I'm selling my e36 and want to get an e30. I want the most reliable car I can get for $18k. Should I look for a low mileage car for about that price or find a physically sound car for a good deal and use the money I save to have it sent to korman or some place like that for an engine rebuild and any other work that need to be done. Also for this kind of project is $18k enough or am I getting in over my head. I will end up spending more over time but want to keep it under 18k to start.
Thanks, Sam

Sam,

You did not say if you wanted and E30 M3 or if a Staright side E30 would do. My E30 Alpina is for sale and is looking for an opportunity to show its stuff out of a full track stable. I use the car as a street car but it is a thouroughbred and wants to race. I can't afford to race it so I am looking to send it to a good racing home.

Do a search on Alpina on this site and you will see a post I did a month or so ago. All it needs to go racing is proper safety equipment and a new set of sticky tires. So with your budget you will have plenty left over for expenses. This car is faster than an e30 m3 right out of the box, has e36 like acceleration, and the beautiful 6 cyl sound as oppsed to the 4 cyl buzz.

Think about it.

Don

If you are looking at an E30 M3, you are going to spend about 15k to get a good one. Then you will have to do some maintence work. Don't go for the cheap cars, they will cost more in the long run. Buy a mechanically sound car, and not just a physically sound car. Mechanical work on an E30 M3 is more than the cosmetic work. Save that extra 3k to start doing some minor mods, and keep up on your maintence schedule. E30 M3's aren't cheap to maintain, you will need to have some cash flow for the car.


Don Steven's car is a very nice E30. It is also very rare, so you might want to look into that.

Would I really be shooting myself if I buy a high milage and or blown engine ///M3 for +/-$8k and spend the 10k to bring it up to shape, possibly a 2.5 engine rebuild??

Don's car is awesome, but I need to own the original ///M.

If you have the time and the money, it would be a fun project to rebuild up to a 2.5L motor spec, but I don't know about resale values for that. If that is something that you enjoy, that would work well, but 8k sounds just a hair pricy for a blown motor. I don't really know though...