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So, I want a BMW...

4.3K views 57 replies 24 participants last post by  Moreboost  
#1 ·
After seeing stigs thread, i decided i should create one of my own.

I'm a quitter who's looking for a new car. I'm in no rush and I'm giving my self a few months to save up. Lets say my budget is about 5k for now. I don't see my self driving an e36 unless it's an M3 and if i want an M3 I'll probably have to borrow some money from my father. (thats only if i find a nice one) Soo e30 it is (excluding the ix)

If you're wondering why bmw, it's because i plan on doing a lot of autox and track events this year hopefully.

I was also thinking about a Miata but I'm not "prepared for hate" so thats out of the question for now...

What do you guys think? Any other cars i should be looking into for my particular needs? I will be on the look out for an 9k aero come this winter ;)

Some inspiration for me

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#2 ·
E30s are good cars to have fun in. Hopefully you already know to avoid the 'e' cars. Unless of course you want to swap in a different motor, but since you are you, I wouldn't suggest that.

325is it is.
 
#3 ·
You know my feelings on this one.
 
#14 ·
No, sorry. I thought you loved me?*

Imran is going to want some straight line speed. An E30 is going to need forced induction or an E36 engine swap.
He really doesn't care about straight line speed. An E30 is plenty fast for the street. I think the weight and more direct feel of the E30 is better for his wants at this point.

Imran, still looking for motorcycles?
You are correct, straight line speed i am not concerned with, maybe a year or 2 ago yes but not anymore, but at the same time i don't want something thats as slow as the NA 900s we had. I still plan on looking into motorcycles but if i find the right car, thats where my money is going for the time being.

Imran has A.D.D.
You sir, are correct.

Here is a list of cars that i've wanted in the past 6 months

vr6 corrado
Volvo 240
E36 m3
e30
miata
viggen
9000 aero
964 911
sti
wrx
R32
GTI

I'm sure there is more, feel free to chime in if you remember any more Jamie.
 
#6 ·
As I said, buy the best car you can afford and worry about modding later. If $6k means an E36 M3 and you have $5k, be a big boy and save to come up with $1000.

E30's are not so cheap, the way C900's can overlap onto NG900/9-3 money. So I would rather have an $6k E36 M3 than an E30 for $3500 with money left over.
 
#25 ·
E30's are great cars. The 325is is the way to go I think If you want to go with some power adders, a mint 318is would be awesome with a bit more power. I still think about how nice that car handled and rode, it was completely stock and with 120k miles.

Steering was perfect, well balanced chassis, very easy to get the rear end out and have some fun in the white stuff. The inline 6 sounds real nice at higher revs and as my first car at 16, it was pretty quick. Not one creak, rattle, or buzz. Wish my Viggen was like that :(

Damn starting to take a trip down memory lane...just get an E30!
 
#28 ·
E30s are a blast.

A. Blast.

Dampers and springs = ever better.

I can't really disagree with anything that has been said in this thread, except Jamie's E36 humping. I've driven E30s (325is, 325ix) and E36s (325is, 328is) in anger, and given equal models (NOT M3 vs 325is), the E30 is hands down more entertaining to drive. I came very close to buying an E36 328is, but the common issues were more than I really wanted to mess with in a 'modern' car. Failing trunk wiring harnesses, rear shock mounts busting through (without rust, awesome), failing control arms, etc. I just didn't want to mess with it at the time. For a toy, it'd be okay.

I'd still take the E30. Cheaper buy-in, lighter, more tossable.
 
#30 ·
#34 ·
yeah that was an issue with some vehicles, but a very small percentage (although still pretty lame on bmw's part), you have to remember when reading an enthusiast site, the people with the problem post, not the ones who never have an issue, I know a ton of people with e36 cars or who had them, and none of them ever had that issue, many of the cars were in excess of 100k, and one had 160k on it.

If your getting an e36 or looking at one and its not an M, try to find one with lsd. I believe BMW made the change in '95 to only putting LSD on M Cars, if anyone can confirm or correct that go for it, i don't have that info in front of me.
 
#35 ·
I love the 325is from the 80's.

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In good condition, they are such a hot car if done right and kept simple. One thing that you don't see in the exterior shots is the quality/stylish look of the interior. The steering wheel, gauges/cluster, recaro seats, and overall look is just plain cool. I bet you could definitely find a great example of the car WITH mods for $5000 or under.
 
#40 ·
You know its me we're talking about here ;)

I'v found a nice e36 (few mods) with 95k miles. I sent the owner a message just waiting on the response. I think Jameson is right, i should try and buy the best car i can get with the money i have saved up. Only time will tell
 
#41 ·
I've seen that 2002 out at the Cars and Coffee meet in Irvine... From talking to the guy, you would NEVER think he would sell it. Must be seriously strapped for cash if he's got in on eBay.... Fucking AMAZING car.

As for this thread, Jamie is nuts. Look at this quote "I believe in saving and starting out with as much car as you can afford, the best foundation possible." In this case, "as much car as you can afford" would be an E36 M3 while "the best foundation possible" would be, by far, the E30.

E30 318 would be where I sent my money.
 
#42 ·
I've seen that 2002 out at the Cars and Coffee meet in Irvine... From talking to the guy, you would NEVER think he would sell it. Must be seriously strapped for cash if he's got in on eBay.... Fucking AMAZING car.

As for this thread, Jamie is nuts. Look at this quote "I believe in saving and starting out with as much car as you can afford, the best foundation possible." In this case, "as much car as you can afford" would be an E36 M3 while "the best foundation possible" would be, by far, the E30.

E30 318 would be where I sent my money.
Say what you want about my sanity. It is like the SPG vs Viggen debate. Only, the E36 M3 is a better car then the Viggen in each situation.

I love boosted or S50/52 swapped E30's. But knowing Imran, a $5k E36 will take care of him and be quick and good handling enough without needing an engine swap or FI.
 
#43 ·
Well, if he hadn't said he was more interested in handling than speed I would be more inclined to agree with you... But there are seriously a handful of cars out there that are better handling/more fun to drive than an E30 whose price tag won't make you question whether you're buying a car or a house.
 
#44 ·
But this is Imran, who already talks about superchargers for E36's he has yet to buy. The simple fact is, the E30 while the handling is there, upping the power will be more necessary than an E36. If the person was NORMAL and did not have car ADD and double talk, then yes. They could go buy a mint 318is and call it a day.
 
#52 ·
Is that a DE or time trial?

How well has that leather dye held up?
Pretty good, I just gave the front seats another coat after a couple years but it's held up great. There are a couple spots on the rear seat that's starting to flake but I attribute that to lack of good prep work before I sprayed them. Ill give Ironjoe another shout out for recommending me the spray, for the cost and end result, it was definitely worth it.
 
#54 ·
Yeah I knew a couple people that were at NJMP. Hope it was an incident free weekend. I'm gona try my best to be there, I'm itching to get back out on the track, especially since I have the e36 back on the road.
 
#56 ·
That's not good, hope the driver and passenger walked away alright. I have a couple things to take care of on the car, mainly the brakes. Once that's done, I'm going to try and do at least a couple events or as many as the bank account allows, I'm no doctor ;)