Purchased: 1985 BMW 325es, $150

[Excelsior]

UPDATE BELOW! 4/22/10

So my roommate and I are decided to enter the BABE rally for 2011 and started looking for cars a few weeks back. We decided we couldn't do much better than an E30 for $500 or less. Saw one in person off Craigslist, spotted a few on ebay, but got lucky on one from a salvage auction. It runs and drives.

5spd, 2.7l I-6 torquey goodness. Sure it only revs to 4800 but still. OBC, cruise, LSD Really looking forward to working on it. Thinking about eventually giving it a fresh coat of paint...maybe lachssilber.

We'll probably have it in the garage by monday or tuesday next week. Thoughts?

edit: It is an '86. That is the only year they made the es for this model.

4/22/10 UPDATE:

The car finally came in. Arrived at my dad's place this morning. I went over after work to help him load it onto the trailer. Unfortunately, the trailer he borrowed ended up losing a tire not long after we loaded it. The transmission works great, engine runs smooth, idles fairly well. Amazing for just having to get the battery charged and for $150.

Plan B- I drove it home, the 8-10 miles. Very illegal, I know, but it was kind of fun. Dad drove behind me in my car. The interior pretty rough...the roofliner needs to be redone, both seats should be refurbed, dash has the typical cracks, etc. The OBC doesn't function but I am impressed by the number and type of functions it has. The MPG gauge is amusing. It has enough grunt on the lowend to be in 4th going 35-40 and it doesn't feel too weak to get up and go.

I noticed a loud noise on the drive home and the ride was quite floaty. Turns out after looking under the car with my roommate that the driver's side rear shock was just hanging there. Of course most of the suspension components will be replaced with new ones.

All in all, I am very pleased with the purchase. Very pumped to get started on it. I will take some more pics in the daylight (the original paint looks pretty good for being so old after a wash).

 

[JMapleton]

Does it actually drive?

 

[Excelsior]

Oh yeah, forgot to mention that it runs and drives.

 

[AMCRambler]

Geez for $150 bucks a running driveable car is a steal. Even if its a total loss and you can't get it roadworthy you've still probably got at least $150 worth of parts for EBay to make your money back. Nice! Good luck with the car!

And be sure to post pics of your progress. I love that kind of stuff.

 

[Excelsior]

Geez for $150 bucks a running driveable car is a steal. Even if its a total loss and you can't get it roadworthy you've still probably got at least $150 worth of parts for EBay to make your money back. Nice! Good luck with the car!

And be sure to post pics of your progress. I love that kind of stuff.

Agreed. Even after fees and transport there will be only around $400 in it.

 

[JulesMaximus]

My wife owned an '86 325e many years ago. It was a complete dog...a gutless wonder. I can only hope that the one you bought has a manual transmission because if it's an auto you can forget about any hope of enjoying that car.

 

[jlee]

4800rpm redline? Seriously?

 

[Excelsior]

My wife owned an '86 325e many years ago. It was a complete dog...a gutless wonder. I can only hope that the one you bought has a manual transmission because if it's an auto you can forget about any hope of enjoying that car.

Of course it is a manual. Wouldn't have it any other way. I've done enough research on these to know what to expect. Low on HP, big on low-end torque. Geared for efficiency. Good thing is, diff swaps are relatively cheap. A chip can improve hp/tq by a decent amount as well.

The autos must be terrible because the stock numbers for the manual eta aren't terrible for 1986. Not what I would call gutless at all.

0-60 mph: 8.4 seconds
1/4 mile: 16.3 seconds

 

[Excelsior]

4800rpm redline? Seriously?

Yes. These things were geared for mileage/overall efficiency.

 

[jlee]

Yes. These things were geared for mileage/overall efficiency.

Max engine RPM has nothing to do with gearing - I'm just shocked that the motor doesn't hardly spin..

 

[Eli]

150$?

