Ok,
I am just done with the new technology and am sick of worrying about where I park, dents, dings, etc. I am in Savannah and this has to be the worst driving city I have witnessed so far. Crappy drivers with uninsured POSs that total cars is the norm and I dont want to be a victim.
:violinistOk, so sad...enough of that.

I want an E30 (either M3 or not) to be used as a DD and want to pay cash up to about $8K. I can be a little rough around the edges but I have a project house and dont need a project car. Just reliable, not gorgeous.
What years are good (I know, besides the standar answer, "the newest that $8k will get you).

I know he E36 and 46 years pretty well but what years are good/bad for the E30s?

Thanks dudes.

try posting over in the other e30 forum you might find more help over there. for 8k your odds dont look too good in finding a e30 m3 that doesnt need any work.

From the sound of it, an E30 325i/s might be a better fit for you than a collectible E30M3. Although don't expect an at-least 17-yo car to not be a project lol! The 325is would fit your price range too. Plastic bumper is 89 or later, facelift is 88 or later, airbags are 90 or later.

For a 325is, go with the 87. Yeah it's pre facelift, but after 87 a lot of features that were standard became options.

Great responses guys, I really appreciate it. I figured a E30 M3 would be a pipedream but I will still keep looking in case someone is letting something go and doesn't know what they have (as was the case for my current car).

Thanks!

ill sell u mine for 12k

... I will still keep looking in case someone is letting something go and doesn't know what they have.

that person wouldn't be in an enthusiast forum...:D

Expect tp pay $15k for a good M3 daily driver. Way more for a minter.

$8k will get you a very good e36 325-328

$8k will also get you a mint e30 325is, at least in this part of the country. Most great non-M cars are going for around $7k out here, or less. e30 M3's though at still holding in the $15k range for an average car (good condition, just nothing spectacular...other than being a M3).

BTW, if you are worried about door dings and such, PLEASE stay away from the e30 M3. There is no side trim/door guard thingy. So if someone opens a door into you, there is nothing to hit but metal. At least on the non-M e30's there is the trim piece to hit, which is designed to take this abuse (and be replaced without needing to repaint, etc).

Oh, as for years, you may want to stay AWAY from the '87 that was mentioned above. That year was the first of the 'i' motors in the 325 range and the last of them having the bad coolant hose routing. How bad? Well if your motor shifts too much (say from worn motor mounts that have too much flex in them) the fan cuts right through one of the main radiator hoses. Not a pretty sight. I've seen plenty of cars fall victim to this.

As far as 325i (and 325is) cars go, the '87 and '88 models had metal bumpers, all cars from '89 on had plastic ones. '88 and '89 had US spec ellipsoids stock, all other years had the nasty sealed beams. '90 was the first year of the standard airbag in the e30, and the first year the 2dr cars did NOT get pop out windows. '88 was the facelift year, with the rear lights changing just a tad (a bit shorter and the reverse panel wasn't white all the way down, just in the middle). These are the main things, but all fairly cosmetic.

you think that you might be worrying less about dings and dents but your wrong, you gonna care even more for an e30 m3.

Thanks for all the pointers guys, great responses.

Funny story, saw a 95M3 with 78K miles and a phone number advertised locally. Called the number and the guy said that the add was wrong and that it only had 52K miles. Keep in mind this dude is a salesman at a car dealership.

Well I go see the car and sadly, but not surprisingly, it is completely ragged out. Black leather was great, drive train felt ok but NOTHING in the interior fit. I accelerated hard and one of the vent flew out. WTF?

Salvage title, odometer rollback and he wanted $10K for it.
Crazy what people think they can get away with. Dude is dying to sell it though and someone may buy it just for the drive train, wheels, and nearly perfect black vaders.

You want an '89 325is. Pretty much the best E30 vintage, and definitely reachable for $8k.

thats what i was thinking

you think that you might be worrying less about dings and dents but your wrong, you gonna care even more for an e30 m3.

The e30 M3 is now what the Dino was in the 70's.

The e30 M3 is now what the Dino was in the 70's.


Good, because I am keeping mine.

Thomas

ill sell u mine for 12k
can u send me some pics of ur ride