I'm back with another E30!

[OptimusGlen]

So I was finally able to pick up another E30 for myself. I got a 91 318is for my wife about 2 weeks ago, and have been waiting for the right car to get me back into an E30 again.

Here is the wifes E30, and the VW Rabbit I've been building for the last couple years. I just sold the Rabbit, and that paid for both E30's



This was my last E30 fairly shortly after I bought it. Picked it up in Los Angeles and drove it home. Almost died about 30 times.


And it looked like this when I sold it…


I found my new one on Craigslist about 250 miles from home. Sounded pretty solid from the description and my conversations with the owner, so I booked a bus ticket to go bring it home. Because of scheduling differences, I had to do the trip during the work week. So yesterday I got out of work a little early and had a friend drive me to the station in Minneapolis.



After a 20 min delay, we were finally loaded and on our way. It was actually pretty nice on there. I think there were 8 people total, so we all got our own bubble of a few seats… although… the smell was rank.

Imagine not brushing your teeth for 2 weeks. Now imagine you and 30 of your closest friends all put off brushing your teeth for 2 weeks… NOW imagine the entire group of snaggle toothed people got on a bus and coughed all over everything. That’s what it smelled like… plus crap. Anyway, the seats were comfy, so I tilted mine back and tried to fall asleep.



… couldn't sleep. Not sure if it was the constant vibration from the bus, or the baby crying in the back. …or maybe it was the smell laying siege to my nostrils. At any rate, I decided to take a few pictures.


Minnesota


Iowa


Iowa at night.

As the bus pulled into my stop in Iowa I saw the car. I was excited. I got my luggage (duffle bag full of tools) and went out to meet the seller. Really nice older guy, has been in the "national BMW club" (BMWCCA?) for years, has had too many old BMW's and VW's to count. Awesome. We drove back to his place talking about the car, old cars we've owned, and cars other people own. It was a good time. Once there we looked the car over, filled out the correct paperwork, exchanged some cash for some keys and I was on my way.

First stop… gas station.


Second stop, FOOD! I was so hungry.


First impressions of my new car:
-feels really solid, made the trip all the way back without a hiccup, but it's to be expected since the ODO reads 160k miles
-brights turn on with right blinker… unplugged the high beams for now
-adjusted the seat back angle while on the highway, ended up laying in the backseat staring at the sunroof. Sweet.
-stock radio is crackly sometimes, and othertimes it just doesn't even emit sound. It was like a record player from the 20's
-blower squeaks a little on the low setting
-dash cracks
-sport seats
-drivers sport seat has seen better days
-only the tach side of the cluster is lit
-CEL blinks a min or two on first startup, then goes away…
-front tip of hood is bent up from a dance with a deer.
-right front fender has a dent too, but the PO included a nice painted fender to replace it. it's in the trunk.
-and one final thing I only noticed this morning… the ODO doesn't work… doh!!

Halfway home I stopped for gas again, even though I probably could have made it home.



On the bright side… butter is only $1.49 today.

Rolled into my driveway around 2:15 12 hours exactly from when the bus was supposed to leave. (made a few stops on the way home) Overall I am happy, and excited to get both of the E30's up to snuff.

Cheers!

[DaRvDrUmS]

Awesome story, and good looking car! Best of luck to you!

[OptimusGlen]

Thanks! Plans are to get my super-eta bottom end in it at some point. Beyond that... who knows. Maybe 5 lug swap.

[kishg]

nice pickup.. iowa.. ah yes, the flatlands

[topdown323]

nice pickup mang...only had to go 40 miles to get my current toy

[IRUNEDM]

nice ride!

[radialaced]

You have a good looking car. I love your scoop.

Sounds like a fun trip except for the stink on the bus. Fabric seats on the bus? Just imagine what's lurking in there.

[E30Dallas]

great find eh! i love yout hood Effect....$20 at my junk yards arround here,how does the motor and tranny feel? what was the highest RPM/Speed you pulled out of it and how did it feel?

[OptimusGlen]

I didn't abuse it too much, I just wanted to make it home in one piece without any tickets so I stuck around 70mph the whole drive. Once closer to home I brought it up to a higher speed, but still didn't break 100.

Engine and tranny feel great. Once I'm finished with the control arms/bushings/tierods on my wifes 318is, I will start by doing a valve adjustment, and probably change out the timing belt and waterpump just to be on the safe side, unless the P.O. can give me a definate answer on when it was done last.