Damn, that's a steal. I'd have bought that in a heartbeat.

 

[Throckmorton]

I love the "bottlecap" wheels

 

[StageLeft]

Looks like. Did you spend too long reading that thread about the rally guy in his bMW, though?

 

[LTC8K6]

http://www.e30eta.com/

 

[LTC8K6]

 

[TwinsenTacquito]

Good for you, bud. It's sad to think a win of a purchase like this is going to be so much harder in 20 years with all these disposable cars being made.

Max engine RPM has nothing to do with gearing - I'm just shocked that the motor doesn't hardly spin..

*facepalm*

 

[StageLeft]

Good for you, bud. It's sad to think a win of a purchase like this is going to be so much harder in 20 years with all these disposable cars being made.




*facepalm*

I think most people, myself included, consider cars today of higher quality/robustness than ones in the past.

 

[KCfromNC]

Of course it is a manual. Wouldn't have it any other way. I've done enough research on these to know what to expect. Low on HP, big on low-end torque. Geared for efficiency. Good thing is, diff swaps are relatively cheap. A chip can improve hp/tq by a decent amount as well.

A 524td crank plus 325i heads work pretty well, too

 

[BW86]

thats a steal. nice find!

 

[Excelsior]

Max engine RPM has nothing to do with gearing - I'm just shocked that the motor doesn't hardly spin..

What are you referring to? I know the redline has nothing to do with it. I never said it did. The e is short for eta. These cars were designed for efficiency. The max rpm has to do with how the engine was designed and built. The resulting low rpm in 5th gear going down the highway is due to the gearing.

 

[Excelsior]

150$?

Damn, that's a steal. I'd have bought that in a heartbeat.

Thanks. I am very pleased.

I love the "bottlecap" wheels

Really? They're ok but I am already looking at putting some basketweaves on there: http://www.bimmers.com/m3/gallery/morelli/wheel.jpg
I could just keep the bottlecaps for winter and then put decent summer tires on the 'weaves. Winter only lasts a few months here anyway. Rarely dips below 40 between April and much of November.

Did you spend too long reading that thread about the rally guy in his bMW, though?

I read a bit of it. Neat story but I would certainly never undertake something like that. It didn't influence my decision much. I just wanted the best car for the $ and this seemed like it.

A 524td crank plus 325i heads work pretty well, too

Been readinv about those head swaps. Once I make sure she is tuned up and I drive 'er for a while we will see if I want the extra power or not. I probably will.

 

[Excelsior]

I think most people, myself included, consider cars today of higher quality/robustness than ones in the past.

I think it depends. I agree with you though, for the most part.

 

[Throckmorton]

I think most people, myself included, consider cars today of higher quality/robustness than ones in the past.

They definitely are. I've been driving brand new rented cars (Sentra, Mazda 3, GMC Canyon) for 3 weeks... then picked up my 1999 Cherokee at the port 2 days ago. Talk about a drastic difference. It feels like I'm driving a scaffolding held together by nails and suspended on elephant tusks. It squeeks and rattles on every bump, the steering is heavy, the brakes feel like they don't do anything, the steering wheel is narrow and spindly, the AC fan is loud... Out of nowhere there's a new squeeling sound too, must be a belt.

 

[amish]

did they ever say why it was a salvage? just curious. kind of makes me want to save up an extra $200 for something like it.

 

[jlee]

They definitely are. I've been driving brand new rented cars (Sentra, Mazda 3, GMC Canyon) for 3 weeks... then picked up my 1999 Cherokee at the port 2 days ago. Talk about a drastic difference. It feels like I'm driving a scaffolding held together by nails and suspended on elephant tusks. It squeeks and rattles on every bump, the steering is heavy, the brakes feel like they don't do anything, the steering wheel is narrow and spindly, the AC fan is loud... Out of nowhere there's a new squeeling sound too, must be a belt.

It's a Jeep. What do you expect?


...yeah, I went there.