36 cars.

[MotoSook]

I wouldn't pay more than 3K for an E30 unless it was very special or had the mods I was looking for. Why 3k? Because a lot of the E30's have fallen into immature hands or they are just tired. Like 911s, a 3K E30 will end up being a 5K E30 by the time you make all the necessary repairs or undo poor modifications.

If this E30 you're looking at is truely unmolested and it isn't tired...3k may be a good price for it.

As Chris hinted at the E36's can be had for about 5K....and a little more will be you a great example of an E36. (Chris, everything good with the studs I sent you?)

[the]

I'd pay 5K for a *nice* E30 325is with only 100K miles on it, all day.

At the end of the day, it's going to be a far, far better, more enjoyable, less expensive car than the $3K average one.

[speeder]

The 325 that you describe would be a very cheap car to own and drive, assuming a car that is completely up-to-date w/ maintenance. Any 964 would be hugely more expensive to own, just with fuel consumption and scheduled maintenance. Truly an apples/oranges thing. Huge difference in performance too, though.

[Jim Bremner]

I wonder if an LS2 engine would fit in one?

[Nader]

Up here (and maybe down there?) there's an entire semi-spec race class dedicated to the e30. Probably a good way to lose another daily driver.

[Panzer909]

I paid $5K even for my '91 325iX almost three years ago. It had around 110K on the clock and was in pristine condition, other than needing a tuneup, fluid change, and the such. I think I lucked out because most other E30s you see on the road are pretty worn out looking, IMHO. So maybe the price was about right.
I've been BEATING on this car as a daily driver ever since. She's a tough little thing.

[Dave L]

I have had 2 e30s and really liked them. I have decided that the next one would have to be from the southern states to avoid rust issues. I would pay $5k but it would have to be darn near perfect stock condition.

I would also choose an e30 over an e36 because of the styling and simplicity of the e30

[many944s]

+1 on the e30 over the e36.

I paid $2900 for my 325i about a year ago. It had complete service history, and is in great condition. Sometimes it is just a matter of waiting for the right one to come along!

[Don Plumley]

I'll concur with $3K and spend $2K taking care of any issues.

Todd, I'd also look outside of LA - too many poser-wanna be's drove those poor cars into the ground.

Good PPI on compression and pressure test (no bad head gasket!), records on the 60K services (timing belt, radiator and water pump replacement). Very easy DIY car, too bad you live down south. I'm changing the timing belt on my Son's e30 this weekend.

Craigslist is your friend for the hunt.

[Kraftwerk]

the e 30 is a tank and you can mod it a bit. always liked that car
off topic: i'd pay 9,000 fo an e 30 m3....

[BlueSkyJaunte]

I still want an E30. Or an M535i.

[jkarolyi]

The e30 is a classic...I think time will be kinder to it than the E36 which while nice cars are heavy and complex. This is really the last evolution of the "smaller&lighter is better" concept of the 2002. I've had a bunch...find a'89-91 325is coupe. The '89 is the best because it's the only year of the sweet M3 steering wheel, small euro bumpers, and ellipsoid headlights. Most of them are pretty shot by now, but occasionally nice ones come up.

[Kraftwerk]

My Dad imported one from Munich years ago it was mint. I wish someone in the family had held onto it. The cool thing was that the DMV put a stiucker on the door-jam with VIN number and His name! Must be out there somewhere...

[TerryBPP]

Price depends soley on the performance. A minty bone stocker w/ 100k should only go for $3,500-$4000. If it has suspension (GC coilovers), wheels, etc. they can go as high as $8,000. Anything above $8k is e30 m3 money.

The other big money e30 is the early euro versions with euro metal bumpers and many other non US features. They fetch between $5k-10k.

[deathpunk dan]

My dd is a 95 325is....I've put 120k on mine that I bought 5 yrs ago with 73k on it.

My best friend's dd is a 91 318is with the M42 DOHC engine (spiritual rebirth of the tii?). The biggest beef I have with the E30 cars is the light and not so awesome feeling steering...but a Z3 rack swap makes a massive difference.

I'd pay $5k for the right E30...but I'd also want to have an 88 325(e) block to swap in for a cheap stroker...use Ebay.de to find an alpina 2.7 chip for mgmt...super torquey...